The shadows surrounded him, whispering words he could not understand, yet lacerating his mind like blades.
Some screamed, others murmured, all of them tangling like invisible chains around his soul.
It felt as though the entire world was pushing him to give up.
Elior walked without direction, exhausted, his legs heavy as stone.
There was no ground, no sky.
Only a vast, dark emptiness, splattered with blood and drowned in shadows that lunged at him without rest.
His body trembled.
He was about to kneel, to let himself be devoured, to put an end to everything.
Then suddenly… a light.
A white and golden flash tore through the darkness, opening like a裂 in the middle of that hell.
The contrast was so intense that Elior covered his face with his arm, barely able to endure the radiance.
And then he saw them.
At first, only blurred silhouettes advancing toward him, firm and warm.
One, two… and a smaller one. Three figures crossing the threshold of light.
Elior took a step back, incredulous.
His breathing grew erratic.
Tears began to fill his eyes, unstoppable.
The light caressed his face with a warmth he had not felt in years.
The warmth of a lost embrace.
The echo of a voice long forgotten.
When the figures were close enough, Elior collapsed to his knees.
His throat tightened, the overwhelming flood of emotions making it hard to breathe.
His heart, the same one that had been about to give up, began to beat strongly again.
Tears streamed freely down his cheeks.
And with a broken voice, barely a whisper, he managed to say,
"Mom…?"
The closest silhouette extended a hand toward him, wrapped in that divine light.
When his eyes finally cleared, he saw her.
His mother, Elyra. Beside her, his father, and between them, his little sister.
Overwhelmed by emotion, like a child seeking refuge from anguish,
Elior ran to them, collapsing into their arms.
"I'm sorry… I'm sorry! I'm sorry for not being stronger! I'm sorry for not being able to save you!"
Elian held him tightly, his deep voice filled with tenderness.
"You don't need to apologize, son. You were just a child… and you have fought more than anyone ever should."
Elyra caressed his tear-soaked face.
"My love… it has been enough. Do not give your life to hatred. Don't do it. It will not bring you peace, only steal what you still carry in your heart."
Elior trembled, shaking his head.
"You don't understand! They must pay for what they did, for everything they took from me, but… I'm tired! I don't want to keep going! I just want peace… I want to rest… I want to stay with you!"
He clung to them desperately, his voice shattered, his eyes overflowing.
"Please… don't make me go back. Take me with you!"
Liora hugged him tightly, her small eyes shining with tears.
"Brother… I want you to stay too. But… you still can't. You said you would protect everyone, remember? They still need you."
Elian placed a firm hand on his shoulder.
"Elior… I know you want to give up. But it is not your time yet."
Elyra kissed his forehead with infinite tenderness.
"Promise me you will keep going. Kael, your friend Hina… they won't survive without you."
Elior sobbed uncontrollably, refusing to lose them again.
"This isn't right… I don't want to fight anymore… please, Mom, let me go with you."
"I know," his mother whispered. "But I cannot take you with us, my child. Still, we will always be here, even if you cannot see us."
"Mom, if I stay, I'll end up hurting everyone who cares about me, and maybe I won't be able to contain what I carry inside. I beg you… please… don't leave me here."
A surge of golden light slowly wrapped around them, about to pull them away from him.
Elior reached out desperately, screaming with everything he had,
"Don't go! Please, don't leave me! Don't leave me again!"
Before leaving, Liora rushed forward, taking her older brother's hands and placing a flower in them, one capable of illuminating even the darkest abyss.
"The man who asked us to come told me to give this to you. I know we will see each other again soon, brother. Please don't give up," Liora said, wearing a beautiful smile through her tears.
Elian, Elyra, and Liora smiled through their tears as they faded into the center of the golden light.
Until only darkness remained.
And just as that light vanished completely, Elior felt his heart beat again… and a distant voice, Hina's, begging him from the other side not to give up, telling him she still needed him.
The light went out.
His family disappeared before his eyes.
The void returned.
Elior screamed, a mix of pain and rage, kneeling in that place without form or time.
"Don't leave me! Please… don't go! I just want to be with you! I can't take it anymore!"
His broken voice echoed in the emptiness, distorted by despair.
Darkness wrapped around him once more.
The shadows crawled beneath his skin, slithering like serpents, replacing every cell, every part of his body, slowly erasing what made him human.
And even knowing what was happening, he refused to return with all his strength.
From afar, a voice…
Soft, trembling, almost unrecognizable.
"Elior… come back. I need you!"
It was Hina.
He clenched his teeth, covering his face with his hands.
