Light returned.
Not as harsh as before.
Softer.
Gentler.
Alias opened his eyes.
Slowly.
This time—
The world did not blur as much.
The ceiling above him remained unfamiliar—
But clearer.
His breathing steadied.
Still weak—
But no longer breaking.
Silence filled the room.
No voices.
No footsteps.
Just him.
And the weight of his own body.
He blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Awareness settled in.
Slow.
Incomplete.
"…Alive…"
A faint whisper.
Barely a sound.
His fingers twitched.
Then—
He tried to move.
Just a little.
Pain answered.
Sharp.
Immediate.
Unforgiving.
His body refused.
A strained breath escaped him.
"…Tch…"
Even that small movement—
Was too much.
His arm trembled—
Before falling back.
Useless.
For a moment—
He simply lay there.
Staring upward.
Something inside him shifted.
Not anger.
Not yet.
But frustration.
He tried again.
This time—
To lift his hand.
It rose.
Barely.
Shaking.
Unsteady.
Then stopped.
Mid-air.
His fingers curled slightly—
Slow.
Heavy.
Before falling again.
Silence.
"…Weak…"
The word slipped out.
Rough.
Dry.
The door slid open.
Lina stepped in.
Carrying a small bowl.
She paused.
Seeing him awake—
Again.
"…You're awake…"
Her voice was softer this time.
Relieved.
She approached slowly.
Careful.
"You shouldn't move too much…"
She set the bowl down.
Reaching for a cloth.
"Your wounds haven't healed yet."
Alias's eyes shifted slightly.
Toward her.
A stranger.
But not unfamiliar.
"…Water…"
His voice cracked.
"Ah—right!"
She quickly poured some into a cup.
"Slowly…"
She supported him gently—
Just enough.
He drank.
Small amounts.
Each swallow—
A quiet relief.
"…Thanks…"
Barely audible.
Lina blinked.
Then smiled—
Just a little.
"…You're welcome."
Footsteps followed.
Kaito entered.
Glancing at the scene.
"…So you're up again."
Alias didn't respond.
Kaito stepped closer.
Arms crossing.
"…Do you remember your name?"
The question hung in the air.
Alias's eyes narrowed slightly.
Name.
A pause.
Something stirred.
Deep.
Faint.
"…A…"
His voice faltered.
"…Alias…"
The word came out—
But not cleanly.
As if it had weight.
As if something else—
Lingered beneath it.
Kaito nodded.
"…Alias, huh."
"Good enough."
Lina glanced between them—
Then back at him.
"…Do you remember anything else?"
Silence.
Alias stared ahead.
Trying.
Then—
A flicker.
Fire.
A flash of red.
Heat.
Screams—
Distant.
Broken.
His breathing changed.
Slightly.
His fingers tightened—
Weakly.
"…Gh…"
Then—
Nothing.
The images vanished.
Gone.
His body relaxed again.
"…No…"
A whisper.
Lina lowered her gaze slightly.
"…That's okay."
Kaito didn't press further.
Footsteps approached once more.
The doctor entered.
Her eyes immediately went to him.
"…Still alive."
A quiet remark.
She stepped closer.
Checking his wrist again.
Pulse.
Stronger than before.
"…Good."
She looked at him directly.
"You'll live."
A pause.
"But don't expect to walk anytime soon."
Blunt.
Unfiltered.
Alias didn't react.
Couldn't.
His gaze drifted—
Downward.
To his hands.
Wrapped.
Weak.
He tried to move them again.
Slow.
Shaking.
His fingers curled—
Barely.
Then stopped.
A quiet frustration built—
Silent.
Contained.
The doctor watched for a moment—
Then turned away.
"…Rest."
"Or you'll undo everything I did."
Lina followed after her.
Kaito lingered—
Just a second longer.
"…Don't die again."
Then he left.
The room fell silent once more.
Alias remained.
Alone.
His breathing slow.
Heavy.
His eyes half-lidded.
Drifting.
But not asleep.
Not fully.
Somewhere deep—
Something stirred again.
Not images.
Not memories.
Just—
An urge.
Dark.
Cold.
His lips parted slightly.
A whisper escaped.
"…Kill…"
The word hung in the air—
Quiet.
Unnoticed.
Yet—
It remained.
Like a shadow—
Waiting to take form.