Even though Fauna was celebrated as a war hero, Mika knew the truth that most never saw.
She was also a victim of that same war.
The glory people spoke of had come at the cost of her peace. The things she had seen, the people she had lost, the screams she could never forget, they had left her broken inside.
Now, watching her tremble amidst the snow and ruin, Mika realized this was one of those moments where the past was bleeding into the present.
She was trapped in a memory she could never escape.
Her breath came in uneven gasps, her lips whispering fragmented words, her eyes darting around as if she were standing in two worlds at once.
He had seen this before—long ago—but it had been years since it last happened. And the sight of it again made something heavy tighten in his chest.
Cecilia, who was beside him, looked nervous but not surprised. That alone told him everything.
"Does she always...become like this?" Mika asked softly, glancing at her.
