Two years had passed since that tragic day.

  Time didn’t stop, but for Kael, the world had grown smaller. His life was now confined to a bed, trapped in a body that was slowly fading. Nyla and I did everything we could to keep the house in order so he wouldn’t have to worry about anything.

  Nyla had always been by his side, caring for him with a devotion that broke my heart. Despite her age, she did the impossible to help him, to ease even a fraction of his pain.

  She was a strong girl. Too strong.

  —Nyla.

  —Yes, big brother?

  I paused for a moment.

  He had called me that before, but it still surprised me every time I heard it.

  —How old are you turning this year?

  —I’m 11 now, but this year I’ll be 12! —she answered enthusiastically.

  I ruffled her hair gently, a small smile forming on my lips.

  —You’re growing up fast.

  —Yeah! —she beamed, her eyes shining with innocence.

  That smile…

  If only I could protect her from everything that’s coming.

  Every day, I visited Kael. I knew he didn’t have much time left, and I didn’t want him to feel alone. We talked about anything and everything, though most of the time, he was the one comforting me.

  That day was no exception.

  —Kael…

  —What is it, Zein?

  I swallowed hard.

  —I lied to you.

  —Why do you say that?

  I clenched my fists. I had been holding this in since I regained my memory, but I couldn’t keep hiding it any longer.

  —Ever since I remembered who I am… I haven’t told you the whole truth.

  Kael gave me a weak smile.

  —That you’re the hero who saved this planet?

  My eyes widened.

  —How…?

  —You were in the newspapers… —he interrupted himself with a dry cough, his body trembling from the effort, but he still kept speaking—. And besides, you saved Nyla and me. You’re strong… you can see Angelus, something I never could. It was obvious who you were from the very beginning.

  A lump formed in my throat.

  —I’m sorry…

  —Don’t apologize.

  His voice was calm, without the slightest trace of reproach.

  —I knew from the moment you arrived here —he continued—. But I never said anything.

  He looked at me with a kindness I didn’t deserve.

  —I selfishly thought that if you remembered who you were… if you realized everything you had done… maybe you would change. Maybe you wouldn’t be such a good person anymore.

  I lowered my gaze.

  —Kael…

  He just smiled.

  —And in the end, you’re still the same Zein we met.

  His voice was steady, but his body trembled. Every word cost him, every breath was a struggle.

  I stayed silent, unsure of what to say.

  Kael had known the truth all along. And yet, he let me live in that lie… not for himself, but for me.

  Because he wanted to protect me from my own past.

  Because he wanted me to remain the Zein they had known.

  I swallowed the pain and forced myself to smile.

  I won’t let him down.

  Kael was breathing heavily, his fragile body trembling beneath the blankets. His eyes, once so full of life, now seemed dim, but they still held a flicker of determination.

  —Kael… —I whispered, a knot tightening in my throat.

  He gave me a weak smile.

  —At least now I know… that when I’m gone, my sister will be in safe hands, right?

  My heart clenched.

  —Don’t say that, Kael. Please…

  —Come on, Zein. You know I could leave at any moment.

  I clenched my fists.

  I didn’t want to hear it.

  I didn’t want to accept the inevitable.

  —Kael…

  —Zein, promise me something —his voice was barely a whisper, just a breath in the cold room. With the little strength he had left, he grasped my shirt—. Take care of my sister when I’m gone. Always. Please.

  —Kael…

  —I know I’m asking a lot, but do it for me. Take her with you. Give her a good life, one she never had. Adopt her. I know it’ll look strange, that you’re not related by blood, but… please.

  His gaze was pleading, his grip shaky but firm.

  There was nothing to think about.

  —Don’t worry, Kael. Leave it to me.

  His expression softened, and his hand slowly fell onto the bed.

  The following days passed like a whisper in the wind. Kael was worsening little by little. I watched him fade, and though I tried to stay strong every day, I could feel time slipping away.

