After a few days stuck in bed, Markus can finally stand.

  His legs feel weird—wobbly, unsteady—but he can’t stop pacing, walking back and forth like a man just freed from house arrest.

  From the bed, Liddle reaches out with a sleepy arm. “Markus, come back to bed…”

  “Sorry, Liddle,” Markus says, still stretching his arms. “I’m really looking forward to leaving the room now that I can walk again.”

  She huffs. “If I break your legs, can we cuddle?”

  Markus walks over, leans down, and kisses her forehead gently.

  “Don’t worry,” he says with a smirk. “I’ll make sure to do my husband duties.”

  As he holds her, his eyes catch a flick of movement.

  “…Wait—what? Is that a tail?”

  Liddle blushes, her voice soft. “Oh… yeah. I usually hide it. But around you, I realized… I don’t have to.”

  Markus smiles, eyes warm. “I wonder how I got such a cute girlfriend.”

  He gives her tail a gentle poke, earning a little squeak from her, and then carries her into the living room—both of them laughing softly the whole way.

  Alexia is sprawled on the couch, one leg draped over the armrest, watching TV. She waves lazily at them as they enter.

  “Don’t have too much fun now,” she teases. “The morning’s still young.”

  “I’m just a little excited,” Markus says, setting Liddle down gently beside her. “Feels good to be moving around again.”

  With a small shimmer of light, he summons the Life-Giving Blade into his hand.

  Alexia doesn’t even look up. “No swords in the house, Markus.”

  “Anyway, want to get a coffee?” Markus asks.

  Alexia rolls her eyes. “Seriously?”

  “Hey now,” Markus says, raising a finger. “It’s been a whole week since I had a cup.”

  Alexia giggles. “I was afraid I might’ve had hope for you.”

  “There’s something I want to do first,” Markus says, pulling on his shoes.

  Alexia and Liddle tilt their heads in unison.

  “Well, lead the way,” Alexia says, slinging her bag over her shoulder.

  “Thanks. I will,” Markus replies with a small smile. “It’s nice… being able to hang out. Just the three of us.”

  “We missed you while you were gone,” Liddle says, rubbing herself against Markus’s arm.

  “Yeah,” Alexia adds with a smirk. “Liddle wouldn’t talk about anything else. She was all like, ‘Romeo, oh Romeo, where’s my Romeo, and when will he return?’”

  “Who’s Romeo?” Liddle blinks.

  Markus laughs as they walk down the street, watching his friends relax for the first time in a while. It almost feels normal.

  They pass a storefront with a large display in the window — a circular paper calendar above a statue of a dragon, surrounded by smaller animals.

  “Chinese New Year,” Markus says, stopping. “Weird thing to see in an Ohio city.”

  “Yeah,” Alexia says, glancing at the display. “You never know what you’ll find around here.”

  “You want to know what’s weirder?” Markus points to one of the animals. “That’s a rat. The first Morgi we fought.”

  Alexia blinks, then follows his finger. Her face tightens as he continues down the line.

  “Then came the ox… and I believe you said there was a tiger while I was out.”

  Alexia nods slowly. “So what you’re saying is…”

  Markus gives a half-smile, but there’s no humor in it. “Next should be a rabbit. And then… the dragon.”

  His jaw tightens. He shakes his head hard, like he can rattle the thought loose. He needs to think of something else — anything else.

  “So, the jewelry store is where my plans begin,” Markus says, leading them toward a shop called Pandora’s Box Jewelry.

  As they step inside, Markus gestures toward a glass case filled with rings.

  “Liddle… would you like to pick one?” he asks. “It’s a human way of showing you want to marry someone.”

  Liddle leans over the display, eyes wide as she scans the rows of glittering rings. Some shimmer with gemstones, others twist into delicate patterns of gold and silver.

  She studies each one carefully, tilting her head this way and that, brows scrunching in deep concentration. Markus and Alexia watch quietly from behind as she moves from one end of the display to the other — then back again.

  Finally, Liddle points to a simple silver band tucked in the corner of the case. No jewels. No fancy design. Just smooth, clean metal.

  “This one,” she says with a soft smile.

  Markus blinks. “You sure? It’s, uh… one of the cheaper ones. I just… I want the best for you.”

  Liddle smiles up at him, eyes warm.

  “If it’s the one you give me, then I’ll treasure it. Like I told you before… I don’t need the fanciest ring.”

  Markus buys the ring and kneels down, gently sliding it onto Liddle’s finger.

  “I love you. Or—wait, I think I’m supposed to say, ‘will you marry me?’” He laughs softly.

  Liddle beams. “I accept. You can kiss me now.”

  After the kiss, she lets out a joyful squeal and spins in place, bouncing on her toes.

  The car door slams shut behind them as Markus, Liddle, and Alexia step out into the afternoon heat—

  —and immediately freeze.

