Kana woke up early the next morning, her body still sore but her mind sharper than it had been in days.

She stretched slowly, wincing at the faint aches in her muscles, before sitting up and taking a deep breath.

Today, she had one goal.

Training.

After everything that had happened — the temple, the claims, the seal Ruby had left behind — Kana had decided she could no longer stay the same.

If she wanted control over her powers, if she wanted to protect herself and the people around her, she needed strength.

She started with light exercises, warming up her body and testing her stamina. Her muscles protested every stretch, but she pushed herself through the discomfort.

Beads of sweat formed across her forehead as she moved into longer, controlled movements, trying to get her breathing steady and her body fully awake.

By the time she finished her warm-up, she could feel the faint hum of mana within her, as if her body had begun responding instinctively to her will.

"Alright! Let's start for real this time…"

She muttered softly, placing a hand over her chest.

But just as she was about to begin channeling her energy, a sharp ringing sound pierced the silence of her room.

Kana froze. The sound repeated, chiming insistently, and then her gaze fell on the small clock in the corner of the room.

Her stomach dropped.

"Work—!"

She scrambled to her feet, panic flashing across her face. She had completely forgotten. Today was a workday.

For a moment, she stood frozen, torn between two equally pressing priorities.

Part of her wanted to ignore her obligations and continue training — she finally had time, and she was motivated.

But another part of her, the part that had spent years adapting to structure and rules, couldn't ignore the gnawing sense of duty in her chest.

In the end, obedience won.

With a frustrated sigh, Kana wiped the sweat from her forehead and quickly changed into something more presentable before rushing out the door.

By the time she arrived at Penelope's, she was panting lightly from the jog, but the moment she stepped inside, she stopped short.

The air was heavy, thick with tension.

Kana's brows furrowed as her gaze swept over the shop — and her heart sank.

Pots lay shattered on the floor, shards glinting faintly beneath the morning light.

Several delicate plants, ones she knew were rare and expensive, were wilted or dying, their soil scattered across the wooden tiles. Tables were overturned, deep scratches marred the counter, and the faint earthy fragrance that usually filled the shop was replaced by the sharp, unsettling scent of destruction.

Her first instinct was to step back out. She had walked into something she wasn't prepared for.

But before she could retreat, Penelope's sharp voice cut through the silence.

"Kana."

Kana stiffened and turned, spotting Penelope standing near the counter with her arms crossed.

Her usually composed boss looked visibly irritated, her sharp green eyes narrowing as she gestured for Kana to come closer.

With a heavy heart, Kana obeyed.

"P-Penelope… what happened here?"

Penelope exhaled slowly through her nose, clearly trying to rein in her frustration.

"Someone decided to take advantage of our absence and turn this place into a disaster. We were closed for a few days, and look what happens the moment we step away."

She said flatly.

Kana bit her lip, scanning the mess again.

"…Do you know who did it?"

"Not yet. But that's not the priority right now. We need to clean this place up before assessing the losses."

Penelope replied curtly.

She glanced at Kana, her gaze softening just slightly.

"You're here now, so help me."

Kana nodded quickly.

"Of course!"

Penelope's irritation was sharp, but Kana could tell she wasn't angry at her — just at the situation.

The two of them worked tirelessly for hours.

Kana swept the scattered soil and debris from the floors, carefully collecting broken pot shards and disposing of wilted plants.

She reorganized shelves, wiped down counters, and tried her best to repair small damages where she could.

Meanwhile, Penelope cataloged everything — every missing plant, every destroyed item, and every visible scratch on the furniture and displays.

Sweat rolled down Kana's neck as the day wore on, but she refused to slow down.

Each time she looked around the shop, the sheer extent of the damage made her chest tighten. This wasn't just a mess — this was a significant blow to Penelope's livelihood.

By the time the sun had dipped lower in the sky, the shop looked somewhat presentable again.

It wasn't perfect — several items still needed replacing, and many of the damaged plants couldn't be salvaged — but at least it no longer looked like chaos.

Kana leaned against the counter, catching her breath. Her arms and legs ached from the long hours of cleaning, but she still forced a small smile.

"It… looks better already."

Penelope, seated at the small desk near the back, was scribbling notes in a ledger. Her expression was tight and focused, but she glanced up at Kana after a moment, her lips pressing into a thin line.

"Better. But we lost a lot today."

Penelope agreed quietly.

Kana's shoulders drooped slightly, guilt gnawing at her chest even though she knew it wasn't her fault.

"…I'm sorry, Penelope."

Penelope shook her head, brushing the words aside.

"Don't be. This isn't on you."

She glanced at the ledger again, running her fingers across the list of losses. After a long pause, she finally sighed.

"…Kana."

Kana straightened, sensing the shift in tone.

"For the next few days, take a short break from work. We won't have enough resources to restock properly until I sort out the damage and get some suppliers lined up. And…"

Penelope said evenly, setting the pen down and meeting Kana's gaze directly. Her expression softened slightly, almost apologetic.

"I likely won't be able to pay you for a little while."

Kana blinked, surprised, but quickly shook her head.

"That's okay. Really."

Penelope studied her for a moment before nodding once, though the tension in her shoulders remained.

"Go home and rest, Kana. You've done enough for today."

Kana hesitated, glancing around the shop one last time. Though it was cleaner now, there was an uneasy weight in her chest — whoever had done this wasn't just careless.

The deep scratches, the deliberate destruction… it felt intentional.

But she kept those thoughts to herself, offering Penelope a small bow before leaving the shop.

As she stepped back into the fading sunlight, Kana exhaled softly, brushing damp strands of hair from her face.

A day of training lost. A day of work spent cleaning destruction.

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