CHAPTER 179: Ashes of Munich

CHAPTER 179: Ashes of Munich

February 9, 2001, Munich.

Snow accumulated on street corners, dirty from the passing cars and the city's smoke. Fénix came out of a kiosk with a bag in his hand, his breath escaping in small white clouds. He smiled, something he hadn't done with such sincerity in a long time.

"Thanks, boss," he said to the man behind the counter before pushing the glass door and disappearing onto the icy sidewalk.

As he walked, he felt the lightness of a moment without chains.

"I don't remember the last time I felt like this... free. No enemies lurking in every shadow, no constant pressure that someone's going to stab me in the back with a bayonet."

The crunch of snow under his boots accompanied him like an old friend.

"Lucio, Vanessa, Alucard... they're not here. I lost them along the way. But, for the first time, I don't feel the guilt suffocating me. Maybe... maybe I managed to survive to honor them."

He stopped at the corner, watching how the city continued its indifferent routine, as if the world had never been on the brink of collapse.

"There are no more monsters to hunt," he murmured, in a tone that sounded more like a promise than relief. "There are no more wars to fight."

An unfamiliar calm took hold of him. It wasn't perfect, it was full of absences, but it was his.

"Maybe this is what they call peace."

Fénix came out of the kiosk with a bag in his hand. The winter cold bit his fingers, but he didn't care. He smiled, a sincere smile, one of those he thought were forgotten.

"No more monsters, no more madmen with bayonets..." he murmured to himself.

"And to think I used to not even be able to sleep peacefully. Now I walk down the street and the only thing I worry about is the coffee being too bitter."

Arriving at the Enid Corp entrance, he pushed the glass door and stopped. He looked straight ahead, not at the lobby, but beyond.

"Ah, you're still there?" he said with a raised eyebrow. "I suppose you're expecting me to tell you the nightmare is over, right? Well yes, in a way. No more monsters have appeared to hunt. Well..." he scratched the back of his neck with a lopsided smile, "every now and then some strange creature appears, but nothing that can't be handled in an afternoon."

He crossed the hallway while employees greeted him formally.

"My life is different now," he continued, lowering his voice as if sharing a secret. "I no longer run through blood-stained alleys or fight until my bones break. Now... I sign papers. Reports, contracts, permits. Yeah, it sounds boring, I know, but believe me... after everything I've been through, bureaucracy can be a respite."

He took the elevator up and smiled at his reflection in the mirror.

"Relatively quiet, huh?" he said, shrugging. "And you know what? I'm not complaining. In the end, maybe this is the greatest victory I could afford."

He took the elevator to his floor. When he opened the door to his room, he noticed something on the desk: a white envelope, with his name written in Enid's unmistakable elegant handwriting.

Fénix took it carefully, breaking the seal. Inside was a brief note:

"I'm waiting for you tonight in my room. It will be dinner, a date.
–E."

He stared at it for a moment, and a wide smile crossed his face.

"Well, looks like the night still has surprises in store for me," he whispered.

He folded the letter delicately, stored it in the inside pocket of his jacket, and, for the first time in a long time, walked towards the window with the certainty that his life could be something more than just surviving.

The day slowly faded. Fénix let himself fall onto the bed, a book in his hands. On the cover, a title in silver letters: "Treatises on Lycanthropy and Other Metamorphoses."

He turned the pages calmly, mentally underlining some fragments.

"I never had time for this... now I have plenty. Maybe understanding what I am is the best way to be at peace with it."

The clock on the nightstand marked 8:30 PM. Fénix sighed, closed the book, and left it on the pillow.

"Dinner time," he murmured with a half-smile.

He got up, opened the closet, and chose something simple: a plain long-sleeved t-shirt, dark blue, and black cargo pants. Nothing fancy.

"No need to overdo it..." he said softly while adjusting the sleeve.

As he turned, his gaze fell on the table in his room. There was his faithful Matilda, resting with the metallic gleam that reminded him of all the past battles.

He stood still, hesitating for a moment.

"What if...? No, no need. Not tonight."

Finally, he let out a small laugh and shook his head.

"Why would I need it..." he whispered, looking away.

Fénix took a breath, smoothed the fabric of his t-shirt with both hands, and headed for the door. Enid's letter was still in his pocket, a reminder that tonight there was no war, no monsters, no fear. Just a date.

Fénix arrived in front of Enid's door. He took a deep breath, as if it were the first time he was going to see her after a long day. He raised his hand and knocked softly.

"Yes?" a familiar, warm voice responded from inside.

The door opened and Enid appeared. She wore casual clothes, comfortable but elegant in her own way: fitted pants and a simple blouse that highlighted her smile.

"Ah, there you are," she said, opening the door fully. "Come in, I was waiting for you."

Fénix smiled and entered. The room was lit by the warm glow of candles. On the low table, a simple but carefully prepared dinner awaited: two plates, wine glasses, and a small centerpiece with flickering candles. A comfortable armchair was placed near the table, as if inviting one to sit and relax.

"Well..." Fénix looked around with admiration. "You've gone to some trouble for this."

"Well... I couldn't have you come to my room without a little romantic atmosphere," Enid replied, winking as she approached. "Do you like it?"