Silence filled the room.
Yoru and Sairi stood facing each other. The tension between them was heavy—heavier than it should have been.
"Do you want proof?" Sairi asked.
Yoru blinked. "Proof... of what?"
"That there is a monster inside you."
She didn't wait for an answer. She just raised her hand.
The temperature dropped instantly. A thin layer of ice began to crawl across the floor, turning the room into a freezer.
"Focus," she said. Her voice was calm, almost robotic. "Remember what you felt last night..."
Yoru closed his eyes.
He took a deep breath, trying to look inside himself.
There was nothing but darkness.
Then, a voice reached out to him from the void.
'You've returned...'
His heart started pounding against his ribs.
"Who are you...?" he whispered.
The voice gave a soft, dark chuckle.
'I am... exactly what you are.'
In the real world, a black aura slowly began to bleed out from Yoru's skin. Sairi noticed it immediately.
"Good... he can feel it..." she muttered. "Now, take control."
"How?" Yoru asked. His voice was strained, his teeth clenched.
"Let it out... but on your own terms."
Yoru tried. He pushed.
The aura grew stronger, but it felt jagged. Unstable.
Then suddenly—
BOOM!
A burst of energy rippled out from him. His eyes flashed a violent red. The shadows around him began to thrash like wild animals.
"Stop!" Sairi shouted.
"I... I can't!" Yoru gasped.
The voice inside him grew louder, drowning out everything else.
'Let go... I'll take over...'
"NO!" Yoru roared.
The room began to shake. Cracks appeared in the walls. Sairi rushed to his side and slammed a hand onto his shoulder.
A rush of freezing energy flowed into him.
"Listen," she said, her voice cutting through the noise. "Stop being afraid of it."
"That is you. No one else."
Yoru took a slow, shaky breath. He focused on the cold from Sairi's hand. The aura kept flickering, but little by little, it began to settle. The red glow in his eyes faded.
Calm returned.
He opened his eyes and looked around, panting heavily. Sweat was dripping down his face.
"What... was that?"
"The first step," Sairi replied, pulling her hand away. "Control."
Yoru looked down at his hands. They were normal again. No shadows. No smoke.
"I... I almost lost it..."
"That is why you need to practice," Sairi said bluntly. "You're a mess."
Then, her expression shifted. She went still.
"Too late."
Yoru looked up, confused. "What?"
Sairi turned toward the shattered window, her eyes narrowing.
"They're here."
Silence returned for a heartbeat.
The next second—
CRASH!
The door didn't just open; it was smashed off its hinges. Three agents in black uniforms burst into the room, their weapons already raised.
"Target confirmed—Yoru."
Yoru froze. "Who are these people...?"
"Eclipse," Sairi said. She didn't sound surprised.
The agents attacked without a word. One of them closed the distance in a blur, landing a heavy blow straight into Yoru's chest.
THUD!
He was thrown backward, his back hitting the wall.
"Fast..." he muttered, coughing as the air left his lungs.
Sairi had already moved. An ice barrier rose between them, blocking the next strike.
CLASH!
The sound of metal hitting ice echoed through the room.
"Yoru—focus!" Sairi shouted over her shoulder.
Yoru shut his eyes. He didn't have a choice.
"Control..."
The black aura formed again. The red glow followed. This time, it didn't feel like a wild beast. It felt like a tool.
Yoru got back on his feet. The agents lunged again. He blocked a strike with his forearm—and countered immediately.
His punch sent one of the agents flying across the room, crashing into the furniture.
Yoru stared at his own fist. It was covered in thin, dark smoke.
"Did... I do that?"
Sairi glanced at him, a small, cold glint in her eyes.
"Welcome to the real world."