"No… I can't anymore. I don't want more pain. I don't want to keep living just to lose the ones I love…"
His voice broke, and with it, his will.
The shadows embraced him, sinking him into absolute silence.
And just as his soul began to fade away, his heart stopped beating once again.
His body began convulsing on the hospital bed.
The monitors emitted a sharp, constant beep, followed by doctors shouting and Hina's cries as she stayed by his side.
For three minutes, his heart was stopped.
But life, clinging to him as if the earth itself refused to lose him, brought him back.
Hours later, the hospital corridors were calm, filled with an oppressive, suffocating silence.
Elior remained unconscious, countless cables connected to his body.
The doctors were still stunned, whispering among themselves.
"It makes no sense… his tissues are regenerating far too fast. The initial scans showed severe internal damage, but now… he looks almost healthy. Even his heart stopped. How is he already improving?"
"Maybe there was a lab error."
"An error that heals wounds and heart tissue in a matter of hours?"
Kael listened in silence, fists clenched.
He said nothing. He only nodded when they informed him Elior would remain under observation.
Inside the room, Hina stayed beside the bed, gently holding Elior's hand.
Her eyes were swollen, her face pale, yet she refused to move.
She did not say a word until her mother entered.
"Hina, you need to rest," she said softly, though exhaustion weighed on her voice. "I'll stay with Kael."
The girl weakly shook her head.
"I don't want to leave him alone…"
"I know," her mother replied, stroking her hair. "But he needs time… and so do you."
Eventually, Hina agreed. Her father, who had arrived at the hospital worried about Elior, took her home so she could rest.
Before leaving, she looked back at Elior, holding back tears.
"Please… don't leave me alone again."
Hours passed. Only Kael and Hina's mother remained in the room.
They stayed silent for several minutes, until Kael spoke, his voice fractured in a way he rarely allowed.
"Maybe this was my mistake…" he said, staring at the floor. "I shouldn't have taught him this kind of life. Not him."
She looked at him calmly.
"Kael… you know you did the right thing. He wouldn't have been able to defend himself."
Kael took a deep breath.
"After his family died, demons started appearing more frequently in Velmira. They were tracking him… as if they knew he carried something inside. I feared that one day I wouldn't be there to protect him, so I taught him to fight. At first, I only wanted him to learn self-defense… but over time, he began to hunt them. One by one. I still don't understand how he located them. He never told me."
"And you tried to stop him?" she asked, already knowing the answer.
Kael lowered his head.
"I tried. But it was useless. His hatred drove him, and his power… grew every day. That's why I brought him to the city. I wanted to pull him away from all of that, give him a normal life."
His eyes softened for a moment.
"And luckily… he met Hina."
They both smiled faintly, remembering.
"From the very first day, she became his refuge. She made him laugh, forced him to live like a normal boy…" Kael said, nostalgia weighing heavily on his chest. "You have no idea how much I owe her for that."
Hina's mother nodded.
"They saved each other, Kael. That wasn't a mistake. It was destiny."
"Hina has always been cheerful and smiling since she was little, even in situations where she shouldn't be. Since we're not from here, some kids used to make fun of her. Even so, she smiled, never caring about what others said. But despite being so joyful, I never saw her with a friend… until she met Elior. I was surprised by how inseparable they became. She always told me there was something about Elior that made her want to protect him, that she could feel how much he had suffered."
Kael could only smile faintly.
"Even after discovering that what Elior said about his parents and sister, and how they died, was true, it was hard to process… but I love that boy as if he were my own, and it hurts to see him like this."
She paused, then looked at Kael seriously.
"Kael… I'll tell you this one last time, because I've told you for years. Don't you think it's time to tell Elior who you really are? Time keeps passing, and his rage isn't fading… it's only growing."
"I know I must do it soon, but it's harder than I thought," Kael said with a discouraged tone. "For now, my priority is that he recovers and that I protect him. The demons already know who he is and where to find him."
Kael looked at her, eyes weary.
"I just hope that this time… I won't have to lose him too."
Silence filled the room. Only the monitor marking Elior's heartbeat could be heard as the night passed.
Elior woke with difficulty.
The white hospital light blinded him for a moment, as if punishing him for still being alive.
His eyes took time to adjust, and when he finally focused, all he saw was an unfamiliar ceiling, spotless, painfully bright.
He tried to remember.
He didn't know how he had gotten there…
But he remembered everything else.
The darkness.
The void.
The voices.
That moment when he spoke with his family…
The desperate plea to stay with them…
The flower his sister gave him before disappearing, saying that a "man" had sent it to him. That flower now rested at the center of his soul.
