Jay lost track of time.

He didn’t know how many times he lost consciousness or how often he woke up in the same chair, his body restored just enough for the pain to begin again.

Every question sounded the same.

Every answer led nowhere.

Hombi never raised his voice. That made everything worse.

"Are you a pure elemental or an impure one?"

"I… don’t know."

Each refusal was followed by silence.

Then suffering.

Jay learned quickly that screaming changed nothing.

What terrified him the most wasn’t the pain itself—but the certainty that it would never truly end.

Because every time his body broke down, she returned.

Saikopasu.

With a calm expression and an almost caring touch, she restored him completely.

Bones. Skin. Strength.

Everything came back.

So the cycle could begin again.

After three days, Jay’s mind felt shattered.

He had only given them one thing.

Confirmation.

Yes, he was an elemental.

Nothing else.

No element.
No full name.

That was all.

Jay had been missing for three days.

The search began almost immediately.

Mary barely slept.

She moved from place to place, asking questions, clinging to any scrap of information she could find. Her hands shook constantly, her eyes always red.

Luis took the case personally.

He searched tirelessly, interrogated suspects, followed every lead—but the kidnapping had been executed flawlessly. Too few clues. Too many dead ends.

Poul was involved as well.

And with every hour that passed, a familiar feeling returned to him.

Failure.

Kyrai suffered the most.

She locked herself in her room, leaving only to eat or use the bathroom. No words. No reactions.

Only tears.

Mary was washing dishes when someone knocked on the door.

She froze.

Then rushed to open it.

Two officers stood outside, wearing blue uniforms with golden details. They stepped inside and sat at the table. Mary joined them, her heart pounding.

"We have updates on the boy’s case," said the older officer. "And they’re positive."

Mary’s eyes widened.

"Really?" she asked, hope and exhaustion mixing in her voice. "Please… tell me."

"We’ve gathered new witness reports," the younger officer explained. "Several locals saw a man following the boy."

He pulled out a sketch.

"It matches this individual. He wore a hood, a blue coat, and a mask. This narrows our suspect list."

Mary nodded rapidly.

"And the other news?"

The older officer hesitated.

"We received a letter."

Mary stopped breathing.

"They’re demanding a ransom. One million Lakqo. Three weeks."

Her hands trembled.

"If the payment isn’t made," he continued, "they intend to sell the boy."

Mary didn’t hesitate.

She would pay.

No matter the cost.

After the officers left, she sat alone in silence, gripping the edge of the table.

That night, Luis returned home exhausted.

He collapsed onto the couch, covering his face with his hands.

'How could I be so careless?'

'Letting a child walk alone…'

Mary approached him.

"I received news about Jay," she said softly.

"I know," Luis replied, his voice tense.

"We should talk to Poul," she continued. "We can pay the ransom."

Luis wanted to argue.

He didn’t.

He only nodded.

Back in the dark room, Jay barely remained conscious.

Hombi stood behind him.

"Are you a pure elemental?" he asked again. "Or not?"

"I… don’t know…"

Jay’s voice was weak.

His thoughts were scattered.

'If I give in… I die.'

'If I stay silent… I suffer.'

The burning sensation returned.

Jay screamed.

But even that sound felt distant now.