At first, she hesitates. Her eyes flicker between the floor and Jade's face.

But then, she gives in.

She drops the books in her arms—

and unable to hold back the relief, she stumbles forward, nearly tripping—

then throws her arms around Jade's shoulders.

"Hey, Konnie... haha... been a while."

Jade tilts her head with a weak smile as Konnie hugs her tight.

But then—

she sees it.

A faint, creeping crack forming on the back of Konnie's neck.

Jade's eyes widen as her smile starts to tremble.

Shuzuka sees her reaction.

He follows her gaze—

and sees it too.

His hand shoots out, gripping Konnie's shoulder.

"Wait, Konnie—"

At first, she hesitates—her eyes dart between the floor and Jade’s face.

But then… she gives in.

The books slip from her arms, thudding to the floor. Relief surges, shaky and unsteady, and she stumbles forward, nearly tripping in her rush—

—only to blink, and find herself standing in the middle of the open field once more.

Her breath catches.

Her cautious steps quicken into a sprint.

But when she sees the silhouette—her own shape—waiting ahead, her pace falters.

She tries to speak.

Nothing comes out.

Her hand rises to her throat, fingers brushing over her skin, forcing a weak, broken squeak. The silhouette tilts its head, lowering into a crouch as if to study her.

It reaches for her.

Konnie jerks back—only to find her foot snared by something, a dark string connecting them. She kicks at it, desperate to break free, but the tether holds, tight and unmoving.

Her pulse spikes.

Her gaze flickers from the approaching hand to her trapped foot.

She clenches her fist and swings—

but the blow is caught in the silhouette’s face.

Her breath shudders. She thrashes, tears pricking her eyes, calling out for help—

only to be answered by the soft, unbroken whisper of the wind.

Clenching her teeth, she shuts her eyes and waits for the inevitable.

…But nothing comes.

When she opens them again, two other silhouettes have appeared—one glowing blue, the other burning with a vibrant red. They strain against the dark figure, dragging it back inch by inch.

The black silhouette shrieks.

A sound so sharp, so jagged, it feels like forks scraping across glass inside her skull.

The ground beneath her starts to splinter, thin cracks racing outward.

The dark figure claws at its captors, reaching for her with frantic, warped motions.

Its eyes—hollow yet piercing—lock onto hers.

It screams for help.

Konnie freezes.

Her hand trembles… but she reaches toward it.

The cracks explode beneath her feet.

And she falls.

Down—

into the void once more.

Her eyes flutter open. Shuzuka’s hand is fully corrupted—veins of glowing violet running through cracked, blackened skin. His breath is heavy, his eyes hollow black.

“No… no, no…” Her voice shakes. She grabs his hand, clutching it with both of hers, tears spilling as she grips tighter.

“It’s okay, Konnie.”

The wooden shell around Jade splits apart with a sharp crack, fragments tumbling to the floor. She calmly steps out, brushing a stray bit of dust from her shoulder. Her voice is soft, her smile warm. “He’ll be fine.” She rests a gentle hand on Konnie’s head.

Konnie catches her breath, holding Jade’s hand as she looks back at Shuzuka. The corruption fades, piece by piece, crumbling away like burnt paper in the wind.

Shuzuka drops to one knee, steadying himself with a deep breath before lifting his head with a faint chuckle.

“We need to go to White Lily.”

His eyes flutter. One hand slips to the floor for support. Despite purging Konnie’s corruption, a small remnant clings to the nape of her neck, pulsing faintly.

Jade’s eyes flick between Konnie and Shuzuka. She looks down, biting her thumb, then exhales.

“…Alright.”

She stands and quietly slips out, closing the door behind her.

“Where is she going?” Konnie asks.

From the couch, Red—still pale but upright—wraps an arm around her stomach. “Hard to say. But knowing her, she’s about to do something that’ll make me regret standing up.”

A loud thud cuts the air as Shuzuka collapses.

