Shura didn't sleep.
Not really.
His eyes stayed closed for hours—
but his mind never dropped.
The ceiling never left him.
Same cracks.
Same thin lines—
like something had tried to claw its way out…
and failed.
He counted them.
Lost track.
Counted again.
Morning didn't come.
Not properly.
No shift.
No warmth.
The light just… changed.
A little brighter.
A little colder.
That was it.
Shura's eyes opened.
Too early.
Too heavy.
His body felt wrong.
Like it had been used—
not rested.
Across the room—
The boy was already awake.
Standing by the window.
Still.
Not leaning.
Just… there.
Looking outside like something mattered.
There wasn't.
A notebook in his hand.
Open.
But unread.
His eyes weren't moving.
Just fixed on the page—
like waiting for it to change.
Shura watched him.
A few seconds.
Measured.
"…You dream?"
The boy spoke first.
Calm.
Like he already knew the answer.
"…Everyone does," Shura said.
Flat.
A slight frown.
Barely there.
"Not that kind," the boy said.
A pause.
"…You were screaming."
Shura didn't react immediately.
"…Sounded like you were scared of something."
Shura looked away.
First.
"…It's normal."
Silence.
"…Normally," the boy continued,
"people don't wake up like that."
A pause.
"…Tears."
"…Shaking."
Another.
"…Exhaustion."
That one stayed.
Shura said nothing.
The boy tapped his notebook once.
Soft.
"…You're unstable."
The word landed clean.
Heavy.
Shura pushed himself up.
Back against the wall.
"…You were watching me?"
"…I didn't have to."
A beat.
"…You're loud."
Shura's fingers twitched.
Just once.
Quick.
Uncontrolled.
The boy's eyes dropped instantly.
Tracked it.
Didn't miss it.
That made it worse.
"…Name," the boy said.
Shura blinked.
"…What?"
"Name."
A pause.
"We're staying here."
Another.
"We should know it."
Not a request.
Silence stretched.
"…Osiris," the boy said.
Just gave it.
Like it didn't matter.
A pause.
"…Yours?"
Shura hesitated.
Then—
"…Shura."
Osiris nodded once.
No reaction.
No interest.
He closed the notebook.
Carefully.
Too carefully.
"…You don't control your emotions," Osiris said.
A beat.
"…Or your Viora is unstable."
Shura almost laughed.
Didn't.
"…You're kidding."
Osiris ignored it.
"…I can help you."
Shura's eyes narrowed.
"…Help me what."
Osiris tilted his head slightly.
"…Get rid of that dream."
His eyes flicked—
to Shura's hand.
Again.
Silence.
Shura exhaled slowly.
"…What do you want."
There it was.
Osiris didn't answer immediately.
He stepped away from the window.
Each step measured.
Quiet.
Controlled.
He stopped near the bed.
"…Authority," he said.
Simple.
Shura frowned.
"…Why?"
No answer.
Shura's gaze shifted.
The badge.
On the table.
Metal.
Important.
He gestured toward it.
"…Then take it."
Osiris looked at the badge.
Then back at him.
"…You think it's that easy?"
"Looks easy."
"It isn't."
Shura leaned back.
"…You could steal it."
Osiris stared at him.
Longer this time.
"…You don't know anything."
Not an insult.
Just… truth.
Shura stopped.
Mid-thought.
Because—
No.
He didn't.
He looked away.
Slower this time.
"…Exactly," Osiris said quietly.
The room tightened.
Osiris picked up the badge.
Turned it once.
Thumb brushing the edge.
"…This isn't about taking it."
Shura looked back.
"…Then what."
"…It's about being allowed to keep it."
Shura frowned.
"…That makes no sense."
"It does."
A pause.
"You're just not there yet."
That again.
Shura pushed forward slightly.
"…Then explain it."
Osiris looked at him.
Something sharper this time.
"…Maybe later."
Shura exhaled sharply.
"…So you can't."
"I can."
"Then do it."
"No."
Flat.
Clean.
Silence.
"…You're annoying," Shura muttered.
"…You scream in your sleep," Osiris replied.
That hit.
Shura stopped.
No answer.
Osiris set the badge back.
Same place.
Same angle.
"…If I help you," he said,
"you stop doing that."
A nod—toward Shura's hand.
Shura clenched it.
Held it still.
"…And if I don't?"
Osiris shrugged.
"…Then you stay like this."
No threat.
Worse than one.
"…You don't help people," Shura said.
"…No."
"…Then why."
"…I told you."
"Authority?"
A nod.
"…That's not enough."
"It is for me."
Silence.
Heavy.
Shura leaned back.
Head touching the wall.
"…You're weird."
"…You're unstable."
A pause.
Shura exhaled.
Long.
Tired.
"…Fine."
No reaction.
"…Fine what?"
Shura looked at him.
Still unsure.
Still resisting.
"…I'll listen."
A beat.
"…Not agree."
Another.
"…Just listen."
Osiris didn't move.
But his smile…
changed.
Just slightly.