The first thing I noticed was the absence of pain. Or rather… the absence of everything. No gravity pressing down. No fire burning through my arm. Just silence.
I blinked, slowly. Light filtered through a window somewhere above me, pale and soft. White walls surrounded me. The smell of antiseptic lingered faintly, but it was calm. Safe.
A soft shuffle announced someone's presence. My body felt heavy and fragile, but not in the same agonizing way as before.
"Asol."
The voice was calm, steady. Familiar. I turned my head to see him—The CEO—standing nearby, hands clasped behind his back, eyes attentive. He didn't rush to me. He never did.
"You're awake."
He said simply.
I tried to speak. My throat felt like sandpaper.
"…Where… am I?"
"The KAC Headquarters."
He replied.
"You've been out for several days. We moved you here immediately after the battle."
I tried to sit up, but the effort made my arm flare with a dull, throbbing ache. Not enough to stop me, but enough to remind me of what I'd done.
"You overclocked on Aura, it nearly… cost you everything."
I swallowed.
"I… I did it. I… I stopped him. The Leader…"
My words faltered. Images of the crumbling battlefield, the shards of steel and stone, the echo of his screams pressed against my mind. I shook my head.
"It doesn't feel like a victory."
The CEO approached and placed a hand gently on my shoulder.
"It isn't just about victory, Asol. You survived. That's the first—and most important—step."
I let out a shaky breath.
"But… my arm… it's…"
"Damaged severely. You overclocking caused it. You'll need time to recover. But you're alive, and your mind is intact. That is what matters most right now."
I stared at him. Intact. Alive. Somehow, it felt like both a relief and a burden.
"Where's Fujiwara? She was there with me... It looked like they offered her Aura to the rock..."
The CEO's expression darkened slightly.
"She's safe but she is in a coma... And... It looks like she'll be sleeping for a while..."
Relief hit me like a wave, but guilt followed immediately after. So many had fought, risked themselves because of me.
"I… I failed… again..."
"No. You've learned."
He replied simply.
"That is what matters. Each battle teaches us something. And even in failure, you grow stronger—because you survive to face the next challenge. That is what separates warriors from the rest."
I looked down at my arm, black veins faintly glowing beneath my skin. The CEO noticed.
"Do not fear it. This is a mark of sacrifice. Of courage. It will fade in time, but the lesson remains."
I let out a slow breath. The world outside the window felt peaceful—the aftermath of the battle hidden behind the calm of the city. Birds chirped faintly, the wind whispered through distant trees, and the sun was setting in soft golds and pinks.
A hand rested on my shoulder again.
"You did more than survive today, Asol. You proved to yourself—and to everyone else—that even in the face of unimaginable power, you can endure. That is a victory, however you feel about it."
I nodded slowly, the tension in my body easing slightly.
"It… feels like the storm has passed..."
"For now."
CEO said, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips.
"But storms always return. The world doesn't stop for us, Asol. You will need to recover, yes. Rest, heal, regain your strength. But soon… you will rise again."
I looked at him, and for the first time in what felt like an eternity, I allowed myself to believe it.
"Thank you..."
I said softly.
"For what?"
"For giving me a choice to stay here and fight..."
The CEO gave a small, approving nod.
"Rest now. You've earned it."
And for the first time in a long while, I felt… calm.
As the CEO was about to step out I called out to him.
"Mr. CEO! Wait!"
He stopped and turned to me who was still in bed.
"Yes, Asol?"
"Do you still have that prosthetic arm?"
The CEO smiled warmly as I heard a light chuckle from him.
"Yes... Yes I do..."