The voice pulls her back to reality. She quickly looks at Konnie, who watches her with concern. "Are you okay?"

Jade forces a laugh, brushing a tear away with a trembling hand. "Yep, doing swell as always. I should probably help Shuzuka before he decides to... do that weird thing again, heh."

She turns—only to bump into Shuzuka standing directly behind her. "No thanks," he says flatly. "I can handle this."

With Akane still clinging to his back, he casually picks up the unconscious stranger and begins walking toward the ruined house. As he passes Jade, he leans in and whispers near her ear, "You shouldn't lie to yourself like that."

Jade freezes for a moment, her composure wavering. Konnie notices but remains quiet as she dusts herself off. "Not now," Jade mutters under her breath before following Shuzuka.

Konnie glances at Red, who still struggles to stand despite Touma's support. Concerned, Konnie approaches to help. Together, they guide Red toward her house.

As they walk, Red's voice is strained but firm. "She has that look on her face."

Konnie frowns. "What look? she looks fine to me."

Red shakes her head. "She's going to do something reckless. I don't know if she realizes it yet, but if she confronts the Black Rose... she'll die."

Konnie stops in her tracks, stunned. "What do you mean by that?"

"It's hard to explain," Red says grimly. "But there's someone who can read and predict people's fates. Most avoid it—but those curious enough to know usually end up either satisfied... or driven insane."

Konnie's voice falters. "Why are you telling me this?"

Red meets Konnie's gaze, determination shining through her exhaustion. "Because you're the only one who can save her. By using dark magic."

Konnie takes a step back, fear flickering across her face. "No... I—please don't. I don't want to use that again."

Red collapses to her knees, barely able to stay upright. "I'm sorry... but it's the only way. At the edge of the woods... find a frog with a pointed hat... please... for everyone..."

Her voice fades as she slumps into Konnie's arms. Konnie's breath quickens, her thoughts spiraling. "I can't... I can't... I can't!". Her hands tremble, and her vision blurs. The searing pain she'd long buried floods back—memories of the agony caused by corruption clawing at her mind.

Her knees buckle. She squeezes her eyes shut and screams, "I WON'T!"

Konnie's cries of anguish echo through the distance. Jade freezes, heart racing as she turns. Her eyes widen at the sight—Konnie's face consumed by terror, glowing purple cracks spreading across her cheeks. A chill grips Jade's chest. She struggles to steady her expression, but fear remains fully displayed in her gaze.

"Konnie...?" Jade's voice trembles. "Is everything okay?" She steps closer, fear flickering in her eyes. 

Shuzuka, busy tying up the stranger, glances over his shoulder at the unfolding chaos. His voice is low but steady. "Careful..."

Konnie lifts her gaze, catching Jade's expression—fearful and cautious, as if facing a monster. Her chest tightens. "I'm sorry," she whispers.

The black mass blooms outward in a sudden, pulsating burst, then retracts as if breathing. It clings to Konnie's skin, creeping upward in slow, writhing tendrils, inch by inch consuming her. Her eyes widen in horror as she looks down at the dark ooze snaking over her body. "NO! JADE! HELP ME!" she cries, desperation thick in her voice.

She reaches out desperately, tears streaking her face. Jade bolts toward her, hand outstretched, but just as she touches Konnie's silhouette, her hand passes through empty air.

Konnie vanishes.

"No, no, no!" Jade's breath is ragged as she spins around, her panic rising. Grabbing her staff, she slams it into the ground. Her eyes glow fiercely as she levitates, her hat flying off. A brilliant pulse radiates from the towering tree in the distance—the same one where she and Konnie first met. The magic surges through the town, washing over everything in her territory.

Jade's eyes widen. She dismisses the magic with a relieved sigh. "Okay... she's still here."

Determination hardens her expression. She grabs her hat from the ground and turns to Shuzuka. "I'm going to find her. You keep an eye on him."

Shuzuka quietly gives a thumbs up, still securing the stranger.

Konnie quietly sobs behind the towering tree, tears streaming down her face as fragmented memories flash before her—her body consumed by corruption, Jade's fearful gaze locked onto her. "Why...?" Her voice is low and trembling, barely more than a breath.

Suddenly, an unfamiliar memory flashes through her, and in an instant, she's back in the void

Her eyes widen as she sees the same crying woman from before, but this time, an eerie sense of anemoia washes over her—a nostalgia for something that never existed. The woman clutches a soul in her arms, her tail lying motionless, her hair in disarray, her sobs echoing in the emptiness.

Konnie opens her mouth, but no sound escapes. She cautiously steps forward, moving slowly to avoid startling the figure like last time. She hesitates before reaching out but instead chooses to sit beside it, silently listening to its cries.

Then, the sobbing stops.

A voice—soft yet strained, trembling with emotion—breaks the silence.

"I know you're there... and I know you're scared. I was too. But this is the only way to change fate. Please... save her. Save everyone..."

The voice is familiar yet unknown. Konnie turns to face the silhouette, watching as silent tears drip from its face. They don't land on the soul directly. Instead, they fall inches above it, rolling down the shape of something unseen—a person-shaped barrier, like an invisible husk protecting the soul

"Do it for us... Konnie."

Before she can respond, multiple figures emerge from the void. Their bodies glow with an ethereal white light, yet each one is distinct—some tall, some small, some barely human in shape. Though they all bear the same pulsing purple veins, the corruption manifests differently on each of them. They aren't identical to her, but they have walked a similar path.

Their presence isn't hostile. If anything, they feel familiar, like echoes of those who came before her. But their eyes hold a silent warning.