  To distract myself, I started training again. I knew I couldn’t afford to be weak. I had to be strong enough to protect Nyla.

  And that’s when I made a decision.

  I sought out the shadow.

  I wasn’t afraid anymore.

  —I want us to get along.

  Its voice rose from the darkness, sharp and mocking.

  —Well, that’s a change.

  I took a deep breath.

  —I’ve seen that you hold immense power… but you can only manifest it through me. I want to control it. I want to learn how to use it without losing myself—without causing more casualties.

  The shadow chuckled.

  —It hurts that you call me a tool, but fine.

  From that moment on, my days were consumed by relentless training.

  Something in the air felt off.

  Like something terrible was approaching.

  Two years ago, we lost against the EDI. It wouldn’t surprise me if they were searching for me.

  I worried about Naoko, Kiomi, Miguel, and the others, but now I had a responsibility I couldn’t abandon.

  And somehow—

  I managed to get along with the shadow.

  We had so much in common… and yet, we were completely different.

  There were things I didn’t want to accept.

  But I had to.

  Living with it pushed me to an extreme I never imagined—

  To a point from which I could never return.

  And that’s when it happened.

  The shadow… managed to manifest in the real world.

  Not as an independent entity—

  But as something bound to me.

  The first time Nyla saw it through me, she was terrified. Her eyes widened with fear, and she clung to Angelus, trembling.

  But Angelus didn’t flinch.

  He recognized it immediately.

  He saw it as similar.

  As an equal.

  Nyla named it Daemonis. At first, she was afraid of it, but Angelus always stayed by its side—like they were old acquaintances. It was as if they spoke in a language only they could understand, a silent, ancient communication… unique to them alone.

  I tried to use this new power to heal Kael.

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  I had experimented before, attempting to mend wounds in different ways—searching for a miracle.

  But nothing worked.

  The most I could do was close injuries… but his illness wasn’t something I could fix with my hands.

  Kael’s time was running out.

  And with it—

  I felt like ours was, too.

  Every time Nyla visited him, her expression changed.

  Hope would shift into anguish in mere seconds.

  Seeing her like that broke me.

  I didn’t even want to imagine what it would be like once her brother was gone.

  I saw them both as my children, even though they weren’t.

  They were my responsibility.

  And if I couldn’t save Kael—

  At the very least, I had to protect Nyla with my life.

  Then—

  The fateful day arrived.

  Kael lay in his bed, paler than ever, his breathing nothing more than a whisper in the cold air of the room.

  His chest rose and fell with difficulty—

  Each breath weaker than the last.

  Nyla and I stayed by his side until the end.

  She held his hand tightly, trembling, silent tears streaming down her face.

  She didn’t say a word—

  But her desperation filled the air, a weight impossible to ignore.

  I stepped closer, a lump forming in my throat.

  —Kael… —I whispered.

  His lips parted slightly, his voice a distant echo.

  —Zein…

  —I’m here. Don’t worry.

  He tried to take a deeper breath, as if he needed to gather his strength for what he was about to say.

  —Keep… your… promise… please…

  I knelt beside him, gently taking his hand.

  —I will.

  —Take care of her…

  —I will.

  Kael blinked weakly. His gaze could barely stay fixed on me, but there was a faint spark of relief in his eyes.

  —Take care… of yourself…

  My voice wavered slightly.

  —I will.

  And then—

  Kael’s last breath faded into the air.

  His hand went limp, slowly slipping from mine.

  Nyla froze.

  Her lips trembled, her breath hitched, and for a moment, I thought time itself had stopped.

  But it hadn’t.

  The world kept turning… even as hers had just collapsed.

  This hurt far more than I wanted to admit.

  Nyla sobbed uncontrollably beside his body, clinging to him as if she simply couldn’t let him go.

  As if holding on tight enough would somehow stop him from vanishing from her life.

  She wanted to stay by his side…

  But now, for the first time in a long time—

  They would be separated.

