Kael stood in front of the massive sealed gate deep within the ruins beneath the academy grounds—one few knew even existed. His hand hovered over the old runes etched into the stone surface. The coordinates Kyoushiro gave him still echoed in his mind. This was it. The path to that other dimension… the place that held the only medicine that could bring Tetsu and Hana back.
His knuckles were still bruised. His body still sore. But none of that mattered.
Behind him, he heard footsteps. Ryuu and Eri had followed.
"Are you really doing this alone?" Ryuu asked.
Kael didn't turn around. "If I have to."
Eri's eyes were puffy and red. She still clutched Hana's ribbon in her hand. "You don't have to…" she said quietly. "We're all hurting, Kael. But you rushing in alone—"
"I'm not rushing," Kael interrupted. "I'm choosing."
Ryuu crossed his arms, glancing up at the ancient portal. "You're insane, you know that? Even Kyoushiro said it's suicide."
Kael finally turned to face them, his voice low. "They died protecting us. They died because of me. I'm not letting that be the end. Not if there's a chance."
Neither of them responded. What could they say?
Kael turned back to the door and reached for the seal. With a surge of his Will, the ancient glyphs began to glow, a thunderous hum building in the air.
Meanwhile, back in the infirmary, tension still gripped the room like ice.
Tetsu and Hana lay motionless, covered respectfully in white cloth. Eri's bag of pills sat useless nearby, empty—its best miracle not enough this time.
Kyoushiro had not returned. Kaede leaned against the wall in silence, still haunted by what he'd learned about the old man. His gaze flicked toward the beds—toward the two fallen warriors who had meant so much to them all.
No one spoke. Even the remaining students and medics had stepped out, giving them space.
Then suddenly, a faint rumble passed through the floor beneath them. Eri sat up quickly. Kaede's eyes narrowed.
"What was that?" Ryuu's voice called in through the infirmary door as he entered.
Kaede stood and walked over. "He did it. He opened the door."
Ryuu's jaw clenched. "He's really going in there…"
Kaede nodded slowly. "He's going to try and bring them back."
The room fell quiet again.
Eri wiped her face and stood. "Then I'll prepare backup gear… just in case."
Kaede watched her go. Ryuu followed her a second later, his eyes unreadable.
Alone for just a moment, Kaede looked back toward Hana and Tetsu, his expression soft.
"Hang in there," he muttered. "He's not giving up on you."
And down below, in the darkness of the newly opened dimensional gate, Kael stepped forward into the unknown.