Fiona burst through the door of her room, her heart pounding with a mixed of emotions that she struggled to keep. Her eyes, usually calm and calculating, now flickered with an intensity that Axel had rarely seen.
"Miss Fiona, you're just putting yourself in danger." his voice tinged with a mixture of worry and desperation. "Walking into their territory alone is nothing short of madness," her assistant Axel said with concern.
Fiona spun around to face her assistant, her movements sharp and decisive. Her eyes, alight with fury and determination, bore into his. She took a deep breath, trying herself to calm.
"Axel," she began, her voice steady but laden with resolve, "I know exactly what I'm doing. This is something I have to handle myself. I can't afford to show weakness, not now."
Axel stepped forward, his concern palpable as he reached out, trying to bridge the gap between caution and her reckless bravery. 
"But Miss Fiona, there are other ways."  
"They killed my brother, they killed Nicholas!" Her eyes blazed with a fire that Axel had rarely seen before. "I won't find peace until I get revenge on them, Axel."
Axel stood a few paces away, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. His gaze was steady but filled with concern.
“You know they are not easy to deceive,” he replied cautiously.
Fiona’s lips curled into a determined smirk. “And you also know that my every move is not easy to predict, Axel. No one even knows that I have a brother. He gave me away, handed me over to other people, but still, we ended up with the same fate.”
Axel fell silent at what he heard. He felt an overwhelming urge to step forward, to wrap her in his arms, to let her know she wasn’t alone in her grief. 
Yet, something held him back. Perhaps it was the stoic resolve in her eyes or the unspoken understanding that showing his emotions might weaken her resolve.
So, he stayed rooted to the spot, a silent pillar of support, struggling to find the right words.
"Let me come with you, at least."
Fiona shook her head, a small, bitter smile curling her lips. 
"No, Axel. This is my battle. I won't drag anyone else into it. They need to see that I'm not afraid, that I can stand my ground. Alone."
Axel’s shoulders slumped in defeat, but he didn't back down completely. "Just... be careful," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.
Although it hasn't been that long, Axel has gotten to know Fiona very well. Every conversation, every shared glance, deepened his understanding of her, revealing layers he hadn't anticipated. And it seems that Fiona has also grown close to him.
*FIONA'S CHILDHOOD NIGHTMARE*
"Kuya, it's okay with me if our family is like this, just don't leave me," Fiona's voice trembled, each word dripping with desperation as she clung to Nicholas's arm.
Nicholas's heart seemed to ache with each of Fiona's sobs. The pain in her eyes mirrored the turmoil in his soul. He hated himself for what he was about to do, for the decision he had to make.
But he had no choice if he wanted to give Fiona a chance at a better life, far away from the harshness of their father's oppressive rules.
Their father, a man obsessed with maintaining a rigid reputation, believed that having a daughter was a sign of weakness, a flaw that could tarnish the family's image. He refused to accept Fiona, seeing her as a liability rather than a child to be loved.
Nicholas knelt in front of Fiona, his hands gently cupping her tear-streaked face. 
"I promise, this is for your own good. You deserve so much more than what I can give," he whispered, his voice breaking.
Fiona shook her head, clutching his hands with a grip that belied her young age.
"Kuya Nicholas! Kuya! Don't give me to them! Kuya!" she screamed, her voice a mix of fear and sorrow.
"Listen to me, Fiona," he said, his voice filled with a mixture of urgency and tenderness. 
"When you grow up, you must learn how to fight. The world out there can be harsh, and you cannot allow anyone to oppress you or diminish your spirit. You must stand strong and defend yourself. Also, be wise in knowing whom you can trust. Not everyone has good intentions, and it's crucial to distinguish true friends from those who may betray you. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
Nicholas's resolve wavered, but he knew he had to be strong for her. He pulled her into a tight embrace, hoping to convey all the love and protection he wished he could continue to provide.
The sound of footsteps approached, and Nicholas knew it was time. With a final, lingering look at his beloved sister, he gently pried her arms from around his neck and stood up. As he walked away, the weight of his decision pressed down on him, each step echoing the heartbreak of their forced separation.
Fiona's cries followed him, haunting him with every step. "Kuya, please! Don't leave me! Kuya!"
Nicholas didn't turn back, knowing that if he did, he would never be able to let her go.
*IN THE PRESENT TIME*
"Can't you be stopped here, Miss Fiona?"
Fiona looked closely at Axel, but the pain hidden in her eyes could be seen.
"Even you, Axel. There's no turning back for me," she whispered, the weight of her decision palpable in the air as she turned away, leaving Axel standing alone in the room.
Axel seemed troubled and hesitant about what to do, torn between his loyalty and his conscience. He picked up his phone and coldly scrolled through his contacts, as he hesitated to make the call. His heart sank even more when he saw Commander Monbilt's phone number.