At first, I tried retracing our path and returning home, all in vain.

   For the next three days, I did what I already knew was useless, yet, it was the only thing I could do. I searched for her again in every place we had passed together, again and again, in vain.

   She was nowhere to be found, and with every second spent away from her, the anger I felt toward myself for letting go of her hand slowly turned into genuine despair.

   It had to be a mistake. It had to be.

   At that moment, the shopkeeper had insisted that I entered the bakery completely alone. I returned there every morning, asking the same question, describing her features as clearly as I could.

   Every single time, the man repeated the same answer with certainty, claiming he would absolutely remember a girl with such striking characteristics.

   A week passed, and regret consumed my mind. There was no starting point to search for her anymore. At that moment… it truly felt as if she had never existed.

   The days blurred together, and writing became my only escape. I began creating new stories, making her the protagonist every time.

   A beautiful and gentle woman who, even in a world where cruelty reigns, is compassionate and caring, emotional but rational with her feelings… the woman I love.

   My mind, completely immersed in those thoughts, snapped back to reality when I heard knocking at the door. I wasn’t expecting anyone. Nobody searched for me, and I had no reason to open it.

   I ignored the knocking and returned to my writing, until a thought suddenly flashed through my mind.

   "What if Fyie is outside asking for help?"

   My eyes widened in shock, and I leapt to my feet, running toward the door and stumbling twice along the way.

   When I opened it, I couldn’t have been more disappointed… Drake.

   “Hello, sleeping beauty", he said in an obviously mocking tone.

   “Come on, dear friend. What’s stopping you from attending our school lately?” he continued, grinning at my expression.

   My blood began to boil.

   Deep down, I knew it was impossible for him to have anything to do with her disappearance, but now… he was my only lead.

   “Drake… what did you do to her?”, I asked with deadly seriousness, making no effort to hide my rage.

   For a few seconds, the broad and muscular man looked surprised by my tone.

   “Kid… who the hell do you think you’re talking to?”, he growled.

   His gaze narrowed directly at my eyes while he slightly tilted his head, raising the sleeve of his black dress shirt with his left hand in a blatant invitation to fight.

   “Human… I asked you a question", I replied, lifting my head while keeping my eyes locked onto his, without moving another muscle.

   We stared at each other for several seconds until, suddenly, Drake relaxed and burst into loud laughter.

   “Kay… if I’d known you’d lose your mind over a mere woman, I would’ve used one against you a long time ago".

   His words sent a chill down my spine. It didn’t make sense. Drake was cruel, but he never forgot the people he chose to torment... he never forget a face.

   My mind instinctively analyzed every possibility surrounding Fyie’s disappearance, and only one conclusion remained.

   “So she really…”

   My thoughts were interrupted by a punch fired directly into my nose like a bullet.

   “You thought I was joking?” - Drake sneered arrogantly - “Since you’re already on the floor, why not kneel and beg for forgiveness?”

   “Fyie… or rather… Catherine… Does that name sound familiar?” I asked, releasing my rage in the form of a murderous presence around the man, who immediately began trembling and stuttering.

   “Answer me", I said, my right hand already wrapped around his throat.

   “N-No… I’ve never… heard that… name", he claimed, unable to focus his eyes on any single point.

   “Do you know a silver-haired girl with white eyes?” I continued.

   “N-No… how are you this strong?” he gasped for air.

   “I’m the one asking the questions", I declared, releasing his bruised neck while watching him collapse to the ground.

   “Now then… insect", I said, raising my right hand. “Let’s see how much you can endure".

   My eyes gazed into the past, and my fists longed for vengeance, but at that moment, I knew Drake was not my priority.