A Dream

Alex and Natalia hid in a ruin, not far from the snow devil's location. It was a dilapidated primitive structure, constructed from stone blocks that provided cover for them, reminiscent of a building from the 10th century.

Planet Sion 2T once hosted humans that have for some reason been wiped out.

Now, the planet only contained varying hostile life forms, roaming around unrestrained.

Five minutes later, both of them moved back as the beast horde was too close and found an underground dungeon that was dark, colder than the outside, and extremely stale. It was so bad that the suit wasn't able to purify the air properly.

"We'll stay here until the beast horde passes"

"Fine by me. At least in this place, there won't be any animals attacking us"

Deciding to stay here for safety, Alex went to the side and sat down with a light groan.

On the lower right of his helmet interface was still the warning prompt, beckoning him to patch up the compromised part of the suit and also tending to the wounds he had suffered from the incident earlier.

Falling from the boarding steps hurts his back badly.

Even the back side of his suit was torn, and he could feel all the pain originating from there.

Turning on the headlamp, he takes a couple of patches from the bag.

Intending to tend to his wounds fearing that they might be infected, he activates the energy shield before he opens his helmet and the upper part of his suit, revealing his chiseled body that was surprisingly in great shape.

Xander must've been a very hard-working man to have this kind of physique.

'No wonder I was able to move very well earlier...'

Alex nodded in affirmation, praising Xander inside his head. He then started to treat his injuries, it was quite difficult for him to do this as he couldn't reach the center part of his back with his own hands.

From the side, Natalia seemed to notice him struggling.

"Do you want me to help you?"

"No, I'm fine"

Glancing over his shoulder, he refused the offer since he could still do this himself.

But it seems his decline was not enough to stop Natalia.

Suddenly, she stood up and took the healing patches from his hand, surprising Alex as he already said clearly that he didn't need any help. "Don't be stiff like that, what's wrong with asking for help when you're struggling?"

"I'm not struggling enough to ask for help" Alex replied without any hesitation.

He was used to treating his wounds on his own.

Perhaps owing to his extensive experience in the military, as a captain within the Magi Battlecruiser Division, he had grown accustomed to self-reliance which often than not demands him to treat wounds on his own in an emergency situation.

This self-reliance became more ingrained than seeking assistance from others.

Natalia giggled, ignoring him, and started plastering the healing patches.

"We need to rely on each other in a situation like this. I don't know about you, but personally, I don't want to die yet. if you got sick and couldn't move properly, it'll make my survival until the instructors rescue us harder"  She quipped in a playful tone while still applying the healing patches.

Alex paused for a second before he nodded, "I understand, I also don't want to die"

It was then the two remained silent as Natalia treated his wounds.

Realizing that he would have a hell of a time in this plant to wait for rescue earlier, he was somewhat glad that he met Natalia here. Having a partner greatly improves his chance of survival than trying to survive alone.

Furthermore, Natalia seemed to be a capable woman, and a bit older too.

Most of the aspirants were around the age of eighteen, with some even younger than that.

On the contrary, Natalia appeared older, not in a way that suggested she looked old, but rather that she exuded a more mature air compared to the likes of Casper and Malik which made Alex have this impression.

However, now that she has already taken off her helmet, her form is now observable.

Natalia has lustrous black hair which added a vibrant youth tone to her look.

It cascaded down her shoulder and was adorned in vibrant pink slender tendrils that playfully intermingled with the darkness. A few select strands at the front, artfully dyed in a shade of rose which matches her unique pinkish eyes and sharp, beautiful features.

Additionally, despite their situation, she wasn't freaking out.

Natalia is clearly calm and composed if she could smile and even talk playfully like this.

While he was being treated, his mind wandered in the silence of the underground dungeon.

'Huh... When I got hurt while training, she also used to treat me like this'

Dominant emotions that he had pushed aside in his anger and hatred began to resurface, causing his eyes to slowly widen with the painful memory of his wife, Delilah, who had passed away not long ago on Planet Molla.

Time is unclear, he doesn't know how long has passed since then.

But even then, the heartbreaking sight is still vivid.

Alex could still smell her scent lingering in his nose and feel directly the weight of her lifeless body in his arms. Subconsciously, these thoughts caused his body to tremble slightly. He longed to cry but found himself unable to shed tears.

Alex could still perceive the lingering scent of her presence in his nostrils, and the weight of her lifeless form pressed upon his arms with a profound weight. Subconsciously, these recollections caused his body to trember slightly.

He longed to cry, yet found himself incapable of shedding tears.