Elior tried to move his fingers, but barely felt anything.
Only cold. A cold that didn't come from the room, but from within.
His chest ached, as if something were missing.
As if whatever kept him alive had left with his family in that desperate cry, leaving him hollow.
The room was silent.
No one was there.
Only the intermittent sound of the heart monitor and the moonlight entering through the window.
He stared at the night sky, the clouds, the shadows formed by the curtains.
He didn't know what to do, or how to react.
He simply closed his eyes…
And then he heard them.
Distant voices.
Blurred.
His mother.
His father.
Liora.
And among them, one that pierced him like an echo:
"Elior… come back, please…"
"I still need you…"
Hina's voice.
His chest tightened, and for a moment he felt as though something inside him wanted to tear itself out.
He opened his eyes suddenly. A tear slid down his cheek.
He looked at the moon again, his heart heavy.
He thought that if he closed his eyes once more, maybe he would see them again.
Maybe he could return to them.
Maybe there, in the darkness, would be his home.
But he didn't.
He remained still, staring into nothingness, as the night continued to pass and the emptiness grew and grew, until the first rays of sunlight filtered through the window.
Elior was still awake.
His eyes were dull, his mind lost somewhere between pain and calm.
Suddenly, the door burst open.
Hina rushed in, wearing her school uniform and a coat over her shoulders.
She had deep dark circles, a pale face, eyes red from crying.
The moment she saw him, she dropped her bag and ran to his side.
"Elior!" Her voice trembled, nearly breaking.
He turned his head slightly, offering a faint smile.
"You shouldn't be here so early… you should be going to class."
Hina frowned, caught between anger and relief.
"Do you know how worried I was? I thought that…" Her voice broke before she could finish.
Elior reached out and placed his hand over hers.
"I'm fine now, Hina. Calm down," he said with a weak, almost forced smile.
She looked at him closely… and she saw it.
Something was different.
His eyes.
They were no longer the same.
Something had been lost in them… something she couldn't describe.
"Elior… are you sure you're okay?" she murmured.
He lowered his gaze, avoiding her expression.
"How long have I been here? The nurses haven't told me anything… or maybe I didn't hear them."
"Two days," Hina replied, calmer now. "Kael shouldn't be long."
"Does anything hurt?"
Elior gently shook his head.
"No… nothing hurts. I just feel… tired."
Silence filled the room again.
Until the door opened once more.
Kael entered with a restrained smile.
His eyes lit up when he saw Elior awake.
He said nothing.
He simply stepped forward and hugged him tightly.
Elior blinked, surprised, then slowly returned the embrace.
Kael pulled back, discreetly wiping away tears.
"They told me at dawn that you had woken up," he said with a soft smile, "but I had to go pick up Aramis and Lia at the station. They're staying with me in the city for a few days. They were very worried, wanted to see you… but sleep got the better of them. They're resting at home."
Elior smiled faintly, saying nothing.
But Kael felt it.
Something about his energy wasn't right.
His presence, his gaze, his essence… was different.
As if something foreign now lived within him.
He tried not to dwell on it.
Maybe it was just exhaustion.
Maybe not.
"When can I leave?" Elior asked quietly.
"That's up to the doctors, son. For now, rest," Kael replied. "I need to go to the school. I have to speak with the principal, and take Hina."
Elior looked at him, curious.
"Speak with the principal? Why?"
Kael smiled.
"I don't know yet. I'll tell you when I get back."
"I don't want to stay here. I don't like hospitals," Elior whispered, turning his back.
Both Hina and Kael looked at him, surprised.
The pallor of his face, the trembling of his hands, the dark circles beneath his eyes…
Everything about him screamed exhaustion.
But the most unsettling thing was the coldness in his eyes, where the emptiness of his soul was reflected.
Kael sighed.
"I'll speak with the doctors, but it doesn't depend on me… or on you. They'll run more tests."
"All right," Elior said, turning toward the window and pulling the sheet over himself.
Hina approached slowly, gently stroked his hair, and kissed his forehead.
"I'll come as soon as school ends. Don't you dare try to escape, okay?"
Elior only nodded weakly.
Hina looked at him for a few more seconds before leaving for school with Kael.
The clock in the office marked exactly nine when Kael entered, the fatigue still evident on his face.
The principal greeted him with a gentle smile and a courteous gesture.
"Thank you for coming so early, Kael. I know these must not be easy days."
"Don't worry," he replied in a tired voice as he sat across from her. "What did you want to talk to me about?"
