Night had fully fallen by the time Ren and Kai reached the quiet neighborhood streets.
A light drizzle had begun, the rain tapping softly against the pavement. Streetlights flickered above them as they walked, their shoes splashing through shallow puddles.
Neither of them said much.
They were exhausted.
Ren's shoulders still ached from the fight, and Kai limped slightly as they reached the front of Ren's house.
Kai rubbed the back of his neck.
"You sure you'll be okay?"
Ren pushed the door open slowly.
"Yeah… I just need some sleep."
He paused before adding,
"You can crash here if you want."
Kai smirked tiredly.
"If I say no, you'll probably pass out before I even leave."
Ren let out a quiet laugh.
"…Fair point."
They stepped inside.
For the first time that night, the chaos felt far away.
Just two friends trying to recover from something they barely understood.
Ren's mom in the kitchen.
" you are late today, ren"
Ren smashing into the sofa in comfort.
"yeah. We had to go somewhere. And today my friend is here to stay for tonight."
Ren's mom said.
You have friend? Well, that's a good thing. Have u eaten dinner or you will eat"
Hours later.
Moonlight filtered softly through Ren's bedroom window.
Ren lay asleep on his bed, but his breathing grew uneven. Sweat formed along his forehead as his body shifted slightly.
Then
Darkness.
Ren opened his eyes.
He stood once again inside the strange dream space.
No ground. No sky.
Only endless darkness, with small floating shards of light drifting slowly around him.
Then the voice returned.
But this time it was clearer.
Stronger.
"You've touched another piece…"
Ren turned, trying to find the source.
"I can sense the rest… but I still don't remember… what we were meant to do."
Ren frowned.
"Who are you?"
"What are you?"
The floating fragments pulsed faintly.
"Once… I was whole."
The voice sounded distant. Ancient.
"Now I am scattered."
A pause.
"You… are my core."
Ren froze.
"My what?"
"My last memory made flesh."
Ren shook his head.
"I don't understand… what do you mean your core?"
The light fragments drifted slower now.
"You will understand… when we are complete."
"But time… time is slipping."
The shards of light began fading slowly, like sand dissolving in water.
"Find them."
The voice grew weaker.
"But beware those who seek the same light."
Ren's eyes narrowed.
"What do you mean?"
A faint distortion rippled through the void.
"Their purpose… is not yours."
The fragments dimmed further.
"Until next time…"
A final whisper.
"…bearer."
Then everything vanished.
Ren shot awake with a sharp breath.
The room was silent.
Only the faint moonlight through the window lit the room.
And something else.
A soft glow.
Ren slowly looked down.
The necklace around his neck was glowing faintly.
From the living room, Kai shifted on the couch.
Half-asleep, he mumbled,
"…You okay, man?"
Ren stared at the necklace for a moment longer.
Then he answered quietly.
"Yeah…"
"…Just a dream."
The glow slowly faded.
But as Ren looked toward the window, something strange happened.
His reflection flickered.
Just for a moment.
Out of sync with his movement.
Ren didn't notice.
Outside the window, the rain continued to fall.
And in the dim reflection—
Ren's eyes faintly glimmered.
The same color as the crystal fragment.