After several days of rest, the whole group gradually regained their strength. Morning sunlight filtered gently through the leaves, birds chirping outside, painting the scene with a rare, almost unreal sense of peace—as if no battle had ever happened.
But inside the bunker, it was a different story.
Dr. Aurel sat before an old monitor, his voice low.
"We can't stay here forever. No matter how well we hide, this place is still within their control system. On the way, we'll find somewhere else—more secluded, further out of their reach."
The group fell silent, all in agreement. The atmosphere was heavy; everyone knew he was right.
Specter bent down so Noir could lean on him, then lifted her onto his back without hesitation. He said nothing, only tightened his grip—each step sending a sharp ache through his chest at the unfamiliar fragility of Noir.
At first, Noir hesitated, but she understood her body better than anyone. She had forced herself through an entire journey already—now, she had no choice but to rely on Specter.
Orion walked beside them, his gaze dark. Ever since learning the truth about Kaelith, he no longer looked at her like a brother. The disgust was obvious—cold enough that Kaelith lowered her head, walking slowly behind them, no longer the carefree girl she once was.
The wind brushed through the trees as they traveled from dawn to deep night, stopping to rest along the way. The sound of footsteps crushing dry leaves echoed harshly, like the strained rhythm of each person's heartbeat.
Suddenly—Noir shuddered.
A sharp pain pierced through her chest.
Cough
A mouthful of dark red blood spilled out, staining Specter's shoulder and the dusty gray fabric of his coat.
"Noir!!" Specter called, his voice urgent but restrained, refusing to panic.
Noir breathed heavily, her red eyes dim and unfocused. She shook her head slightly, signaling she could still endure. But that small stain of blood made the air grow suffocatingly heavy.
Dr. Aurel frowned, quickly checking the data on his device.
"Her body hasn't fully recovered from the effects of those experiments. If this continues…"
He left the sentence unfinished. Everyone understood.
Specter tightened his hold on Noir's shoulder, his cold gaze flicking briefly toward Kaelith—full of suspicion.
They continued moving, but inside, every one of them burned with urgency. If they didn't find a safe place and proper treatment soon, Noir's time was running out. Her life was becoming more fragile by the second.
After a long, dragging journey, they finally came across a small village nestled along a mountainside. Old wooden houses stood quietly, thin trails of smoke rising from chimneys, offering a hint of warmth against the cold night.
Dr. Aurel lowered his voice.
"This isn't completely safe… but at least we can take the risk. Noir can't endure any longer."
The group agreed. They knocked on the door of a house, where a kind family eventually allowed them to stay, though suspicion still lingered in their eyes.
Ari immediately helped Noir lie down, carefully dressing her wounds and placing herbal compresses to reduce her fever. Her aged face tightened with worry, though her hands remained gentle. After finishing, she poured some water for Noir, then turned slightly toward Kaelith, asking in a quiet, probing tone:
"Your parents… how are they? Are they safe?"
Kaelith froze, her hand instinctively gripping her sleeve. Her eyes darkened as she replied softly,
"I… can't be sure anymore."
Silence lingered.
Outside, Specter and Orion split up around the village. Specter quietly gathered some medicine and basic supplies from a small market. Orion returned with a bag of food and a few sets of ordinary clothes.
As he stepped in, he smirked playfully.
"Look at that—wear these and we might actually pass as villagers. Noir would probably suit them too. Better than that gloomy cloak like some ghost."
Specter shot him a cold glance, but Orion only shrugged, continuing with a teasing grin.
"And you—seriously, carrying her around like that? Anyone watching would think you just got married and ran off together."
Specter said nothing, tightening his grip on the medicine bag, letting Orion's mocking laughter fade into the background.
Orion added, softer this time,
"Don't worry. Noir's strong. She wouldn't want to see everyone looking this drained."
Inside the small house, the dim oil lamp cast light over Noir as she struggled to breathe. Around her, the others could only quietly hope she would recover.
During their stay in the village, whispers about the name "Noir" began to spread among the locals. At first, they looked at the house with wary, fearful eyes—as if it sheltered a murderer.
But when they saw Noir lying there, barely moving, her breathing weak, her thin hands trembling from the aftereffects of the experiments… their hearts began to soften. When her eyes opened slightly, what they saw wasn't cruelty—but resilience, carrying both pain and a desperate longing for freedom.
An old man murmured,
"This girl… she's not what they say she is."
And so, suspicion slowly turned into sympathy. They chose to trust her. They chose to keep her secret.
Over the following days, with medicine and Ari's care, Noir gradually recovered. Her wounds no longer flared up as violently, her complexion regained some color. When she stood and slowly practiced walking around the room, a strong light returned to her eyes—so different from the exhaustion when she first arrived.
Specter stayed close to her every step, while Kaelith watched from a distance, as if trying to make up for her mistakes.
It almost felt like this fragile peace could last.
But then—
beep.
Signals began closing in on Noir's location.
A slender hand moved across a computer screen, calculating… filled with hatred.
"My love…"