The sky was cloaked in thick clouds, and moonlight struggled to break through. Kai Hitari stood by the window of his room, still in his training clothes, his mind wandering through the silence of the night. His gaze drifted over the rooftops until it stopped—frozen—on something unnatural.
A monster.
It loomed in the shadows, tall and grotesque, its limbs twisted like vines and glowing red eyes scanning the empty streets below. Without hesitation, Kai grabbed the blade resting by his bed. The weapon shimmered with ethereal light as it responded to his touch—his powers stirring awake like a sleeping dragon.
He stepped outside, boots silent on the pavement, heart steady. The creature had already begun its rampage, tearing through a parked car and roaring toward a nearby building. Screams echoed through the alley.
Kai didn't wait.
In a blur of motion, he launched himself at the monster. Fire danced from his hands, a blazing aura surrounding him as he struck. His sword slashed clean through the creature's shoulder, sending it crashing into a brick wall. A second later, it charged again.
The battle was swift but brutal. Kai's sword shone like a lightning bolt, carving through the monster's dark flesh. With a final cry, the beast collapsed, dissolving into ash. Silence returned.
And then a voice broke it.
"Kai?"
He turned. Standing at the edge of the alley was Herin Rai. Her usual fierce demeanor was softened—her eyes glistening, her posture uncertain. She stepped forward slowly, her expression unreadable.
"I saw you from my window," she said quietly. "You saved them. Just like always."
Kai said nothing, but his eyes stayed on hers.
"I didn't come just to say that." Her voice trembled. "I... I needed someone to talk to."
He didn't move as she walked closer. The firelight from his blade reflected in her eyes. Herin stopped in front of him, and for a moment, they just stood there—silent.
"I've been pretending to be strong," she whispered. "But tonight... I couldn't. Not anymore."
She hugged him suddenly—arms around his chest, head resting against his shoulder. Kai hesitated, then slowly returned the embrace. Herin's body shook slightly in his arms.
"You're crying," he said softly. "Why?"
She didn't answer right away. When she did, her voice was barely above a whisper. "Because I've been alone for so long. And tonight, I realized I don't want to be."
Kai looked down at her, heart thudding. He'd seen her fight, laugh, train, and suffer. But never like this. Never this vulnerable.
He gently pulled back to meet her eyes. "You don't have to be alone anymore."
Her lips trembled into a faint smile, and for the first time in a long while, the night didn't feel so heavy.