The weight of her fear and anguish begins to shift. Memories resurface—not of pain, but of warmth. Jade's unwavering kindness. The others' support. The moments they fought for her, protected her, believed in her.

She clutches her chest, fingers digging into the fabric of her shirt. She didn't want to lose them. Not to this. Not to fear.

Her breath steadies. She looks down, eyes soft but resolute.

Even if the corruption never truly disappeared, she would keep fighting.

"Okay... I'll do it."

A voice from reality tugs her back.

"Konnie! Please come out... I hope you're not hurt..."

Jade's voice is gentle, searching. She peeks around the tree—only to find no one there.

"...Oh. She must've... already left..." Jade murmurs, hesitating. Her fingers curl slightly as if she wants to reach out, but she stops herself. "...Maybe I should just give her a bit of space."

With a quiet sigh, she turns and begins walking back to town. Her voice is barely above a whisper "I'm sorry..."

As she leaves, Konnie slowly fades back into visibility.

Her eyes burn with determination. She rises to her feet. Then, without hesitation—she runs toward the edge of the woods.

Jade returns to find Shuzuka standing over the still unconscious stranger, the magic box keeping them contained. Red remains slumped against the wall, her breathing steady but shallow.

Jade glances at her, fingers idly scratching her staff. "Is she... okay?"

Shuzuka spares a glance. "She'll be fine. Did you find her?"

Jade hesitates before sighing. "No..."

Shuzuka watches her for a beat, then exhales through his nose. "He's still out cold, so why don't you keep yourself busy and fix the house? I'll check the kitchen... maybe find some tea..." He coughs, glancing away as if embarrassed to say it.

Jade stares at him for a moment before chuckling. "Hah... okay, okay, I'll work on it." She turns to Touma, who sits beside Red, keeping quiet. She offers him a soft smile. He quickly looks away, ears tinged red.

Placing the head of her staff against the ground, Jade closes her eyes. Roots begin to twist and weave, creeping up the damaged walls of Red's house. Leaves unfurl, covering the gaps in the roof, while moss spreads over the weakened beams. "This should hold it up for a couple of days..."

She steps back, admiring her work, but the brief distraction isn't enough. Her fingers twitch, returning to scratching her staff. "I'm sure she'll be fine..." The words feel hollow, her grip tightening. Her body remains still, but anxiety is evident in the slight furrow of her brows, the tension in her shoulders.

Meanwhile, Shuzuka rummages through the kitchen, searching for tea bags—and comes up empty. Clicking his tongue, he leans against the counter, eyes drifting toward a small window box of roses. "She wouldn't mind..."

Conjuring a pair of scissors, he leans over and snips off the flower heads. With a flick of his fingers, several tea bags form around the petals. The scent is faint, but it'll do.

Minutes later, he walks out carrying a tray with three cups of steaming tea—only to find Jade standing motionless in front of the reconstructed entrance, lost in thought.

He stops beside her, saying nothing.

Jade's ears twitch. She blinks, finally noticing him. "Oh... sorry, I was just—"

"No need to explain. Just take a cup and sit down."

A chair materializes beside him. Jade conjures a tree stump and sinks onto it, curling her hands around the warm cup. As they sip in silence, her eyes drift toward the stranger still trapped in the box. Her thoughts, however, are elsewhere.

"...I hope Konnie's not mad at me."

Shuzuka exhales, setting his cup down. "She's not. Don't beat yourself up over it—she'll understand."

Jade doesn't look convinced. She stares at the rippling tea, then exhales through her nose. "...You know, maybe you're not so bad after all."

Shuzuka raises a brow. "The hell's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing~" she hums, grinning before taking another sip.

"...Tch." He rolls his eyes but doesn't push further.

Jade hums in approval. "Oh wow, this is actually good."

Shuzuka clicks his tongue. "Obviously."

Konnie walks along the edge of the woods, her gaze drifting into the darkness as unseen eyes track her every step. A low growl rumbles beside her, making her instinctively step further from the treeline. She gulps, forcing herself to keep moving.

Then, she spots it—the frog with a pointed green hat, perched idly on top of a mushroom, staring into the woods. A small chuckle escapes her. "That's definitely her."

Approaching, she waves her hand in front of the frog. "Hello?"

No response.

Konnie frowns and crouches beside it. The frog sits perfectly still, its tiny chest rising and falling, its gaze locked ahead as if lost in thought.

"Weird..."

She exhales and turns to face the same direction. The forest looms before her, a chasm of tangled shadows and shifting silhouettes. Her fingers curl into fists. "I'm supposed to go in there... into that deep, dark..."

Out of the corner of her eye, she sees it—the frog looking at her.

Her breath hitches. She snaps her head toward it, but it's back to its unblinking stare.

"I... I'm probably just overthinking it. Heh..."

Pushing herself up, she suddenly stops. A wave of terror crashes into her, stealing her breath. Her pulse pounds in her ears, drowning out every other sound. She tries to move forward, but the air itself feels heavy, as if invisible hands press against her. Yet the moment she steps away from the treeline, her body feels weightless again.

"This is crazy... What are the chances there's actually something in there?"

Konnie swallows hard. Every instinct screams at her to turn back.

Instead, she bolts forward.

Eyes shut tight, she sprints into the trees, leaving behind the comfort of the open air. The moment she crosses the threshold, the world shifts.

Silence.

The wind vanishes. The chirping of insects and rustling leaves fade into nothing. The only sounds left are her own hurried footsteps and the rapid pounding of her heart.