Kenny lay awake almost the entire night, his mind heavy with everything that had happened. When he finally drifted off, the morning sun was already peeking through the curtains. The next day, as soon as he gathered enough courage, he spoke to Kin and Vixen.
"I think I'll return to Muas City tomorrow," Kenny said quietly. "It's been so long since I last went to the office… if I stay away any longer, I might lose my job."
Kin looked anxious,"But why not stay here with us a little longer? You'll surely find work outside the village. And besides," Kin's gaze softened, "Vixen is here. He'll help you find something."
Vixen nodded, his tone calm yet firm. "Little Kenny, stay with us. You might be needed… for the investigation into Megas' death."
Hearing that, Kenny fell silent. His chest tightened.
Kin reached over and gently patted his head, his voice heavy with empathy. "I know you're hurting. I can see it in your eyes… When my best friend Shen Seizan died, we never even found his body. It was as if he vanished completely."
Kenny's lips trembled, his voice breaking into a whisper. "No… I can't stay here any longer. I've already lost the people I love most in this place."
Kin and Vixen tried, but they couldn't stop him. Kenny forced himself to eat a little breakfast, then quietly began packing his bags. He had decided—tomorrow he would leave the village and return to his hometown.
Later that day, Zavrion woke from his sleep to find the house strangely silent. Curious, he went to his father's room. "Why do you look so upset, Father?"
Kin sighed. "Kenny is leaving tomorrow. He wants to return home."
"Why?" Zavrion frowned, restless. "I'll go talk to him."
But Kin placed a hand on his son's arm. "Don't. His heart isn't in the right place right now. Let him be."
Still, Zavrion couldn't sit still. He went straight to Kenny's room, only to see him folding clothes into his bag. Zavrion opened his mouth to speak but froze when he caught sight of tears glistening in Kenny's eyes.
Without thinking, Zavrion walked up and wrapped his arms around him from behind. His voice cracked with desperation. "Please… don't leave me."
Kenny turned, his own tears spilling freely now. He cupped Zavrion's face with shaking hands. "I can't stay here, my little brother. This village… it took away my parents, my boyfriend. Maybe next time, it'll be me. I—I just want to live."
"No!" Zavrion tightened his grip, pulling him close. "As long as I'm here, nothing will happen to you. I'll protect you."
Kenny shook his head, sobbing harder. "You're still just a child. How can you protect me?"
"I don't care!" Zavrion's voice was sharp with stubbornness, but his eyes were glassy. "We've both seen what kind of monster this village hides… how cruel, how terrifying. And no matter how dark it gets, I'll end it all if I have to. But please…" his voice broke into a whisper, "don't leave me. I've waited so many years for you. I've lived so many years without you."
For a long moment, neither of them spoke. They just held each other tightly, as if afraid the other would disappear.
Finally, Kenny broke the silence, brushing his tears away. "Shouldn't you be in school right now?"
Zavrion pouted, still holding on to him. "I don't feel like going."
Kenny let out a shaky laugh. "I'm not even leaving today, stupid. I'll go tomorrow."
But that only made Zavrion's lips press into a sulky line. "So you don't love us enough to stay, is that it? That's what this means."
Kenny's heart ached at his words. He reached out, stroking Zavrion's hair. "That's not it at all. Don't ever think that. It's just… it's been over a month since I last went to the office. If I don't return now, I might lose everything."
Zavrion bit his lip, eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "But if you go… I'll lose you."
The room filled with silence again, heavy with sorrow, fear, and an ache neither of them could shake.
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