The cocoon of white light hovered above the infirmary cot like a second moon fallen into the room.
It pulsed.
Slowly.
Deeply.
Rhythmically.
Like a heartbeat trapped in luminous glass.
Every pulse sent ripples of mana through the floor, stirring the air and rattling loose dust from the ceiling.
The light was warm, radiant, and yet impossibly intense—too bright to stare at for more than a few seconds.
Lyra stood closest to it.
Hands trembling.
Heart racing.
Eyes refusing to leave the cocoon's glowing form.
She reached toward it—
The surface of the cocoon crackled violently.
Arden caught her wrist again.
"Lyra—NO! I told you, it'll burn you."
She trembled.
"But he's alone in there."
Arden softened just slightly.
"I know.
But he'll break if you burn yourself. Don't make him worry like that."
Lyra swallowed hard, lowering her hand—but she didn't step away.
She wouldn't.
Couldn't.
Friezzar was inside that sphere of light.
Her Friezzar.
The one who whispered her name like a prayer.
The one who clenched her hand like it was life itself.
The one who chose her.
She whispered into the glow:
"Can you hear me…? It's me.
I'm still here."
The cocoon pulsed—
WHUM…
Lyra's heart jumped.
Arden flinched.
"…Did it just answer you?" he whispered.
She nodded.
"It reacts to my voice… even inside."
Oren, who had been scribbling frantically on rune paper, froze.
"That's not possible… unless…"
He looked up sharply.
"Lyra. Don't move."
She froze.
"Why…?"
Oren stepped closer, eyes sharp.
"That cocoon is extremely unstable. If it recognizes you as the anchor—"
Arden's eyes widened.
"—then it's evolving for you."
Lyra's breath caught.
"For… me?"
Oren nodded gravely.
"Friezzar's second evolution will shape itself around what he values most."
Arden muttered:
"Which is Lyra."
Lyra's cheeks warmed, but her heart twisted.
"…Is… is that bad?"
Oren sighed.
"No.
But it means the evolution is risky.
Emotion-driven evolutions can tear a core apart if the feelings are too strong."
Lyra paled.
"Too strong…?"
Oren nodded.
"His instinct to protect you… it's overwhelming him."
Lyra's knees weakened.
Arden grabbed her shoulder.
"Lyra—stay with us."
She nodded shakily.
"I'm okay… I just…"
Her eyes returned to the cocoon.
"Friezzar… please… don't hurt yourself for me…"
INSIDE THE COCOON — A WORLD OF WHITE
Friezzar floated in endless white.
No weight.
No sound.
No gravity.
Just soft, warm light cradling him like a blanket.
His runes flickered along his body, glowing golden-white.
A second layer of markings—new ones—began forming along his arms and shoulders.
He looked down at his chest.
The glow was chaotic.
Trembling.
Painful.
He pressed his wooden hand over his heart.
"…Lyra…"
Her name was the only anchor he had.
Every time her voice echoed through the cocoon, the light steadied.
Every time her breath trembled outside, his core echoed it.
He whispered again:
"…hear Lyra…?"
A faint whisper rippled through the white:
"…I'm here…"
A warmth spread across Friezzar's chest—gentle, soft, familiar.
It wrapped around him like Lyra's hands.
He sighed.
"Lyra…"
The white realm pulsed.
A shape formed in front of him—faint, blurry, like the silhouette from his first awakening.
This time it wasn't her exact form.
Not a perfect image.
But her warmth.
Her presence.
Her essence.
Friezzar reached toward it.
"…Lyra…"
The silhouette touched his hand—
and the golden runes along his arm exploded into bright light.
He cried out—
But held on.
Zero's voice echoed distantly:
"Hold to her.
Or be torn apart."
Friezzar clenched the silhouette's hand harder.
"…not… let go…"
The white realm trembled.
Ripped.
And something inside Friezzar began to change.
OUTSIDE THE COCOON — REFLECTIONS OF LIGHT
The cocoon pulsed faster.
Faster.
Faster.
Lyra covered her mouth.
"He's in pain."
Arden grabbed his sword.
"Then we cut him out."
Oren nearly choked.
"DO NOT CUT HIM OUT."
Arden glared.
"What if he's suffering?!"
"Then we let him suffer!" Oren snapped.
"That's how evolution works—
you endure.
You transform.
Or you break."
Lyra trembled.
"No… he won't break. He promised."
She pressed her hand gently to the cocoon's side—
this time not touching it directly, but close enough that her warmth radiated through the light.
The cocoon reacted instantly.
WHUM—WHUM—WHUM—
Arden stepped back.
"Oh gods—"
The cocoon's glow sharpened.
The runes on its surface shifted—
forming shapes.
Not random patterns.
Patterns that looked like—
Arden's jaw dropped.
"…Those are humanoid symmetry lines."
Oren's pupils dilated.
"No.
Already…?
It's too soon…"
Lyra's eyes widened.
"You mean—?"
Oren exhaled shakily.
"Friezzar is evolving into his humanoid form."
Lyra's heart stuttered.
The humanoid evolution.
The beginning of his future identity—
Zerrei.
THE COCOON BREAKS
Inside the cocoon, Friezzar held Lyra's silhouette tighter as his wooden frame cracked—
not from damage—
but from growth.
New form.
New shape.
New possibility.
His legs elongated.
His hands softened.
His face reshaped, carving smoother, curved lines beneath the unnatural cracks.
He gasped.
The silhouette embraced him.
"Don't be afraid…"
His voice cracked.
"…Lyra…"
White light burst outward.
Outside—
Arden shielded Lyra with his arm.
"BRACE—!!"
Oren threw up a barrier.
The cocoon exploded.
SHAAAAA—!!
Light filled the room.
Blinding.
Warm.
Radiant.
Then—
Silence.
The light faded like falling petals.
Dust hung in the air.
Lyra blinked through the haze, heart thundering.
"Friezzar…?"
Arden lowered his arm.
Oren lowered the barrier.
The cocoon was gone.
In its place stood—
a faint figure kneeling on the floor.
Tall.
Thin.
Humanoid.
Wooden still—
but reshaped.
Refined.
Almost beautiful.
Smooth carved jawline.
Faint cheek structure.
Broad shoulders.
Elegant chest lines.
Arms with newly formed joints and carved muscle structure.
And—
Long, delicate, carved hair falling around his face.
Lyra's breath hitched.
"…Friezzar?"
The figure lifted his head slowly.
Runes glowed faintly along his cheekbones—
and his eyes—
soft, bright blue—
looked at Lyra with stunned emotion.
His voice trembled:
"…Lyra."
She covered her mouth, tears spilling.
He reached his newly-formed hand toward her—
gentle, hesitant.
"…Lyra…
Friezzar… here."
Lyra broke.
She rushed toward him—
falling to her knees—
throwing her arms around him.
He caught her.
His arms wrapped around her with new delicacy—
and new strength.
Arden looked away with a shocked laugh.
"Damn… he's beautiful."
Oren whispered:
"A humanoid…
already…"
Lyra sobbed into Friezzar's shoulder.
"You're here… you came back…"
He held her tightly.
Held her like she was his world.
"…Lyra," he whispered into her hair.
"…Friezzar… choose Lyra."
And the room filled with light again.