Kumara's ears, which had been drooping, suddenly twitched, catching the urgency in Freddy's voice. Her eyes flew open, glassy with tears, as if she had just awoken from a pitch-black nightmare. Her lips trembled before the words slipped out—soft, yet carrying the weight of meaning.
"Am I…?"
Freddy met her gaze, steady despite the sweat and dust streaking his face. "No… what matters now is getting out of here. We need to evacuate first."
Kumara shook her head hard, her pointed ears quivering with the motion. "No!"
Freddy exhaled slowly, trying to keep the tension from creeping into his voice. "Please… this is no place for you right now."
But the girl grabbed his hand, her small grip startlingly full of resolve. "Please… let me fix this. I can help. My mother once taught me about the Three Laws Seal."
The words struck Freddy like a lightning bolt. His eyes widened. "What?"
