Later that night...
"What's going on with me?" Xiao whispered in her mind, her fingers trembling as she clutched the bedsheet. Cold sweat clung to her skin. The room felt colder than before, yet she was burning from within.
Her eyes darted around her dimly lit apartment. Earlier, something had changed—something inside her. It wasn't just weakness; it was like her life force was being siphoned away, drained slowly by something she couldn't see. Her limbs had gone numb after Xyon left, her voice stolen before she could even say goodbye.
"Something's stuck in here…" she muttered, thumping her chest with the side of her fist. A hollow echo responded. Her heart raced—erratic, painful thuds shaking her ribcage. Her vision blurred, and the ceiling swirled as she clutched her chest and fell to her knees.
She curled into a ball on the floor, pressing her forehead to her knees as sweat dripped from her temples. Her breath hitched, the pain in her chest sharpening like a blade.
"Get out of me!" she screamed, voice raw. Her eyes widened in terror as a vague, shadowy figure emerged in the corner of the room—just a flicker, like smoke—but she knew it was real. Its presence was suffocating, ancient, and dark.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang.
The sound snapped her out of the nightmare's grip for a moment. The shadow vanished like it was scared of the sound. Her chest loosened slightly. She dragged herself forward, gasping. She reached for the table, trying to stand, but her legs buckled. Her arm knocked into a vase. It crashed to the floor, shattering, glass scattering like icy shards.
The doorbell stopped.
A key turned in the lock.
Panic set in. She tried to scream, but her voice failed. "Help… me…" she wheezed.
Pain surged again, and she collapsed against the wall. Her hand reached for the drawer and pulled it open. Inside, a small cutter glinted beneath some papers. Her trembling fingers wrapped around it.
"Get out… from me…" Xiao cried hoarsely. Her hand raised the blade toward her wrist—but it shook, and her muscles refused to obey. She was a prisoner in her own body.
The door burst open.
"Lady Xiao!" An aged woman in a long shawl rushed in and knelt beside her. "What are you doing?! Sir Xyon asked me to check on you—I didn't expect this!"
She tried to wrest the cutter away, but Xiao snarled and resisted, her strength flaring unnaturally. Her eyes, now tinged with red, glared at the woman with unfamiliar rage.
"Get… away…" Xiao mumbled, her voice dark and distorted. With a violent shove, she flung the woman back, sending her sliding across the floor. The aged woman coughed, dazed, but managed to wrest the cutter from Xiao's hand.
Silence fell.
Xiao remained crouched, frozen, her head bowed. Her long hair covered her face. The woman slowly stood, catching her breath. She looked cautiously at Xiao.
"Lady… Xiao?" she asked gently.
Xiao lifted her head. A twisted grin played on her lips. Her eyes gleamed unnaturally.
"I told you," she said, voice eerily calm, "you should've walked away."
With terrifying grace, Xiao approached her. The woman was rooted in place, unable to move, her eyes wide with fear. Xiao reached out and retrieved the cutter from her weakening grip.
Then—another scream—this time from one of the other rooms.
Meanwhile, in Eriland…
Shiya stumbled through the castle gates, panting. The silver stone in her hand pulsed with warm light, casting protective waves that turned any approaching Dreuls into ash. But her arms felt heavier with every step. Her shoulders burned as if she were carrying the weight of a thousand regrets.
A strange sound—whimpering? No, whispering—coiled into her ears. It was the stone. Speaking? Crying?
Inside the castle's heart, chaos reigned.
Jana Lee lay unconscious, her body depleted after healing too many. Her light had dimmed. Shin Fairy bent down, scooping her up with reverence. "You've done enough," she whispered, retreating into the spirit beads to bring her to safety.
"I wish I had healing powers," said Yanna, kneeling beside the wounded.
"Yon Zue's still not waking," said Shin Fairy, eyes shadowed. "He's slipping away."
"We can use the stone," Lorraine suggested. "Where's Sushie?"
"She disappeared," Chipi answered grimly. "She's wounded. Yon Zue told me before he collapsed."
"What?" Luthor exclaimed. "That's impossible—she has the stone's power!"
"She could've healed herself," said Kaium, frowning. "Why wouldn't she?"
Before anyone could answer, a blinding light engulfed the room. A figure emerged from the doorway.
"Sushie!" Chipi shouted, rushing forward to embrace her. "Where were you? I was so worried!"
Shiya didn't respond. Her eyes were locked on Yon Zue, who lay still like a fallen warrior. Her heart squeezed painfully.
"He's not healing," Chipi said. "Jana Lee's powers are drained. Only you—or the stone—can help him now."
Shiya swallowed hard. She wasn't Sushie. But she had to try.
She turned to the stone in her hand. "Please," she whispered silently, "lend me your power. Heal them."
She closed her eyes, pressing both palms over it.
A warm light burst out, spreading like dawn. One by one, wounds on the fallen began to glow and vanish. Cries turned to sighs of relief. The air shifted—hope had returned.
Yon Zue stirred.
Shiya rushed to his side. His eyelids fluttered but didn't open. Shin Fairy placed a gentle hand on Shiya's shoulder. "He just needs rest. He's been fighting outside the walls for years. He hasn't slept this deeply in ages."
Shiya nodded, her heart aching with guilt. She wasn't who they thought she was.
Then she noticed Shin Fairy watching her.
"Does she know?" she thought. "Does she realize I'm not Sushie?"
Shin Fairy tilted her head, her voice calm but probing. "Aren't you going to hide those?"
"Those…?" Shiya stammered.
"Your wings," Shin Fairy replied, pointing behind her. "You're letting them out too early. They'll be sore."
"Wings…?" Shiya's face flushed. "Did I… did I hear that right?"
She spun around, trying to see her back, but failed miserably. She turned and twisted like a confused cat, earning a bewildered look from Shin Fairy and a choked laugh from Chipi.
"Spread your wings," Chipi suggested awkwardly. "You'll love it. Trust me."
Shiya closed her eyes and focused. She imagined wings unfurling—graceful, glowing.
Instead, a loud sound erupted from her back.
Pfffffft—
"I… I need some air," Shin Fairy muttered, backing away.
"Me too," Chipi said, holding in laughter as he scurried out.
Shiya stood mortified. "Did I just—?"
She held her stomach. "What did I eat?"
Just then, she turned to check on Yon Zue—and saw his eyes open, staring directly at her.
"Oh… Hi," she said, blinking rapidly.
He said nothing. Just turned and faced the wall, but his shoulders shook—he was laughing.
Shiya's face turned crimson as she tiptoed out of the room.
Behind her, Yon Zue let out a low chuckle.
"Shiya.... that's really embarassing!"