Scene: Safehouse Medical Bay, 03:47 AM
Silence.
You sat on the bench, shirt peeled halfway off, chest wrapped in gauze. Bruises bloomed like smoke under your skin.
Kairo was leaned back in a chair, arms crossed, eyeing you. Lia sat nearby, legs pulled up on her cot, hugging her knees.
"You really fought Leon?" Kairo finally asked, voice low.
You didn't answer.
Lia spoke up. "That's… not exactly small news. The guy's a legend. And kind of scary."
You sighed. "He wanted it. I didn't stop it."
Kairo frowned. "Is that what this is now? Fighting allies until they're enemies?"
You looked up at him. "You don't know what it's like."
"You're right," he said. "I don't. But I do know when someone's spiraling."
Lia stood and walked over. She sat next to you, quiet for a moment.
"I get it," she said softly. "Everything's falling apart. People you trusted… don't feel safe anymore."
She looked up at you. "But if you burn every bridge, there's not going to be anything left worth saving."
You met her eyes.
For just a moment—amidst the weight and war and bruises—she looked so much like Ada.
Kairo leaned forward. "So, what now?"
You flexed your fingers—your knuckles still raw.
"Now," you said, "we get ready. Zeyren's next move won't wait. Neither should we."