Kiana took a long, serious look at the current "world."
By this point, she knew with absolute certainty that Shu was never going back.
He implicitly trusted everything she said and did, and because of that trust, the world had fundamentally altered its shape to match his belief.
Staring at the calm, mirror-like ocean beneath them, Kiana knew this was the end of the line.
The two of them plummeted in a spinning freefall. As they neared the surface of the sea, their descent slowed to a gentle drift, allowing them to adjust their posture mid-air before touchdown.
Finally, their toes lightly tapped the surface. Still holding Shu's hands, Kiana landed face-to-face with him upon the boundless ocean.
In every direction, the tranquil water perfectly reflected the blue sky and white clouds. The only disturbance was the faint ripples continuously radiating outward from beneath their feet, dissipating before they traveled very far.
Kiana immediately looked up at Shu, only to find a look of mild shock on his face.
He was staring at her... Is something wrong with me?
Kiana quickly followed his gaze, looking down at herself.
She didn't know when it had started, but her body had become slightly translucent, looking as if she might vanish from in front of him at any second.
Shu looked at her with concern, but he still didn't say a word. He was waiting for her to provide the answer.
With a soft exhale, Kiana finally let go of Shu's hands. She took two steps backward across the bright, open sea and clasped her hands behind her back.
The sea breeze picked up at the perfect moment, blowing her hair and scattering the strands amidst the shimmering light.
"Shu." Smiling, Kiana used her gaze to guide Shu's attention to the side.
Sitting directly on the surface of the ocean was an ordinary, mundane household door. There were no walls attached to it, no signs pointing to it. It sat there as if it had always belonged.
Shu's eyes lingered on the door for only a second before returning to Kiana.
"Open that door, and you can leave this place. You'll go back to our world."
Kiana stretched languidly in front of him, putting on a highly relaxed facade.
"Mm." Shu responded with his usual single syllable. Even though the girl standing before him was now almost entirely translucent, he didn't show a hint of panic.
"Phew..." Kiana let out a long breath, then blinked at him. "Shu... are you going to miss it?"
She was referring to this world.
After all, this world was infinitely better than the one they came from. Going back meant returning to face ruins, Herrschers... and the possibility that the Finality might arrive tomorrow.
Returning to that high-pressure world to face constant, imminent danger—no matter how you sliced it, it wasn't a cost-effective choice.
"No." Shu lifted his eyes and gently shook his head.
Kiana beamed, a look of "I knew it" crossing her face.
She had never doubted that Shu would give that answer. She merely wanted him to confront his own decision with absolute, calm certainty.
Sometimes, the act of speaking the words aloud is the very thing that cements one's resolve.
Just like Shu right now.
"Alright" Kiana raised her arms high above her head, arching her back to stretch out her stiff muscles.
The next second, the tension completely left her body. She flashed Shu a bright thumbs-up.
"Shu, I'll be waiting for you on the outside." She smiled, and dissolved into the light.
Only one figure remained on the boundless sea. Shu stood exactly where he was, staring at the spot where Kiana had vanished in total silence for a long time.
The sea breeze brushed gently past his raised fingertips, making it feel as if she hadn't truly left...
No, she was here.
She had always been here.
Shu closed his eyes, trapping that wisp of wind in his palm. A moment later, he opened his eyes again, turned, and began walking toward the painfully ordinary door.
But the very second he turned around, a voice suddenly called out from behind him.
"Are you leaving?"
Shu stopped in his tracks.
He didn't turn back. The figure behind him didn't press the issue, simply continuing to ask, "Have you truly thought this through? Is this really what you want?"
"..."
"What exactly are you searching for? Is it a life of complete stability, entirely within your control... or does your soul secretly crave the exact same thing your sister did—a tomorrow that is completely and utterly unpredictable?"
"..."
"Have you really thought about it? What is it you truly want?"
Shu turned his head, looking back at the small silhouette behind him.
Out of nowhere, a swing adorned entirely with fresh flowers had appeared on the ocean surface. The young figure sat upon it, swaying gently in the sea breeze.
The figure didn't look at Shu either. They merely kicked their legs, keeping the swing in motion.
Shu said nothing, just casting a sidelong glance at the swing.
"Sigh..." The small shadow let out a breath. "We finally get to see each other again, and it has to be in a place like this...
"So in the end... you're still choosing to leave me behind..." the figure lamented, kicking higher to make the swing arc further.