Chapter 492: It’s Nice Having You Back

Adam looked into Sera’s blue eyes. They were just as he remembered from the last time they had met, filled with the same loyalty and ambition.

"Well, it does fit his title, doesn’t it? The Deathless King," Adam said. "I don’t want that bastard’s skull to die just yet either. I still have some unfinished business with him."

"Yeah. I feel the same way," Sera replied, glancing down at her missing hand. "I lost this because of him, after all."

She paused for a moment before continuing, her expression becoming a little more confident.

"But thanks to that, I’ve become stronger. I even developed my own sword-fighting style because of it."

Adam looked at her for a moment before smiling faintly. "So even losing your hand didn’t stop you."

Sera shook her head. "It couldn’t. If anything, it made me realize how much I still had to learn."

She shifted slightly on the bed, her eyes becoming more focused as she recalled the battle. "At first, I thought losing my right hand meant I would never be able to fight the way I used to again. But after spending time adapting to it, I realized I was too focused on trying to replace what I’d lost."

Adam listened quietly.

"So I stopped trying to fight the way I used to," Sera continued. "Instead, I built a style that suited me now. It’s still incomplete, but I’m getting better."

Adam nodded slowly. "That’s pretty impressive."

Sera smiled. "Coming from you, I’ll take that as a compliment."

"Of course it is."

She stared at him for a moment before letting out a quiet laugh. "You really haven’t changed."

Adam raised an eyebrow. "What’s that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing." Sera looked away, though the small smile on her face remained. "It’s just... nice to talk to you like this again."

Adam was quiet for a moment, watching the faint smile on Sera’s face.

"I’m glad," Adam said.

Sera looked back at him. "Why?"

"Because the next time you face the Deathless King, I don’t want to have to worry about you."

Sera stared at him for a moment, then smiled softly. "You should worry about yourself first."

"Huh?"

"The last time we met, you were the one throwing yourself into danger without thinking twice."

Adam leaned back, folding his arms. "Well... that’s just how I am."

"I know." Sera’s smile grew slightly. "That’s why I have to get stronger too."

For a brief moment, neither of them said anything. The room became quiet, but the silence between them no longer felt awkward. Instead, it felt strangely familiar, as if the time they had spent apart had never happened.

Then Sera suddenly looked toward the door.

"By the way, Adam."

"Hm?"

"Why were you standing outside my room in the first place?"

Adam blinked when Sera suddenly asked the question.

"Ah..."

He glanced toward the door, then back at her. For a moment, he wasn’t sure how to explain it without making things sound strange.

"I was actually on my way somewhere else," Adam said. "I just happened to notice the light coming from your room, and the door was slightly open."

Sera narrowed her eyes. "Somewhere else?"

"Yeah."

"Where?"

Adam hesitated, because he felt the atmosphere would become awkward once he said it.

Sera’s expression slowly became more suspicious. "Adam?"

"I was going to see Lilith."

Sera stared at him for a moment before raising an eyebrow. "Lilith?"

"Yeah. I promised her I’d go see her."

"I see..."

There was a brief silence.

Adam noticed that Sera’s expression had changed slightly, though he couldn’t quite figure out why.

"What?" he asked.

"Nothing." Sera looked away. "You seem pretty busy tonight."

"Well, not really. I just had a few things to take care of."

Sera nodded, but her expression remained strangely thoughtful.

Adam tilted his head. "Are you sure you’re okay?"

"I’m fine."

"You don’t look fine."

Sera glanced back at him and smiled faintly. "You’re still surprisingly observant when it comes to other people."

Adam shook his head with a faint smile. "I don’t know if that’s a compliment."

"It is."

She paused for a moment before adding, "But if you promised Lilith you’d see her, you probably shouldn’t keep her waiting."

Adam nodded. "Yeah, you’re right."

He stood up from the chair and turned toward the door.

"Adam."

He stopped and looked back.

Sera was still sitting on the bed, watching him quietly. The lamp behind her cast a warm glow across her face, softening the sharp lines he remembered from the battlefield. Her blonde hair spilled over one shoulder, and her blue eyes held none of the steel he was used to. She looked more.... feminine.

Adam felt his chest tighten.

"Thanks for coming in."

Adam forced his thoughts to settle. He let out a quiet breath and smiled. "Of course."

Then she gave him a small, genuine smile.

"It’s nice having you back."

Adam paused at the doorway, slightly caught off guard by her words. He turned his head and looked back at her.

"Yeah... it’s nice seeing you too."

Sera smiled softly, but before either of them could say anything else, Adam noticed the faint light from the hallway spilling across the floor.

He stepped out and gently closed the door behind him.

As he walked down the corridor, Adam couldn’t help but think about their conversation. Sera really had changed. Losing her hand hadn’t broken her spirit. If anything, it seemed to have given her another reason to keep moving forward.

And now that she had developed her own swordsmanship, Adam was curious about just how strong she had become.

"Still, I wonder what kind of sword style she came up with..."

He continued walking, then suddenly stopped.

"Wait."

Adam’s expression changed.

"Lilith."

He had completely forgotten that he was supposed to meet her.

"She’s definitely going to complain if I make her wait too long."

With that thought, Adam hurried down the corridor toward the room where Lilith was waiting, unaware that Sera was still sitting on her bed, quietly watching the closed door.

She lowered her gaze to her missing hand and gently touched the end of her right arm.

"Adam..."

A faint smile appeared on her lips.

"Even after all this time, you’re still you."