After a long sleep, Annie's eyelids fluttered slightly… then slowly opened.
A veil of fatigue still clouded her vision, but she immediately recognized a familiar figure curled up against her.
Catherine.
The little girl was sound asleep, breathing softly, her face peaceful—as if she had fallen asleep waiting for her.
But she wasn't the only one in the room.
Carla, sitting nearby, nearly jumped from her chair the moment she saw Annie's eyes open.
— "Annie… you're awake…!"
She was about to rush over, her voice thick with emotion, but Annie simply raised a finger to her lips.
Catherine was still sleeping.
Carla got the message right away and approached more gently.
Annie slowly turned her gaze away from the little girl and extended her hand. Carla took it without hesitation and carefully helped her sit up.
Each movement stirred a heaviness in her limbs, but nothing unbearable.
— "Are you alright?"
— "I think so…"
Annie nodded softly, then sat in the chair nearby. Carla, ever attentive, handed her a glass of water.
She took it with slightly numb fingers and sipped a small mouthful. The cool liquid slid down her throat, grounding her back into herself.
— "Thanks."
But Carla's response was unexpected.
— "I'm sorry."
Annie looked at her, surprised. Carla briefly averted her eyes, then added in a low voice:
— "If you hadn't taken that pill… you wouldn't be like this."
She lowered her head slightly, eyes heavy with guilt.
Annie watched her in silence for a moment… then gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
— "Yeah, that's true. It's all your fault."
— "What?!"
Carla snapped her head up, shocked—but froze when she saw the corners of Annie's lips slowly curve upward.
A smile, small but sincere, was forming.
— "Sorry… I couldn't resist."
Annie stifled a soft laugh behind her hand, while Carla looked at her, still a little thrown.
— "Just trying to lighten the mood. Besides…" She paused. "I should be the one apologizing."
Carla frowned.
— "Huh?"
— "I opened the box. I took the pill. Even though you told me not to…"
Her voice had softened. No blame. No tension.
Seeing Annie just as blunt and straightforward despite her exhaustion, Carla finally felt a knot inside her loosen. That familiar tone—playful, a little cheeky—yes, this was truly Annie.
— "By the way… how long was I out?"
— "Three, maybe four days."
— "That long?"
Carla nodded with a slight smile.
— "But Annie… aren't you hungry or something?"
She remembered trying to feed her while she was unconscious, but Vagner had dissuaded her, claiming it wasn't necessary. Still, now that Annie was awake, the question felt urgent.
Instead of answering right away, Annie moved her fingers slowly, as if trying to feel something invisible.
— "Carla."
— "Yes?"
— "What I'm about to do… don't tell anyone."
Carla raised an eyebrow but nodded silently.
Without another word, Annie stood, walked to the center of the room, and reached out toward the empty air.
Then, like the surface of water being touched, a translucent mirror gradually materialized in front of her. At first, it reflected Annie… but the image shifted and showed Carla instead.
— "Annie…?"
Annie reached out to the mirror. As her fingers touched the surface, her appearance changed—her features became Carla's, her posture, her voice… everything. But it only lasted a few seconds before she returned to her original form.
Then, without warning, her body wavered.
— "Annie!"
Carla barely caught her in time before she collapsed. She gently laid her down, panic rising in her chest.
— "What happened?!"
— "She used too much mental energy."
The answer didn't come from Annie, but from a calm, familiar male voice.
Carla spun around and saw Teri standing in a corner of the room. He was watching the scene without the slightest alarm, as if he'd been there all along.
— "How did you get in?"
She was sure she had double-locked the door.
Teri shrugged indifferently. Carla gave up trying to make sense of it. There were more pressing matters.
— "What do you mean by 'mental energy'?"
— "Let's just say she passed out because she manifested her Akasha… and in doing so, activated her power."
He calmly adjusted his glasses before continuing.
— "On top of that, she hadn't fully recovered since waking up."
