Axen and Hira stood atop the Toran Towers, the night wind cool against their faces. The city stretched out below them, glittering in the darkness. 

Axen turned to Hira, his expression softer now. “You shouldn’t have taken the strike for me.”

Hira smiled, “Aren’t we partners?” she replied, her voice light. “I don’t have healing powers. It was a strong hit. If it had struck you, I wouldn’t have been able to help.”

Axen frowned, looking away. “My stone would have healed me. Yours would have healed you in a few minutes too.”

Hira’s smile grew, her eyes narrowing playfully. “Yes, my stone would’ve healed me. So why did you heal me first? You took the same pain for me.”

Axen’s gaze remained fixed on the horizon. “Because I don’t like being in debt.”

With that, he leaped from the tower, disappearing into the night.

Hira watched him go, her smile fading.

The chamber was dimly lit, casting long shadows across the marble floor. Robis stood before his towering throne, his back to Lyn and Alvar. Slowly, he turned his head just enough for his voice to carry.

“That contract was important,” Robis began, his tone smooth. “But the Guardian Stone is far more valuable. Everything is unfolding exactly as I planned. This was never about shares or contracts. It was a way to gain Axen’s trust.”

Lyn and Alvar exchanged puzzled glances. “But how will we gain his trust with that?” Alvar asked, his voice tinged with uncertainty. “He had help—a girl. She fought us hard.”

Robis chuckled, a low, menacing sound, “Yes, he has a helper,” he said, turning to face them fully now, his eyes gleaming with a dark promise. “But the girl you fought was mine. She has been working for me all along.”

Lyn’s mouth opened slightly in shock. Alvar’s expression hardened, still processing the revelation.

“It’s time for me to have a drink with Axen,” Robis said, his voice dripping with confidence.

Omar sat in silence, staring out the window at the night sky. His eyes, still red from the power of the active Circe stone within him. Ammarah sat beside him on another chair, a plate in her hand with a half-eaten slice of strawberry cake.

She chewed thoughtfully before speaking, “So, Hira knew their plan. How?”

Omar didn’t turn to face her, his gaze still fixed outside. “I don’t know. Maybe she doesn’t trust me either.”

Ammarah raised an eyebrow, her voice soft but probing. “She holds one of the three most powerful stones. If she’s truly loyal, we could become unstoppable.”

Omar finally looked at her, his expression conflicted. “Her actions show loyalty. She took a cruel strike to save me,” he said, his voice quiet but firm. “But… we can’t trust her completely. What if she’s the queen on Robis’s chessboard, moving against us?”

Ammarah smiled knowingly, her eyes gleaming with understanding. “That’s my boy. You’re learning,” she teased. “We can never trust anyone fully. If Hira helps, that’s great. But the location of the Guardian Stone stays between us.”

Omar was about to reply when his eyes narrowed, spotting something unusual in the sky. The symbol—a glowing emblem—shone brightly again, but this time it wasn’t the familiar shade of white. It burned red, ominous and foreboding.

Ammarah followed his gaze, her eyes widening as she saw the symbol too. She shook her head, “No,” she said firmly, “You will not go. This could be a trap.”

Omar rose to his feet. “I have to. If I don’t go, he’ll think I’m a coward.”

In a blur, Omar’s form shifted, his body enveloped in a dark mist as he transformed into Axen. The black cloak of his identity settled around him like armor.

Ammarah stood as well, her heart pounding in her chest. She met his gaze, pleading. “Then I’ll go with you. Please.”

For a moment, Axen’s hardened expression softened. He smiled faintly and gave a single nod.

Robis sat at a lavish table on the ceiling-less top floor of an upscale restaurant, the night sky sprawling above like a canvas of stars. A half-filled glass of wine rested elegantly in his hand. Beside him rested a second glass, untouched, as if waiting for someone. Alvar and Lyn stood rigid behind him, silent sentinels. The top floor of the restaurant was deserted, save for two waiters standing by the entrance, motionless.

Outside, Axen followed the ominous red symbol in the sky, landing silently atop a nearby building. Ammarah touched down beside him, her gaze scanning the scene below.

Axen's eyes narrowed as he looked down at Robis. “You stay here,” he said, his voice low but laced with anger. “If this is a trap, I swear he’ll regret it. I won’t hesitate to use Red Fire, even if it destroys everything around.” His eyes blazed with determination.

Ammarah took a deep breath and nodded.

In a swift motion, Axen leaped from the building, landing right in front of Robis, his presence commanding the space. The impact of his landing was palpable, a silent warning.

Robis glanced up casually, tilting his head slightly. “At last,” he said, a slow smile curling at the edges of his mouth. “We meet… alone.”

