The days blurred together in a haze of training and battles. Zen's skills improved dramatically, but his relationship with Alice remained a constant source of tension. He felt like he was losing her, bit by bit.
One evening, as they stood on the academy's battlements, watching the sun set over the horizon, Alice's expression was etched with worry. "Zen, I need to talk to you about something," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Anything," Zen replied, his heart racing with anticipation. "What's going on, Alice?"
"It's about my past," Alice said, her voice cracking. "I've been getting these... visions. Memories, I think. I don't know what's happening to me, Zen. I feel like I'm losing my mind."
Zen's instincts kicked in, and he reached out, pulling Alice into a gentle hug. "We'll figure it out, Alice," he said, his voice soft. "We'll find out what's going on, together."
But as he held her, he felt a sense of unease. What was happening to Alice? And why did he feel like he was running out of time?
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the world in darkness, Zen knew he would do anything to protect Alice. But would it be enough?
*To be continued...*