— "Akasha? What is that now?"
— "The mirror you saw earlier. Everyone has an Akasha, but its form varies from person to person. It can be a mirror, a pen, a necklace, or even… a broken toy. It's more than just an object."
His gaze fell on Annie, sleeping peacefully.
— "It's a unique manifestation of their inner power. And Annie just discovered hers."
Carla stayed silent, still kneeling beside Annie. But her thoughts drifted… far away.
She remembered that strange, almost unreal day when Vagner and Teri had each materialized an object before her eyes.
— So that… was an Akasha?
Vagner's was a simple playing card—or so it seemed. But she had seen it slice through a dark doppelganger without him even taking a step.
And Teri… his was just a blank piece of paper. Nothing more ordinary, nothing more baffling.
But now she understood that each of these items, however harmless they appeared, concealed real, unique, and unfathomable power.
She knew nothing about those powers—their limits, their origin. And the more she learned, the more she felt left behind… overwhelmed.
— "Carla."
Teri's voice brought her back to the present.
She didn't answer. She just looked up at him.
Then, in a composed tone, he continued.
— "Are you going to stay on the sidelines… or adapt to this world's new rules?"
Silence fell again, but this time it felt lighter.
Because something had been planted inside her.
— "I… I…"
Carla stammered, hesitating, struggling against a flood of thoughts threatening to swallow her whole. But suddenly, her eyes fixed on something behind Teri. Something wasn't right.
— "What are you hiding behind your back?"
Teri half-turned, caught in the act, though he showed no hint of panic.
— "Oh, that? Apparently, it's for Catherine. We just found it recently."
He held out an old teddy bear. The fabric was worn by time, patched in places, but a small name was still stitched on its belly: Catherine.
— "Give it to her when—"
— "My bear!!!"
The voice—trembling but overflowing with joy—cut the conversation short. Catherine had woken up, and she was already rushing toward Teri.
She nearly snatched the bear from his hands, hugging it with a strength no one would expect from such a small body. Arms tightly wrapped around the toy, she buried her face in its worn-out fur, as if she were reclaiming a forgotten piece of her past.
Carla and Teri watched her for a moment.
— "In that case, I'll take my leave."
Teri placed a hand on the doorknob, ready to go. Before stepping out, he turned his head slightly.
— "Don't forget what I told you, Carla. If you hesitate too long… you'll fall behind."
Without waiting for a reply, he opened the door and disappeared into the hallway, leaving behind a heavy silence and the echo of his words hanging in the air.
…
…
Later that night, while the entire complex was wrapped in deep sleep, a small figure stirred quietly under the blankets. Only Catherine was still awake, a flashlight clenched between her teeth, faintly illuminating her cocoon of sheets.
— "What was the code again?"
In her arms, her favorite teddy bear. But looking closely, beneath the soft fur was a tiny hidden compartment with a three-digit lock. Her "old secret hideout," as she used to call it.
— "Hope there are still some candies inside…"
Her small, nimble fingers turned the code wheels. 2… 2… 7.
Click.
A smile spread across her face. She gently lifted the lid… only to find an unexpected surprise. Inside was a single carefully wrapped candy and a letter folded in four.
— "Huh?"
She unfolded the yellowed paper with care and read aloud in a whisper, her eyes dancing from line to line:
> "Hey there, little one. Eating too much sugar isn't good for you… but I left one, just for you." Signed: Grandpa Elric Ban.
Catherine let out a sigh—half frustration, half emotion.
— "You stingy old man…"
But deep down, a shimmer of joy sparkled in her voice. She held the candy up to her eyes. It shimmered faintly with a bluish glow, as if a star had been trapped inside.
Fascinated, she unwrapped it and, without hesitation, popped it into her mouth.
Sweetness enveloped her at once. Her eyelids grew heavy, her muscles relaxed… and as if someone were softly humming a lullaby, she drifted into deep sleep, a gentle smile on her lips.