Rin had finally taken down the last of the Lesser Null. Her breathing heavy, her arms trembling as she lowered her weapon. The night had demanded more from her than she ever expected, from saving Aria from capture, to helping Kentaro against Velza, to now fending off yet another wave of Null. It was safe to say she was exhausted. Her muscles ached, her vision blurred at the edges, yet her heart carried a steady rhythm. At least things were going according to plan. As long as it held, Rin would waste no effort in seeing it through.
She sat down on the edge of a half-collapsed building, the stone beneath her still warm from the fires below. From this height, she had a clear view of the horizon. The sunrise had finally broken through, bathing the ruined city in pale orange light. The glow spilt over the rubble, softening the scars of the battle, if only for a moment. Rin's lips curled into a small, tired smile, and her eyes shimmered faintly as sweat rolled down her cheek.
