The wind howled like a distant war cry.
Kashikari stood on the balcony of the tournament residence, overlooking the silent arena below. The lights in the distance flickered faintly, like something waiting.
His gray aura was barely visible now.
Only a faint tremor at his fingertips.
Jinwi broke the silence.
"Why are you quiet, Kashikari?"
Kashikari didn't move.
"Silence is necessary before a battle."
A low chuckle echoed.
"No. Silence belongs to cowards before war."
Kashikari's voice remained calm.
"Not cowards… thinkers."
A pause followed.
The arena lights shimmered in the distance.
Even the distant crowd felt muted, like echoes that never reached him.
"You'll be fighting speed tomorrow."
"Speed has limits."
Jinwi responded instantly.
"Yours doesn't."
A brief silence.
"…It should."
Kashikari closed his eyes.
A quiet thought surfaced.
"If I win tomorrow… what do I actually gain, Jinwi?"
Jinwi answered without hesitation.
"Me."
A pause.
"…Then I'd rather lose."
Silence fell.
For the first time—
Jinwi said nothing.
Morning came quietly.
The courtyard was empty.
Kashikari walked alone, footsteps soft against the stone.
Nyari was already there.
Waiting.
She stood near the wall, holding a small package.
"I brought you something."
Kashikari stopped.
"Energy tea."
"…Thank you."
She didn't smile.
Instead, her voice sharpened slightly.
"Why are you doing this?"
"Doing what?"
"This silence. This distance."
Kashikari's gaze shifted slightly.
"Because my voice breaks things."
Nyari frowned.
"That's not true."
"It is."
She inhaled slowly, steadying herself.
"You're fighting today."
A pause.
"And I'm scared, Kai."
Kashikari looked at her.
"…Of me?"
Nyari shook her head.
"No."
A quiet breath.
"Of losing you."
Silence.
Kashikari stepped closer.
Their eyes met.
"I won't disappear, Nyari."
Her voice softened.
"How can you be so sure?"
Kashikari answered simply.
"…Because I can still see you."
Nyari's eyes trembled.
She turned away quickly.
"Win the fight, Kai."
A pause.
"But don't lose yourself."
Kashikari's voice followed her quietly.
"If I get lost…"
"…you'll find me."
Elsewhere, Iria stood in the garden, eyes closed in meditation.
Dorum approached slowly.
"You're watching him."
"Yes."
A pause.
"Kai Lior… he's different."
Dorum exhaled quietly.
"Different isn't enough to describe him."
Iria opened her eyes.
"Then what is he?"
Dorum looked toward the sky.
"…A silence standing at the center of fate."
Iria followed his gaze.
"And inside that silence…"
"…there's a storm."
Dorum nodded once.
"Yes."
A brief pause.
"And tomorrow… it breaks."
Kashikari didn't sleep.
He lay on his bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling.
Jinwi's voice returned.
But this time—
It wasn't steady.
"Kashikari…"
"Speak."
A pause.
"That girl… is weakening you."
Kashikari didn't react.
"…Or maybe she's strengthening me."
"No."
The voice cracked.
"Because your heart belonged to me."
Another pause.
"…Now you're sharing it."
Silence.
For a moment, Jinwi sounded… unstable.
Like something breaking.
"I am inside you…"
"…but you are no longer mine."
Kashikari stood up slowly.
"You're wrong."
"You can't deny it."
Kashikari walked toward the window.
"…I'm just remembering balance."
Lightning flashed across the sky.
Gray clouds twisted above.
"The storm is coming."
The next morning—
The sky was completely dark.
Rain poured over the arena.
The crowd roared with excitement.
"SEMIFINAL MATCH!"
"KAI LIOR VS VEYRON, MASTER OF LIGHT!"
Veyron stepped into the arena.
Light surrounded him, sharp and burning, outlining his figure like living fire.
Kashikari stood still.
Rain ran down his face.
Cold.
Heavy.
Like something alive.
"…The storm is here."
Jinwi's voice deepened.
"And you are at its center."
At the highest row of the stands, Nyari held her hand tightly against her chest.
Her voice was barely a whisper.
"No matter what happens…"
"…Win, Kai."
A pause.
"But don't let me lose you."
Thunder roared.
Light flooded the arena.
Kashikari and Veyron faced each other.
One stood for silence.
The other for light.
The storm began.