The room fell deathly silent.
Sarah looked at the woman whose mere presence caused her senses to scream.
‘Danger. Mystery. Death.’
Those three words appeared in her mind as she gazed into Enigma’s tricolor eyes. They shone with an emotion she didn’t understand but recognized as something not positive.
“Enigma…” Sarah narrowed her eyes.
She read about Shadow Guardians multiple times and was curious about their legendary leader.
But never did she expect to see her in current conditions. Enigma was no longer the legendary leader of a glorious organization—she was the branded terrorist of an extinct group.
“Where is he?” Sarah asked with noticeable anxiety. She couldn’t care less about Enigma or the two people here.
She received a warning signal from Boo, followed the instructions, and sneaked out to this location.
{Master’s identity is revealed. We barely escaped. You are in danger! Sneak out and reach these coordinates.}
“Varian is safe. His position should be hidden. Thank you, but your concerns are not needed.” Enigma said curtly.
“Huh?” Sarah raised a brow. Even though Enigma’s voice was emotionless, her words and her tone were provocative.
“Do you have a problem with me?” She asked in a neutral tone. Since Varian was helping Enigma, she didn’t want an antagonistic relationship with her. But that didn’t mean she’d take any disrespect.
“Problem? I do have a problem.” Enigma walked to Sarah.
Kyle and Maya looked at each other. Wisely, the smart people decided not to meddle and sat farthest from them. But Kyle went a step further and tried to contact Varian.
“Your talent, your achievements, whatever you have today is because of her kindness,” Enigma said in a cold voice.
Sarah’s eyes widened. That day, Sia helped her and that improved her talent. It was an irrefutable truth and Sarah was indebted to Sia. But more than debt, she wanted to see her best friend.
“How is Sia? Can I see her?” Sarah asked with a joyful face. Anyone could hear the eagerness in her voice. There was also a trace of loneliness in it.
Even if Sia didn’t improve her talent, Sia was important to her. It all started a year ago.
Sarah hoped her relationship with Evander would go back to normal if she got into the academy. So, she worked extra hard and was the first ranker in the entrance test that year. She even undertook great risks and broke a record.
All she got for that was a “Good job”.
But she didn’t see his joy or pride. All she saw was indifference in those eyes.
It had a devastating impact on her.
As the days rolled on, it only worsened and before she knew it, Sarah reeled into depression.
She was lonely, depressed, and gloomy.
During that time, a girl was quickly making a name for herself in the academy. She was the entire opposite of her—social, optimistic, and cheerful.
It was as if she was a bundle of positive energy that made everyone happy.
‘I wish I was like her.’ Sarah had once wished.
She thought life would go on, but on a fateful day, she went to a quiet park in the academy which usually had no visitors.
That day, however, she decided to stay a bit late.
Then she saw the optimistic, positive bundle of energy of the academy—Sia sitting near a pond and crying.
In her helpless tears, Sarah saw herself.
When she approached her, Sia was visibly shocked. But soon, they found great common grounds.
Sarah learned that Sia had a tragic past, but decided to live strongly so that she could achieve a goal.
“It was always his dream to see a world of peace. He worked harder than anyone I know. But because of me, he gave up on his dreams. He lost all his confidence.
I have no excuses. I am responsible for his plight.
But I don’t want to wash away my sin. I will become the Sovereign he wished to be and bring peace.
Once I do that, even if I die the next second, I’ll be happy.”
When she confided her reason, Sia’s usually bright face was filled with a myriad of complex emotions.
Sarah didn’t ask exactly why or what happened. But she understood that the burden on Sia was far greater than on her.
So, when she saw Sia facing her life with such a brave attitude, she too decided to do the same.
While she couldn’t be optimistic or cheerful like Sia, she did succeed in her own way.
She focused on practice, she turned proactive in her life affairs and she chased after her goal—acknowledgment by Evander.
Their relationship only solidified further when they joined together as Team ‘Siarah’.
When their and other teams risked finishing a secret realm in the mid dungeon, she was heavily injured.
Everyone escaped except for Sia. Sia fought the magic beast and killed it at the expense of heavy injuries.
But Sarah had fatal injuries.
By then, they had already expended all the healing potions and the other teams ran away.
Thus, Sia made a decision she never considered.
Sarah still remembered that moment vividly.
A drop of glowing blood fell from Sia’s forehead onto her and it changed her forever.
Sarah would never forget Sia’s kindness.
And that’s why—
“Please. How is she? I really want to meet her.” Sarah said in a pleading tone.
“Hmph! I don’t know how one can be so shameless.” Enigma said in a piercing voice. “You steal the one person closest to her and you want to meet her? With what face?”
“I—” Sarah’s face paled and she clenched her fists.
Her worst fears came true. Even though Varian said his relationship with Sia didn’t seem to involve any romantic feelings, she was scared it was indeed a romantic relationship from the beginning.
Perhaps it was because of the way Varian could be oblivious to romantic feelings—even when she showed interest in him without knowing, he was unaware of it.
But more importantly, Sarah could remember the smile and affection Sia showed whenever she talked about that ‘person’.
It was such a close bonding that it went beyond any normal relationship.
And that’s why, when Varian revealed that he was ‘that person’ of Sia, she panicked. Her insecurities exploded and Sarah struggled to remain calm.
When Varian told her that he’d remain ‘busy’, she realized he’d be on a dangerous journey in the future.
So, she set aside her insecurities and worked on herself.
Even though Varian told her that she could call him anytime, she never called him once. She didn’t want to distract him in the middle of his mission, whatever it may be.
She only wished that in the not-so-distant future, they could stand side by side, face the dangers bravely and live a happy life.
But if her happiness gave Sia grief, then…
“I…I didn’t steal him. I never about his relationship with Sia. If I did, this would’ve never happened.” Sarah bit her lip and closed her eyes.
“Heh.” Enigma sneered. “Now that you know, why don’t you back off? This way, you wouldn’t be betraying Sia.”
Sarah thought of her relationship with Sia—Everything they went through. Without Sia, she’d have never grown out of her depression. Without Sia, she’d have died in a desolate dungeon. Without Sia, she…
Tears began to form in the corner of Sarah’s eyes. The guilt became a weight that suffocated her.
If she did give up on Varian, then Sia would be happy. Her relationship with Sia would be also guilt-free. It could also be considered as returning the favor.
Sarah loosened her clenched fists and the weight on her shoulders seemed to have vanished with the painful decision.
She looked at Enigma and said.
“I will not leave him.”