"Hey— Kana! Stay with me. Do you hear me?!"

Evaya's voice was sharp with panic now, though she kept her grip steady.

Kana's eyelids fluttered weakly, her breathing shallow. Her lips moved faintly, as though trying to form words — but nothing came out.

And then, before Evaya could do anything more, Kana's eyes slipped shut.

She went limp in Evaya's arms, her expression soft, almost peaceful, as though the chaos from moments before had never existed.

Evaya held her tighter, glancing down at the unconscious girl with a mix of frustration, relief, and awe twisting in her chest.

"…What on earth are you, Kana?"

She whispered under her breath, her voice trembling despite her composure.

The temple around them was silent again, but the weight of what had just happened hung heavily in the air — and Evaya knew this was only the beginning.

Evaya carried Kana carefully in her arms, her steps steady despite the rush of thoughts swirling in her mind.

The weight of the unconscious girl felt far heavier than it should have — not physically, but because of the gnawing realization that Kana was becoming something far beyond what anyone had anticipated.

Her breathing was calm, but her expression betrayed her unease.

What had just happened back there… those movements, that strength, the way Kana's body flowed in battle like she had been trained her entire life — none of it matched the girl she had come to know.

Evaya's grip around Kana tightened slightly as if she were afraid the girl might vanish from her arms.

By the time they reached the inner hallways of the temple, the guards were groaning and pulling themselves back to their feet.

Their armor clinked faintly as they tried to shake off the dizziness of being effortlessly overpowered by someone half their size.

One of them looked up, cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and opened his mouth to speak.

But before he could say anything, Evaya stopped, turned, and gave them a sharp look.

"Forget what happened here."

Her tone left no room for argument.

"A handful of temple guards being taken down by a single girl… do you really want that story spreading around the capital?"

The guards stiffened. A few glanced at each other awkwardly before nodding in unison, red-faced.

"Y-Yes, Lady Evaya."

One of them stammered.

"Good."

She turned away, her long steps echoing down the corridor as she carried Kana back toward her chambers.

When they arrived, Evaya gently lowered Kana onto the bed.

The faint rise and fall of her chest was steady, but her expression remained tense, as if her dreams were anything but peaceful.

Evaya's brows furrowed as she reached for the edge of her cloak and brushed a few strands of hair from Kana's face.

"Just what's happening to you…?"

She whispered under her breath, the quiet question swallowed by the silence of the room.

Taking a deep breath, she extended her hand and murmured a low incantation.

Threads of faint, shimmering light drifted from her fingertips and wove themselves into the air around Kana's bed, forming a delicate but powerful warding spell.

The enchantment settled like a soft veil, wrapping the unconscious girl in protective magic — a barrier that would prevent her from unconsciously wandering again.

Satisfied with her work, Evaya sat down on the small couch by the wall, resting her elbows on her knees.

Her body was still tense, mind racing through possibilities she didn't want to face. The guards wouldn't speak — she had ensured that — but this couldn't stay hidden forever.

Her head felt heavy, the exhaustion from the earlier confrontation finally catching up to her.

She tried to fight it at first, watching Kana's sleeping form with wary eyes, but eventually, her body gave in.

Within moments, Evaya drifted into an uneasy sleep, still sitting upright, her head tilted slightly to the side.

───

The faint light of dawn seeped through the curtains when Evaya stirred awake.

Her neck ached from the awkward sleeping position, and she rubbed at her temples as she glanced toward the bed instinctively.

Kana was still there.

A soft sigh escaped her lips, one of relief more than anything else.

Pushing herself to her feet, she approached the bedside carefully, scanning Kana's form for any signs of disturbance.

The girl hadn't moved; the protective weave was intact, untouched through the night. Her breathing was soft and steady, her pale fingers resting lightly atop the blanket.

"She stayed put…"

Evaya whispered, her shoulders relaxing for the first time since last night.

But the relief didn't last long.

A flicker of unease returned as she remembered the sheer strength Kana had displayed, strength that no ordinary human should possess — strength that even she had struggled to counter.

Standing there, watching the sleeping girl, Evaya found herself caught between two feelings she couldn't reconcile — fear and awe.

Her hand brushed against the faint glow of the ward she had placed around the bed, testing its stability one last time before pulling away. She straightened her back, steeling herself.

"Whatever this is…I'll keep you safe… even if I have to stand against the entire temple to do it."

She murmured softly.

______

The morning light spilled across the room, painting the walls in gold, and for a brief moment, everything seemed calm again.

Evaya sank onto the edge of the bed, her hand hesitating above Kana's before finally resting lightly over it.

The girl's warmth reassured her, grounding her amidst the storm of thoughts swirling in her mind.

She replayed last night's events over and over — the way Kana had moved without hesitation, as though something ancient and instinctive had awakened within her.

It wasn't just strength; it was precision, speed, and control that defied logic.

Evaya exhaled slowly, brushing her thumb against Kana's knuckles.

"What are you becoming…?"

She whispered, her voice so faint it barely reached her own ears.

There was no answer, only the soft rhythm of Kana's breathing.

After a long pause, Evaya stood and adjusted the blanket, pulling it higher to cover Kana's shoulders before turning toward the door.

There were too many questions, but one thing was certain — she couldn't let anyone else find out.

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