Morning light crept through the windows of the inn. A scream broke the silence.
Charlotte shot up. "Aah!"
Hide groaned. "Why are you screaming, Charlotte?"
She blinked, flustered. "Cyrus! I didn't expect you to be back so soon!"
Without a word, Hide rolled over and went back to sleep.
Charlotte sat quietly, watching him. "You dummy... but I'm glad you're back."
She smiled faintly and rose to wash her face. On the table, she found an envelope.
Inside was money. A lot of it.
She remembered the King's personal request. This must be payment.
She sat down, waiting for Hide to wake.
When he did, he caught her staring.
"Charlotte, what are you doing?"
"N-Nothing!" she blurted, cheeks red. "Just waiting for you!"
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
After freshening up, they packed to leave Rexes.
"Cyrus, why didn't you tell me where you went?"
"The King made it confidential," Hide replied.
"Well..." Charlotte hesitated. "Can you treat me to something?"
"You mean... a date?"
She nodded.
"Then it's a date," he said with a smile.
Hide led her to an alley. "Close your eyes."
She obeyed.
Snap.
They stood on a beach.
Charlotte gasped at the ocean.
She ran to the water, laughing. "Why didn't you tell me you could do this?"
"I can teleport, but I prefer walking. Seeing the world with my own eyes," said Hide.
Charlotte fell silent, staring at the horizon.
Hide thought: She's never been here before.
This was the same beach where Hide had once been with friends—before everything.
"Hide..." Charlotte whispered.
He snapped back. "Yeah?"
"Let's go somewhere else. This place feels... lonely."
He snapped his fingers. They returned to Rexes.
Charlotte kissed him.
"Now let's go," she said with a smile.
They left the city.
At camp, Hide built a fire. Charlotte watched him.
"Sorry if the date wasn't great," he said.
"It was perfect," she replied.
She pulled Twinkles from her bag. "Thanks for the gift."
Hide smiled. "Twinkles is more than a toy. If you're in danger, it comes alive."
He spoke a command. Twinkles transformed into a guardian.
Charlotte stared in awe.
"Why the name?"
Hide looked up. "A friend had a bear named Twinkles. It got torn, she cried. I fixed it. She told me the name."
Charlotte paused. "What happened to her?"
Hide took a breath. "She was in Eden Gardens. We tried to escape. I stayed behind making sure they can escaped."
He continued. "I haven't found them yet."
Charlotte lowered her gaze. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay. At least I became something before it all ends," he said softly.
Silence followed. Charlotte fell asleep.
Hide stood, wandering into the woods. He stopped in a clearing.
"Sorry, Charlotte. I might not make it."
His left eye began to glow. Blood trickled down his cheek.
He rose into the air, unnoticed.
Below, knights spotted him.
"What is that?!" the general demanded.
"No idea, sir. It appeared out of nowhere."
"We saw that glow before... during the invasion. Prepare to capture it!"