The morning light filtered into the room, revealing a tired but content Stella and Anagan. They had opted to take a lighter role for the day, joining Duman on Gardenia protection duty. After their late-night healing practice, both felt it best to stick to something that allowed them to recharge, even though Ogron had initially been hesitant.

Stella reassured him, "Don't worry, Ogron, we'll still train throughout the day."

With that reassurance, Ogron allowed it, though his gaze shifted toward the last wizard to emerge from the shadows of the room: Gantlos. His eyes, a familiar blood-red hue, immediately garnered everyone's attention. Ogron sighed, clearly noting Gantlos's state.

"You'll be staying back too, I take it?" Ogron huffed, his tone more of a tired observation than a question.

But Gantlos shook his head, his voice firm. "No, I was going to eat and come with you guys."

This statement caused confusion to ripple through the room, especially among the Winx members who hadn't been at the temple and the specialists who were still adjusting to the wizards' presence. Even the wizards and Stella looked surprised. Typically, after feeding, Gantlos preferred to rest and regulate himself for a bit. Now, he seemed to be pushing forward with an unusual resolve.

"Well?" Gantlos said, his sharp eyes turning toward Stella. "I want to do this quickly so we can all focus. May I?"

"May you what, dude—what the hell!?" Riven's voice cut through the room as he backed away, eyes wide with shock.

The others who were unaware of Gantlos's vampiric nature were equally taken aback, a few of them visibly panicking. But before anyone could escalate the situation, Roxy, Bloom, Tecna, and Ogron quickly stepped in, offering brief but calming explanations about Gantlos's nature. Though the others still seemed uneasy about what they were witnessing, no one said anything more.

A few moments later, Gantlos pulled away from Stella, a look of satisfaction and calm on his face. Duman, watching closely, spoke with an almost proud tone. "You've never fed in front of anyone except Stella and me before."

Anagan, ever eager to practice his healing, stepped in and quickly healed Stella's small wound. Stella rolled her eyes good-naturedly. "I could have healed myself, silly."

Anagan grinned, shrugging. "I need the practice."

"Well," Ogron interrupted, his voice bringing everyone back to reality, "you'll have plenty of time for that during training."

Gradually, everyone started to shuffle out of the room, preparing for the day ahead. But Gantlos lingered behind, a pensive look on his face. Anagan and Stella were absorbed in their own conversation, unaware of the interaction that was about to take place.

Duman leaned in closer to Gantlos, his tone dropping to a whisper of concern. "Won't you be hungry by the night of the attack? You won't be starving, but… you'll start to, you know, vampire out."

"Yup," Gantlos replied calmly, a smirk playing on his lips.

"So… you're gonna have Stella feed you before the battle?" Duman asked, his brow furrowed in worry.

"Nope," Gantlos replied with an air of finality.

Duman's eyes widened in surprise. "But you'll be in a vampiric state for battle?"

"Exactly," Gantlos confirmed, his gaze drifting to Stella, watching her from afar. "It'll be a full moon that night. My strength will be enhanced, and the hunger—it'll drive my ferocity in battle."

"You're gonna fight with it?" Duman's shock was evident. Gantlos had always been adamant about not using his vampiric state in battle, believing it would make him lose control. But now, Gantlos's resolve seemed unshakable.

"This is a part of who I am," Gantlos said softly but firmly. His eyes met Duman's with a rare vulnerability. "I have full intention of using it. I'd better get going."

Before Duman could respond further, Gantlos leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to Duman's cheek before turning and walking out of the room, leaving Duman staring after him in a mixture of awe and apprehension.

After everyone else had left for training, the loft became quieter. Stella, Duman, and Anagan lingered, basking in the brief lull. Stella sat on the couch, still slightly tired but feeling a little lighter after the morning's events. Anagan, nearby, was practicing healing spells on a few small bruises that Stella had pointed out. Duman, however, had settled beside Stella, staring out the window, his mind clearly elsewhere.

Stella noticed his distant expression. She gently nudged him with her shoulder. "You okay?"

Duman sighed, running a hand through his wild hair. "Yeah... just thinking."

"About?" Stella asked, leaning in closer.

"My powers... or lack of them right now," Duman admitted, his voice tinged with frustration. "I haven't been able to shapeshift since... everything happened." His eyes darted to the floor, as if avoiding the weight of his own words. "It's like... I'm not myself anymore. I feel stuck."

Anagan glanced over from his spot, his expression softening as he listened. "It's temporary, right? Your shapeshifting will come back eventually."

Duman shrugged. "Maybe. But what if it doesn't?" His voice dropped. "What if I'm just... ordinary now? What good am I in a fight if I can't even shift? I'm not like you, Anagan. You've got your speed. And Stella... well, she's a powerhouse."

Stella frowned, reaching out to touch his arm. "You're still you, Duman. You're more than your shapeshifting powers. And you're definitely not ordinary."

Duman forced a smile, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Thanks, but it doesn't feel that way. I'm supposed to be able to adapt, to change... and now I can't. I'm not sure who I am without that."

Anagan stood up and walked over, placing a hand on Duman's shoulder. "You're more than just your powers, Duman. We all are. It's easy to forget that sometimes, but we've seen that strength comes from more than just magic. And honestly, I think you're stronger for fighting through this."

Stella nodded in agreement. "Plus, you still have your mind, your instincts. Those are things no power can take away. You've always been good at reading situations, at figuring things out. That's not going to change."

Duman looked between them, a small, genuine smile finally breaking through his cloud of doubt. "You guys are too good to me."

Anagan grinned, giving him a playful punch on the arm. "We have to be. Someone's gotta keep your confidence up."

Stella chuckled, leaning her head against Duman's shoulder. "And you know... powers or no powers, save for Gantlos, you're still the guy I fell in love with. That's not going to change."

Duman exhaled, his tension easing as he rested his head atop hers. "Thanks, Stella. And thanks, Anagan." He paused, looking out the window again. "I just hope I can be useful when the time comes."

Anagan sat down on the other side of him, forming a quiet, supportive circle. "You will be. We all will be."

The three of them sat in comfortable silence for a while, the tension slowly dissipating. Despite the looming war, this moment was theirs—a brief reprieve, a reminder of the bonds they shared, and a glimmer of hope that they could face whatever came next together.

Stella finally spoke up, her voice gentle. "You know... we're going to get through this. All of us."

Duman smiled softly, feeling the warmth of their companionship. "Yeah. I think we will."