Fractured Resolve

Amon sat on the soft grass of the training field, his back hunched and his gaze fixed on the ground. Ying Yue sat beside him, her breathing still slightly uneven from the earlier sparring session. The artificial sky above them hummed softly, casting a pale light over their surroundings.

For a moment, there was silence between them. Amon's fists clenched tightly, his knuckles white as the tension in his chest built to an unbearable point. Finally, he broke the stillness.

"I'm sorry," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.

Ying Yue turned to him, her brows furrowing. "For what?"

"For being weak," Amon said, his voice cracking. He drew his knees to his chest, hiding his face behind his arms. "For failing so many times. For being a useless idiot who couldn't protect anything or anyone."

Ying Yue's expression softened, but she remained quiet, letting him speak.

"I've lost so much…" Amon continued, his voice trembling as tears spilled down his cheeks. "My friends… my home… everything. And every time I think I've hit rock bottom, life throws me even further down." He looked up at her, his eyes red and glistening. "I couldn't even protect you, Ying Yue. If you hadn't been strong enough to survive on your own, I-I don't know what I'd do."

Ying Yue reached out, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Amon…"

"I hate this," he interrupted, his voice rising with emotion. "I hate being weak. I hate feeling like a burden. I hate that I can't do anything to stop people from taking everything away from me. I don't want to be like this anymore." He turned his tear-streaked face toward her, desperation burning in his eyes. "I want to be strong, Ying Yue. Strong enough that no one can take anything from me again. Strong enough that I can protect what's left… and maybe even take back what I've lost."

His words hung in the air, raw and heavy.

Ying Yue took a deep breath, her gaze steady. "You're not weak, Amon," she said firmly. "You're still standing, aren't you? After everything you've been through, you're still here. That's strength."

Amon laughed bitterly. "Barely standing."

"That's enough," she said, her tone unwavering. "It's enough to keep going."

Before Amon could respond, the soft hum of footsteps approached. The pale-skinned doctor from earlier stepped into view, her expression calm but inquisitive.

"I see you've found each other," she said, her voice gentle.

Amon wiped his face quickly, straightening up. "I need to know," he said, his tone sharp with determination. "How did we end up here? What happened to us?"

The doctor hesitated for a moment, as if choosing her words carefully. "You… were brought here under unusual circumstances," she began. "One day, you and Ying Yue simply appeared, unconscious, in the middle of our research facility while we were reaserching ruins. There were no signs of a transport device, no traces of mana interference… nothing. It was as if you had been plucked from your world and dropped into ours without explanation."

"Plucked?" Amon repeated, frowning.

The doctor nodded. "It's an unprecedented event, to say the least. We've been trying to make sense of it ever since, but the truth is, we don't have the full picture."

Amon's heart sank. "So you're saying you don't know why this happened to us?"

The doctor's expression softened. "Not exactly. But there is someone who might have answers."

"Who?" Ying Yue asked, her voice steady but edged with curiosity.

The doctor gestured toward the far end of the training field. "His name is Dr. Kael. He's one of the senior researchers here. If anyone can tell you, it's him."

Amon exchanged a glance with Ying Yue. Her eyes reflected the same mix of hope and apprehension he felt.

"Where can we find him?" Amon asked, his voice resolute.

The doctor's lips curved into a faint smile. "Follow me. I'll take you to him."

As they stood to follow, Amon glanced at Ying Yue. Despite the storm of emotions raging inside him, a flicker of determination burned bright.

No more running. No more hiding. If there was even the slightest chance of finding answers-or a path to the strength he so desperately craved, he would take it.