"We're almost there, Master Raito!" the driver shouted, his voice cracking with panic as he slammed the throttle. The armored truck roared down the dead road, the afternoon sun glaring off its steel.
Raito pressed down hard on the bullet wound in Evelyne's side. Blood poured out like water through a cracked jar, coating his hands in red. His jaw clenched, breath ragged.
An Obsidian soldier — a woman who had sat quietly until now — cursed under her breath, torn between hesitation and instinct. Then she rushed forward, yanking open a first aid kit.
"Move," she snapped, her hands steady despite her voice betraying regret. She pushed Raito's fingers away, packed the wound with bandages, and plunged a syringe into Evelyne's arm.
Evelyne groaned, eyelids fluttering as life returned. Raito's hand cupped her cheek, trembling with relief.
The soldier caught his gaze. "I used to be a nurse," she muttered, then lowered her eyes. "…Master Raito." She slung her rifle back over her shoulder and retreated to the door.
"That won't hold forever," she warned. "This Shan guy better be a surgeon."
"Thank you," Raito said simply, his voice raw.
The truck screeched to a halt.
"We're here!" the driver cried.
BAM!
Raito kicked the rear doors open, Evelyne in his arms. He landed with near-perfect balance, sprinting toward the figures waiting at the mansion gates: Shan, Eda, and Rosemary.
Without hesitation, Shan spun on his heel. "Inside. Now."
The soldiers fanned out, weapons raised, as Raito followed Shan and his cyborg aides into the mansion.
Inside, Raito instinctively made for the elevator, panic driving him. Shan's eyes widened. He and Eda rushed to intercept.
"No! There's no time," Shan barked, his voice sharp as a blade. "Here. On this table."
He led Raito to a surgical station draped in a blue sheet. Rosemary appeared with a tray of gleaming instruments.
Raito set Evelyne down gently, then stumbled back, exhaustion written across his face. "What can I do? Tell me—"
"Don't." Shan's command was thunder. "Stay back."
Raito froze. Eda and Rosemary worked fast, stripping Evelyne of her armor, metal clattering onto the floor. Shan plunged his gloved hands into the wound, and began working.
Blood vessels snapped and spat like serpents. With every clamp and cut, scarlet sprayed across Shan's surgical gown. His motions were precise, but the weight of time pressed heavy.
Then—
BEEEP. BEEEP. BEEEEEEEEEP!
The monitor screamed. Evelyne flatlined.
Raito fell to his knees, eyes wide with horror. His mask flickered red, rage breaking through. "SHA—!"
"I SAID DON'T MOVE!" Shan roared, snapping Raito back. For the first time, Shan's calm veneer cracked.
"Eda!" Shan shouted.
She wheeled in a coffin-shaped white machine. Rosemary stripped Evelyne down to her undergarments, her hands trembling only slightly. Shan lowered the hollow chamber over Evelyne's body and hammered commands into the console.
"Now!" he barked.
Eda and Rosemary slammed a pair of red switches.
BRRRZZZZZT!
Electricity danced across Evelyne's skin, crawling like lightning vines. Her body convulsed, levitating inches from the table before slamming back down.
BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.
The monitor steadied.
Shan, Eda, and Rosemary surged back into motion, stitching, sealing, bandaging.
"Raito," Shan said without looking up, his tone iron. "She'll live. Go outside. Breathe."
Raito staggered out into the night, collapsing beneath the sky, the red glow of his mask dimming as he finally let sleep take him.
Back inside, Shan tied the final stitch, sweat dripping into his eyes. "Rose, get this machine out of here. Eda, check on Haruka — but say nothing about this."
"Yes, Master," both replied, discarding gloves before hurrying off.
Shan sat back heavily, bloody gloves trembling in his lap. He stared at Evelyne, pale but alive, and let out a humorless chuckle. "The three of you… under my roof again. Just like old times. Damn fools."
A groan pulled him from his thoughts. Evelyne stirred, eyes opening weakly.
"Uncle Bai…?" she whispered.
Shan forced a smile. "Yeah. Raito brought you here. You'll be fine."
She returned a faint smile. "He's here, isn't he? Haruka."
Shan's face darkened. He didn't answer.
"Don't worry," Evelyne rasped. "I won't tell Raito. Or Father. I know you're trying to stay neutral, Uncle… but soon you'll have to choose. Obsidian. Or Therma. And I won't be there to help you."
"Enough. You need rest," Shan said, gentler now. "I'll call Raito."
Two hours later.
Evelyne awoke again. Raito sat beside her, head resting on the bed, his hand holding hers. She chuckled softly, and his eyes snapped open.
"Evelyne." Relief cracked his voice as he hugged her carefully.
"That's the first time you've said my full name," she teased.
"I thought I'd lost you," Raito said, tears threatening.
"I died?" Evelyne asked.
"Flatlined." Shan's voice came from the doorway. He stepped in, folding his arms. "But you're clear to leave now."
Evelyne smiled faintly. "Twice, then. Guess I'm running out of lives."
Later, Raito wheeled Evelyne toward the waiting truck. A soldier carried her armor in a bag, loading it aboard.
At the gates, Shan and Evelyne exchanged a silent nod before she was lifted inside.
On the ride back, Evelyne turned to Raito. "Why do you follow Thorne so blindly?"
He frowned. "Why ask that?"
"Back at H.O.T.," she said softly, "when father praised you… your eyes said, I could do better."
Raito didn't answer immediately. He glanced at the nurse-soldier instead. "Why'd you help back there?"
The soldier smiled faintly. "Evelyne… she's like morning coffee. Just being near her wakes you up. Gives you energy. Her kindness… it's rare. That's why, Master Raito."
Evelyne blushed. "Oh, come on now…"
Raito's gaze shifted to his axe. Its blade burned red, fiery waves pulsing along its edge. He touched it gently.
"Hope," he said simply.
He looked back at Evelyne. " father was my hope. He gave me strength. He gave all of Obsidian hope. I wanted to pass that on. To give someone else what he gave me."
Evelyne smiled at him, faint but genuine.
The truck screeched to a halt.
"Home sweet home," Evelyne whispered.
The doors swung open. The squad disembarked to the roar of cheering crowds. "Evelyne's alive!" they cried. "King Raito!" the chant spread.
On the mansion steps stood William and Thorne, side by side.
"Welcome home, my children," Thorne called out, his voice both tender and commanding.