CHAPTER 33 — The Weight of the Curse

The barracks of the Dawn Squad were heavy with silence. Seraphina lay on her bed, her radiant aura dimmed to a faint shimmer, black veins of corruption crawling across her chest. Every breath was shallow, every word a struggle.Eleonora sat beside her, scythe leaning against the wall, violet eyes calm but sharp. To the squad, she was Eleonora — their strongest warrior, the one who had forced the Curse Demon into retreat. But in her heart, she carried another name. A name only one man had ever spoken. Elen.Seraphina’s voice broke the silence, soft but steady. “Eleonora… listen to me.”Eleonora leaned closer, her expression unreadable. “Yes, Captain.”Seraphina’s hand trembled as she reached for hers. “If anything happens to me… you will lead this squad. You have the strength. You have the will. They will follow you.”The words hung heavy in the air. Aria, Kaela, and Mira froze, their eyes flicking to Eleonora.Her gaze softened, pity flickering in her eyes. She spoke quietly, firmly. “I will lead them. But only until you are healthy again.”Seraphina blinked, surprised. “…Until I am healthy?”Eleonora nodded, her voice steady, her aura restrained but resolute. “Yes. Because I am waiting for someone. When he comes… I will walk beside him. Until then, I will carry this squad for you.”Seraphina’s lips curved faintly, a weak smile breaking through her pain. “…Thank you, Eleonora.”Eleonora’s eyes narrowed, her grip tightening around her captain’s hand. “Rest. I’ll keep them safe until you rise again.”The room fell silent once more, but the squad felt it — a shift in power, a new center of gravity. Seraphina’s light was fading, but Eleonora’s monstrous aura was there to shield them.For now, she was their leader. But in her heart, she was waiting. Waiting for Ivan. Waiting for the only one who would call her Elen.