The night was silent, heavy with cold. The forest lay buried under snow, the trees standing like frozen sentinels as a faint wind whispered through their branches. Nutaila was lying on the frozen grass, her body badly injured, her breath shallow. Just opposite her, a few steps away, Milan lay on the ground as well, unconscious and broken. They were both hurt severely, their bodies bearing the marks of a brutal battle.
Nutaila summoned her darkness, letting it flow through her veins. Slowly, carefully, the shadows wrapped around her wounds. Flesh stitched itself together, blood vanished into skin, pain faded into numbness. One by one, every wound closed until her body was whole again. She pushed herself up, her breath steadying, and looked toward Milan. He was still lying there, unmoving.
She walked toward him, her steps unsteady but determined, and knelt beside him.
"Hey… wake up," she said softly.
Milan groaned, his face tightening as pain surged through him. Slowly, his eyes opened.
"What happened?" he asked, his voice rough, as he struggled to sit up, leaning against a nearby rock.
"You happened," Nutaila replied, handing him his clothes.
As Milan took them, his eyes suddenly turned pitch-black. Nutaila froze in surprise as darkness spread through him. His wounds began to close on their own, skin pulling together, flesh stitching itself as if guided by unseen hands. In moments, every injury on his body vanished. The darkness faded from his eyes, returning them to normal.
"Wow," Nutaila said quietly.
"You learned something."
"All I did was get beaten up," Milan replied, his voice low.
"I learned nothing. I couldn't control the darkness." He shivered slightly, his body shaking from the cold.
"Hey, relax, I didn't gain anything from my first time either. But you— you managed to steal something. Healing is the first step. At least next time, you'll know what to expect."Nutaila said gently.
She reached down, picked up her swords, and stepped closer to him.
"What are you doing?" Milan asked.
"Relax," Nutaila said.
She dragged the edge of one sword hard against the other. The wolf symbol carved into the blade began to glow, then burst into small flames. Sparks danced in the air. She gathered nearby wood and placed it together, and with a single motion, ignited a fire. Warmth spread instantly. Milan stared, impressed.
"Wow," he said.
"Your swords are magical. I mean, I saw Scarlet's swords shining neon blue, and yours are red. What's the secret behind them?"
He moved closer to the fire, holding his hands out to the warmth. Nutaila removed her outer clothes and stepped toward him, wrapping her arms around him in a firm, warming hug.
"Thank you," Milan said softly.
Nutaila looked into his eyes.
"They were forged by Japanese ancestors a long time ago, Every sword has its meaning. Mine shines red, and Scarlet's shines blue. It's a secret I was never fully told." she said.
"And you're using them with belief?" Milan asked.
"Yes. Every time I wield them, I feel something like magic flowing through me. Like a power connecting itself to my soul. But I'll find out soon."
Milan stared into the fire for a moment before asking,
"What do you think will happen once Victor wakes up and restores his six bounds?"
Nutaila exhaled slowly.
"It depends. He'll want to steal Scarlet's power. He'll use the Walker to travel back into the past, find the moment before the power entered Scarlet, and plan to kill her there."
"And if he succeeds?" Milan asked.
"She disappears," Nutaila replied quietly.
"Like she never existed."
They lay down beside the fire, holding each other as the flames flickered. Snow continued to fall softly as sleep slowly claimed them.
On the other side of the forest, the others had made camp. They sat and lay around the fire, exhausted.
"Do you think we'll be able to reach another station tomorrow?" Zero asked Nadia.
"Maybe, As long as the road doesn't delay us and the winter doesn't get worse."Nadia replied.
Scarlet sat quietly, her expression tense. Raven noticed.
"Hey," Raven said.
"What is it?"
Everyone looked at Scarlet.
"I don't know, I feel something strange about this place."Scarlet said slowly.
Her eyes scanned the darkness.
"I don't know about you guys," Raven said, stretching,
"but this place feels fine to me. It's quiet. We should all get some rest."
Raven lay down and closed her eyes. One by one, the others followed. Scarlet hesitated, still uneasy, before finally closing her eyes as well.