Axen’s eyes flicked toward Lyn and Alvar, standing guard behind Robis. “Alone? You’ve brought your pet dogs,” he mocked, his tone dripping with disdain.

Robis raised a hand, gesturing with a flick of his fingers. Without a word, Lyn and Alvar, though seething with rage, obediently turned and walked toward the exit, leaving the room. Axen's gaze followed them briefly before locking back onto Robis, who motioned to the chair opposite him.

“Have a seat,” Robis invited, his voice unnervingly calm.

Axen lowered himself into the chair, his gaze never leaving Robis’s. Robis took a leisurely sip of his wine, “I’m not here for a fight,” Robis said smoothly. “I just wanted to share a drink and chat.” He gestured toward the second glass. “Go ahead. It’s not poisoned.”

Axen’s smile was cold, devoid of humor. “You wouldn’t make the mistake of poisoning it.” He took the glass, sipping slowly, his eyes still locked on Robis.

Robis regarded him for a long moment, the silence between them thick with tension. “You’re more clever than I thought,” Robis finally said.

Axen downed the rest of his drink in one swift motion, setting the empty glass back on the table. His gaze hardened. “You don’t know anything about me.” Leaning forward, he added, his voice low and dangerous, “The previous Axen was kind. He believed in mercy. But kindness is a weakness. I am not that Axen. I am cruel. I am merciless.”

Robis chuckled, a dark, knowing sound. “Listen, son,” he said, his voice turning coaxing. “Join me. You could be my greatest masterpiece. I’m not your enemy.”

Axen began pouring himself another drink. “Offer rejected,” he said coolly. His eyes flared with fury, voice tight with menace. “I’ll destroy you. You will regret every sin, every cruelty you’ve committed. I will avenge the previous Guardian. I’m not like your other victims. I’m the Axen you never imagined facing.”

He drained the glass in one go, slamming it down on the table.

Robis’s laugh, dark and full of malice. “You’re making a mistake,” he said, his tone turning sharp. “Overconfidence will be your downfall. I am fire. I will burn you down.”

Axen smiled coldly, shaking his head. “I’m not wood for you to burn,” he said, standing up slowly, his eyes gleaming with a deadly calm. “Water always extinguishes fire. You’re a blaze, but I am the flood meant to drown you.”

Robis watched him carefully as Axen turned and began walking toward the edge of the rooftop. “You’ll come back for another drink with me,” Robis called after him with certainty, “When you lose.”

Axen paused, turning his head slightly, just enough to meet Robis’s gaze. “A person only loses when they stop trying,” he said, his voice resolute. Then he turned fully, his eyes like steel. “I know this will be a tough war. But trust me—this war will end with your defeat. And it’s not overconfidence. It’s faith.”

With that, Axen strode toward the edge of the rooftop, his cloak billowing in the wind. Robis watched him go, his expression contemplative, before finishing his glass of wine in silence.

The soft morning light filtered through the curtains of the lounge, casting a warm glow on Omar's face as he stirred from his sleep on the couch. Slowly, he opened his eyes, feeling the stillness of the early hour. He reached for his phone resting on the side table, unlocked it, and was immediately greeted by the picture of Noor he had been looking at the night before. In the photo, she wore a black frock, her smile lighting up her face.

A faint smile crept onto Omar's lips as he looked at the image. He tapped on the messages app and began typing a quick message to Noor: "Good morning. If you're free, let's have breakfast together. I want to tell you something..."

In the meantime, Noor stood outside the entrance of Mersendise Complex. She saw the message and smiled to herself, her heart fluttering a little as she typed her reply: "Okay. See you in a while."

Omar saw her reply and grinned as he rose from the couch, stretching. "Ammarah?" he called softly into the empty apartment, but there was no answer.

Meanwhile, Ammarah, invisible and cloaked in silence, stood unseen at a distance, watching Noor. Nearby, Anum walked up to Noor and hugged her. Together, they stepped into the grand Mersendise gateway, making their way inside. Ammarah followed, her movements as quiet as a breeze, slipping through the doors unseen.

Once inside Noor’s flat, Anum flopped onto the couch. Noor, glancing at the time, said, “Anum, I’m going to have breakfast with Omar. You’ll have to wait here for a bit.”

Anum, with a playful grin, said, “Oh, fine. But before you go, can’t you show me your powers? Just a little something?”

Ammarah’s eyes widened as she listened closely, her suspicion growing.

Noor smiled softly but hesitated. “You’ll see them when I get back.”

Anum pouted, “Why the rush? It won’t take long—just a small demonstration!”

