294,

Daniel did not turn around, Cyclone and Sonja didn't know that Daniel was actually feeling scared.

As long as he turned around, the situation would truly become the same as three years ago.

Sonja knew it too, but she still drew her sword.

Between the knight's duty and personal emotions, Sonja once again chose duty.

Daniel wouldn't blame her because even Daniel himself didn't know which choice was the right one.

Three years ago, Daniel couldn't do anything.

He could only watch as the girl he loved left.

In a world engulfed in raging fire, Daniel could only watch, unable to make any choices.

Now, as long as he turned around, Sonja was by his side, and the demon was behind him.

And then...

Allen's hero would once again appear before him, but this time as an enemy.

"Elder..."

In the vivid memories of the fiery mansion, the elegant golden hair was set off by the flames, and the dazzling gold carried a hint of sadness.

Three years ago, Sonja, as a newcomer to the Wind Knights, held her long sword, pointing it forward.

"Elder..."

She called out again, but her voice was too soft, perhaps only audible to Daniel beside her.

The raging fire continued to burn, and no one paid attention to Sonja's shouts.

"..."

Daniel stood a little behind, watching Sonja's trembling figure.

"Who are you really?"

Damn...

Daniel cursed in his heart.

The same voice, the same feeling of fear, one looking forward and the other looking back, both Sonjas speaking the same words with the same voice.

For his respected elder, covered in blood now.

What left Daniel speechless was the moment she turned around.

Like a demon from hell, Sophiel, the wielder of the world's greatest sword, held her slender sword.

Drops of blood fell, and there were several adult corpses on the ground.

Daniel knew them, they were Sophiel's parents, as well as the servants of Sophiel's household.

With her silver hair stained red with blood, Sophiel turned her head to look at Sonja.

She smiled.

Even now, Daniel still didn't understand.

How Sophiel was able to smile at that time.

But Daniel only knew that behind Sophiel, the girl he had always loved was sitting there.

In her left hand, she held a small silver dagger, and a clear red line connected her right arm to the ground.

"Who are you really!!"

Once again, the questioning resounded.

Despite tightly gripping her long sword, Sonja's trembling was clearly visible on the blade.

"..."

Just then, the world changed.

A hand was placed on Daniel's shoulder, and the voice from three years ago echoed in his ear once again.

"Oh... look who it is?"

A cunning male voice suddenly came from behind, the demon who deceived everyone, the man who had hidden his true identity all this time, the spy of the demons, the Prime Minister.

"Surprising~ our hero of justice in the people's hearts, Allen's hero..."

A deceased person, someone whom Daniel wished he could kill with his own hands, appeared behind him.

"Someone come! Capture Allen... no, the greatest betrayer of Allen! Capture Sophie, Allen's hero!"

The world became chaotic, reality and nothingness merging together. The male voice continued speaking.

"There's no escape, this is your fate~"

What Daniel saw in front of him was an image from three years ago. He knew that well. But behind him, another Sonja faced the present.

"What's the matter? Can't turn around?"

Yes, Daniel couldn't turn around. But that long and deep voice enticed him constantly, deepening his fear.

"Who am I?"

The girl in front finally answered, responding to Sonja's question. However, beneath that black smile, she spoke.

"I am..."

"Boring..."

As soon as Daniel uttered those words, the scene in front of him disappeared completely.

"Really..."

At the same time, the man who had transformed from the voice also vanished.

"This time is different, this time..."

Daniel finally turned around, looking at the man he had once misunderstood. Previously, Daniel believed that he would reveal Allen's whereabouts in order to protect himself. But Daniel was wrong. Just like what Allen had said, he had misjudged the person. This time, Daniel faced Cyclone directly.

"That's such a stupid question~"

Cyclone tilted his head, not understanding what the two of them were thinking, but since they asked, he would answer.

"I am Cyclone Theodore..."

Cyclone stared at the two of them and spoke in the most ordinary tone, uttering the simplest words in the world. But those were the words Daniel couldn't hear three years ago.

"I am Allen's hero."

***