Sleep did not come.
Arin lay on his back, staring at the ceiling.
Minutes passed.
Then hours.
Every time he closed his eyes—
He saw it.
That void.
That absolute nothingness.
His chest tightened.
He turned to his side.
Then to the other.
Still nothing.
With a quiet sigh, he sat up.
The room was dim.
Moonlight filtered through the tall window, casting silver shadows across the floor.
It was still the middle of the night.
He ran a hand through his hair and stood.
The cold water from the basin hit his face sharply.
He inhaled deeply.
Again.
Again.
Then he walked toward the window.
Outside—
The realm looked almost peaceful.
The distant structures shimmered faintly under celestial light.
The sky was vast.
Endless.
Beautiful.
As if nothing terrifying could ever exist here.
He stared for a long moment.
Then suddenly—
Clap.
He slapped both his cheeks lightly.
"Ughhh… okay. Okay."
"Arin, focus."
His reflection in the glass looked pale.
Shaken.
"But I can't survive if I stay like this."
He turned and sat back on the edge of his bed.
Leaning forward.
Elbows on knees.
Thinking.
"Hmmm…"
"What can I even do if I want to survive this peacefully?"
Silence filled the room as he analyzed.
"If I don't disturb her… and simply obey her commands…"
He exhaled slowly.
"I can probably survive smoothly."
A pause.
"…Even if those commands are something ridiculous."
He coughed lightly.
"Like fighting a dragon or something."
His expression tightened.
"And besides… I don't have a choice."
"If I refuse…"
His fingers curled slightly.
"She'll kill me."
"And revive me."
"And kill me again."
His stomach turned at the thought.
"That would be a total nightmare…"
Silence again.
Then—
He closed his eyes.
"Fine."
"If survival means obedience… then I'll survive."
After a moment, he whispered:
"Cutie…"
A faint glow appeared before him.
But it was dimmer than before.
Smaller.
The little floating presence materialized slowly.
Its light flickered softly.
And Arin felt it immediately.
Something was off.
"Uh… what is it, Cutie?"
The small being trembled faintly.
Then—
For the first time—
It spoke.
Its voice was fragile.
Breaking.
"I…'m… s-sorry…"
The words struggled to form.
"I… could…n't… prot…ect… yo…u…"
Arin froze.
His eyes widened.
He understood it.
Even though the words were fractured.
Even though the sound was barely stable.
"You… spoke."
His voice was soft with shock.
Then his expression softened.
"Aww… hey…"
He smiled gently.
"Don't worry."
"See? I'm fine."
He raised his hands slightly.
"Nothing's broken."
"Still breathing."
Cutie flickered faintly.
"Rea…lly…?"
"Yeah. Really."
He forced a brighter smile.
"I'm already feeling better than ever before."
A lie.
But a necessary one.
Cutie's light pulsed weakly.
"Ah…"
It seemed to try to say more.
But instead—
"I… slp… now…"
And just like that—
It vanished.
The room returned to silence.
Arin stared at the empty space where it had been.
So many questions surged in his mind.
Why was it smaller?
Why did it apologize?
What was it really?
Why didn't it react when he died?
Was it connected to his survival somehow?
But there were no answers tonight.
Only waiting.
He lay back down.
Eyes open.
Waiting for dawn.
---
Morning arrived slowly.
Soft light filled the room.
Arin did not hesitate.
He washed up quickly.
And without overthinking—
He stepped into the corridor.
If there was one thing he had learned—
It was that hiding things here was pointless.
She knew.
Caelum likely sensed more than he showed.
And if survival meant strategy—
Then clarity was better than secrets.
He found Caelum standing near one of the open balconies, overlooking the vast realm below.
As composed as ever.
Arin walked up to him.
"Hey."
Caelum glanced at him calmly.
"I have something important to tell you."
The air shifted slightly.
This was no longer the frightened human from yesterday.
This was someone choosing to act.