Kai woke to pain.
Not sharp—but deep, lingering.
His chest ached with every breath, like something inside him had cracked and refused to heal.
When his eyes opened, the first thing he saw wasn't the dim light above—
it was Nyari.
Asleep beside him.
Her head rested on his arm, fingers tightly wrapped around his hand, as if letting go would make him disappear.
"…Nyari?"
She jolted awake instantly.
"K-Kai?! You're awake!"
A faint smile touched his lips, though the pain showed through.
"…Why do you look like you've been crying?"
Nyari quickly wiped her eyes.
"I didn't… okay, maybe a little."
A pause.
"…I got scared."
Her voice softened.
"When I saw you like that… I thought you were going to disappear."
Kai exhaled slowly.
"…I'm still here."
Nyari looked away, embarrassed.
"…You were heavier than you look, you know?"
"I carried you all the way."
"You were burning… but I didn't let go."
Kai's expression softened.
"…You stayed."
Nyari nodded.
"…Always."
A cold voice cut in.
"Kai. Your physical condition is unstable. Heart rate: 143."
Nyari sighed.
"…Jinwi, do you ever stop?"
"No."
Kai rolled his eyes.
"…Figures."
Nyari smiled slightly, then looked back at him.
"You scared me."
Kai's voice dropped.
"…I scared myself too."
A silence followed.
Then—
"…For a moment," Kai said quietly, "I didn't care about anything."
Nyari's grip tightened.
"…Then what did you care about?"
Kai looked at her.
No hesitation.
"…You."
The door opened.
Dorum stepped in, arms crossed.
"…Kid. You pushed too far."
Kai didn't argue.
"…I know."
Dorum shook his head.
"No. You don't."
His gaze hardened.
"That power you used… wasn't control."
"…It was the edge."
Nyari froze.
"…Edge?"
Jinwi answered calmly:
"He crossed the threshold."
The room went silent.
Dorum exhaled.
"If he goes further next time…"
"…he won't come back the same."
Nyari's eyes dropped.
Kai just closed his.
"…Then I won't go further."
Jinwi responded instantly:
"You will."
Kai opened his eyes again.
Calm.
But different.
"…Only if I have to."
Nyari shook her head.
"…Don't say that like it's nothing."
Kai looked at her.
"It's not nothing."
A pause.
"…It's the cost."
Nyari slowly tightened her grip on his hand.
"Then don't pay it alone."
Kai blinked.
"…What?"
She looked straight at him.
"If something like that happens again…"
"…I'm not staying behind."
Kai frowned slightly.
"That's not your fight."
Nyari didn't move.
"…It is if it's you."
Silence.
Then—
Kai let out a quiet breath.
"…You really don't make this easy."
Nyari smiled faintly.
"…Good."
Outside, the wind shifted.
Somewhere far above—
something watched.
Waiting.
Kai felt it.
Just for a second.
A faint pressure in the air.
Jinwi spoke, low and certain:
"…It's not over."
Kai didn't look away from Nyari.
"…I know."