The principal folded her hands on the desk and observed him carefully.
"First… how is Elior?"
Kael took a deep breath.
"Better. The doctors say he's responding well. They just want to run a couple more tests, and if everything goes as expected, he should be able to go home soon."
"I'm glad to hear that," she nodded. "All right, to avoid wasting your time, I'll get straight to the point. I asked you here to talk more in depth about Elior's situation."
Kael leaned forward, attentive.
"There isn't much to say regarding his behavior or academic performance. Elior has always been exemplary. Kind, respectful, an excellent student… many admire him."
Kael nodded with a faint, almost nostalgic smile.
"That sounds like him."
But the principal sighed, lowering her voice slightly.
"And yet, there's something that worries me. Elior's future. In every conversation I've had with him, he always avoids the subject."
"What do you mean?" Kael asked, raising an eyebrow.
"When I talk to students who are about to finish their cycle, most of them have at least some idea of what they want to study or do. He doesn't. Every time I bring it up, he changes the subject or simply smiles and says it's 'not relevant.'"
Kael leaned back in his chair, serious.
"Since I've known him, he's never liked thinking too much about the future. That's something he learned from his mother. She used to live in the present and didn't dwell much on what was to come."
"I can understand that, Kael," she replied. "Even if it's concerning, it's understandable. I'm not asking him to make an immediate decision either."
Kael listened carefully to every word.
"Another issue is Elior's lack of motivation. Lately he's seemed more exhausted and overwhelmed. That may have been a trigger for the crisis he had the other day. For me, it's important to know how Elior deals with anxiety and stress. Do you know if he takes any medication?"
"I know his psychiatrist prescribed medication," Kael answered, "but he completely refuses to take it. So he usually deals with stress by meditating, the way I taught him when he was a child. That worked for him all these years."
"I'd like him to try other activities, Kael. For example, participating in school workshops. But no matter how much he's invited, he always declines. If he wanted to, he could be competing in athletics or intellectual competitions."
"I know Elior is capable of everything you mention," Kael said, "but he's never liked competing with others in any way. He finds it unnecessary. The only times he competes are with Hina."
"Takamura Hina?" the principal asked.
"Yes. Those two are inseparable."
"I knew they were good friends, but I didn't think it was that strong. Perfect. That could be useful."
"What do you mean by that?" Kael asked, confused.
"Takamura's grades have improved significantly. Now I understand why. In extreme cases, I may ask Takamura to help me with Elior if he has further crises in the future."
She paused.
"One last thing, Kael. Have you ever thought that… maybe living alone hasn't been the best thing for him?"
Kael narrowed his eyes, thoughtful.
"I've thought about it a few times. But after what he went through in the village… he needs his space. I can't force him to return, and for now I can't move to the city either. I still have my other two children studying in Velmira."
"I understand," the principal replied empathetically. "But at least consider living together at some point. And above all, the reason I called you here: talk to him about his future. Elior is brilliant, and although I don't like making comparisons, he's well above average. He could graduate this year if he wanted to, but he refused."
She continued,
"And this truly is the last thing. We can't overlook his absences. I know he's had… incidents, but I need him to reintegrate as soon as possible. These kinds of absences won't reflect well on his future."
Kael nodded respectfully.
"I understand. I'll talk to him. But you know how he is. I can't force him to participate in activities or competitions like the ones you mentioned. His way of learning and living is different. Still, I'll explore options with him so he can manage his stress better."
"Of course," the principal said, relaxing a bit. "I just want to help."
She stood to see him out.
Kael rose as well and, before leaving, added in a low voice,
"Don't worry. I'll do what I can… although sometimes I feel that Elior already knows more about life than he should at his age."
The principal nodded, watching him leave with a melancholic expression.
She knew that boy carried burdens far heavier than what a young person should have to endure.
Meanwhile, the sound of voices filled the classroom.
Hina and Seraphine sat together, leaning over their desks, whispering softly while the teacher reviewed some papers.
"So how is Elior doing?" Seraphine asked, trying to sound casual.
Hina, her eyes slightly swollen from exhaustion, gave a weak smile.
"He woke up last night. He still looks tired, but the doctors say he's stable. Lia and Aramis are going to visit him this afternoon."
"Lia and Aramis?" Seraphine repeated curiously.
"Oh, right, you haven't met them yet. They're the kids who live with Kael in Velmira. They're like Elior's little siblings. You'll like them. You should come with us to the hospital," Hina said, her smile growing brighter.
Seraphine hesitated for a second.
"With you?"
"Of course. It'll do Elior good to see more familiar faces."
