Tension

"So, what exactly did you want to talk about?" Kaia's voice broke the silence as they stepped into a narrow valley, its stone walls looming like a trap.

Yona didn't take her eyes off Kaia. "You remember how I couldn't use magic?"

"Didn't you get it back? Back in that Halcyon realm, or whatever?" Kaia's tone was casual, but her brow furrowed.

Yona's lips twisted into a small, resigned smile. "You didn't even think to ask about it?"

Kaia stopped walking, her hands on her hips. "You needed rest, and I didn't want to burden you with questions. But now that you're up and about, tell me—how did you survive?"

Yona sighed, rubbing her forehead. "Looks like you were hoping I didn't." Her eyes locked with Kaia's, a hint of sarcasm playing at the edges of her words. "I'm a powerful sorcerer, Kaia. Regeneration is child's play for me."

Kaia scoffed. "So you're saying you healed yourself? Regenerated like nothing happened?"

"Yes..." Yona hesitated, then looked down, her voice dropping. "But here's the real problem... If I've got my magic back, why can't I use it?"

Kaia's eyes widened. "Still can't use it?" Her gaze shifted to Luv, who had been quietly observing the exchange.

Luv spoke, his voice steady but filled with concern. "It's because of Meryt, isn't it?"

Yona's eyes flashed. "Yes." She shook her head in frustration. "But no. Not exactly."

Luv didn't seem surprised by her confusion. He paused, his gaze thoughtful. "You're saying you had no magic... but when you were dying, something—somehow—you gained it back that is your regeneration magic. You regenerated, but now, you can't tap into your magic again?"

"Exactly." Yona's voice was soft, almost wistful.

Kaia bit her lip. "So... is it possible that you only had magic for a short time, like some kind of... temporary boost?"

"No," Luv's voice was low, but a sudden tension filled the air. "Meryt doesn't deal in temporary solutions. What she did... wasn't just magic. It was a curse."

Yona's throat went dry. "A curse?"

Luv nodded, his expression hardening. "And only Meryt can lift it. There's no 'magic malfunction' that lets you use it for a short while. What you experienced? It was a brief moment of regeneration that had nothing to do with your power."

Yona couldn't suppress a dry laugh. "So, you're telling me it's impossible that I had used magic back there?"

Luv didn't flinch. "Yes." He glanced at Kaia. "Might be the same case as Kaia that the regeneration you are using is not a part of your magic. That also explains why an inexperienced person like Yona gained such a high-tier magic-like regeneration. The only reason is that regeneration is happening because of something else and not mana."

Yona crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes. "Are you trying to insult me?"

Kaia stepped in, her voice cutting through the tension. "Wait. So am I also put in some type of curse?"

Luv shifted his gaze between them. "Maybe. I'm not sure. Ask Meryt, but... it's risky."

Yona's eyes narrowed, her voice icy. "You want me dead, don't you?"

Kaia shot her a sharp look. "I'm not letting you take that risk." She stepped forward, every inch of her posture demanding control. "I'll ask Meryt. You stay out of it."

Yona's hands clenched into fists. "Why should you be the one to ask? This is my problem."

Kaia's voice turned cold. "You're too stubborn for your own good. And you're not getting yourself killed over this."

Luv watched the two women clash, his eyes flicking between their angry faces, the tension thick enough to suffocate.

"Am I a child to you?" Yona snapped, taking a step closer to Kaia, eyes blazing. "Why should I follow your orders? As a senior, I order you to listen to me."

Kaia didn't flinch. "Senior? You've got no power. And even if things go south, my immortality will pull me through. You stay put."

Yona's lips curled into a smirk. "I've got regeneration too."

Kaia's response was a sharp retort, but before either of them could go further, Luv stepped between them, pushing them apart.

"Enough, both of you!" he barked, his voice loud enough to stop their argument in its tracks. "I'll go and ask Meryt. Is that okay now?"

Yona shot him a glare. "Don't keep anything from us when you're done talking."

Luv raised an eyebrow, turning toward the path ahead. "What's with that look? I'm doing you a favor." He turned back to them, a rare smile curling at his lips. "Tell Kiaan I'll return this coat tomorrow." His voice grew serious again as he added, "And you two... learn to work together."

Without waiting for a response, he walked off, his footsteps echoing in the silence.

Yona and Kaia watched him go, their bodies tense, the unspoken words hanging in the air like a storm waiting to break. Neither of them said a word. The weight of the situation pressed down on them, each feeling the burden in their own way.

***

Kyros sweat from his brow, squinting in the dark light. No one's outside? His heart pounded in his chest as he felt the soft pressure of the hand at the collar of his shirt, tugging gently at the first button.

His breath hitched, every muscle in his body tense as the hand slid further, ghosting over his skin. No way... His mind screamed, panic rising as the hand didn't venture further, but instead, it grasped something.

The stone locket, hidden beneath the folds of his shirt, was carefully pulled from his neck. With a sharp tug, the string snapped, the delicate clasp breaking free.

Kyros froze, confusion flooding his thoughts. Huh? He blinked rapidly, struggling to process what had just happened. So... she wasn't after my body? A wave of relief washed over him.

The cloth that had been muffling his mouth loosened, and Kyros inhaled deeply, feeling the rush of air he hadn't realized he'd been missing. Finally.

"What... do you want?" His voice rasped, still raw from the pressure, though his mind was spinning with questions. He couldn't even see the person—just a presence behind him.

He heard a soft click, followed by a faint hum of magic. The locket, now in midair, seemed to repair itself as the string seamlessly reconnected, the pendant hovering as it floated back toward him, settling against his neck.

"So it recognizes the voice?" A feminine voice came from behind him, cool and curious.

Kyros snapped his head toward the sound, fury flashing in his eyes. "Who are you? What were you doing with my family's heirloom?"

The voice softened but was laced with a hint of irritation. "That's not your family's heritage," she replied. "It belongs to someone else, someone who temporarily entrusted it to you."

Kyros' jaw tightened, his pulse quickening. Did she just scold me? His brow furrowed. I've never been reprimanded like that... by any girl.

A sigh escaped from behind him, the air thick with unspoken tension. As if sensing the shift, the ropes binding him loosened, and Kyros felt the flow of mana pulse back into his veins—briefly, only to fade again. The sensation left him disoriented, but the faint echo of power reminded him of what he had lost.

With a grunt, he shoved himself upright, flicking the light switch.

The room around him was a dull, empty storage closet—just another forgotten space for janitors. No sign of the woman.

Where did she go? Kyros spun, his heart racing as he scanned every corner, but she had vanished without a trace.

His breath came out in a sharp exhale. "Who was she?" The question lingered in the air, unanswered, as the eerie silence returned.