Pain came first.
Sharp.
Unforgiving.
Vinh lay motionless.
His body refused to respond.
Every breath burned.
"…So this is it…"
A shadow fell over him.
Heavy.
The creature stepped closer.
Slow.
Certain.
It raised its arm.
To finish it.
Then—
A shift.
Too fast to follow.
No sound.
No warning.
The creature froze.
Its body trembled—
Then collapsed.
Dead.
Instantly.
Vinh's eyes widened slightly.
A figure stood there.
Humanoid.
A girl.
Still.
Calm.
Her suit was worn.
Damaged.
Marked by survival.
She didn't look at him immediately.
Instead—
She scanned the surroundings.
Carefully.
Only when she was sure—
Did she turn to him.
Their eyes met.
No warmth.
No hostility.
Only… evaluation.
"…You're still alive."
Flat.
Vinh tried to move.
Failed.
She didn't wait.
She grabbed him.
Dragged him away.
Darkness.
A narrow fracture within a broken world.
Hidden.
Silent.
Temporary.
She dropped him down.
Not gently.
Vinh clenched his teeth.
Pain surged.
"…Tch…"
She crouched.
Placed her hand near his chest.
A faint energy spread.
Warm.
Controlled.
The pain dulled.
Not gone—
But bearable.
Vinh exhaled slowly.
"…You healed me…"
No answer.
She stood.
Turned slightly away.
Silence filled the space.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Then—
"…Name."
Short.
Direct.
Vinh looked at her.
"…Vinh."
A pause.
"…Yours?"
"…Hongco."
Nothing more.
No explanation.
Vinh nodded faintly.
"…You've been here longer."
Not a question.
Hongco didn't deny it.
"…Long enough."
Another silence.
Vinh shifted slightly.
Still in pain.
"…That thing earlier…"
"…You killed it in one hit."
Hongco didn't react.
"…So you're not like me."
A faint shift in her gaze.
"…No."
Silence again.
Then—
"…What did you use?"
Vinh asked.
Carefully.
Hongco tilted her head slightly.
"…Use?"
"…That attack."
A pause.
She studied him.
Longer this time.
"…You really don't know."
Not mockery.
Just fact.
Vinh said nothing.
Hongco exhaled lightly.
"…Four base elements."
A pause.
"Water. Fire. Earth. Wind."
She continued.
"Two special."
"Metal. Wood."
Vinh listened.
Focused.
Trying to understand.
Hongco leaned back slightly.
"…Mine is fire… and wind."
Calm.
Natural.
A lie—
but flawless.
Vinh didn't question it.
He couldn't.
Hongco looked at him again.
"I saw you earlier."
A pause.
"You used something."
Vinh's fingers tightened slightly.
He hesitated.
Just for a moment.
Then—
"…Sound."
Simple.
Direct.
Hongco watched him.
Silence.
Longer than before.
"…Outer type."
Rare.
Unstable.
Vinh held her gaze.
Didn't explain.
Didn't correct.
Just let it stand.
For now—
it was his.
Silence settled again.
Then—
Hongco spoke.
"…To use it…"
She paused.
"…you need dimensional energy."
Vinh frowned slightly.
"…What's that?"
Hongco didn't answer immediately.
Instead—
she looked at him.
Carefully.
Measuring something deeper.
"…Your life."
A pause.
"…The more you use it…"
"…the faster you die."
Silence.
Heavy.
Vinh let out a short breath.
"…Then I should already be dead."
Hongco didn't respond right away.
Then—
"…You're still alive."
A pause.
"…So it's not yours."
Vinh froze.
Not outwardly.
But inside.
He looked at his hands.
The faint memory of that power lingered.
"…Yeah…"
Low.
"…I figured."
Hongco stood up.
Turning away.
"…Then don't depend on it."
Flat.
Final.
Vinh said nothing.
But something had changed.
Not in his body—
But in his choice.
He lied about his power.
She lied about hers.
And neither of them intended to tell the truth.