  Across the parking lot, a car spins wildly in circles, tires shrieking against the pavement. Smoke curls from the hood, and the shrill scream of “Help!” echoes from the driver’s window.

  Markus’s eyes snap to the danger. In a flash, his hand shoots to the Mahoishi, sparking it to life.

  “Liddle! Can you shoot ahead and behind it—create a current to boost us forward?”

  She nods, eyes glowing faint blue. “On it!”

  With a burst of frost, twin arcs of ice crack across the asphalt. Markus leaps, the current boosting him forward with Liddle right behind.

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  As they gain on the spinning vehicle, Markus grits his teeth and flicks his wrists. Mana whips lash out, wrapping tight around the car’s front wheels.

  The strain hits instantly.

  Pain surges up his arms, his knees buckle, but he holds.

  The car slows, tires squealing as the icy surface robs it of traction—

  Then—slip.

  One tire catches wrong on the ice, spinning out again, redirecting the car straight toward the sidewalk.

  Alexia sprints ahead, slams her staff into the pavement, and channels her magic.

  With a thunderous boom, a wall of force shimmers into place—just in time.

  The car smashes into it and crumples like an accordion, the momentum absorbed cleanly without touching a single bystander.

  Steam hisses from the hood as the engine dies. The parking lot goes still.

  Markus drops to one knee, panting hard. Liddle rushes to his side while Alexia moves to the driver’s door.

  Inside, a man is shaking, hands trembling on the wheel. “Th-the brakes weren’t working,” he stammers. “I thought I was going to die—thank you.”

  “Is there anyone else in the car? Are you hurt?” Alexia asks, stepping closer.

  The man shakes his head rapidly, breaths shallow. “No—I was alone. I was just driving home when... my brakes—they stopped working and I—”

  His words break apart as panic overtakes him, his chest rising and falling too fast.

  Alexia’s expression softens. She places a hand on his shoulder, channeling a small wave of healing magic—not to mend injuries, but to calm the nerves fraying at the edges.

  “Hey, hey. It’s okay,” she says gently. “You’re safe now. We’ll call you an Uber so you can get home to your family.”

  Markus and Liddle walk over as the man steadies himself.

  “How were you able to stop the car like that?” he asks, still wide-eyed.

  Markus gives a tired smile. “Just a little magic.”

  The man blinks, then chuckles. “Alright then—keep your secrets.”

  He extends a hand. “But seriously… thank you. You probably saved my life.”

  “Oh, do you want to wait for the Uber?” Markus offers, but the man shakes his head, smiling faintly.

  “No, it’s okay. Thank you again—for everything.”

  With that, he turns and walks away, leaving the trio in quiet relief.

  Markus takes point, his coat swaying in the breeze, the Life-Giving Blade strapped across his back. His eyes scan the street—not in fear, but habit—one hand resting loosely near his hip, fingers twitching with leftover adrenaline.

  Liddle keeps pace beside him, her hand brushing his every so often. She looks around with wide, curious eyes, taking in the food trucks, faded murals, and the sound of children laughing in the distance. A small smile tugs at her lips. Her hoodie bounces with each soft step, her tail occasionally swaying into view behind her.

  A few steps back, Alexia walks with practiced ease, scanning rooftops and alley corners. Her eyes narrow at a suspicious shadow—only to realize it’s just a curtain flapping in an open window.

  “We’re incredible together,” Markus says, pumping his fist. “Everything’s so much easier with you two around… The trials made me forget that.” A smile warms his face. “We really can make this world a better place.”

  “That’s… a thought,” Alexia murmurs, closing her eyes as she takes a slow breath. She lets the moment hang for a beat before glancing at Liddle, her shoulders dipping slightly.

  “Do you really think that?” she asks—not just to Markus, but maybe to herself.

  That’s when the smoke hits them.

  Thick. Black. Rising fast. The acrid scent of burning wood and scorched metal rides in on a gust of wind that makes Liddle flinch.

  Markus stops dead. “Do you see that?”

  Alexia is already moving, eyes narrowing as she scans the horizon. “It’s coming from up the street. That’s not a bonfire.”

  They round the corner—and the scene explodes into view.

  A small apartment building is engulfed, flames licking greedily at the walls as glass shatters from the heat. Orange light pulses against the night, and a rolling column of smoke climbs into the sky like a signal flare.

  Without hesitation, they break into a run.

  “Goddamn it, Demono,” Alexia mutters under her breath.

  A man stands frozen in front of the inferno, his wide eyes reflecting the blaze.

  “My wife and daughter are still inside!” he shouts, trying to rush the entrance.

  Alexia throws an arm out, blocking him. “No! You’ll die if you go in—we’ve got this!”

  Markus’s hand flares with Mahoishi light. “Liddle—let’s move!” He grabs her hand without slowing.

  “Wait for me!” Alexia calls, already closing the distance.