  On the day of the burial, the rain fell relentlessly. I wondered why it always seemed to rain during the saddest moments—at funerals, at farewells. I once thought movies did it just for the script, but maybe that wasn’t the case.

  I had read somewhere that when it rains after someone’s death, it’s because the sky mourns their loss. That every drop is a tear from the angels, grieving the departure of another soul. That it’s the whisper of the universe reminding us that—even in death—there are those who miss us.

  It was a beautiful thought.

  But that day, it was clear that neither the sky nor the angels were the only ones crying.

  I held the rope that lowered the coffin into the grave, feeling its weight—not just physical, but emotional. With every inch it descended, it felt as if a part of Kael drifted further from us, as if the reality of his absence became more tangible.

  Beside me, Nyla collapsed to the ground, unable to stand. We didn’t care about the rain soaking us. It didn’t matter. We didn’t bring umbrellas—not because we didn’t have them, but because deep down, we knew the rain was part of the farewell.

  Every handful of dirt I tossed onto the coffin stabbed like a knife. Every handful was a memory. A moment. A laugh. A whole life being buried.

  It comforted me to think that at least he died with a smile… or at least, that’s what we wanted to believe.

  That night, the house was suffocated by silence. There was no sound except the rain tapping against the roof and the distant rumble of thunder. The cold felt harsher than usual… as if the warmth of this home had disappeared along with him.

  The next day, the mood was at its lowest. We didn’t speak all morning. Not because we didn’t want to… but because neither of us had the strength to.

  Nyla didn’t even touch her breakfast. She just sat in silence, staring at nothing, trapped in a world where her brother no longer existed.

  Then—

  I heard a scream.

  I immediately shot to my feet and ran toward her room, my heart pounding in my chest.

  When I opened the door, I saw her on the floor, trembling.

  Her eyes were filled with terror.

  In front of her… he was there.

  The shadow.

  Daemonis.

  But this time… I hadn’t summoned him.

  He was there. On his own. Without my help. Without being called.

  He was just… there.

  —Daemonis…? —I murmured, unable to hide my surprise.

  Nyla turned to look at me, her voice trembling.

  —Daemonis… is he your…?

  —Yes… —his voice was distorted, almost like a fragmented echo in the air—. I am that very same being.

  —But how…?

  —Zein, by synchronizing better with you, I’ve managed to materialize… just like Angelus does. But I haven’t come to explain that.

  His tone grew darker.

  —They are coming.

  A chill ran down my spine.

  —But… I have an idea.

  —What is it? —I asked, my body tensing.

  The next few days were a whirlwind of preparation.

  Nyla and I made sure everything was ready. The essentials were packed into suitcases—the most important thing was being able to escape quickly when the time came.

  We knew it was only a matter of time before they found us.

  The plan was simple: as soon as Angelus detected enemy movement, Nyla would warn me, and I would return for her. We had to flee before it was too late.

  And that day came.

  The sky was completely shrouded in gray clouds. The rain from the night before left the air thick with the scent of damp earth. A cold wind swept through the forest, lifting dry leaves and making the trees creak in an unsettling way.

  I was outside, chopping wood. Nyla had stayed inside, finishing up our packing.

  Then—

  I felt the signal.

  A chill ran down my spine.

  Angelus was warning me.

  I dropped the axe immediately and, in the blink of an eye, I was already in front of the house.

  In the distance, between the trees, I spotted the silhouettes of several soldiers. Black armor. Moving in formation. The metallic gleam of their rifles under the dim daylight.

  They were EDI.

  —Nyla, grab your things. We’re leaving now. —My voice came out more serious than I expected.

  While she finished up, I put on my armor. I had reforged it from the old one—the one that had been destroyed in that battle. This new version was stronger, improved to withstand whatever was necessary.

  I lifted Nyla onto my back and stepped outside.

  We weren’t lucky.

  The moment we crossed the door—

  One of the soldiers spotted us.

  —There they are!

  The shout rang out like a gunshot in the forest’s stillness.