In reflex to cope, he could only clench his fists and sit still, suffering the pain in silence.

...

"Princess Delilah, think again, please. Why would you pick me instead of him?"

Inside what seemed to be a living room with a brown natural floor resembling glass, and magical decor, two individuals had just entered. One of them, a woman with stunning features and an air of royalty stopped near an L-shaped sofa right beside a large window wall that provides a stunning view of a breathtaking magical city.

On the other hand, a man, Alex stands near the door of the living room in aghast.

"Are you saying that I should choose your brother instead of you?"

"Yes! Migel is talented, he reached the True Mage realm when he was only fifteen! Compared to me who hasn't even achieved it even now at the age of eighteen or perhaps for the rest of my life, he's more befitting for you than me"

Upon saying that, trying to convince Princess Delilah otherwise, the room falls silent.

Princess Delilah then sighed and shook her head.

"I know that you can't accept this instantly, Alex. But know that this choice of mine is not random" Princess Delilah turned around, gazing at him tenderly. "Maybe you weren't aware of me, but I know you, and I've seen you on multiple occasions"

Sitting on the sofa gracefully, she fixed her eyes on Alex again with a sweet smile.

"When I'm upset and need time away from the castle, I go over to the Shadowy Creek. Many were scared of the spirits and wraiths there despite being harmless, but that provides the peace I need" Princess Delilah said, her voice dulcet.

But her words made Alex's eyes widen, the Shadowy Creek is his training place.

It was desolate and silent as she said, a perfect place to train.

Princess Delilah then continues, reminiscing her memories, "Despite having no talent, I always saw you training in there, ignoring the spirits that were whispering to you consistently. I also stumbled across you in the Unarmed Assault Guild where you begged to at least spar with someone to increase your martial arts skill. Battered and bruised, you have never skipped training. Not once did I see despair in your eyes"

"I thought you were a stern person, however, I also got to see your kind side"

"All of your siblings except for Migel always insult and ridicule you for being weak, but you never resent them. I even heard you standing up against a bully to your sister, as an older brother should, despite knowing that you would lose"

While hearing this confession, Alex was at a complete loss for words.

Not once has he ever thought that anyone would notice him doing all the things he did.

Princess Delilah approached him once again, her moves were as graceful as a goddess. She then stretched her hand to embrace Alex's face, "Compared to anyone I know, you are the manliest. When I heard that I was planning to be betrothed by my father, I picked the Reighton Family, your family. No matter what others say, I trust that at this pace, you're going to become strong. I'm embarrassed to say this but I developed feelings for you, Alex..."

"If I am to be betrothed, that person has to be you" She added, saying the words from heart.

But seeing that Alex was still in denial, guilty, the smile on her face blooms.

Knowing the kind heart that he possessed, and a soft spot for his own family, Princess Delilah reassured him once more. "Don't worry about Migel. If I am to be your wife, I will try my best to help fix your relationship with him. So, please, don't feel guilty..."

"I can't, Princess Delilah. I can't hurt my family, especially Migel. I'm sorry..." Alex refused.

...

"D- Delilah..."

"Delilah!"

Alex's eyes shot wide open before he started gasping for breath, sweating profusely.

Upon scanning around in confusion, he realized that he was still inside the underground dungeon and that it was nothing more than a dream. He and Natalia decided to spend the night inside and move out in the morning.

Nighttime is dangerous, and they are not going to risk it.

Then he started to calm down, steadying his heavy breathing and anxious throbbing mind.

But this attempt only makes the burn inside his chest stronger.

"Migel... How could you do that to her?"

Furious for remembering the time when he was betrothed to Delilah, he stood up abruptly.

Even though he was aware of the current dangers lurking outside, the pent-up fury within him made his body tremble, unable to stand idly by. He needs to release his anger as it becomes stronger by the second.

If he didn't, he would really lose his mind and go crazy.

Just as he was about to leave, he paused when he heard a chattering sound.

Glancing to the side, Alex found that Natalia was also sleeping but she was shivering from head to toe. Her muscles spasm a couple of times, the temperature inside this underground chamber during the night is quite harsh and unbearable.

'Seems like her energy shield broke, why didn't she tell me?'

Deciding to help her, Alex takes off his shield generator and gently puts it on Natalia.

Clicking the button on the suit near her thumb, the energy shield then manifested and enveloped her body, blocking the cold air. Alex then nodded his head seeing that her body began to relax.

Alex then climbed out, trying to find a way to vent before resuming his sleep.