Before she could respond, the teacher looked up.
"Takamura, Caelis… silence, please."
They both straightened quickly, stifling a laugh.
But while pretending to take notes, Seraphine grew thoughtful.
"Seeing him again…"
More than anything, Seraphine wanted to see him, but she didn't know if it was a good idea. Especially after the altercation she had with Kael.
The school day passed without much incident.
By afternoon, the hospital was quiet.
The cold hallway lights seeped through the crack in the door, bathing the room in a pale glow.
Elior, sitting on the bed, responded kindly to the nurses who came in to check on him. He smiled, cracked jokes, thanked them.
He looked like the same boy as always.
But as soon as the door closed and he was alone, everything changed.
The silence filled with whispers.
Distant echoes, impossible to understand, lacerating his mind like blades.
Sometimes, when he blinked… the world faded away.
And suddenly he was back there, in that dark space without ground or sky, surrounded by shadows moving around him.
Each time, they grew louder, more insistent.
Elior tried to ignore them.
He took deep breaths, stood up, and began exercising: push-ups, squats, anything to keep himself occupied.
He needed to feel his body, even if only to convince himself he was still alive.
He did it all in silence, making sure the doctors and nurses didn't see him.
He didn't want to look like a patient… he wanted to feel human.
It was already late when the door suddenly burst open.
"Elior!" two childish voices shouted at the same time.
Lia and Aramis ran straight toward him, throwing themselves onto the bed.
Elior barely had time to react before they hugged him tightly.
He laughed and wrapped his arms around them, pulling them close to his chest.
"I missed you so much!"
Behind them came Kael, Hina, and a few steps back, Seraphine.
"Hello, everyone," Elior greeted with a wide smile.
Seeing Lia and Aramis filled him with warmth, that spark that had vanished days ago.
"How do you feel, Elior?" the children asked in unison.
"Much better," he replied, feigning strength. "If I wanted to, I could split a tree in half."
The children laughed joyfully, infecting the whole room.
Seraphine, watching from the doorway, smiled too. Seeing him like this, so different from the hollow image Hina had described, put her at ease.
Elior looked directly at her.
"I'm surprised to see you here, Seraphine."
She blushed slightly, averting her gaze.
"We're classmates, and… Hina told me to come. I wanted to know how you were."
"Thank you for coming," he replied kindly.
Kael interrupted.
"I'm going to talk to the doctors."
"Perfect," Elior said. "And please ask them when I can get out of here. I'm already bored."
Kael looked at him carefully.
"All right, son. I'll do that."
As he left, Hina dropped into the chair beside the bed, letting out a sigh.
"I'm exhausted…"
Elior smiled at her.
"Come on, lie down for a bit. You've been awake since early, and I'm already tired of this bed. Let's switch."
Hina looked at him with a mischievous smile.
"Really?"
"Of course."
Before he could regret it, she had already thrown herself onto the bed, laughing.
Lia and Aramis laughed too.
Seraphine shook her head, unable to stop smiling at the chaos.
"Well then," Elior said, crossing his arms, "how have you been behaving? How's school going?"
Lia raised her hand excitedly.
"I'm doing really well! I got good grades!"
"That makes me happy," Elior replied, patting her head. Then he turned to Aramis, who was pretending to stare at the ceiling.
"Aramis…"
The boy tensed.
"Well… not great, not terrible. Normal, I guess. School is boring, everything's too slow."
Elior smiled.
"On that, I'm completely on your side, little one."
"No, no, no," Hina interrupted, raising an eyebrow. "Even if it's boring, you have to pay attention. We talked about this last time!"
Aramis crossed his arms with a defiant pout.
"You don't get to say that, Hina. You're worse than me!"
"How dare you, brat?" Hina shouted, standing up.
Aramis squealed and ran around the room while everyone laughed.
Elior watched the scene with a genuine smile. After days of anguish, he could finally see and feel a bit of peace.
Taking advantage of a calm moment, he moved closer to Seraphine, who remained seated in silence.
"And you, Sera?" he asked softly. "Have you gotten used to school? Is anything particularly difficult?"
She shook her head.
"No, everything's fine, really…"
But Hina interrupted from the bed.
"Don't lie! You still struggle with biology."
Seraphine shot her a deadly serious glare.
"Hina…"
"What?" Hina laughed mischievously.
Elior held back a laugh and looked at Seraphine.
"If you need help, I can give you a hand."
"Exactly," Hina said teasingly. "Elior is great at biology and everything," she added, throwing him a look of envy.
Seraphine sighed in surrender.
