Nephis walked out into the hall with hollow eyes, clutching her wallet like a war veteran holding his last medal. She'd been extorted. In broad daylight. Turns out.. Aiko wasn't joking and Nephis had spent the last of her saving to 'compansate' for what she had done. She looked front, seeing the cohort talk together and laugh a bit. "So, uh… what are your plans, guys? What Citadels are you going to?" Sunny's sudden question changed the mood of the conversation. For a while, a strange silence settled among them. All three had contemplative, wistful expressions on their faces. "It depends on what the fastest way to get ready for the Second Nightmare would be. Maybe I'll have a better chance of becoming a Master soon if I stay independent and don't have to compete against the actual heirs for resources and attention." Effie said eventually aid with a small smile. Kai remained silent for a few moments. Then, he too sighed. "As for me… my agency has secured me a very good position in Bastion. So I'll be going there soon. I won't have to fight another Nightmare Creature for a long, long time. I guess. Maybe even never." Cassie didn't say anything for a while before she blurted with a weak voice "I-I'm not sure yet. I'll figure it out." Their eyes finally fell on Nephis. She blinked, then exhaled quietly. "I don't really have a choice," she said. "It'll have to be either the Valor Clan or the Song Clan." Sunny somewhat understood what she meant when she said she didn't have a choice. Nephis has stayed in the academy ever since she came here. Why? Because she doesn't want to get assainated by the great clans of course. The academy was way more secure than most of the places Nephis could be currently. So, it was very logical for her to stay here, at the academy then risk her life outside. So it made sense. If she couldn't hide forever, joining one of them was her only way to survive. Even if it meant kneeling beside the same monsters who'd taken everything from her. Sunny's jaw tightened, but he said nothing. He could imagine how much it burned to make that decision. But, what choice did she have? The government can't provide the security that Nephis would need. But still... Sunny narrowed his eyes at Nephis. Nephis met his gaze briefly, her eyes steady but tired. The message was clear. "You don't have to follow me." And so Sunny would not. Until fate forced him too. "Brune, you wrench! The Hollows in Section C still haven't received their saline dosage!"A voice thundered through the sterile hall, echoing off the white tiles and steel walls. "Yes, Doctor! Coming!" another voice replied, hurried and strained. Nephis walked forward quietly, her boots clicking against the smooth floor. The air smelled faintly of antiseptic and wilted flowers. Around her, doctors and nurses moved in seamless rhythm — replacing IV bags, adjusting wheelchairs, and murmuring clinical instructions to one another. Their calm efficiency only deepened the silence that lingered beneath it all. Then, one of the doctors froze mid-step, his eyes widening as he caught sight of her."L–Lady Changing Star!" he stammered, bowing so quickly that his glasses nearly slipped. "Please forgive me! I failed to notice your presence!" Nephis gave a small, tired smile. Her black hair fell loosely over an oversized brown sweater, beneath which a matte black shirt and trousers made her look almost plain — almost normal. In her arms, a bouquet of Dream Realm flowers shimmered faintly, adjusting to the lighting with every little moment. "There's no need," she said softly. "Just… take me to my mother." The doctor nodded immediately, leading her down a quiet corridor toward a sunlit garden. Each one echoed faintly until they stopped before a small clearing. "Then… I shall give you some privacy, Madam," he murmured, bowing again before leaving. Nephis stood still for a long moment, the garden's tranquility settling around her. The air was warm, scented faintly with lilacs and dust. Before her sat a woman in a wheelchair — her long black hair catching the orange light of sunset, her sightless eyes gazing peacefully toward the distant trees. "Mom," Nephis whispered. No answer. Only the soft rustle of grass and the chirping of cicadas. Google seaʀᴄh 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹✶𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲✶𝗻𝗲𝘁 Nephis sighed and set the bouquet gently on the glass table beside her. Then she turned the wheelchair to face her and pulled up a chair of her own. Sitting down, she folded her hands, her voice trembling just slightly. "As you can see… your daughter's finally an Awakened." Her gray eyes searched the familiar, empty black ones. "And apparently, I've become something of a role model too." A dry laugh escaped her. "Just like you had been." She looked down, fiddling with her fingers. "I made friends as well — five of them. Though… some of those friendships are complicated." A small, wistful smile flickered on her lips as she began recounting their stories — Effie's wit, Kai's charm, Cassie's quiet strength, and her complicated relationship with Sunny. Her tone softened as she spoke, warmth mixing with melancholy. Then she fell silent. The breeze carried the faint hum of distant machines. "…And then there's Asher," she said at last, her voice thinner, almost fragile. "Funny — it's my second time talking about him today." Her lips curved faintly. "He's a bit like Sunny — just milder. Petty at times, yes, but… expressive. He wears his heart too openly." She chuckled softly, shaking her head. "He acts like a cat, really — hides from danger, but never misses a chance to pounce on an easy prey." "He loves ice cream and developed a greedy mindset for soul shards from this friend of his called Aiko." She looked away, her voice growing quiet. "He helped me lead the Dreamer army in the Crimson Spire. Together, we killed the Terror." Nephis paused. The silence after that word felt heavy. "But in the end…" her throat tightened."He stayed behind. Chose to take my place." Her hands clenched against her knees her lips pressed tightly against each other before parting once more, "Like that, I failed to keep my promise to protect him – again" A period of silence stretched on as nothing was said between them except the rustling of tree leaves. "I miss him," she finally breathed. Her eyes drifted to the rising moon. Its pale light caught the edge of her hair, outlining her in silver. But she turned away quickly — it was forbidden to stare at the moon too long. Nephis stood, pushing her chair neatly back into place. Her heels clicked softly against the stone path as she approached her mother one last time. She placed the bouquet gently on her mother's lap, the petals glowing faintly in the moonlight. Then she leaned down and kissed her forehead, the touch lingering like a promise. And with that, Changing Star walked away — her shadow stretching long behind her, swallowed slowly by the garden's dim light. She didn't look back.