Just beside the wall where they slept, two eyes suddenly opened. They glowed pearly blue. A body was trapped within the wall itself, unseen, unmoving— only the eyes watched.
The eyes shifted, observing them lying around the fire.
Slowly, hands began to emerge from the wall, silent and careful. Bit by bit, the figure pulled itself free. It was a woman. Her body was colorless, able to shift into any color she desired. She moved without sound toward them. No one noticed.
She approached Zero first, studying him for several moments. Suddenly, Zero yawned and rolled onto his side. Instantly, the woman flattened herself against the ground, her body dissolving into the surface until she became part of it.
Zero opened his eyes briefly, sensing something, but dizziness pulled him back into sleep. His face rested close to the ground, his breathing slow.
The woman's eyes opened again beneath him. She rose silently, inches from his face, then moved away. Her attention shifted to Scarlet.
She crept closer. As she did, Scarlet's body began to glow faintly blue, energy pulsing beneath her skin. The woman stopped, shocked. She leaned closer without touching, studying her carefully. Her eyes widened in realization.
She sat beside Scarlet, her own eyes glowing brighter as she summoned her power, extending her hands toward Scarlet's head. Just as her fingers were about to touch Scarlet's eyes snapped open. The woman vanished instantly.
Scarlet gasped, sitting up as the blue glow around her body slowly faded.
"What the hell was that?" she whispered to herself.
There was no answer.
Inside the walls, the night was still. Snow fell gently outside. Zara and Ben slept peacefully. Ayanna sat awake in the living room.
The door opened. Leyla stepped inside and saw Ayanna waiting.
"What took you so long?" Ayanna asked.
"I had to work a double shift," Leyla replied, grabbing a bottle of water and drinking.
"Ivory wasn't there. She didn't show up at work."
"What do you mean she didn't show up?" Ayanna asked.
"We were supposed to switch shifts. I waited for hours. Her name wasn't even in the signing book. That's not like her she never misses work."
"So she's missing?" Ayanna asked.
"No," Leyla said quietly.
"But something might have happened. I looked everywhere. I couldn't find her."
"Then we need to go to her house," Ayanna said, grabbing her coat.
"Something's wrong."
Leyla stood and stopped her.
"It's the middle of the night. You know the rules. If they see you outside, you'll be in serious trouble."
"Then help me," Ayanna said.
"Let's find her."
"It's dangerous," Leyla warned.
"Oh come on," Ayanna insisted.
"Think of something."
Leyla stared at her, then opened the door.
"That's my girl," Ayanna said with a smile.
They slipped into the night, hiding from guards as they moved through the darkness toward Ivory's house. When they arrived, they froze.
Six guards stood outside.
"What the hell is this?" Leyla whispered.
"I told you, Something's wrong."Ayanna said.
Ayanna stepped forward, but Leyla pulled her back.
"You'll get shot," Leyla said.
"Then what's your plan?" Ayanna asked.
"Wait here," Leyla said.
"Let me handle this."
Leyla stepped into view. Instantly, guns were raised.
"Stop right there! What are you doing?" a guard shouted.
"I'm a nurse from the Med Bay—"
"We know who you are," the guard interrupted.
"Why are you here at this hour?"
"I came to check on my partner," Leyla said.
"She didn't show up to work, and that's not normal."
A voice emerged from the darkness.
"Ivory isn't doing well, Leyla," the voice said calmly.
Marcus stepped forward.
Ayanna clenched her fists in the shadows.
"She's very ill," Marcus continued.
"That's why she's being guarded."
"Is she okay?" Leyla asked.
"Everything is under control," Marcus said, placing a hand on her shoulder and gently turning her around.
"I admire your loyalty."
"She's safe," he added. "Who's with you?"
"No one," Leyla lied. "I came alone."
"Then you should rest," Marcus said.
"Let me walk you home."
Ayanna watched silently as they walked away.
"Well," she whispered,
"I'm finding out the truth."
She slipped into the shadows, searching for a way inside Ivory's house— following the pipes, looking for a hidden tunnel.