Unrequited love: Two. Alex: Zero.

Her fears came true soon enough. However, she wasn't aware just how long she had been in love. When did this switch occur? Could she have already been in love when she spoke to Dante?

It already felt different. Garroth was right in front of her. Others knew he existed. He was alive. He wasn't a secret Alex had to hide from the world. From his family. Yet, he was equally unattainable. She had gone from a man who would push her away to someone instead who had already given his heart to someone else.

All the stories she read never once had a situation such as this one.

Crisp autumn air kicks a leaf up from the ground, twirling it around across the dirt pathway. While still feeling some effects of summer, the September change was slowly consuming mother nature.

Time was changing quickly, and it wasn't only with the seasons. Things were suddenly different, Alex had an uneasy feeling in her stomach. So many things had been happening. Unexpected visitors bringing gifts. Unexplained amulets. People were coming and going. Garroth had even started to act differently, containing himself to his room. He'd only speak to Lilian, and it angered Alex beyond all demand. She was a complete stranger, and he'd willingly push away those who he already knew. Those who cared greatly about him.

"Has he eaten at all?" There was genuine concern lacing Alex's tone. She hadn't seen Garroth act the way he's recently been acting. She worried about him.

"No, not that I'm aware of." Kandi didn't want to be defeated. She didn't know what caused Garroth's change. He didn't seem sick to her, but perhaps it was a sickness that wasn't easily identifiable at the first glance. But she knew her brother, and he wouldn't let a simple cold bring him down. "Food is placed outside his door, but he barely touches it. If he touches it at all. I'm really concerned about him."

Silence falls between the two females. A mutual silence filled with sadness. Alex goes to speak before Brian rushes past, running to who knows where. Kandi and Alex share a questionable glance, confused. It was already sunset. It wouldn't be long before night shadowed over them.

Commotion rang swiftly. Multiple bodies coming from different directions and heading towards the front gate. Alex reaches for Laurance when she sees him, but he shakes her hand off of his arm, instructing her to stay behind.

He let the name Zane slip past his lips.

Alex begins to feel sick once again, and Kandi has already begun to rush towards the gates like everyone else. Not wanting to be left alone, Alex follows Kandi.

The two are a considerable distance away from everyone else when they're near the gate. They remain hidden enough where they can hear the commotion, but they can't be seen. Kandi is the eyes of the duo, peaking past the bark of a tree.

"What's going on? What do you see?" Alex whispers, itching to know what Kandi was seeing.

"My brother and the Lord of Scaleswind. There's a mixture of both O'Khasis and Scaleswind guards, but not a great many of them. They're demanding for Nicole."

"Why could they possibly want her now?"

It was a silly question on Alex's end. Kandi didn't have the mind to create an answer to it. She was trying to calculate what Zane was getting at with everything. O'Khasis and Scaleswind were not on the best of terms as of current, so she didn't understand the sudden team.

"Whatever the reason, I don't believe this is going down peacefully."

°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

Laurance confirmed Alex's fears. There wasn't a good reason for Zane and the Lord of Scaleswind to be at the front gates. They hadn't been able to find Nicole with the search parties that were conducted. He didn't mean to tell his sister just how dire the situation was. He hadn't even told Cadenza. It was a slip of words in an effort to make her leave him alone. He didn't state there would be a war, but the announcement Aphmau was going to make later that evening confirmed it.

She feigned sickness after that. She'd tell Kandi, of course, if she didn't already know, but her mind wasn't thinking straight. There was one person she truly wanted comfort from. Someone who wasn't truly involved.

°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

"There's going to be a war in five days' time."

Vylad wasn't surprised. He had seen all the conflict as of recent, but he didn't know Phoenix Drop would be affected like this. Or at least, not quite yet. It made no sense, truly. Two large powerhouses coming after a fairly small village. At least, if Zane wasn't involved it wouldn't make sense.

If amulets and Zane were in the same sentence, he knew there were other motives behind actions. The Lord of Scaleswind, too blinded in drama with his daughter, wasn't aware of Zane's motives.

He didn't know where Nicole was. He wished he did. His brother and sister loved this village, but he couldn't get involved.

"I can't help you with this, Alex," Vylad said, his words distant from her.

"I'm not asking for help. I-I came to you–"

She felt helpless at that moment. He's pulled this before. Every time he would begin to say things like this, it meant only one thing.

"I'm leaving. I'll be gone before daybreak."

Alex was in disbelief. She shouldn't have been. He's pulled this many times before.

"You can't just leave!" She cries out, nearly hysterical. "When will you be back?"

"I'm not coming back," Vylad responds, his voice monotone. "I've stayed for too long. Consider this a goodbye. I think it's best if one of us walks away. And because I don't believe you'll be able to do so on your own, I'll be the one to do it.

°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

And there he left her. Alone amongst the trees. Fearful of the unknown and suddenly full of rage. She had just lost her best friend, and she was forced to face war alone.