The next morning, Gendai stirred awake. Her hair was tangled, her tank top slipping from her shoulder as she lay staring at the ceiling.
Last night still clung to her like a dream. Sando… a man who actually cares. Not for what I am, not for my scars—just me.
She rolled out of bed, brushed her teeth at the sink, eyes catching her own reflection in the mirror. Her fingers lingered on the edge of the glass.Sando… thank you. Thank you for your time…
By the time she dressed and opened her door, the quiet hum of life in the mansion reached her ears. The dining room spread before her, sunlight spilling across its long table. For a moment, her chest tightened.
I remember when we all sat here together… laughing, smiling, just thankful to see another morning. But now you're all in Vrasnia, and I'm the one left behind.
Her thoughts broke when Raijin's voice cut in from behind."So. You finally found yourself a man, huh? Done crying over Kazimir?"
She turned sharply, eyes narrowing. "What do you want, Raijin?"
"Nothing," he shrugged, though his smirk told otherwise. "Just pointing out… that hero you're clinging to? Sando. The current rank one Vandor. The one carrying Azoth's power."
Her lips pressed into a thin line. "Yeah. He's the number one Vandor in the world. After two thousand years, we finally have someone who can carry the burden. The world is safe now."
Raijin chuckled darkly. "Safe? Then why is Abiba still breathing? Doesn't sound like those holy sword heirs are living up to the hype."
Gendai snapped back. "Azoth wounded her. That alone matters."
"And he died," Raijin's voice cracked like a whip. "What makes you think Sando can succeed where Azoth failed? Especially when he's openly talking about targeting Kazimir. That's a death wish. If you're smart, you'll get him on Kazimir's side, because something big is coming. When it does, everyone will need each other—no matter what world they're from."
Her fists trembled at her sides. "He was chosen. Gifted his power the day after his aunt died, when Kazimir nearly destroyed everything against Ingress and Barrack. He listens to humanity's cries. Humanity wants Kazimir gone."
Raijin's smirk vanished. His eyes hardened, flat with disdain. "That's your reason? Pathetic. Honestly, I wish Kazimir had let Barrack blow the planet to ash instead of wasting his time protecting ungrateful people. You know the truth, and still—you lie on his name because he broke your heart."
His words pierced her, and for a moment she had no response. Then he leaned closer, voice low, almost venomous.
"Karma will strike, Gendai. What you're protecting won't end well. When Kazimir's void consumes him, he'll be nothing but a memory. Just like Azoth. Humanity will keep failing, looping back to its own weakness again and again."
Her jaw clenched. "Are you judging the choices of gods now? Acting like you know better?"
Raijin gave a cold laugh. "A god? Hearing a succubus lecture me about Solaris—that's rich. And even if Solaris exists, he's done nothing. Humanity is still weak, still pathetic. Don't waste your breath on me."
The sharp crack of her palm across his face echoed in the dining room.
"Shut up! Have faith in Solaris."
Raijin turned his head slowly back to her, a red mark already blooming on his cheek. His smile returned, cruel and unshaken."Faith, huh? Sure. Let's have faith. I just hope Solaris can save Sando from Kazimir… if he's foolish enough to stand against him."
The echo of her slap still hung in the air. Dust motes drifted lazily in the sunlight, but the dining hall felt heavier than stone.
Raijin's smirk lingered like a scar across the room. He didn't strike back. He didn't even flinch. He just turned, his footsteps fading into silence as he left her standing there.
Gendai's hand trembled in midair. Her chest heaved, every breath catching like fire. When the doors closed behind him, the silence roared louder than his words.
Her reflection caught in the polished dining table—eyes wet, jaw clenched, hair still a little disheveled from waking. She barely recognized the woman staring back.
Why… why do his words get to me?
Her knees weakened, and she leaned against the table's edge. Memories clawed their way to the surface—Kazimir's back turned coldly away, Riah's blazing defiance, the laughter that once filled this hall when they were all together. Now it was just emptiness.
Tears threatened, but she forced them back. She couldn't let Raijin's venom sink in, couldn't let the cracks widen. And yet…
What if he's right? What if Sando can't win? What if he dies when he tries to kill Kazimir and I lost my hope?
The chandelier above swayed faintly, scattering fractured light across the room, painting her in shards of gold and shadow. It felt almost mocking—holy radiance breaking apart just like her thoughts.
She stumbled toward the hallway, hand brushing against the wall for balance. Her voice slipped out in a whisper, shaky but desperate, as though speaking to the void itself:
"Sando… please… don't leave me with another broken world," A voice came behind her she looked back and it was Sando sitting at the dining table clueless to how he was able to get in.