"Mm…"
A faint sound slipped from Kamisato Ayaka's lips as her tightly furrowed brows trembled.
Her eyes slowly opened.
In the instant her blue eyes met the world again, disappointment shimmered across them.
Why was she still alive…?
To her, this world held nothing but endless pain and despair.
When would it finally end…
"Ayaka, you're awake!"
That voice…
Once, it had haunted her dreams, pulling her through every lonely night.
But now she didn't even have the strength or desire to turn toward it.
Because she knew it wasn't real.
Just another imitation.
No one could replace her Kael.
The System had restored her body, but it couldn't repair her heart.
She wanted nothing more than to die. Even though her complexion looked better than before, she still had the hollow, fading aura of someone who wished only for death.
"Ayaka…"
When she continued staring blankly at the ceiling, unresponsive to his voice, Kael tightened his hold on her hand.
"I really am Kael. I came back. Do you remember how we first met…? Back then, I was just a servant's son. I sneaked into your room because I wanted to read."
"You caught me, but instead of reporting me, you became my friend…"
Kael recounted the memories he'd seen in his life simulation, telling every detail as gently as he could.
Ayaka's eyes twitched.
He spoke with such clarity.
Stories only the two of them would know…
Could it be…?
Maybe it was another lie.
Maybe she was about to fall into the abyss again.
But if there was even the slightest chance that Kael was truly alive… she couldn't let it go.
Holding onto that single spark of hope, Ayaka slowly turned her head.
Fear, longing, and pain flickered wildly through her eyes.
The moment her gaze met Kael's, everything—every doubt, every terror—was crushed under a wave of something overwhelming.
Her stiff, stone-like body began to soften.
The cold in her bones melted.
Warmth rushed through her blood, rising, heating her from within.
Mist filled her blue eyes, gathering until a single tear rolled down her cheek.
Ayaka struggled to breathe, her voice trembling and muted, almost unable to form words.
"Kael… really…"
Is it you?
Have you really come back?
She tried to sit up, desperate to get closer, desperate to feel his presence with her own hands.
Kael rushed forward and gathered her into his arms.
"It's me. It's really me."
Ayaka's tears spilled freely, her gaze brightening as if a spark of life had finally returned to her.
She cupped Kael's face with shaking hands.
"Am I dead…? Did you come to take me away?"
"Take me with you, Kael… please… take me with you. I don't want to live in a world without you anymore… Every day since you left, I've wished for death… because only then could I see you again…"
Her sobs tore through him.
Kael held her tightly, eyes reddening. "You're not dying. We're getting married. We still have so many things to do, and we're going to do them together… always."
Hearing the commotion from inside, Kamisato Ayato thought something was wrong and rushed into the room.
He opened the door—and froze in relief.
Thank the Archons…
Ayato's heart eased when he saw the two of them holding each other.
Ayaka was crying, but she hadn't shown such raw emotion in so long.
Kael was the strength she depended on. With him here, she could be saved.
Seeing Ayaka struggling to breathe through her tears, Ayato walked over and spoke softly.
"Ayaka, don't cry. Your body hasn't fully recovered yet. You can't let yourself get too worked up."
At Ayato's voice, Ayaka suddenly remembered how sick she had looked for so long.
She must have appeared miserable, ugly even…
She turned her head slightly, trying to hide from Kael.
"Kael… don't look at me. I must look awful…"
Kael guided her face back toward him and pressed a gentle kiss to the space between her brows.
"Not at all. To me, you'll always be the beautiful White Heron Princess."