  Within seconds, the alarms started blaring.

  A sharp, repeating noise that announced our presence to every soldier nearby.

  One by one, they started appearing.

  We were being surrounded.

  My jaw tightened.

  I couldn’t fight with Nyla with me.

  I made a risky decision.

  —Nyla, listen to me. —I knelt down so she could climb off my back, holding her by the shoulders as I looked into her eyes—. Walk north. Don’t stop. As far as you can. I’ll keep them busy here.

  Her eyes widened in fear.

  —And you?

  —I’ll come find you when I’m done. I promise.

  Nyla pressed her lips together. I could tell she wanted to argue, that she wanted to stay… but she understood the gravity of the situation.

  —Alright… —she whispered at last.

  I let her go.

  And then, I braced myself for what was coming.

  In an instant, I returned to the battlefield. I knew I couldn’t hold back, so I had to end this as quickly as possible—so long as no generals were involved.

  My first targets were the tanks, armored vehicles, and heavy weaponry. If I eliminated the most dangerous threats first, I’d have more room to maneuver.

  I didn’t encounter much resistance—

  The soldiers fell too easily.

  But then, just as I was about to take down another soldier—

  Someone pushed him out of my way.

  My eyes locked onto the figure that had appeared before me.

  A woman.

  A general?

  She looked young—or at least, she seemed to.

  There was something about her that felt familiar, but I didn’t have time to analyze it.

  I attacked without hesitation.

  I struck fast, aiming for her abdomen.

  She managed to block it—

  But the force of the impact sent her flying several meters backward.

  She recovered quickly and lunged toward me.

  I barely had time to dodge her attack.

  But something about the way she moved unsettled me.

  She didn’t seem to want to hurt me—

  More like she was trying to grab me.

  Before I could react, another enemy appeared behind me.

  A second general.

  He seized me by the waist with crushing strength and, without effort, lifted me off the ground and slammed me into the earth with brutal force.

  The impact shook the entire battlefield.

  I let out a grunt and forced myself to my feet as quickly as possible.

  I couldn’t afford to waste time.

  I needed a distraction.

  I struck the ground with all my strength. The terrain cracked, and the earth lifted in large plates of stone and debris.

  The generals were momentarily destabilized. It was my chance.

  I quickly ascended, pulling away from the fight, and flew toward Nyla.

  She had moved a few meters as I had told her. I picked her up and placed her on my back.

  —Hang on, Nyla. —Her voice trembled, but she nodded.

  This time, I pushed my speed to the maximum.

  I created a mana shield around her, forming a protective cabin of sorts. I wouldn’t let anything happen to her.

  But we weren’t the only ones on the move.

  Behind us, the two generals were following close.

  I gritted my teeth. I couldn’t bring Nyla into a fight.

  I made a decision.

  I increased my speed, placed her in a safe spot, then turned around and went back to intercept them.

  We stood face to face.

  They had the numerical and strategic advantage.

  But I wasn’t going to give up.

  I was the first to attack.

  I charged directly at the woman, throwing myself with all my strength.

  She dodged the blow with inhuman agility.

  I changed my target and turned to strike her companion, but a wooden barrier rose from the ground, completely blocking me.

  That power…

  My heart stopped for a second.

  —Sora… —I murmured, filled with rage.

  From the air, he descended slowly.

  —Zein, we don’t have to do this. —His voice sounded calm… as if he expected to reason with me.

  My fists clenched.

  —You think so? —I let out a dry laugh, full of disbelief—. You joined them again.

  —It’s not what you think.

  I looked at him coldly.

  —Well, I don’t know what to believe anymore.

  I didn’t hesitate.

  I charged at Sora as fast as I could.

  But his branches were even faster.

  They wrapped around me in an instant.

  Tight.

  Suffocating.

  I twisted with all my strength, growling as the thick trunks immobilized me like living chains. But I wasn’t going to stay trapped.

  Gathering all my energy, I tore through the bindings with a roar, making them shatter into splinters.

