The room felt quieter than before—as if the walls themselves were holding their breath.
Hugo stepped inside, letting the door close behind him with a muted click.
The soft afternoon light filtered through the curtains, brushing gently against the sleeping form on the bed.
Lea hadn't moved.
Not even a flutter of her eyelids.
Her mint-colored aura, faint and barely visible, pulsed softly against the blanket—evidence of the change Dr. Arkwright mentioned.
A Player who didn't level their element…
…but leveled themselves.
Hugo sat beside her, slowly lowering himself into the chair he had barely left since last night.
The wood creaked under his weight, but it was the only sound in the room.
Kael had left moments earlier—called to an urgent meeting.
Before leaving, he had placed a firm hand on Hugo's shoulder.
"Take care of her. I trust you."
And Hugo… didn't know how to answer that.
But now, with only the two of them here, his chest tightened all over again.
