MIGHT AS WELL BE OP

Within the long, dimly lit hallway, two women could be seen walking calmly and gracefully, their steps falling into a quiet, synchronized rhythm. Silence stretched between them, thick and unbroken, as they moved forward without exchanging a single word.

Minutes passed, and soon fifteen had slipped by, their quiet march continuing as the corridor seemed to stretch endlessly before them, an infinite passageway that mirrored the silence enveloping their shared presence.

As they walked, a group of men from a different race appeared ahead. One of them let out a low whistle, lust filled eyes devouring Vega and Veronica. "You two… follow me to my ro—" he began, but his words were abruptly cut off as space itself twisted into a blade, slicing cleanly through his neck. His eyes froze wide in shock before his body collapsed to the ground, blood erupting like a crimson fountain as his head separated from his body.

The remaining men recoiled in terror, instinctively trying to put distance between themselves and Vega. But the scene repeated with chilling precision, heads severed from necks, one after another.

Neither Vega nor Veronica spared a glance at the corpses littering the floor. Vega had no time for sentimentality or theatrics. Should such behavior arise again, she knew exactly how she would handle it, swiftly, efficiently, and without hesitation.

'Why won't she say anything?' Veronica thought, uncertainty twisting within her. How should she begin the conversation? With an apology? An explanation? She had never found herself in a situation like this before, where silence carried so much weight, and she had no guide for navigating it.

"Why?" The single word shattered the quiet, Vega's voice finally cutting through Veronica's spiraling thoughts.

"Why?" Veronica murmured to herself, confused. What exactly was Vega asking? The question could hold a multitude of meanings, and she could only guess at the intent behind it.

"Why didn't you call me? Or even talk to me?" Vega pressed, as though she had somehow read Veronica's mind. At those words, Veronica's steps faltered slightly, hesitation creeping into her stride.

She paused, gathering herself, before finally whispering, "I… I was… ashamed of myself," the words tumbling out haltingly, each syllable heavy with guilt.

"Ashamed… huh?" Veronica murmured, almost to herself.

"Yes," she admitted, taking a deep breath. "I left to mourn Damian… yet on that journey, I found myself falling for another man. I felt ashamed… as though I had never truly loved Damian, as though I had simply leapt to another man now that he is gone." Her voice gained strength, flowing in a single breath as she poured out her thoughts, heart and mind laid bare.

"I also felt afraid… afraid of being judged by you," she continued. "I couldn't just pick up the phone or send a message and admit that I had fallen for someone else while still mourning my love… I… I just couldn't." Her voice softened at the end, heavy with sorrow and regret.

Vega remained silent, walking beside her companion, allowing her the space to speak. Veronica did not immediately continue, and the silence returned, oppressive yet familiar. After a moment, Veronica spoke once more. "Aren't you angry at me? At least complain or scold me… after all, I cut off communication."

"Angry? Why would I be?" Vega asked evenly, her tone calm and unchanging.

"You aren't?" Veronica said, stunned, a flicker of surprise passing across her features.

Vega shook her head. "I am only disappointed. Disappointed that after knowing me for years, you could think of me so little."

Her words struck Veronica with the force of a thunderclap, echoing in her mind like a storm raging through her chest. She didn't need Vega to elaborate; she already understood the source of the disappointment. Guilt coiled tight in her chest, a fresh pang searing through her heart. Her thoughts briefly shifted to a conversation with Lucian, who had once suggested that she might be overthinking everything.

"While I understand the dilemma you are facing, Veronica, I will never judge you," Vega continued, sighing softly. "It pains me to know that you have thought so poorly of me."

As they walked, another head rolled across the floor, the aftermath of Vega dispatching yet another group of men who could not control themselves, blinded by lust. But, deep down, she knew the root of the problem lay not in her own actions but in her presence, her beauty and charm. But would she diminish herself for men who could not restrain their baser instincts? Absolutely not.

"I know you loved Damian, that is a fact, not an illusion or a lie. Falling in love with another man after his death is a natural part of moving forward," Vega said quietly, her words steady as they continued their measured walk.

"If Anthony diess… would you fall for another man?" Veronica asked abruptly, the question hanging in the air like a challenge.

Vega paused, caught slightly off guard, before replying in a tone brimming with quiet confidence. "I am certain death, as a concept, will die before Anthony does."

Though she did not directly answer Veronica's question, her response left no ambiguity regarding her stance.

After a few moments of silence, Veronica whispered, "I'm sorry… for being a bad friend. For cutting off communication."

Vega nodded slightly, her expression unchanged. She had never been angry, only disappointed, as she had said.

"Well, if you are dating Anthony's friend, Lucian Darkheart, then I am certain you are in capable hands," Vega remarked. "Besides, it is evident he has been helping you with your cultivation, your skills, and your abilities."

She knew the extent of Veronica's natural talent, yet the rapid ascent of her mana rank left no question, it was Lucian's influence that had accelerated her growth.

"He is a good man… a perfect man, if I may say so," Veronica replied, her smile gentle and sincere.

"Yes," Vega said with a small smile of her own. "It seems he orchestrated everything from the very beginning."

Veronica shook her head with a soft sigh, murmuring, "I should have known." Yet even as she said it, she understood there was no way she could have foreseen such planning.

And so, the tension between them eased, replaced by warmth and a sense of friendship. The two women continued walking, discussing Veronica's new love life, the corridor around them stretching endlessly as the echoes of their conversation carried softly into the distance.

Time rolled forward as the time for the meeting drew closer.