The next morning, when Naraka entered the chamber, she found the bed broken. Yet there, lying peacefully, was Nujah—his body visibly grown.
"Nujah..?" she whispered in surprise.
"Yes, Mother… ahhh! What is this form? I've grown so much!" Nujah cried.
"Don't move," Naraka commanded, placing her hand gently on his head. After a moment she spoke gravely:
"Your body has expanded a thousandfold across a hundred different points. At this rate, it won't stop."
Nujah's voice trembled. "Then… what should we do, Mother?"
"There is nothing to fear," Naraka assured him. "Once your body reaches its most balanced state, it will stabilize on its own. Your Soul Core shows no fractures, no toxins, no corruption. It is functioning perfectly, alongside your heart and mind. The only concern is that you still carry human emotions—fear, anger. Without me near, those could spiral."
She straightened, smiling faintly. "Now then… can you walk, or shall I carry you?"
"Give me a minute, please," said Nujah. Summoning all his strength, he pushed himself upright and walked carefully toward her without stumbling.
"I think I've learned… a little, Mother."
"I see," Naraka replied. "But you'll stay with me today regardless." She lifted him into her arms. "By tomorrow you might already be six years old—or ten. While you're still a child, let us spend time together."
"That sounds wonderful," said Nujah. "Where are we going?"
Naraka thought for a moment. "To the laziest of your siblings—Ren."
Nujah blinked. "A lazy Shinrei? Is that even possible?"
Naraka laughed. "Yes. Mischievous, but kind. He often pesters Muzan, who spends nearly all his time in the library."
"Why?" asked Nujah. "Isn't Muzan social?"
"Unlike the others, Muzan speaks the least. The library is his home—he rarely leaves it. If you're looking for him, wait no more than an hour or two, and you'll find him back there. Ren teases him constantly, stirs him to action, forces him to join in games… simply to keep him from being alone."
Nujah smiled. "That sounds less like laziness, more like a wonderful brother."
Naraka chuckled. "Yes, he is. I hope you'll grow close to them all. Now—let's visit him."
She snapped her fingers. In an instant, they stood outside a small, quaint house by the same ocean Maria had once shown Nujah.
The door opened, and a woman with long white hair appeared. Her energy was faint, yet her aura radiated something fearsome. At the sight of her face, Nujah gasped and clung to Naraka in fright.
"Vercurius… what is this form, my daughter?" Naraka asked, frowning. "You've frightened your little brother."
"My… little brother?" Vercurius blinked, then suddenly lit up. "Oh, oh! I am so sorry! That was never my intention—I truly didn't mean to scare him. Forgive me!"
Naraka sighed. "Enough. You're here, which means you must have fallen into one of your own jokes. Is his mind still clear?"
"Yes, Mother," said Vercurius. "I had bound him, preparing to throw him into the ocean again… but the dolphins and other creatures kept returning him faster than before."
Nujah began to laugh uncontrollably. "Why am I laughing? Isn't that bad?"
Naraka stroked his head. "No. Shinrei cannot harm one another. No matter what's thrown their way. Though… during training, I alter the rules, just enough for them to feel real pain. Only then will they be ready for true battle."
Vercurius smiled warmly. "Then I'm glad to see you both. But I have urgent matters on the mountain. We'll meet again soon, I hope." She turned, then paused. "Ah, I almost forgot… your name is Nujah, isn't it?" She leaned down, smiling directly at him.
"Yes, Vercurius-sister," Nujah replied softly.
"Then take this, as my apology." In her hand, she formed a white rose of pure light, placing it gently in his tiny palm. "Come visit me after you've seen Ren."
With that, her body dissolved into radiance, and she shot upward, vanishing toward the distant peaks.
"Mother," Nujah asked in awe, "what is she doing up there?"
"She'll tell you herself, when the time is right," Naraka answered. Then her gaze sharpened. "Now—shall we go rescue poor Ren together?"
Nujah lifted his hand high, eyes shining with energy. "Let's rescue him!"