SSS Unknown: Dark Knight's Legacy

"Um…"

After a long, restful sleep, Alice slowly regained consciousness. She blinked her eyes a few times, the light from the cave's crystal dimming her vision momentarily before it became clear. 

As her senses sharpened, she realized that the pain that had plagued her before was gone. Her body, though weary, no longer throbbed with agony. It had healed—well, at least enough for her to feel like herself again.

But then, she noticed something strange. Her hand was still being held by someone. The warm, firm grip immediately made her realize who it was.

It was Unknown.

He had fallen asleep beside her, his head resting lightly on his hand, his posture slumped in exhaustion. The steady rise and fall of his chest confirmed that he was in a deep slumber. 

Alice looked at him with soft, observing eyes. His face, usually cold and distant, now appeared different—softer, almost vulnerable in his sleep. The hard lines that usually marked his features seemed to fade, and for a moment, he looked strangely... adorable.

In that quiet moment, it hit her. 

He was young—perhaps even younger than she had originally thought. 

A rush of realization swept through her: beneath the indifference and stoic demeanor, he was just like anyone else. 

He was human.

A small smile tugged at the corners of her lips, the warmth of the moment mingling with the gratitude she felt for being alive. She had made it through. She was still here. And, perhaps, there was more to this situation than she'd realized.

Time passed quietly as Alice watched him, a sense of peace enveloping her. She was no longer afraid, no longer overwhelmed by her doubts. For now, all she felt was relief.

Eventually, Unknown stirred, his eyes flickering open as he slowly began to wake. His grip on her hand loosened, and he rubbed his eyes groggily. 

But Alice, not wanting to embarrass him, quickly closed her eyes and pretended to still be asleep. She didn't want him to feel awkward, especially after everything that had happened.

And so, Unknown cooked for her again, preparing a simple yet nourishing meal. The scent of the food filled the air, and as Alice took her first bite, she was immediately struck by how delicious it was. 

She had been hungry, but the flavors were so rich, so comforting, that it almost felt like a luxury she hadn't experienced in a long time.

'It's so delicious, where did he learn to cook?' Alice thought to herself as she savored the taste. 

She had never expected someone like him—someone so hardened by his past—to be able to prepare such fine food. It was almost... surprising, in a way that made her appreciate him a little more.

As she continued to eat, each bite felt more addictive than the last, like she could eat this forever and never grow tired of it. The warmth of the food was soothing, and for a moment, she allowed herself to simply enjoy the experience.

'I wish I could eat like this every day,' Alice found herself thinking, a slight sense of happiness blooming in her chest. It felt odd—unnatural, almost. 

She hadn't allowed herself to feel truly happy in a long time, not with everything that had happened, not with the war raging outside, the suffering of her people.

But here she was, enjoying a simple meal and feeling... content.

She suddenly felt a pang of guilt. 'Wait, what did I just say?' Her thoughts turned dark as she set her plate down, her appetite fading.

 She wasn't supposed to feel this way—not while so many others were still fighting, struggling to survive.

Her grip tightened around the plate, but she quickly released it, placing it gently on the table as though afraid it might betray her. 

She couldn't let herself forget the bigger picture. She didn't have the right to feel happy—not when there were so many lives on the line.

Her stomach twisted uncomfortably, and she quickly shook off the thought, her face flushed with the embarrassment of her own feelings.

Unknown noticed the shift in her demeanor almost immediately. His brow furrowed, and his eyes flicked from her to the plate, clearly sensing that something was wrong.

"What's wrong?" he asked, his voice softer than usual, tinged with concern.

Alice quickly dismissed it, hoping to avoid any further discussion. "No, I just suddenly have a bit of a stomachache," she lied, giving him a weak smile in an attempt to make the excuse seem more believable.

But Unknown wasn't convinced. He stared at her for a moment, clearly unsure whether he should push further. "Hm, do you need me to help?" he asked, his tone sincere.

Alice immediately raised both hands in front of her, shaking her head vigorously. "No, it's okay! You don't need to trouble yourself," she insisted, not wanting to burden him any more than she already had.

She could feel her heart racing, unsure of what to say next. The last thing she wanted was to become more dependent on him–to be a burden to be protected.

"Alright, if you're feeling better, that's good." Unknown's voice was calm, but there was a sense of finality to his words as he looked at her. "Then I can rest easy knowing I can bring you back to them." He gave a small nod, almost to himself, as if the decision had already been made.

Alice's heart sank at his words. Her gaze dropped to the ground, and for a moment, the weight of the situation bore down on her. She had known this day would come—the day when she would have to face the reality of returning to her team, of leaving this temporary safety.

 But hearing those words spoken aloud made it feel all the more real, and all the more difficult.

