The Totem didn't need to expend much power.
It was merely like a compass created by the Strange One to break through the Wall.
Just as you wouldn't insert batteries into a compass, this Totem was designed to operate by relying on the surrounding mana.
What I fundamentally understood was that if I placed this Totem inside the Wall and left, it could destroy the barrier between the Totem and the Strange One.
While people here might curse the Ramiris family for "negligent management," I absolutely couldn't think that way.
How would anyone know to search for a Totem in this vast Wall without any prior knowledge of its existence?
Even for the family responsible for managing the Wall, finding objects small enough to slip between fingers would be nearly impossible.
Anyway, I was able to find such a Totem easily.
My body had reacted to it.
I intended to show Yoon Ha-min how to destroy it by demonstrating with my hands before handing it over to reassure him. But I couldn't pass it on.
Because the Totem disappeared from my hand.
I hadn't even gripped it tightly—just lightly touched it with my fingertips—when suddenly it vanished with a soft hissing sound, as if absorbing into my skin.
My empty hand, which should have been holding something, perfectly represented how hollow I felt inside.
"...Ah."
A sigh escaped me.
It felt like numerous emotions tangled together, expressed in just one word.
Even Yoon Ha-min didn't know how to react, his gaze wandering uncertainly.
"Kanna, why did it suddenly disappear? That's not how you're supposed to destroy it, right?"
"No, it's not."
"Then... did the Strange One sense contact with it and destroy it?"
Yoon Ha-min was trying to ease the tension by suggesting plausible explanations.
The problem was that I knew the reality too well to lean on such comforting ideas.
After breaking the Wall, the stage becomes wherever the Strange One stands, but once the Wall is rebuilt, even with a Totem present, it's impossible for them to freely control things inside.
The prerequisite for the Strange One to control monsters and use magic within was breaking both the Wall and the barrier simultaneously.
In other words, this wasn't the Strange One detecting and destroying the Totem—the most likely explanation was that it had absorbed into my body the moment I touched it.
And knowing this fact made me incredibly depressed.
"I think it went into my body..."
Now that the flow of mana that had been triggering my trauma was gone, it felt even more chilling.
I tried my best to clear my head.
And then I made an effort to think.
I had been able to detect the flow of mana that I couldn't sense before.
That's how I easily found the Totem.
But unlike before, the moment my hand touched the Totem, it vanished.
When I tried to figure out what was different, there was a significant gap between then and now.
The clear divide between before being taken by the Strange One and after.
The Strange One could easily find me. They probably did so by matching similar mana wavelengths.
Does that mean, conversely, that I could sense the Strange One's mana wavelength?
And simultaneously, because we shared the same wavelength, the Totem was absorbed when I touched it thoughtlessly.
Nothing else made sense.
Thump, thump, thump, thump.
I could feel my heart pounding.
I had the illusion of hearing my heartbeat right next to my ear.
My breathing grew increasingly rapid. I was terrified.
I wanted to check what had entered my body.
Of course, the Totem itself wasn't like a monster egg or anything, just something like a compass dropped by the Strange One, so nothing special would likely happen. But the mere fact that the Strange One's power had entered my body was enough to terrify me.
I took a staggering step forward.
In my desperate struggle not to collapse, I clutched my chest tightly.
There must be other Totems out there, certainly the first Totem must still exist somewhere, but I didn't have the courage to find it.
"Huh, gasp, huh..."
"Kanna...! Deep breaths! Deep breaths! Right now... too fast!"
What's too fast?
Wait, you're too far away.
Speak closer to me.
I felt dazed.
Perhaps it was natural to end up like this when terror surged through me so violently.
I furrowed my brow.
Through my blurred vision, I could see Yoon Ha-min's expression.
He looked so sad.
*
I brought Kanna home and stared blankly at her.
It was truly heartbreaking to see Kanna lose consciousness, her face pale with fear.
