Just be by my side. I cant do anything without you, so please, don't do anything dangerous. I have never objected to anything youve done, Eleonora, and Ive been there for you for over fifteen years. But this Please, I beg you to reconsider. Adrian pleaded.

Youve been there for me? Eleonora scoffed in disbelief.

How do you think you're still alive when you've been on death row ten times? How do you think youve avoided Kyle Leonard up until now? Adrian gripped onto her hand, hoping that she would see how he felt.

To his dismay, Eleonora laughed at him, which was not the reaction Adrian wanted. He had poured out his sorrows in front of her, and this was how she repaid him.

So what? Im supposed to thank you or something? Because youve been by my side? Unlike Adrian, Eleonora was calm and rational. Every word she uttered was like a dagger to Adrians heart. Say it straight, Adrian. All you do is clean up my mess. You don't know a single person better than me; I don't need you and I dont want you to be by my side; you are not worth putting into my research.

Adrian was too stunned to speak as Eleonora finished her tirade. He knew that he couldnt refute a single thing she was saying, and that is what destroyed him the most. Objectively, Adrian Rossinell was one of strongest wizards on the whole continent, but he was no match for Eleonora.

I have never forced you to stay by me. Even if you werent here, I would survive just fine on my own. Besides, if it had been hard to get a foot in Laurent because of that bastard captain of the defense bureau, I would have moved on to another country. Eleonora frowned and folded her arms. Youve only done this for your own self-interest. And Ive already paid the price enough.

Price? Adrian started speaking, only for Eleonora to cut him off.

I told you only my body was yours. You're the only man in my life who can touch me. Isnt that enough? Eleonora gently took her hand from Adrians. Dont give me orders. You dont have that right, Adrian.

Adrian listened to Eleonoras razor-sharp words rip into his flesh, his thoughts muddled. Did he even love her anymore? If this was how she was talking to him. what was even the point of lingering around like he had done for the past ten years. Is that Is that truly how you feel? Adrian whispered, not wanting to meet her gaze. God, you are pathetic. Do what you want, because I dont care.

At his final words, Adrian turned away. He began to walk away, doing his best to keep his head held high. Eleonoras words hurt him to the core, but he was not going to give her the satisfaction. He didnt miss the fact that Eleonora didnt try to grab him.

Whatever they had was well and truly gone.

***

Two weeks later, Adrian happened upon to cross Eleonora once again. He bumped into her whilst his attention was elsewhere. In the midst of apologizing, he looked up and gasped when he recognised the pair of eyes looking back at him.

Ellie? He said, like he could scarcely believe that she was right there in front of him. After their argument, they hadnt spoken to each other once.

Fortunately, Eleonora seemed willing to talk. They found a nearby spot to sit far away from the public and made uncomfortable small talk. And yet, all Adrian could think about was what Eleonora wanted. The world she imagined was vast and surreal; a utopia no one else could imagine. A place that developed in a direction different from the wizards who only dreamed of reviving the legendary era when dragons existed.

Adrian had been fascinated with Eleonora since he saw her flush face as she poured her heart and soul into her future.

At one point he was just purely worshipping and loving her, hoping and praying that he existed in her world.

When was it that the love began to crack?

Was it when her curiosity had stretched out in an increasingly dangerous direction by delving into the arms industry and exchanging secret deals with Yulem? They had argued about what would happen if Yulem got his hands on the nanochip they had completed, and how she gave it to him to spite Kyle Leonard. The heated debate had ended with Eleonora telling to stop pouting as he was getting on her nerves.

Adrian sighed, and looked over at Eleonora with a sad smile on his face. The more likely reason, the one he did not want to imagine but had to come to terms with, was that he didnt exist in the world that Eleonora imagined.