  They charge into the wall of heat and smoke together. Markus summons the Life-Giving Blade mid-run, its white-gold hilt catching the glow of the fire. One clean swing—

  The burning door shatters inward.

  Inside, the world is a furnace. Smoke claws at their lungs. Fire crackles on all sides. A scream cuts through the chaos.

  Markus’s eyes lock on a woman pinned beneath a collapsed, burning beam. Flames lick dangerously close to her leg.

  Without thinking, he snaps his whips forward. The glowing strands coil around the scorched timber—one sharp yank, and the beam wrenches free.

  Alexia drops to her knees beside the woman, pressing a glowing hand to the injury. Light pulses beneath her palm as healing magic flows.

  “Can you walk?” she asks, voice taut.

  “My daughter—she’s still upstairs!” the woman cries, trying to stand. Her leg buckles.

  “Alexia, get her out—do what you can!” Markus orders, already turning toward the stairwell. “Liddle—put out what you can. I need time!”

  Liddle nods, eyes flashing blue. Frost surges from her fingertips, racing down the walls and smothering flames just enough to clear a path.

  Markus charges up the stairs, heart hammering. Every second counts. He kicks open the nearest door.

  “Sally?” he calls into the smoke.

  A small figure peeks out from under a desk, trembling. “You’re the boy—the one who saved me from the rat!”

  Relief hits him like a wave. “Yeah,” he says hoarsely. “And I’m here to do it again.”

  He scoops her into his arms and bolts. Smoke sears his throat. Heat blisters the walls. His legs burn as he pushes through the haze.

  They burst into the stairwell just as the upper floor groans under its own weight.

  “Take her!” Markus rasps, thrusting the girl toward Alexia.

  Alexia pulls Sally close, shielding her from the falling ash

  Liddle runs over, coughing, soot streaking her cheeks. “Glad you made it out of the fire this time,” she says, trying to smile through the smoke.

  Markus bends over, hands on his knees, coughing hard—but still standing.

  “Mom! Mom! That’s the boy I told you about!” Sally cries, running to her mother and clinging to her side.

  A man—who Markus guesses is Sally’s father—approaches with wide eyes and a grateful expression. “Thank you… for saving my family.”

  Before Markus can respond, a small blur darts toward him. A child—maybe a year or two older than Sally—wraps her arms around his waist in a fierce hug.

  “Oh! You must be Sally’s sister,” Markus says, chuckling. “She mentioned you.”

  He gently sets her down, ruffling her hair like a big brother.

  Markus glances toward the woman they rescued. “Looks like your wife’s walking again. Do you need anything else?”

  The man shakes his head, smiling deeply. “You’ve done more than enough. Really. Thank you.”

  “When I’m older, I want to be a hero like you,” Sally says, darting back over, ignoring her parents calling her.

  “That’s a noble goal,” Markus says with a warm smile. “I’m sure you’ll find your own way to help others—whether it’s something small or something huge.”

  He rests a hand on Sally’s head. “Now go to your parents. They need a hero like you right now.”

  Sally beams and runs off, her laughter trailing behind her.

  Markus watches for a moment, then turns and catches up to his friends.

  “You guys want to get a coffee?” he asks with a tired grin.

  Alexia walks beside him on the sidewalk. “Sure.”

  “Just ‘sure’? No sarcastic comment this time?” Markus raises an eyebrow.

  She gives him a small smile. “You earned it, Markus.”

  The warm scent of roasted beans greets them the moment they step into Buckstar. The café hums with quiet conversation and the soft hiss of milk steamers. Rain from earlier still clings to the windows, casting a gentle blur over the world outside.

  Markus made a beeline for the counter.

  “I’ll take the largest latte you’ve got,” he told the barista. “Extra shot of espresso. No—make it two.”

  A few minutes later, they were tucked into a corner booth by the window. Markus gripped the oversized cup with both hands and drank like it was the first water he’d seen in days.

  Alexia watched him over the rim of her own cup. “Doing okay there?”

  “It’s been a long week,” Markus muttered, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

  Alexia narrowed her eyes. “Don’t do the ‘I can handle it all by myself’ thing again. You know how that ends.”

  Markus gave a small shrug, but before he could answer, Liddle slid closer and wrapped her arm around his. Her fingers tapped lightly against the ring on her hand, catching the café light.

  “Just needed to cool off after everything,” Markus said with a faint smile. “I promise—I’m fine. For real this time.”

  He didn’t let himself think too hard about the dragon. Or the rabbit. Or what might already be on its way.

  Liddle leaned her head on his shoulder. “We’re strong, you know. The three of us together? I’m sure we can handle anything.”

  Markus exhaled slowly. “You’re right.”

  Outside, the rain streaked down the glass, blurring the world beyond. For now, they had coffee. They had each other.

  And for the moment—that was enough.