Their shelter was attacked by monsters. Chaos everywhere, steel clashing, screams tearing through the air.
Aaras was helping injured civilians escape when the shelter commander shouted:
> "We don't have enough space! Throw the useless ones out!"
Aaras froze. Useless…?
The awakened fighters began pushing powerless people toward the exit gate—toward the monsters. Aaras tried to stop them.
> Aaras: "They're humans! They deserve to live!"
Awakener: "Shut up! You can't even protect yourself."
He was struck to the ground, blood running from his forehead.
Then came the moment that shattered him—
His childhood friends, people he trusted, stood in front of him. The ones he protected all his life.
Including Rai.
Her eyes trembled with fear, but she stepped back instead of helping.
> Aaras, voice breaking: "Rai… you believe in me, right? Please… say something."
Rai looked down, tears falling.
But the people around her whispered:
> "She should let him go."
"He's dead weight."
"A monster will kill him anyway."
And she—shaking, terrified—whispered the words that destroyed his heart:
> "I'm sorry… Aaras. Please… just disappear."
The gate behind him opened, and someone kicked him hard.
He fell outside, into the battlefield of monsters.