"All right, maybe I'll accept your help," she said, looking at Elior. "But only if you have patience and time."
"That'll be the real challenge," he replied with a smile. "I'm not exactly a good teacher. But we'll make it work."
Lia and Aramis kept playing around the bed, while Seraphine remained seated nearby, trying—with little success—to keep some order within herself.
Elior watched them all with that calm smile.
After the conversation with Seraphine, a brief silence settled in.
Lia broke it, stepping closer to Elior and looking Seraphine up and down curiously.
"And who is she?" she asked, with an innocence that could sometimes be sharper than a blade.
Elior opened his mouth to answer calmly.
"Oh, she's a friend from scho—"
He didn't get to finish.
From the other side of the room, Aramis's voice shouted with all his energy,
"Are you guys dating?!"
The silence lasted barely a second.
Hina and Aramis looked at each other and instantly hid under the sheets, laughing loudly.
Lia frowned, confused… and deep down, a little annoyed.
She didn't say it, but she didn't like the idea of her older brother being with another girl who wasn't Hina.
Elior rubbed his face, exhaling resignedly, and looked at Aramis with one eyebrow raised.
"No, Aramis. We're not dating. Just classmates… nothing more."
His tone was calm, but the look he gave was enough to make the boy freeze under the sheets.
Seraphine, meanwhile, had turned completely red.
"Exactly!" she said quickly, waving her hands nervously. "We're just classmates… and friends."
Still, her cheeks burned.
She didn't know if it was embarrassment, discomfort… or something else she didn't want to acknowledge.
Elior smiled faintly and crouched down to Lia's height.
"She's a friend of mine… and also a very good friend of Hina's."
He looked at her gently.
"I'm sure you'll get along."
Seraphine, trying to recover, stepped forward and crouched as well.
"Hi, Lia. It's nice to meet you," she said with a soft smile.
Lia looked at her with some suspicion at first, but almost without realizing it, she returned the smile.
The tension disappeared.
Still crouched, Elior processed what had just happened. Something unsettled him, and discreetly he glanced at Seraphine, then simply closed his eyes and sighed.
Slowly standing up, his body still weak, muscles tense, he walked toward the window and opened it carefully, letting the cool evening air in.
The breeze moved his hair and the white curtain, filling the room with an indescribable peace.
He rested an arm on the window frame, gazing at the sky.
The sun was beginning to set behind the buildings, painting the horizon in pale orange.
"I wish I could leave already," he murmured without looking away. "Being here is boring… and I don't even have anything to read. I hope Kael is doing well."
The hospital corridors were filled with murmurs.
Doctors spoke in low voices, some reviewed reports, others watched him with curiosity.
Kael walked seriously, brow furrowed, as they guided him to a private room.
"Mr. Kael," one of the doctors said, "first of all, I want to tell you that Elior recovered in an… astonishing way."
He paused, searching for words.
"I'd say it's almost impossible. I've never seen someone on the brink of death recover like this. The tissues, the organs, the cellular response… it's as if his body completely reset itself."
Kael remained silent, arms crossed.
"If you allow us to conduct more exhaustive studies, we could truly understand what happened. It could be a medical milestone for humanity. Imagine, Mr. Kael, a—"
"No." Kael's voice was dry, cutting. "You will not experiment on him. Not in any way."
The doctor tried to insist, but before he could say anything else, a firm voice sounded from the doorway.
It was the hospital director.
"What's going on here?" he asked authoritatively.
The doctors quickly explained the situation.
The director took the papers, reviewed them, then looked at everyone sternly.
"None of you are parents," he said gravely. "You only care about experimenting."
He slammed the reports onto the table.
"No parent who loves their child would allow something like this. Leave them alone."
The doctors lowered their heads and left, murmuring among themselves.
The director turned to Kael, his expression calmer.
"Mr. Kael, forgive them. They're young and sometimes insensitive."
Kael nodded with a small smile.
"Don't worry. I understand."
"Mr. Kael, could you come with me to my office? There are some matters I'd like to discuss."
"Of course. I'll follow you."
They walked into a quiet office, where two people were already seated.
Elior's psychologist and psychiatrist.
Kael frowned, confused, as he took a seat across from them.
"First of all," the psychologist began gently, "I'm glad to hear that Elior is stable."
Kael smiled faintly, mechanically.
The director spoke next.
"Mr. Kael, I called you here because although Elior's physical recovery is extraordinary, there is another part that isn't. His body healed… but his mind didn't."
Kael lifted his gaze, silent.
"That's why," the director continued, "I asked his psychologist and psychiatrist to be here."
