The world outside the prison felt too open.
Too bright.
Too alive.
After hours trapped beneath stone and steel, the forest beyond the ruined fortress stretched endlessly beneath the evening sky. Golden light filtered through the trees, touching the earth in broken pieces as wind moved softly through the branches.
But peace did not reach them.
Not truly.
Not after everything they had seen.
Not after everything that had been said.
The group walked in silence along a narrow trail that curved between towering trees and moss-covered rocks. Their footsteps were slow—not because they feared pursuit, but because exhaustion had finally begun settling into their bones.
Even Lee Kung, who carried himself like a warrior forged from determination itself, looked drained.
But none of them carried exhaustion the way Sio Jun did.
Because hers was older.
Deeper.
And now—
Awake again.
Sio Jun walked near the back of the group.
Far enough to avoid attention.
Close enough not to be alone.
Her hood shadowed most of her face, but not enough to hide the occasional glance she stole toward Harris.
Every single time—
It hurt.
Not because he was Kael.
But because he wasn't.
That was the cruelest part.
The resemblance was so perfect it felt impossible. The shape of his jaw. The calmness in his eyes. Even the way he moved reminded her of someone she had spent years trying to bury inside her memories.
And yet—
Every time Harris spoke, reality returned.
Different voice.
Different soul.
Different person.
But her heart did not understand the difference fast enough.
And that terrified her.
Harris noticed it.
Of course he did.
He wasn't stupid.
Every time he turned around, he caught her staring for half a second too long before quickly looking away.
At first, he thought it was awkwardness.
Then pity.
Then maybe trauma from the prison.
But now—
He understood.
Or at least part of it.
Still, understanding did not make it easier.
Because every time Sio Jun looked at him, it felt like she was seeing someone else standing in his place.
And somehow—
That hurt him too.
Night fell slowly.
The group eventually stopped near a river hidden deep within the forest. The water moved gently over smooth stones, reflecting the moonlight like shattered silver.
Mia gathered wood while Lee Kung remained alert near the edge of camp, his hand resting near the hilt of his sword.
Harris sat near the fire once it was lit, staring quietly into the flames.
And Sio Jun—
Stayed away from all of them.
She sat alone beneath a tree near the riverbank, knees pulled close to her chest as she stared at the moving water.
The firelight barely reached her there.
Maybe that was intentional.
Mia looked between Harris and Sio Jun carefully before sighing softly.
"She's avoiding us," she whispered.
Lee Kung glanced toward the river.
"No," he replied quietly.
"She's avoiding him."
Harris looked up immediately.
"…I didn't do anything."
"No one said you did," Lee Kung answered.
Harris frowned slightly.
"Then why does she look at me like that?"
Neither Lee Kung nor Mia answered immediately.
Because the truth was complicated.
And painful.
Harris looked toward the river again.
Sio Jun hadn't moved.
The moonlight touched her silver hair softly as wind moved through the trees around her.
She looked lonely.
Not physically.
Emotionally.
Like someone standing outside a world they no longer believed they belonged in.
Something about it bothered him deeply.
Before he could stop himself—
He stood up.
Sio Jun heard the footsteps immediately.
Her senses had always been sharp.
But she didn't turn around.
"…You should be resting," she said softly.
Harris stopped beside her.
"So should you."
Silence followed.
The river continued moving quietly between them.
After a moment, Harris sat down nearby—not too close, but not distant either.
For a while, neither spoke.
The quiet between them wasn't comfortable.
But it wasn't hostile either.
It was something stranger.
Something uncertain.
"…Was he really that much like me?"
Harris finally asked it.
Directly.
Sio Jun's body stiffened slightly.
She kept her eyes on the water.
"Yes."
The answer came instantly.
Too instantly.
Harris swallowed lightly.
"What was he like?"
Sio Jun's expression softened.
Not from happiness.
From memory.
"He was…" she paused, searching for the right words.
"…kind."
A faint smile appeared.
"The kind of person who spoke gently even when the world gave him reasons not to."
Harris listened carefully.
"He didn't look at me with fear," she continued quietly. "Not even after he learned what I was."
Her smile faded slowly.
