"…but I will be."
Her voice lingered.
Soft.
Real.
And then...
The world moved on.
Just like that.
A man laughed nearby.
A woman walked past... her face shifting mid-step.
Lights pulsed.
Ads flickered.
Voices overlapped.
Neon Veil...
Didn't care.
Mii looked around in disbelief.
"…we almost died."
A beat.
"…and it's just… Tuesday here??"
Pix snorted.
"…Welcome to high-density illusion districts."
Lyra didn't relax.
Didn't lower her guard.
"…Stay sharp."
Sera nodded.
"…We are still exposed."
Kaida-9 scanned the area again.
"…No immediate threats detected."
Pix muttered,
"…yeah, that's what worries me now."
Elric shifted slightly...
Still holding Elen.
"…you planning on standing up," he said,
"…or am I carrying you the whole time?"
Elen blinked slowly.
Her grip on his jacket tightened...
Then loosened.
"…I can stand."
She didn't move.
A beat.
"…eventually."
Mii gasped dramatically.
"…OH... she's staying like that on purpose..."
Elen closed her eyes briefly.
"…I am recovering."
Pix grinned.
"…yeah, sure you are."
Elric smirked slightly.
"…take your time."
Lyra glanced at them...
Then away.
"…we need to relocate."
Sera agreed.
"…This location is compromised."
Pix pointed down the street.
"…There's a side sector... less traffic, fewer overlays."
Kaida-9 nodded.
"…Path viable."
Elric adjusted slightly.
"…alright."
He looked down at Elen.
"…you good to move?"
She hesitated.
Just slightly.
Then...
"…yes."
He let her go slowly.
Carefully.
Making sure she was steady.
She stood...
But her balance wavered...
Just a little.
He caught her again...
Instinctively.
Their faces...
Closer than expected.
Mii made a noise.
"…I'm witnessing things."
Pix whispered loudly,
"…same."
Elen didn't pull away immediately.
Her eyes...
Locked on his.
Still a bit unfocused.
Still recovering.
"…you didn't run," she said again.
Quieter this time.
Elric shrugged slightly.
"…you said it twice."
A faint exhale.
Almost a laugh.
"…I was compromised."
"…yeah," he said.
"…still counts."
A pause.
Then...
She stepped back.
Properly this time.
Stable.
Composed.
But not quite the same.
"…thank you," she said.
Simple.
Direct.
Real.
Mii wiped fake tears.
"…I love emotional growth..."
Lyra cut in immediately.
"…move."
The group shifted.
Walking together...
Through the neon chaos.
But now...
Something had changed.
Not just the danger.
Not just the stakes.
But the way they moved.
Closer.
More aware.
More careful.
Pix walked beside Elric now.
Not bouncing ahead.
Not drifting.
Staying close.
"…so," she said casually.
Too casually.
"…you wanna explain that?"
Elric glanced at her.
"…which part?"
Pix smiled.
But it didn't reach her eyes.
"…the part where you override reality."
Silence.
Behind them...
Elen listened.
Quietly.
Sera too.
Lyra...
Pretending not to.
Kaida-9...
Definitely recording everything.
Elric scratched the back of his head.
"…yeah," he said.
"…about that."
Pix leaned in slightly.
"…yeah?"
A pause.
"…I have no idea."
Silence.
Then...
Mii burst out laughing.
"OF COURSE YOU DON'T!"
Pix stared at him.
Then sighed.
"…you're either the luckiest idiot alive…"
A beat.
"…or something way worse."
Elric smirked.
"…why not both?"
Pix blinked.
Then laughed.
"…yeah."
"…that checks out."
But her eyes...
Still watched him.
Carefully.
Because now...
She knew.
And she hadn't told them yet.
Not all of it.
Not even close.