“Guess there’s a limit to how much punishment he can chew through.” Red mutters.

Konnie hurries over, dragging him by the arms. With Akane’s help, they heave him onto the couch beside Red.

“I never… got his name,” Konnie says, eyes fixed on his face.

Red blinks.

"Wait, hold on—you’ve been around him for two days and still don’t know his name? That’s Shuzuka."

Konnie fidgets and turns her head down

"Sorry! I don’t know, maybe he told me?"

Red snickers, shaking her head.

"Fair enough. You’ve been around him, but honestly? I’m pretty sure you were never actually awake, haha."

After a moment, Konnie slowly looks up. Her wide, glistening eyes linger on him.

From half-conscious lips, a murmur: “Konnie… don’t stare at me like that—”

“Sorry—”

Red chuckles. “Guess he’s got enough life left to complain.”

Akane gently held Konnie’s hand.

“Mr. Shuzuka isn’t that bad once you get to know him.”

Konnie squinted at her, then down at the floor. After a pause, she gave a small nod.

“…I guess.”

Red studied her for a moment, then rested a hand on her shoulder.

“Why don’t you go check up on Jade, see what she’s up to?”

Konnie didn’t respond right away. Her eyes lingered on the ground, fluttering as if caught between thoughts. Finally, she nodded.

“Oh—yeah… I-I should go see where she went.”

She rose and slipped out the door. The town opened before her—streets lined with buildings she hadn’t explored yet. At the center square, a massive tree rests with benches set in a ring, each one facing outward toward the square. She lowered herself onto one, her fingers tracing the worn grain of the wood. A soft breeze brushed her face

Her arms fell slack at her sides as she leaned back, eyes drifting upward to the sky.

“…I guess I’m really here.”

A distant voice called out to the townsfolk. She paid it little mind until, moments later, the sound swelled into a commotion—voices sharp with frustration, some edged with concern. Curiosity pulled her from the bench.

Rounding the corner, she caught sight of a crowd gathered tight around a stage.

“Jade..? What is she…” Konnie murmured as she slipped closer, letting the voices wash over her.

“What about us?”

“What happens to us?”

The questions came one after another, laced with fear. On stage, Jade stood with both hands raised.

“Please, I understand this is a decision—”

Her words were cut off by a harsh shout.

“Why go through such lengths for one person? I say we kick her out!”

The crowd stirred.

Jade’s jaw tightened. She lifted her staff and slammed it down onto the wooden platform. The crack thundered through the square, silencing the uproar.

“I made this place to save everyone. And yes—I will risk my life for even one person. If it were any of you, I would do the same without hesitation.”

Her eyes swept across the crowd, steady but heavy with disappointment.

“I understand your fear. I do. But listen carefully—when someone comes to us for shelter, they are no longer just ‘someone.’ They are part of us. Part of this home.”

She drew a slow breath, her voice firm but soft yet trembling

“If I turn away one soul simply because it is easier, then this village is nothing more than walls and wood. Protection means nothing if it is conditional. And I will not allow this place to become that.”

Another voice broke through:

“If something happens to you… what happens to us?”

For a moment, Jade hesitated. The weight of their words pressed against her chest, but she stood taller, her staff firm at her side.

“Then I’ll make sure nothing happens to me. And I’ll make sure nothing happens to any of you. That is my promise—as long as you are under my care, you will not be abandoned.”

Another voice rises from the crowd, sharp with worry:

“And if something happens to you? Then what?”

The crowd murmurs, but a louder voice cuts through. Camie steps forward, pushing her way to the front. She hops up beside Jade, her stance firm.

“I trust her.”

The words ripple through the silence. She sweeps her gaze over the people.

“Believe it or not, she’s never once failed us. Every promise she’s made, she’s kept. You all know it. I know it. She’s not just our protector—she’s one of us. And if you keep treating her like some shield, then you’re forgetting she’s flesh and blood, same as you.”

Camie turns to Jade, voice softening but steady.