The place they arrived at was Ruby's home.

She needed to assure her parents that she was safe—and check on them as well.

Naturally, Adrian had already healed both Ruby and Ariana before coming here.

Now, the redhead was surrounded by her family—her parents and brother—each of them wearing the same expression of deep worry.

Ruby let out a tired sigh. "As I said, I'm fine, Mom."

Fiona frowned, her tone sharp. "You can't say you're fine when your eyes are this red and puffy. Tell me, why were you crying?"

Ruby groaned. "I cried because of Damien. Look at yourself—your eyes are puffy too."

Damien crossed his arms. "Then maybe you can explain what Professor Adrian did back there? Healing me like it was nothing? As if that kind of power was normal?"

Ruby fell silent.

Even though her father knew Adrian could use independent magic, what he had done then… was far beyond what even veteran Acolytes could accomplish.

He had regrown organs, restored skin, repaired torn tissues, and even replenished lost blood. And all of that—by absorbing resources from the corpses around them.

"It looked nothing short of terrifying," Damien muttered, the memory making his skin crawl. He could still feel that unnatural sensation—his wounds closing, the blood flowing back into his veins. It wasn't something he wanted to relive.

Seeing the distress on his daughter's face, Reid finally spoke. "Ruby, we won't force you to answer our questions. But… can you tell me one thing honestly?"

Ruby looked up at him as he gently placed his hands on her shoulders. His voice softened, but there was a weight to it.

"Do you still trust him?"

"Yes," she answered without hesitation. "I do."

She didn't need time to think. She trusted Adrian—just as much as she did yesterday. Nothing between them had changed.

There are things people go through that can't be explained or easily understood, and Ruby saw Adrian's actions as one of those moments.

What mattered to her was simple—he came back. And when he did, she saw the guilt in his eyes, the way he carried it like a burden too heavy to bear.

That was enough for her to know it was still him.

The man she had fallen for.

Reid exhaled slowly, his grip easing. "If you trust him, then there's no point in questioning you further."

"But, darling—" Fiona began, worry still lacing her voice.

Reid glanced at her calmly, and she pressed her lips together, choosing to stay quiet.

For now, she would trust her husband's judgment.

Ruby smiled at her father before turning towards her brother.

Cupping his cheek, she said, "I am going somewhere and will return tomorrow. You have to take care of the family until then."

Damien huffed, though he didn't move away.

….

On the rooftop of the house, Ariana and Adrian sat together while Ruby remained inside, reassuring her parents that everything was fine.

A gentle wind brushed against them, swaying Ariana's silver hair as Adrian quietly combed through it with his fingers.

Ariana glanced at him. He hadn't said a word in a while, his face unreadable.

"I can't guess what's going on in that head of yours," she remarked with a hint of sarcasm.

Adrian let out a dry chuckle. "Well… it's going to take me some time to move on from what happened." His voice dropped lower. "And I know it's the same for you two."

Ariana bit her lower lip, her eyes lowering to the floor.

He was right.

She had been afraid in that moment—truly afraid.

It was the first time she'd faced someone she couldn't fight back against.

In every battle before, if someone hurt her, she responded with equal force—either overpowering them through sheer strength or crushing them outright. That was how she survived.

But this time… the person who had hurt her wasn't an enemy.

It was someone she loved.

"Did you not try to stop me?" Adrian asked suddenly, voicing the same question that had been circling her mind ever since.

Ariana gave a faint, dry smile. "Well, I did try… but you were too strong. I couldn't even land a single hit."

The memory made her chest tighten. That helplessness—she'd never felt anything like it.

Ariana had faced countless opponents before, some far stronger than her, but never had she been completely powerless. Nothing she did worked against him.

At first, she tried to reach him with words—to calm him, to bring him back. But when that failed, she resorted to force. She didn't have her armament at the time, but even without it, she wasn't weak.

Yet every move she made was crushed effortlessly by that version of Adrian.

"You showed such terrifying control over independent magic," she said quietly. "For a moment, I thought I was fighting the Apostle of Nytharos himself."

Adrian exhaled, his gaze distant. "I'm sorry for what happened."

Ariana turned to him, her tone gentle but firm. "That's the twentieth time you've apologized. And my answer hasn't changed—you didn't do it willingly."

Adrian lowered his eyes. "Even so… part of it was still my fault."

She blinked, confused. "What do you mean?"

Adrian hesitated for a moment before admitting softly, "My… nature. My preference in bed—it affected my emotions when I lost control." His voice dropped, shame and discomfort lacing each word. "When I came back from death, the first thing I felt when I saw you was… arousal. And that—" he clenched his fists— "that twisted feeling made my sadistic side surface… like a broken beast let loose."

He realized it the moment Avirin told him the reason behind Ruby and Ariana's groans and cries.

Piece by piece, the memory aligned — and the truth struck. He might have influenced his actions; unaware, yes, but still… it was him who had brought that pain upon them.

Ariana was speechless for several moments.

Adrian hesitantly looked up, bracing himself for something harsh — something he knew he deserved.

But instead, she said something that completely took him off guard.

"Damn… I didn't know my crying face could arouse you."

"..." Adrian stared at her.

Ariana met his gaze.

And then, both cracked at once — laughter echoing into the air, unrestrained and genuine.

When they calmed down, Ruby was already standing beside Ariana, her hands on her hips as she complained, "Didn't I say no talking without me?"

Ariana turned to look at her and said, "You will love to hear this-"

"Ah, Ariana! No, don't tell her."

Ruby's lips parted in shock before she hurriedly turned toward Ariana and told her, "Now, you have to tell me!"

°°°°°°°°

A/N:- Thanks for reading.

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