The psychologist took a deep breath.
"Mr. Kael… some time ago we asked Elior to undergo certain tests. We reviewed them and then gave him the results so he could show them to you, but perhaps he never did."
"No," Kael said, surprised. "He didn't tell me anything about that."
"I thought so," she replied with a sad smile. "You see, Elior was diagnosed with major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety. However… in recent sessions I noticed something more serious."
She paused.
"Based on the test results and other factors, I believe Elior has entered a state of chronic depression, also known as dysthymia. He lives trapped in a constant state of sadness, even when he tries to smile. And that's not all. He also shows obsessive-compulsive traits, especially regarding order. Any disruption unsettles him. I've seen it multiple times in therapy. Additionally, his anxiety is persistent. He lives on alert, as if expecting something terrible to happen at any moment."
Kael stayed silent. His face hardened, but his hands trembled slightly on the table.
The psychiatrist spoke next.
"We analyzed his brain scans. There are structural and chemical changes. Elior already shows a reduction in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, and alterations in the amygdala. All of this affects memory, decision-making, and emotional regulation."
He sighed.
"There's also dysregulation in neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine. In short, his brain is collapsing under stress and anxiety. If not treated properly, it could reach a dangerous point, Mr. Kael."
"Dangerous?" Kael repeated in a whisper.
"Yes," the psychologist said, looking him straight in the eyes. "Specifically dangerous for himself."
She leaned forward.
"Elior has marks on his body… cuts, wounds. Clear signs of self-harm. And to be honest, Mr. Kael, I don't think he wants to die… but I do think he doesn't care if he does. He seeks danger the way others seek air. It's as if he needs that risk to feel alive."
The hospital director stood and leaned on his desk.
"The situation is more serious than I thought."
Kael covered his face with one hand, breathing deeply.
He didn't know what to say.
He didn't know how to react.
Part of him refused to accept that image of Elior… but another part knew it was true.
"Mr. Kael," the director said more gently, "you are his legal guardian. If you wish, I can discharge Elior today. He has already recovered, and we need the rooms. But I truly need your commitment."
"Commitment?" Kael asked.
"Yes. That Elior continues therapy. That he sees his psychiatrist once a month. And above all… that he takes his medication."
His voice hardened slightly.
"If he doesn't, and his condition worsens, we'll have no choice but to transfer him to a psychiatric rehabilitation center."
Kael stared at the documents on the desk.
His throat tightened. Sweat and anguish set in.
Finally, he nodded.
"I'll do whatever is necessary," he said in a strained voice.
The director placed a hand on his shoulder.
"That's what I hope, Mr. Kael."
They stood and left the office.
In the hallway, the psychologist stopped in front of Kael.
"I know this must be hard to hear," she said empathetically. "But believe me… Elior can still have a peaceful life, if he manages to free himself from the weight he carries."
Kael met her gaze.
"I'll try," he replied with a faint smile. "Thank you for caring about him."
She nodded.
Kael walked to the front desk, took the pen, and with a trembling hand… signed Elior's discharge papers.
As he did, he took a long breath, knowing that part of him understood what was coming next.
Kael walked down the hospital corridor with heavy steps
His thoughts echoed with the psychiatrist's words:
"Elior may not want to die… but he doesn't want to live either."
He sighed deeply before turning the doorknob to the room.
When he opened the door, the scene stopped him cold.
He couldn't ruin something like that with the burden he carried.
Lia slept on Hina's lap, who gently stroked her hair.
Aramis played with a small paper airplane Elior had folded for him.
Meanwhile, Elior spoke softly with Hina and Seraphine. Their laughter was small, restrained, almost a whisper so as not to wake Lia.
Kael leaned against the doorframe for a moment, smiling faintly.
That… was the closest thing to a family Elior had had in a long time.
"You've been discharged," he finally said, breaking the silence.
Elior looked at him, surprised, with a small smile.
"Really? Finally… I couldn't take this bed anymore. It's harder than a rock."
Kael chuckled softly as Elior slowly stood up.
"I'll go change," the boy added, walking toward the bathroom.
The door closed behind him.
Hina watched him go, then looked back at Kael.
"Is he okay?" she asked, her voice full of doubt. "Did the doctors say anything?"
Kael hesitated for a moment.
"Physically, he's better than ever. That's why they discharged him."
But his voice had that crack Hina knew well.
Both Kael and Elior were terrible liars.
She looked at him with a sad smile, but didn't press him. Not with the kids there.
"Well, at least he can go home," she said finally.
