Kael finally reached the top. He carefully set Yui down on a sturdy branch, making sure his arms were steady so she wouldn't slip. As her feet touched the rough bark, she looked up at him—flustered but quietly thankful. Her fingers curled tightly around the branch, grounding herself in the unfamiliar height. The air smelled faintly of moss and damp wood.
Yui gazed out over the Soul World. The fading light barely cut through the dusk, but a soft glow stretched along the horizon, painting a quiet kind of beauty that stirred something inside her—a mix of awe and maybe a small flicker of hope. A cool breeze whispered through the leaves, carrying a faint hum, like the world itself was breathing.
Kael watched her, his eyes softening. His jaw clenched for a moment before he let out a slow breath, the cool air brushing his skin. The weight of everything pressed down on him. "Maybe back on Earth, I could've enjoyed my time more—right now, this moment feels like the first time I really get it. Liliam... I'm sorry I never understood how you felt. I only wanted to make my brother proud, and I wanted those people who laughed at us to be ashamed. Somewhere along the way, I lost sight of what life's really about."
Breaking the quiet, Yui's eyes lit up with curiosity. "Kael, how did you do it?"
He gave a faint smile, branches rustling gently with his words. "It's hard to explain. You have to focus your aura and shape it how you want. That's how I did it."
Yui frowned, clearly confused. "Uh… okay. By the way, how old are you?"
"My age? Why? You won't tell me yours..." Kael teased, the evening chill brushing past them.
"Nine. Now you tell me," Yui puffed her cheeks, a slight shiver running through her as the wind picked up.
"Oh, you're older than me. I'm just eight." Kael's pride showed in his voice, warmed by the closeness despite the cold.
"No way! Say you're joking!"
"I'm not," Kael said, grinning like he'd won something.
Yui stared at him, half surprised, half impressed, the last light of dusk casting soft shadows around them.
[Ivan, Evening]
[Room No. 1007]
Mia's eyelids fluttered open. The bed beneath her felt soft but unfamiliar. A faint chill made her shiver. She blinked, trying to focus, but the dim room around her was blurry, shadows stretching long on the walls.
"Wh... where am I?" she whispered, her voice rough and barely more than a breath.
Her mind reached for memories—the fierce fight with the Night Rays, the damp cave with Kael, the chaos of it all—but everything else was a heavy fog.
She pushed herself up slowly, every movement stiff and sore. A dull ache throbbed at her temple, and a sour taste lingered in her mouth. Am I hurt? A flicker of fear threaded through her confusion.
Swinging her legs off the bed, she forced herself to stand, gripping the bedpost to steady shaky legs. The hallway outside stretched dim and quiet, with faint smells of wood polish and something floral—maybe herbs—carried on a cool evening breeze slipping through a nearby window.
The calm of the palace felt miles away from the chaos still echoing in her mind.
Footsteps came quickly down the hall. An attendant appeared, pale-faced but alert, her steps muffled against the stone floor.
"Miss, are you alright?" she asked softly, her voice urgent but kind.
"I'm... not sure. Where is this place?" Mia's voice trembled, fear threading through her confusion.
"This is Ivan Palace," the attendant said, glancing behind as if expecting someone. "Don't worry—I'm calling the doctor and Sir Ossban now."
She reached out, steadying Mia gently against the rising tide of uncertainty before hurrying down the hall. Mia's heart hammered—not just from pain, but from a fragile hope that maybe, just maybe, she was safe.
After a while, Ossban, Serene, and Elena came into the room. Their footsteps were soft but heavy with meaning.
Serene sat beside Mia and said softly, "Mia, don't worry. I'm Kael's aunt. This is Ossban—my husband—and Elena, my daughter."
Mia blinked, trying to take it all in. "Kael's aunt... Okay. But where's Kael? What happened after I passed out? The last thing I remember is him losing control and laughing… then everything went blank."
Ossban nodded, his eyes serious. "I'll explain everything."
As he talked, Mia's expression changed—eyes widening, brows knitting—as she tried to keep up with the story. When he finished, her voice shook. "Where is Kael?"
Ossban's voice dropped, heavy with worry. "He's missing. Earlier today, in Ivan Market, he vanished. No one has found him yet. We're doing everything we can, but luck isn't with us. We think the Night Rays are involved."
Suddenly, dizziness hit Mia hard. The room tilted, colors dimming around the edges. She blinked fast, fighting to stay steady.
Serene moved close, steadying her with a gentle but firm hand. "It's okay, Mia. Just breathe."
For a moment, panic loosened its grip. Mia focused on Serene's calm presence—the only solid thing in the shifting shadows.
Mia took a few deep breaths, leaning back against the pillows as Serene helped her settle. The dizziness faded, leaving a dull ache. Her eyes stayed locked on the faces before her—family, strangers, but somehow familiar.
Ossban cleared his throat quietly. "Mia, you need to understand what happened after you passed out. Kael… he wasn't himself. The fight with the Night Rays triggered something inside him—something dangerous."
Serene nodded, her gaze calm but distant. "He fought to control it. That laughter you heard? It wasn't happiness. It was the dark side of that power pushing him too far."
Elena, quiet until then, reached out and squeezed Mia's hand. "We're all worried. But Kael's strong. He won't give up."
Mia swallowed hard, trying to take it all in. "So… the Night Rays—they took him?"
Ossban's face darkened. "We don't know for sure. But their presence in Ivan Market when Kael disappeared makes us think they're behind it. They're relentless and growing bolder."
Serene's voice softened. "But you're safe here, Mia. We'll do everything to find him and bring him back."
For the first time since waking, Mia felt a spark of determination through the fear. "I have to help. I can't just wait."
Serene smiled softly. "That's the Kael we know and trust."
As evening faded outside the window, the quiet room filled with a steady resolve—a silent promise to face whatever comes, together.