The light fades as I step back into a familiar room. It hasn't been long since I left, but it feels like hours have passed.
I remove the small core from my pocket, placing it on the nearby desk.
I sit down, fiddling with the core, trying to break it. But I can't. Adrian and Valen had broken them with such ease, yet no matter how much I twist and turn it, the core refuses to yield. Frustrated, I stop and examine it instead. A faint rune is etched inside, too faded to make out.
This was the magic she had invented — the spell that could record memories. I wonder if Reyna had used this, or something similar, to show Adrian her memories of our fight with Sho... no, her fight with Sho.
The thought makes me angry. It makes me upset. I pushed the feelings aside — they were different. Maybe someone else had made this. Maybe I was overthinking it.
I tuck the core away in a small cabinet inside my desk. If I knew Pendant, there was something wrong with this — some skill, some trick — yet this seemed... harmless. Small and unimportant.
I turn to my closet, searching for warm armor or clothes. Tossing items over my shoulder, I gather boots, pants, armor — anything I might need for the ninth floor. I'm sure Reyna had been there at some point or another.
In truth, I'm mad at her. I'm mad that she told the Crusaders about the ring — about this blight. It feels like a betrayal. I can't shake my paranoia. What if they betray us? What if they hurt the people I care about?
I try to push those thoughts aside, but they linger, twisting inside me. The anger boils over as I continue tossing my room into disarray.
Knock. Knock.
I sigh. I walk toward the door.
It's Teruki. Her smile is wide and bright. She's like a ray of sunshine. She holds a small cake, carefully balanced.
"Can I come in?"
"It's messy."
I step aside to let her in.
Teruki doesn't seem to mind. She walks in. I don't want anything to happen to her. She's changed our lives. It may be selfish. I want her to stay with us.
My mind drifts. I think about Valen — how I understand his point of view. He's always tried to protect his sister. When we were younger, that felt easy. We believed we could keep each other safe.
But now... I'm not so sure.
I've always hesitated in this world. Back on Earth, I was different — more confident, more certain. But this place... it changes people. Whether for better or worse, it warps you. It gives power — power that corrupts.
I get lost in my thoughts, almost forgetting Teruki is still there. She stays quiet, just watching me.
"My focus has been off."
She smiles softly, placing the cake on my desk.
"It's your favorite," she says.
"My favorite?" I repeat.
Teruki draws a small knife from her hip. She cuts into the cake. The blade glides cleanly through the soft layers. A white sponge swirled with vibrant red and yellow streaks. Strawberry and lemon.
"Where did you even get vanilla here?" I laugh, sitting on the bed beside her.
"It's my secret," Teruki says with a wink.
As I take a bite of the cake, Teruki keeps watching me, her gaze lingering.
"I hope it's cooked right," she says, launching into a story about how Viri ruined the first one.
"She was supposed to help," Teruki continues, shaking her head. "Yet she managed to drop half the flour. Burn the oven mitts. Spill frosting on my shoes. It was all in under five minutes."
I smile, setting my empty plate to the side.
"Why don't you eat some?" I ask.
"I made it for you," Teruki replies with a soft smile.
Her warmth doesn't fade. Silence settles between us. After a moment, she speaks again.
"Rei was working hard while you were gone."
"Really? Doing what?"
"I'm not too sure. Someone else showed up... they talked for a while."
"What did they look like?"
"Not sure," she admits. "I only heard them arguing."
"She's been quiet lately."
"What do you think she's planning?" Teruki asks.
I lean back against the wall.
"I don't know."
"She told Adrian about the ring... about the blight. What if Adrian tells other guilds? What if Valen finds out?"
Teruki chuckles. "Valen... my brother.. he wouldn't follow up."
"Still," I sigh. "This world's different — trusting people here doesn't feel the same. It's... harder. Everyone's out for something. And honestly... I'm mad at Reyna for telling Adrian. What if he messes this up? What if he puts us all in danger?"
"Why don't you trust him?" Teruki asks.
"I don't know!" I snap. "I want to ... he's young. He's still just a kid, and I feel like if things get tough, he might not be reliable."
"Rei's stubborn," Teruki says with a knowing smile. "She wouldn't put this bet in unreliable hands."
That should've reassured me. It doesn't.
Teruki watches me carefully. She pulls me into a hug.
"It's okay to feel that way," she says softly. "Everyone handles things differently... but I'm not going anywhere. I'll stay by G2's side."
I was stiff at first. The warmth of her arms eases the tension.
"You don't need a ton of mana to be strong, "she adds, her voice firm.
I smile a little at that. "Yeah... I'll just be a summoner until we can remove it."
We sit in silence for a few moments longer, both of us quietly content.
Then — ding, ding, ding.
Three chimes from the bell.
"It's Rei," Teruki says. "Time to go."
We look at each other, and despite everything — the doubt, the fear — we smile.