Seraphine listened in silence, hands clasped over her knees.
She didn't interrupt, though her gaze drifted again and again toward the bathroom door.
She felt something… strange.
A faint pulse, a barely perceptible vibration coming from where Elior was.
Inside the bathroom, Elior stared at himself in the mirror.
Water ran down his face as he leaned closer, studying his reflection… until it was no longer his reflection.
Suddenly, the glass darkened with shadow.
His skin merged with it.
His eyes shone with an intense white light.
And that smile… that smile was not his.
Elior staggered back, covering his face. He closed his eyes, trying not to look.
But when he opened them… he was no longer in the bathroom.
Once again, the void.
Around him, a vortex of shadows spun furiously, as if the abyss itself were breathing.
The voices surrounded him.
"It's time to return."
"This world is not for you."
"They cannot save you."
"Come with us, my so—"
Elior clenched his fists, breathing unevenly.
"No!" he shouted, but his voice echoed nowhere.
It was as if he were speaking inside an endless dream.
Suddenly, a knock at the door.
"Elior!" Seraphine's voice cut through the darkness.
The vortex stopped.
Elior blinked.
The bathroom returned to normal… though the mirror was shattered and objects lay scattered across the floor.
He breathed heavily. His entire body trembled.
The door burst open and Seraphine appeared, frightened.
"What happened? Are you okay?"
Elior turned toward her, chest heaving, veins standing out like black cords beneath his skin.
For a second, Seraphine saw one of those veins—the darkest one—slowly fade until it looked normal… the moment she stepped in.
As if something inside him hid from her presence.
Elior swallowed, trying to steady his breathing.
"It's nothing… I tripped, that's all."
She didn't believe him, but she didn't insist.
"Kael and Hina went to take the kids to the car," she said softly.
Elior nodded, pulled on his shirt, and gave her a tired smile.
"Then let's go. I don't want them to keep me here another night."
"Yes… of course," Seraphine replied, her hands trembling slightly.
Elior picked up the glass shards and fallen objects.
As he passed by her, the air grew heavy.
Seraphine didn't know why… but she felt that if she let him leave without doing anything, something would happen.
Something inside her begged her to act, right now.
"Elior…" she whispered.
He turned, confused.
And before he could ask anything, she hugged him.
A tight, desperate, sincere hug.
As if she feared that if she let go, he would vanish.
Elior froze for a moment.
Then slowly, he wrapped his arms around her.
"Easy…" he murmured. "I'm fine. Really."
Seraphine's heart pounded against his chest.
Her face burned, and she forced herself to pull away, mumbling quickly,
"We should go. They're waiting."
Elior only smiled.
"You're right. Let's go."
Outside, the afternoon was already fading.
Seraphine reached the car first, her cheeks still flushed.
Hina immediately noticed.
"What's wrong with you? You're red."
"Me? Nothing! Absolutely nothing," she blurted out, avoiding her gaze as she got into the car.
Hina raised an eyebrow and smiled mischievously, but said nothing.
Elior came out moments later, walking slowly, a faint smile on his face.
"Finally free. I can't stand those places," he said as he settled beside Hina.
She watched him with that defiant smile she used when she knew he was hiding something.
The drive home was quiet.
Lia slept on Hina's lap while Aramis looked out the window.
Kael drove in silence, watching Elior through the rearview mirror.
When they arrived, Hina asked,
"Seraphine, are you staying for dinner?"
"No, I don't want to be a bother," she replied nervously.
"It's no trouble," Elior interjected from the kitchen. "Stay. That way we all eat together."
Seraphine hesitated for a few seconds, then nodded shyly.
Kael went upstairs to put Lia to bed while Elior prepared dinner.
Hina and Seraphine talked in the yard under the cool breeze.
Kael and Aramis reviewed homework, laughing from time to time.
The atmosphere was calm.
Familiar. Everything anyone could want.
An hour later, Elior called out,
"Dinner's ready!"
Laughter filled the table.
They all talked as if nothing bad existed.
After dinner, Kael offered to walk Seraphine back to her apartment.
She agreed with a nod.
She sensed Kael might want to talk about something important.
The walk was silent until they reached the building.
Seraphine searched for her keys, but Kael stopped before she went in.
He looked into the darkness of the hallway and spoke firmly.
"Aurora… you can't hide. Come out."
Seraphine turned, confused.
From the shadows emerged a female silhouette.
Long silver hair, a severe gaze.
"Always so perceptive, Kael…" she said with a faint smile. "It's been a long time."
Kael narrowed his eyes.
"Honestly, not long enough for my taste."