August was spiraling.

Panic clung to him like smoke — thick, suffocating, inescapable. He didn't know how long he'd been frozen, hands trembling, eyes still wide from the sight of Caelan bleeding, disappearing into the forest.

He couldn't breathe. Couldn't think.

Until—

Shouting.

Footsteps pounding through the trees.

The world snapped back into motion.

Tae and Eren were running toward the camp — pale, breathless, and carrying something. No — someone.

A body.

Alaric followed close behind, eyes wild with panic, stained in blood and dirt.

August scrambled to his feet, heart thundering.

"Who—?"

And then he saw it.

The vision from his nightmares made real.

Caelan, limp. Covered in blood. Her arms curled protectively around a small figure — Mary.

Motionless.

His chest caved in.

He couldn't breathe. His knees nearly gave out.

"Cael…" he barely whispered.

Then louder, breaking, cracking—

"CAELAN!!"

His voice echoed through the trees.

And then—

A groan.

"...Yes? Your Highness?"

Caelan's voice, faint and dry.

"Can you not yell, please?" she added, eyes barely cracking open, "It took all my energy to make Mary fall asleep and stop crying."

August paused — stunned into silence. Frozen.

Alaric let out a long sigh, already stepping forward.

"Hand over my sister and go get treated, you overdramatic lapdog," he muttered, reaching out.

But Mary wouldn't let go.

She clutched Caelan's bloodied uniform with a white-knuckled grip, her little face buried in Caelan's chest.

"Ugh…" Caelan groaned, barely lifting her head. "Can we play tug-of-war later?"

Alaric scowled. "This isn't funny."

"Tell that to your sister," Caelan murmured. "She's got the grip of a bear cub."

Then, breath shaky, she added, "Sori'll get her off me. Just… get me to Galen. And get out."

Alaric made a dramatic noise in protest but obeyed, scooping Mary gently from Caelan's arms — her grip loosening only when Sori whispered something softly in her ear.

He turned to August next, brows raised. "You do remember you need to breathe, right?"

August blinked, finally exhaling a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.

His voice came low, rough from panic and frustration.

"Can someone explain to me what the hell happened?"

Alaric, now holding a fast-asleep Mary in his arms, let out a long sigh.

"I'll explain."

He walked further inside the estate, August trailing close behind — still visibly shaken, his hands twitching slightly with leftover panic.

They entered one of the sitting rooms, quiet and dimly lit by the soft glow of a chandelier. The thick navy curtains were drawn, casting the room in a warm shadow. Alaric gently sat down on one of the long couches, Mary still curled up against his chest, her small hands tangled in the fabric of his cloak.

August remained standing for a moment, as if unsure whether to sit or keep pacing.

Alaric looked down at his sister for a beat before finally beginning.

◇◇◇◇

{Earlier}

The deeper Caelan ventured into the forest, the more vicious the monsters became.

They swarmed like shadows, faster now — hungrier.

And the more her shoulder bled, the worse they seemed.

But through gritted teeth and unwavering focus, she pressed on. Every step was agony. Every swing of her sword burned. Still, she managed — carving a path through the chaos.

Finally, she reached a clearing.

No monsters. No movement.

Just a small form curled beneath the twisted roots of a great tree, her cries echoing softly in the stillness.

"Mary?" Caelan called, voice cracking despite her best attempt to stay steady.

The little girl looked up, tear-streaked and trembling.

"C-Caelan?" she hiccupped.

"What are you doing here?" Caelan asked, stepping closer and kneeling slowly in front of her, wincing as pain shot through her arm.

"I... hic... I was playing h-hide and seek... hic... and I got l-lost..."

The words came out between sharp sobs and gasps.

Caelan reached out with her good hand and gently wiped her cheek.

"It's okay. You're safe now. Come on — let's get out of here."

She scooped Mary into her good arm, holding her close, and quickly scanned the tree line.

Too quiet.

She took off running — breath ragged, boots hitting the ground hard as she retraced her path back.

But of course… they returned.

More monsters, emerging from the dark like spilled ink, seething and surging with renewed fury.

Caelan shifted Mary's weight in her arms.

"Mary," she said, voice low and firm, "close your eyes. And no matter what — do not open them."

Mary obeyed.

And then steel met shadow.

Caelan tore through the first wave, blood dripping from her shoulder, sword flashing in the dark. Her body screamed in protest — but she didn't stop.

She couldn't.

Because this time, someone small was depending on her.

As Caelan cut through the never-ending swarm of monsters, her arms ached and her blood slicked the hilt of her sword. The moment she thought the wave had slowed, another lash came from behind — this time to her back.

She staggered forward with a sharp, guttural groan.

Mary whimpered, clutching tighter to her jacket.

Caelan gritted her teeth and steadied herself. "It's okay, I'm okay," she said through a forced breath. "I just stubbed my toe on a tree, nothing happened. We're still in the game, little lady."

And she kept going.

Branches tore at her sleeves. Shadows moved faster. Her steps grew heavier.

Then — salvation.

Alaric burst through the trees, sword already swinging, holding the creatures at bay just long enough for Caelan to slip past him with Mary still clutched to her chest.

"You're late," she muttered as she passed him.

"I came to save your dramatic ass, you could say thanks—"

He didn't finish the sentence.

A monster lunged toward him — and for a split second, he was distracted, exposed.

Without thinking, Caelan spun, raised her leg, and kicked Alaric backward out of the strike zone.

The attack meant for him landed on her shin instead — splitting fabric and skin alike.

She hissed in pain but didn't falter.

Alaric shouted her name — but she was already pushing forward, refusing to slow down.

And then — finally — they were met by Tae and Eren, blades already stained and breathing heavy, clearing a wide path back toward the safe grounds.

Together, they carved their way out.

By the time they reached the edge of the forest, the air shifted.

The monsters suddenly stopped.

They didn't retreat — they just… wouldn't cross.

It was like an invisible line had been drawn in the earth, and whatever lay beyond it, they refused to touch.

Caelan collapsed to her knees, barely keeping herself upright.

Mary was fast asleep against her chest, fingers still curled in her jacket.

Caelan looked up at the others, vision already dimming.

"Don't drop her," she murmured. "She worked hard to cry herself to sleep."

And then everything went dark.

◇◇◇◇

{That brings us back to the current moment.}

"...And that's what happened," Alaric finished, his voice quieter now.

He held Mary close, as if she might disappear if he loosened his grip.

August didn't respond right away.

His eyes drifted toward the open door — toward the dim hallway that led to the medical wing, where Caelan was being treated.

He stared for a long moment.

Then, softly, as if to no one in particular—

"...He's always the one bleeding."