  But it was too late.

  The other two generals were already on me again.

  I tried to strike them, but their movements were quick, calculated.

  They easily dodged my attacks.

  I was rusty.

  Every blow I threw missed by inches. Every attack I took made me lose more ground.

  No.

  I wasn’t going to lose.

  Not again.

  I concentrated all my energy into a single strike and unleashed it with fury onto Sora.

  I hit him square in the chest.

  The crash resonated like thunder.

  Sora’s body was sent flying, breaking trees in its path before disappearing into the rubble.

  I didn’t have time to keep fighting.

  I took advantage of the confusion and struck the other two generals with all the strength I had left. One fell to his knees. The other staggered back, unsteady.

  That was my moment.

  I ran toward Nyla without looking back.

  I didn’t know where we were or where we were going.

  I just wanted to get her out of there.

  Far away.

  Safe.

  I ran without stopping, my breath ragged from the effort. Nyla clung to my back, trusting me to get her out of this nightmare.

  But when I finally thought we were far enough…

  They surrounded us.

  Troops everywhere. A trap.

  I gritted my teeth. Damn it.

  —Nyla, stay behind me. —My voice sounded firm, though deep inside, fear was beginning to sink in.

  —Zein… I can fight too.

  —My duty is to protect you.

  I gripped the hilt of my sword. The only one I had left.

  I had carried it all this time… the sword Lucian gave me years ago.

  The only weapon I had left.

  The others had been destroyed in the chaos. The armor had been lost.

  This was all I had.

  And I wasn’t going down without a fight.

  I prepared to use my technique, but before I could act, one of the generals spoke.

  —Zein.

  His voice.

  That voice… I knew it.

  It felt familiar. But it sounded… distorted.

  As if the helmet was hiding something.

  The general raised his hands in a peace gesture.

  What were they doing?

  A trick?

  I clenched my jaw, my hand ready to unleash Daemonis. If they moved even an inch wrong, I would tear them apart.

  —Zein, we don’t want to hurt you.

  It was the other general speaking.

  Her voice also sounded familiar.

  But it wasn’t that which made me hesitate.

  It was what she tried to do.

  She placed her hands on her helmet… and tried to remove it.

  But she couldn’t.

  As if she couldn’t take it off.

  I focused more intently on her. Her uniform…

  It wasn’t like the others.

  It wasn’t standard imperial armor.

  It seemed like a strange amalgamation of pieces from different armors.

  Something didn’t fit.

  And that feeling in my chest…

  I didn’t know why, but my instinct told me I knew her.

  When she finally took off the helmet, something inside me broke.

  Or rather, something inside me was freed.

  It was as if an immense weight vanished from my back.

  It wasn’t Nyla’s weight.

  It was another weight.

  One deeper. Older.

  Fear.

  The fear I had carried for years.

  The fear of losing everything again.

  And then, I saw her.

  That unmistakable hair.

  That vibrant color, as messy as ever.

  That smile.

  That smile that had given me calm so many times.

  —It’s over, Zein.

  My breath caught.

  It was Naoko.

  And beside her…

  Miguel.

  My legs trembled.

  My lips parted, but no words came out.

  Only tears.

  Tears I couldn’t control.

  Tears that fell like an unrelenting torrent.

  My body moved on instinct. I didn’t even think about it.

  I just hugged Nyla.

  I held her with all my strength.

  As if I needed to confirm that she was real too.

  As if, by doing so, I could convince myself this wasn’t a dream.

  Nyla, surprised, looked at me with her big eyes.

  —Will we be okay? —Her little voice trembled, full of doubt.

  My throat closed up.

  And for the first time in years…

  I could say it with certainty.

  —Yes… yes, we’ll be okay.

  My voice cracked, but I didn’t care. Because for the first time, it wasn’t a lie.

  It was all over.

  The sky, gray and gloomy for so long, cleared up. The sun peeked through the clouds. As if the whole world was letting out a sigh of relief.

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