As the things she had encountered and spoken about became reality one by one, I believed her.
And finally, I even encountered what she had first called "Totems."
The result of belief isn't always truth, but when it is, it brings an indescribable sense of satisfaction.
And Kanna had given me that.
I was happy, but what happened afterward left me unable to smile.
The Totem that had seeped into Kanna's body made her tremble with fear.
Her expression suggested she was struggling, as if this wasn't what she wanted.
Though her movements weren't violent, seeing her hyperventilate and shiver made it obvious.
"...Kanna."
I looked at her lying on my bed.
Watching her sleep with her eyes closed, breathing softly as if dreaming, it seemed more like a nightmare.
I wanted to wake her, but unsure if that was the right thing to do in this situation, all I could do was wipe away her cold sweat and place a cool wet towel on her forehead.
Wiping away her cold sweat seemed to help a little, which was fortunate.
She had been afraid of when the Wall might collapse.
And she trembled at the thought that the Strange One could find her again.
That fear had resurfaced her dormant trauma, and because of it, Kanna was afraid of being alone in dark spaces.
It was truly unfortunate.
They say all humans captured by the Strange One died, but seeing how Kanna was released and then subjected to this repeated torment, it seemed like she had been specifically targeted.
Release her, capture her again.
Release her, capture her again.
It seemed like they were trying to break a person by repeating this pattern.
Perhaps it was because she had known the weakness of the new monster they introduced and spread that information, saving people they had intended to kill.
That might be why the Strange One was angry and taking it out on her.
I stayed by Kanna's side as she feared being alone in the dark.
I had to keep the lights off since she wouldn't be able to rest comfortably with them on, so all I could do was stay by her side.
I would have suggested sleeping together tonight anyway, so I quietly waited and settled down beside her.
"..."
I believed in Kanna.
And that belief was rewarded.
Would Kanna believe in me?
The question arose. But that doubt was resolved weakly not long after.
Despite being just a male classmate, the fact that she came over and slept defenseless beside me suggested she did trust me.
Worried about a repeat of this morning's scene, I let out a hollow laugh and turned my head.
But my gaze returned to where Kanna was.
Because she was there with her eyes half-open.
"...Kanna?"
As I carefully approached with rustling movements, Kanna moaned.
She seemed somewhat disoriented, as if her consciousness was coming and going.
I watched her for a while, then carefully called her name again.
"Kanna?"
"...Ugh."
Kanna mumbled in response to hearing my voice, perhaps unconsciously.
But her gaze lacked focus. Her empty eyes were just staring at the dark ceiling.
Then she mumbled.
"...I'm scared. No, don't."
The moment I heard that, a chill ran down my spine.
My body instinctively curled up.
Though her eyes were clouded and I couldn't tell what emotions they held, there was something vivid in her voice.
"No, I said no..."
Kanna was resisting.
Although her eyes were slightly open, her mind still seemed to be in the dream world.
She appeared to be trapped in a painful nightmare.
I wanted to save her, so I deliberately positioned my face in her line of sight.
I wanted her to see me and recognize me, to tell her that Yoon Ha-min was beside her and she could feel safe.
"Kanna."
So I whispered her name deliberately.
Kanna remained still for a moment, then moved her lips.
And finally, with a sob, she said:
"...Save me."
"I will save you. Okay? I'm right here. You can relax. You don't have to be afraid."
As Kanna suffered in the void, I told her several times to feel at ease.
I desperately prayed for her to regain consciousness.
"...Please. Kanna."
"Ah."
With a snap, her eyes seemed to reflect light, as if coming to life.
Her purple eyes, reflecting the light seeping through the window, moved with renewed vitality.
And meeting my gaze, she opened her mouth.
"...Stars."
Then she quietly closed her eyes.
Instinctively checking her pulse, I was able to feel relieved.
But afterward, I felt my heart racing.
I hadn't told anyone about my ability, yet she addressed me as "stars," as if she knew about my power.