Noor sighed, her thoughts elsewhere. “He’s probably waiting for me,” she murmured, her smile growing slightly as she looked away. “And… he said he wants to tell me something.”

Anum’s eyes widened in delight. “Really? Well, go! Don’t keep him waiting!” She winked playfully. “I can wait for Hira.”

Hearing this, Ammarah’s face grew grim. Hira. The name echoed in her mind. Without wasting a moment, she slipped through the wall and hurried back to Omar’s flat. “Omar?” she called, but got no response.

At the same time, Omar walked through the hallway, smiling, a single red rose in his hand. He was heading toward the restaurant, inside Mersendise Complex. His phone buzzed in his pocket. Retrieving it, he saw Ammarah’s name flash on the screen.

“Hey, Fairy,” he greeted warmly.

“Omar, where are you?” came Ammarah’s hurried voice.

Omar frowned, sensing her urgency. “I’m on my way to the restaurant. What’s going on?”

“Meet me in the parking lot. Quick. It’s important,” she said, her voice tense before abruptly ending the call.

His heart rate spiked as he turned and hurried down the stairs toward the parking lot, the rose still clutched tightly in his hand. As he vanished into the stairwell, Noor stepped out of the elevator, her eyes bright, heading toward the restaurant, unaware of the shift that had just occurred.

When Omar arrived in the parking lot, he found Ammarah standing next to his car. His brow furrowed as he approached her, “What’s wrong?”

Ammarah glanced at the rose in his hand, her expression softening for a brief moment before hardening with resolve. “Omar… I don’t want to upset you, but there’s something you need to know about Noor.”

Omar’s face darkened. “What is it?” he asked, his voice low, but edged with unease.

Ammarah took a steadying breath. “She’s… Hira.”

Omar’s eyes widened, shock flooding his senses. “What?” he breathed, struggling to comprehend.

“I overheard her and her friend talking,” Ammarah continued, her voice cautious.

Omar closed his eyes, rubbing his forehead as memories of Noor’s questions about Axen rushed back to him. His mind churned with the realization. "She only got close to me because she thinks I’m Axen." He whispered.

Ammarah, seeing his pained expression, stepped closer, her voice gentle. “I’m sorry, Omar. I didn’t want to hurt you.”

Omar turned to her, his smile forced as he extended the rose to her. Ammarah took it, her heart heavy with the understanding between them.

“You did the right thing. I’m proud of you. We’ll use this to our advantage.” He paused, his voice growing firm. “Find out about the Ekzels. She’s Amaan Ekzel’s daughter, and now we have leverage.”

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Ammarah standing alone in the parking lot, the rose still in her hand.

Noor sat at the table, her eyes drifting around the room, waiting for Omar. When he finally appeared at the entrance, she looked up, expecting his usual warmth, but found only a cold, distant expression on his face.

He approached the table and sat silently across from her.

"Good morning," Noor greeted him with a smile, trying to bridge the gap she sensed.

Omar met her gaze briefly and nodded. "Morning."

Noor waved to the waiter, who quickly came over. "I'll have a regular breakfast," she said, then glanced at Omar. "You want the same?"

Omar shook his head. "Just a cup of strong black coffee." His tone was flat. The waiter nodded and left.

Noor furrowed her brow, studying his face. "Aren't you going to eat something?"

Omar’s gaze remained fixed on her, his expression serious. "Coffee's enough."

Leaning in, Noor asked softly, "What’s wrong? Why is your mood off?"

Omar’s lips twisted into a cold smile. "Nothing. My mood’s just fine... really good, actually."

The waiter returned with their orders, and they sat in tense silence. Noor finished her breakfast, all the while noticing his brooding quietness. Trying to lighten the mood, she leaned in again, her smile returning. "One of my friends asked for advice," she began.

Omar, setting his cup down, raised an eyebrow. "About what?"

"Love," Noor said, holding his gaze.

Omar’s eyes hardened. "Tell her to stay away from love. It’s a weakness. You never know when your so-called partner will stab you in the back."

Noor frowned, her smile fading, sadness creeping into her eyes. "What happened, Omar? You’ve changed."

Omar chuckled, but there was no warmth in it. "No, Noor. I’ve always been this way."

She nodded slowly, trying to process his response. "Okay... You said earlier you wanted to tell me something."

Omar shook his head. "I didn’t say it was special." His voice was blunt. "I just wanted to tell you, I haven’t changed. I still flirt with every girl."

Noor stared at him, her mood darkening, unable to hide her hurt. "Oh... That’s great. Glad to know."

Without a word, Omar shifted his gaze away, stood up, and placed the bill on the table. He left the restaurant without looking back.