Her mind raced, trying to come up with an excuse, a reason to delay it. She had always known her mission was to bring back news, and maybe even help bring the shards to the people she cared about, but she hadn't imagined it would happen so quickly. 

She hadn't prepared herself for the fear that gripped her heart at the thought of returning.

"..."

"You don't look too happy," Unknown observed, his gaze softening as he noticed the change in her expression. 

He wasn't entirely surprised, but the concern in his voice was unmistakable. Despite his usual indifference, there was something in the way he looked at her that made Alice pause.

She opened her mouth to respond, but the words wouldn't come. What could she say? 

That she couldn't face the judgment of her comrades? 

That she was afraid of their disappointment? 

The thought of returning empty-handed, of having failed them, was more than she could bear. She feared their mocking words, the way they would look down on her for not being able to accomplish the impossible task they had set before her. 

It was all she could think about.

And even more than that, she didn't want to leave Unknown behind. In some strange way, she had come to rely on his presence. 

He had been there when she was at her weakest, and she wasn't sure she was ready to let go of that sense of safety he provided.

'Sylvie and Pincer are still trapped in the crystals,' Alice thought, her chest tightening. 'I can't just leave them behind and retreat. Not like this.'

She felt trapped, caught between the reality of her mission and the undeniable bond that had begun to form between her and Unknown. The thought of facing her team without having accomplished anything made her stomach twist in dread.

"I'll stay here for a while." The words slipped from her lips before she could stop them, her voice barely a whisper. It was more to herself than to him, but it was the truth.

She needed time to think, to process everything that had happened, and to come to terms with what she had to do next.

Unknown studied her silently for a moment, his expression unreadable. He didn't argue, though he clearly hadn't expected this response. But after a beat, he gave a slow nod, as if understanding the weight of her decision.

"Alright," he said simply. "Take the time you need. I'm not going anywhere."

Alice nodded her head in relieve. 

"You said the Hydra has evolved and become stronger, right?" Alice asked, her voice filled with a mix of determination and concern. Her brow furrowed as she tried to process everything Unknown had shared with her. 

"If that's the case, then let me join you in the fight against it."

Unknown had anticipated this response, but it still left him unsure of the best way to handle her request. 

He had not expected Alice to recover so quickly; perhaps the effect of [Madness Mutation] was too strong.

 And though he knew she was capable, her recent injury and the effects of the magic poisoning made her a liability if she pushed herself too hard. He paused for a moment, trying to gauge her strength, both physical and mental.

"...Hm," he muttered, his eyes narrowing as he weighed the pros and cons of her joining the fight.

"Alright, if you want," he said after a pause, though his tone was guarded. "But just so you know, if you want to take the sword fragment, that will be a different matter."

Alice's expression hardened, her resolve solidifying. She nodded, showing no signs of hesitation.

"I understand," she replied with unwavering determination. The fragment wasn't her priority now—defeating the Hydra was.

"Well then, I'll go hunt the Earth Dragon now," Unknown said, rising to his feet. His body had already gone into mission mode, and he moved with purpose. 

Everything had been prepared—medicine, food, and supplies. Alice would be fine here.

However, just as he turned to leave, he felt a light pull on his hand. He glanced down to find Alice gripping him, her fingers tight with a silent plea.

"Wait, can I come with you?" she asked, her voice tinged with both hope and desperation. There was something vulnerable in her eyes that made it impossible for him to ignore, even if he knew it wasn't the best decision.

Unknown's face softened for a moment, but his decision didn't waver. "Your body isn't strong enough yet. What if your old injuries flare up?" His refusal was firm, but not unkind. He could see the determination in her eyes, but he also saw the danger in her pushing herself too soon.

His tone was gentle, yet final. "You need more rest, Alice. I won't risk your health for this."

Alice's face fell slightly, but she understood. Her body wasn't fully recovered, and Unknown's refusal was rooted in the truth. 

She could feel the remnants of the pain from her injuries still lingering in her body, a constant reminder that she wasn't ready to fight.

'He's right,' Alice thought to herself, her grip on his hand loosening. Her mind acknowledged the 'I've just recovered from that pain. If I risk it now, it would be foolish.' wisdom in his words, but her heart felt torn.

She didn't want to be left behind. She wanted to be part of the action, to stand beside him and face whatever challenges lay ahead. But she knew he was right to refuse.

'But, still, I want to go with him.' The thought echoed in her mind as she slowly let go of his hand. There was a mix of frustration and longing, but Alice knew this was a battle she couldn't win—at least, not right now.

"I'll stay here," she said softly, though there was a resigned sadness in her voice. She didn't want to admit it, but deep down, she knew that she wasn't ready yet. But even as she spoke those words, she silently promised herself that when the time came, she would fight alongside him.