The revolver thrummed, releasing a blue flash that lit up the dim room.
Axel instinctively threw his hands up, eyes squeezing shut, bracing for pain.
But seconds passed—nothing. No searing heat, no agony, no pain.
Confused, he opened his eyes. A faint blue glow pulsed on his chest where the bullet should've hit. No blood. No wound. Just the strange, rhythmic light, spreading slowly like ripples across water.
He blinked, dazed. Optima stood before him, hand over her mouth, eyes gleaming.
Then she burst into laughter.
"You—hah—you should've seen your face, little brother!" she wheezed, doubling over.
Axel's brow twitched. You just shot me, I'm not a psychopath, I'm a normal healthy human.
"What did you expect after that?" he muttered, glancing at Serif for support. Serif merely looked away. Traitor.
"What was that?" Axel asked, voice sharp yet unsteady as a warmth began to spread through his body, along with the blue glow.
"Relax, little brother," Optima said, leaning in with a grin. "Big sis was just takin' care of ya." She gave his shoulder a playful punch.
Axel winced, expecting pain, but oddly, there was no pain. His body felt… light. Stronger. He clenched his fist, testing it. Energy hummed under his skin, a faint vibration that made him shiver. He sat up, feeling the soreness fade from every limb.
"Wow…" he breathed, eyes widening. "It's like—"
Words failed him. He tore off the bandage, ignoring everyone else in the room, just to see the untouched skin beneath, no scars, no swelling.
"Impressed?" Optima asked, holstering her revolver into the sleek metal case.
"Yeah…" Axel muttered, still half in awe. "It's… gone. All of it."
He looked up, eyes shining. Maybe now I can finally help her.
"You're amazing, big sis," Axel said, voice soft but reverent. "You healed me just like that."
Optima's grin turned proud, like a performer basking in applause. "Told ya."
"So you can heal anything?" Axel asked.
"Not everything," Serif interjected, tossing him a shirt and hoodie.
Optima smirked. "Aww, c'mon Serif. Jealous much? I can heal any abnormality. Sickness, wounds, even corrupted cells, anything."
Axel's focus sharpened. "Even… disabilities?"
Optima hesitated, then nodded once.
He bowed, catching her off guard. "Then… Can I make a request?"
"Uh… sure?" she said, exchanging a puzzled glance with Serif.
"My sister," Axel began, voice trembling, "was injured in an explosion when we were kids. Her spine shattered. She's been bedridden ever since. No treatment helped, no matter how expensive. Can you…please heal her?"
Optima's smile faded. Before she could speak, Serif cut in.
"She can't. And even if she could, her services aren't cheap."
"Money isn't a problem," Axel said quickly. "I'll pay anything."
Optima sighed, rubbing her temple. "It's not about money. My power…Restoration, it resets a being's atoms to their original state. The longer the damage exists, the heavier the toll."
Axel frowned. "Toll?"
"Energy cost," Serif murmured. "Life force, memory…call it what you want."
Optima nodded. "If I restore something recent—say, a day or two—I can handle it. But years?" She shook her head. "The cost becomes… unbearable."
Axel's heart sank. Original state… so she'd be healed, but maybe lose everything she's lived since then, memories, age, back to before the injury.
Still, anything was better than her suffering, all because of him.
"What's the cost, exactly?" he pressed.
Optima looked away, and slumped on the sofa. "Something I can't afford to pay."
Axel's hands balled into fists. "Then let me pay it. Let me use the anima instead."
Optima's eyes softened. "It doesn't work that way, little brother. An anima's bound to its wielder—body and soul, only it's user can use it, not to mention compatibility."
His shoulders slumped. The flicker of hope guttered out. "Then… maybe another anima exists—one that can heal her. Without the cost?"
Optima smiled faintly. "Maybe. The world's full of mysteries, after all."
Before Axel could respond, Serif's voice cut through the air, sharp and controlled.
"Enough. We're leaving. The money's in the usual place."
Optima locked her case and rose, her gaze softened as she looked at Axel, lost in thoughts. "This one's on the house," she said, then stepped closer to Axel, resting her hands on his shoulders.
"Cheer up, little brother. I'll keep an eye out. I've got connections, I'm sure something will turn up." She winked, then pressed a light kiss to his cheek.
Axel flushed, too stunned to respond.
Optima's smile faded as she looked toward the wall. "Now, you two better go. We've got company."
Axel froze. "What—"
Serif raised a finger to his lips, motioning for silence. He gripped the door handle, turning it while the chain increased in size, wrapping around his entire forearm, sliding down like living metal.
Axel adjusted his hoodie, hand on the katana's hilt.
Optima snickered quietly. "Adorable," she whispered, earning another blush from him.
Then the door flew open.
Serif yanked a man in by the collar, startling him. The intruder's gun went off, too late. Serif's knee met his jaw with a crack, the crunchy sound of bone breaking like dry twigs echoed through the room, Axel flinching at the sound, as the man flipped around.The man's weapon clattered to the floor near Axel's feet.
In a blur, Serif rolled into the corridor and the next second multiple gunshots erupted in the corridor, the clanging sound of chains, men screaming, thuds, and the snapping sound of chains, echoed in the corridor and finally silence.
Optima exhaled calmly and sat back down on the bed. "Always the dramatic one."
Crazy, Axel thought as his pulse thundered in his ears. He tightened his grip on the katana as footsteps returned. Serif stepped in, calm as ever, blood dripping from the chain wrapped around his wrist.
"Let's go."
Axel grabbed the pistol and followed. He turned at the door, Optima was still sitting on the bed.
"Aren't you coming?"
She smiled faintly. "Worried about me? You really are sweet. But I'll be fine." She blew him a teasing kiss.
Axel turned away quickly, hiding his blush. She's doing it again.
"Thank you," he muttered, then hurried after Serif.
The sight in the corridor caught Axel off guard, heavily armed men sprawled around, unconscious or perhaps dead even, blood smeared on the walls. The thick, musty smell of gunpowder, and the metallic smell of blood filled the corridor.
Axel looked up, wondering how one got stuck in the roof, he noticed a deep gash on one's face, blood beading over it, he gulped, looking at the chains on Serif's hands, the dripping blood.
Axel swallowed hard. Remind me never to make him angry.
Serif's voice snapped him back. "Come on."
"Ye..yes sir," Axel answered and hurriedly followed Serif.
The scene ensuing was one of brutality, straight out of fantasy, even with their guns the men didn't stand a chance, they couldn't even scratch Serif who rampaged through the corridors of the motel, blocking bullets with chains, whipping and wrapping up the men, blood smearing onto the walls, he did it all.
Meanwhile Axel quietly followed, his hand tightly gripping the katana and pistol, speechlessly looking at Serif in action, awe in his eyes.
They rushed outside, slipping into a black SUV…the same one their attackers must've come in. Serif started the engine, and they tore out of the lot.
Serif looked in the rearview mirror, a man stood in front of the motel, a dark coat fluttering in the wind, black hair glinting faintly in the neon glow, waving them good bye with a grin.
Zoran.