The door slammed open before any of them could move.
Standing in the doorway was a girl with the same white hair as Mika—just longer, braided over one shoulder. Her crimson eyes scanned the room like she was judging every molecule of air.
Her presence was… intense.
Terrifying, actually.
But her tone was deceptively sweet.
"Well. Look at this circus."
Lucien froze.
Kuro shrank instinctively.
Mika looked like he wanted the earth to swallow him whole.
[Oh, this is going to be good.]
She stepped inside, a tray of breakfast in one hand like it weighed nothing.
"Brother," she said without breaking eye contact, "why was the Guild shaking last night?"
Mika stiffened. "...It's complicated."
She set the tray down with a sharp clack."Uncomplicate it."
Lucien whispered, "She's scarier than the gate."
[Understatement of the century, pretty-boy.]
Lucien jumped slightly but shook his head, thinking it was nerves.
Mika's sister finally looked at Kuro.
And her eyes narrowed.
"You," she said, stepping closer. "Floating boy."
Kuro turned red instantly. "I-I— that wasn't— I didn't mean—!"
She leaned in until her nose almost touched his.
Her voice dropped to a whisper."You leaked mana strong enough to trip half the detection wards in this city."
Kuro whimpered.
Lucien slowly pointed at him. "He does that sometimes."
She reached up—
Mika moved instantly.
"No touching him."
Kuro blinked in shock.
She raised a brow. "Possessive. That's new."
Mika sputtered. "It's NOT— I— he— just— SHUT UP!"
[He's flustered. Hilarious. More.]
Lucien leaned toward Kuro. "We're witnessing history."
Kuro didn't respond.
He was too busy trying to figure out if Mika's sister was going to kill him.
Finally, she straightened. "Explain. Now."
Mika sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Kuro touched a cursed gate and awakened something that nearly broke the dungeon, and now whatever is inside it is watching him."
The room went silent.
She blinked once.
Twice.
"...And your plan," she said slowly, "was to let him SLEEP?"
"We were tired!" Lucien said defensively.
"And Kuro was floating," Mika added.
"That is NOT—" Kuro tried to protest.
She turned sharply to him. "Do you hear voices?"
Kuro froze.
Lucien gagged on air.
Mika swore under his breath.
Kuro swallowed. "...Yes."
"Do you answer them?"
Kuro hesitated. "...Sometimes?"
[Well this is f****** awkward.]
Mirei stared for a long, heavy breath.
Then—
"Well, at least you're honest," she said flatly. "Stupid, but honest."
Mika scowled. "Can you not insult him for one minute?"
"No."
Lucien coughed. "So, uh— who exactly ARE you?"
She glanced at him like he was a bug crawling toward her shoe.
"Mirei," she said. "Mika's older sister."
"With a personality like a broken blade," Mika muttered.
She kicked his shin without looking.
Mika hissed. "OW—"
Kuro jumped. "H-He bleeds??"
Mirei stared. "What kind of question is that?"
"He feels like he shouldn't bleed…" Kuro mumbled.
Lucien nodded. "Honestly same."
Mirei sighed. "We don't have time for this stupidity. Eat your awful breakfast."
Kuro picked up a piece of toast.
It immediately crumbled into tragic dust.
Lucien winced. "Well. That's depressing."
Mika glared at the tray. "I didn't order this."
"No," Mirei said. "I did. Because I knew you idiots would forget to eat."
Kuro blinked, surprised."Oh. Um… thank you."
Mirei paused, eyeing him.
"…You're polite," she said suspiciously.
Kuro stiffened. "I—uh—sorry?"
"Stop apologizing."
"Sorry— I mean— okay."
She stared a moment longer, then:
"…You don't look cursed."
Kuro's breath caught.His chest tightened.
He heard a voice deep inside:
Chosen… again…
{Not now…}
Kuro's breath trembled, shoulders shaking.
Mika instantly stepped closer.
"Kuro?"
Lucien tightened his grip on his sword. "Not again…"
Mirei's tone sharpened. "What's it saying?"
Kuro forced the words out."It… said… 'Chosen again.'"
The room stilled.
Mika's fists clenched.
Lucien's eyes darkened.
Mirei exhaled slowly, deadly serious now."Then we're not waiting for the Guild."
Mika nodded. "Agreed."
Lucien unsheathed his blade. "Agreed."
Kuro blinked. "W-wait— agreed to what?"
Mirei cracked her knuckles.
"For whatever's coming for you."
Mika leaned closer, lowering his voice so only Kuro could hear.
"And we're not letting anything touch you."
Kuro felt his face warm.His chest tighten.His breath catch.
…He wasn't used to this.
[Look at you. Getting protected. Character growth.]
"Shut up," Kuro mumbled under his breath.
Lucien blinked. "Huh?"
Kuro flailed. "N-Nothing!!"
Mirei opened the door.
"Eat quickly. We leave soon."
And just like that—
The real problem began.