"He treated me like I deserved to exist."
The last words barely escaped her lips.
And Harris realized then—
This wasn't just grief.
This was the memory of the first person who ever truly accepted her.
"What was his name?" Harris asked softly.
Sio Jun hesitated.
As if speaking it aloud would hurt.
"…Kael."
The name drifted into the night like something sacred.
Harris lowered his eyes briefly.
"I'm sorry."
Sio Jun laughed softly.
But there was no humor in it.
"You keep apologizing for something you didn't do."
"Maybe," Harris replied.
"But you still look hurt every time you see me."
That made her finally turn toward him.
Moonlight touched her face fully now.
And for the first time—
Harris saw how tired she really looked.
Not physically.
Spiritually.
Like someone who had carried sorrow for too long.
"You scare me," she admitted quietly.
Harris blinked.
"…Me?"
She nodded weakly.
"Because part of me keeps forgetting you aren't him."
The honesty hit harder than either of them expected.
"And another part…" she whispered.
Her voice almost disappeared.
"…wants you to be."
Silence.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
Harris's chest tightened unexpectedly.
Not from discomfort.
From something else.
Something he didn't understand yet.
Sio Jun looked away again immediately.
"That's why I've been avoiding you."
Her hands clenched tightly around her knees.
"I know how this story ends."
Harris frowned slightly.
"The curse."
She nodded.
"If I ever let myself…" she stopped.
Then forced the words out.
"…care again…"
Her voice trembled.
"Someone dies."
The river suddenly felt colder.
The wind quieter.
Everything around them seemed to hold still beneath the weight of that truth.
Slowly—
Carefully—
Harris moved a little closer to her.
Not enough to invade her space.
Just enough to let her know he wasn't leaving.
"You know something?" he said quietly.
Sio Jun didn't respond.
"I don't think you're dangerous because you loved someone."
Her eyes flickered toward him.
"I think someone wanted to convince you that you didn't deserve love at all."
The words struck her harder than any attack ever could.
Her breathing faltered.
"…Don't," she whispered.
"Don't what?"
"Don't say things like that."
"Why?"
"Because I want to believe you."
There it was.
The truth.
Raw.
Unprotected.
The air between them changed.
Subtly.
But unmistakably.
For a brief second—
Neither looked away.
The distance between them suddenly felt very small.
Too small.
Sio Jun's heartbeat quickened violently.
And then—
Her eyes flashed gold.
Instantly.
She jerked backward.
"No."
Harris stood immediately.
"Sio Jun—"
"Stay back."
Her voice came out sharper than intended.
Fear flooded her expression.
Not fear of him.
Fear of herself.
Her breathing became uneven.
The wolf inside her stirred violently, reacting to emotions she had spent years suppressing.
"No no no…"
She stumbled backward further.
"This is how it starts…"
The air around her shifted.
Wild energy pulsed faintly beneath her skin.
Her claws extended slightly.
Her eyes glowed brighter.
Harris froze.
Not out of fear.
Out of realization.
The curse was real.
In an instant, Lee Kung appeared between them.
Sword already drawn.
Not aimed at Sio Jun—
But ready.
Protective.
Steady.
"Sio Jun," he said calmly.
"Look at me."
Her breathing shook violently.
"I can't—"
"Yes, you can."
The glow in her eyes flickered.
Mia rushed beside her carefully.
"You're okay," Mia whispered softly.
"You're still in control."
Sio Jun gripped her head tightly.
The wolf snarled inside her mind.
Hungry.
Awake.
Reacting.
But slowly—
Very slowly—
The glow faded.
Her claws retracted.
And her legs finally gave out beneath her.
Silence filled the camp.
Heavy.
Uneasy.
Sio Jun sat trembling on the ground, staring at her hands like she no longer trusted them.
Harris looked at her differently now.
Not with fear.
But understanding.
Real understanding.
The curse wasn't just emotional.
It was alive.
And it reacted to connection itself.
That night, none of them truly slept.
Because for the first time—
They realized Sio Jun's curse was not buried in her past.
It was waiting.
Watching.
And the closer Harris came to her heart—
The closer death came with him.