---- Chapter 12 Athena POV: | stepped off the plane, the old SIM card from my phone a tiny piece of meaningless plastic in my palm. | dropped it into the first trash can | saw. With that simple act, three years of my life vanished. A wave of lightness, of pure, unadulterated freedom, washed over me. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, | could breathe. The flight had been long. I'd fallen asleep almost immediately, my body finally succumbing to the exhaustion and trauma of the past few weeks. | was woken by the captain's announcement that we had landed. | walked through the bustling airport in a daze, the unfamiliar language a soothing balm to my frayed nerves. As | exited into the arrivals hall, a splash of vibrant color caught my eye. Someone was holding a sign. On it, my name, "ATHENA," was written in bright, rainbow-colored letters, surrounded by hand -drawn stars and smiling pixels. My breath hitched. My eyes followed the sign up to the man holding it. He was tall and wore a simple, dark suit, but his eyes were shining with a warmth that reached me even from across the crowded terminal. ---- Eliot. He grinned, a wide, dazzling smile. "PixelVixen, in the flesh!" he boomed, his voice a little too loud, a little too dramatic. "The legend returns! Your adoring public awaits! Professor Serrano has been wearing a path in his carpet, worrying about you." A laugh, a real, genuine laugh, bubbled up from my chest. "Eliot, you're supposed to be a respectable publisher now. Try to act like it." He clutched his chest in mock pain. "Respectable? My dear Athena, do you have any idea how many of your fans have been flooding my inbox, demanding your return? | am a man of the people!" | couldn't help but smile. "Is it really that bad?" "Worse," he said, his expression turning serious for a moment as he easily lifted my heavy suitcase. "The game world hasn't been the same without you." He led me towards the exit, effortlessly clearing a path through the crowd. He stopped by a sleek black car, opened the trunk, and gently placed my luggage inside, even taking a moment to wipe a speck of dust off the handle with his sleeve. Then he turned to me, his smile softening, his eyes filled with a deep, unwavering kindness. He opened his arms. "Welcome home, Athena." The dam broke. The tears | had been holding back for so long ---- finally fell. | stepped into his embrace, burying my face in the clean, crisp fabric of his suit jacket, and sobbed. All the pain, the fear, the humiliation-it all came pouring out. "Thank you," | choked out, the words muffled against his chest. "Thank you for everything." He just held me, his hands gently rubbing my back, letting me cry until the storm inside me finally subsided. | pulled away, embarrassed, my face flushed and my ears burning. "Sorry," | mumbled, wiping my eyes. A flicker of something | couldn't quite decipher crossed his face before he quickly masked it with a cheerful grin. "Nothing to be sorry for. Now, come on. Let's get you settled." In the car, | stared out the window at the passing city lights, feeling like | had woken up from a long, terrible nightmare. "So," Eliot said gently, "do you want to stay with the Professor, or would you prefer your own place?" | hesitated. | wasn't ready to face my old mentor, to see the worry in his eyes, to answer the questions | knew he would have. "My own place, | think. If you could help me find something..." "Your father has been worried sick, you know," Eliot said, his voice soft. "| know," | whispered, shame coiling in my gut. "I'm just... not ---- ready yet." "Already taken care of," he said brightly. "Turns out, the apartment right across the hall from mine just became available. What a coincidence, right?" | turned to look at him, my eyes narrowing. "Eliot. Is it a coincidence?" He held up his hands in surrender, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. "Okay, fine. | bought it a month ago. Just in case. | hoped you might need it." My body went rigid. | stared at him, my throat tight. He had bought me an apartment. Just in case. | blinked rapidly, forcing back a fresh wave of tears. "Eliot," | said, my voice thick with emotion, "that was... incredibly thoughtful. Thank you." | turned back to the window, my heart a confusing mix of gratitude and something else, something warmer and more fragile. Hardin had bought me things, too. Expensive, extravagant things. But they were never for me. They were props for his stage, gilded bars for my cage. Eliot' s gesture was different. It was quiet, practical, and selfless. It was a safety net, offered without expectation. For the first time in three years, | felt a flicker of hope. | felt the tight, painful knot in my chest begin to loosen. ---- | was finally moving forward. Title: A Princess? No! I'm the Female General! In "A Princess? No! I'm the Female General!" by CrushReel, Adela Taylor, a noble family's daughter, disguises herself as her brother to secure their Duke title by joining the army. Despite facing obstacles, she achieves remarkable success. However, upon her triumphant return, her brother betrays her, setting off a chain of events that will test her resolve and reveal hidden truths. This captivating novel delves into themes of secrets, reincarnation, revenge, murder, and drama. Adela's journey from deception to betrayal is filled with intrigue and suspense as she navigates through a world where power dynamics and family loyalties collide. What sets this story apart is its strong female lead who defies expectations and challenges societal norms in a quest for justice and redemption. Experience the riveting tale of Adela Taylor online at CrushReel and witness the transformation of a princess into a formidable female general.