The ghost city was quieter that night.
Not peaceful.
Never peaceful.
Just… watching.
Gray clouds drifted slowly above the endless skyline while pale lanterns illuminated the floating streets below. Somewhere in the distance, distorted whispers echoed through abandoned buildings.
Rive sat alone on the rooftop of Lysara's shop.
One leg hanging over the edge.
The cold wind passed through him gently.
He stared upward.
"…This world really doesn't have stars."
"You noticed."
Rive looked back.
Lysara stood near the rooftop entrance, her long coat moving softly in the wind.
The pale lantern light reflected in her violet eyes.
Rive smiled faintly.
"You walk quietly."
"You think loudly."
"…Fair."
She walked toward him calmly and stopped beside the rooftop railing.
For a moment—
Neither of them spoke.
The ghost city stretched endlessly around them.
Broken towers.
Floating ruins.
Silent bridges hanging in empty air.
Rive leaned back slightly.
"So… does everyone here just pretend this place isn't terrifying?"
Lysara crossed her arms.
"Eventually you stop reacting to it."
"That sounds unhealthy."
"It probably is."
Rive laughed quietly.
The silence between them no longer felt awkward.
Strange.
A few days ago he had been a normal college student.
Now he was sitting beside a mysterious ghost merchant under a dead sky while being hunted by monsters, rituals, and Reapers.
"…My life became weird very fast," he muttered.
Lysara glanced at him.
"You adapted faster than most."
"Yeah, well…"
Rive rubbed the back of his neck.
"I think panic stopped working after the giant smiling hand incident."
A small laugh escaped her.
Very small.
But real.
Rive blinked.
"…Wait."
"What?"
"Was that a laugh?"
Lysara immediately looked away.
"No."
"That was definitely a laugh."
"You imagined it."
Rive grinned.
"I'm counting that as progress."
She sighed softly.
"You are surprisingly relaxed for someone being chased by half the dead world."
"I'm terrified internally."
"That explains a lot."
The wind moved again.
For a brief moment, the atmosphere became quieter.
Softer.
Rive looked toward her.
"You know… thanks."
Lysara raised an eyebrow.
"For what?"
"For helping me."
Her expression shifted slightly.
"You already thanked me."
"I know. I'm doing it again."
"…Why?"
Rive looked out at the city.
"Because nobody had to help me after I died."
Silence.
Then Lysara spoke quietly.
"You remind me of someone."
Rive looked at her.
"Someone important?"
Her eyes lowered slightly.
"…A long time ago."
Before he could ask further—
A sudden pulse of dark energy spread across the city.
The rooftops trembled.
Both of them stood instantly.
Rive's expression sharpened.
"…That doesn't feel normal."
Lysara's face darkened.
"No."
Far away—
Deep within the ghost city—
Something enormous moved beneath the streets.
And somewhere in that darkness—
Arin smiled.