A few days had passed since that fateful incident.
Jay couldn't sleep peacefully anymore.
Every time he closed his eyes, the same nightmares returned.
His mother's death.
Saikopasu's twisted smile.
The suffocating pain.
The helplessness that crushed his chest over and over again.
He would wake up trembling, his breath uneven, his body soaked in cold sweat. Tears would already be streaming down his face before he even realized he was crying.
And because of that…
He began avoiding people.
Even those closest to him.
Even the ones who cared the most.
If I stay alone… I won't hurt anyone.
I won't disappoint anyone.
After all… I'm the disappointment.
A soft warmth suddenly wrapped around him.
Gentle.
Familiar.
Comforting.
"It's okay… everything is okay," a soft voice whispered beside him.
Jay slowly lifted his head.
A woman sat there.
Beautiful.
Long white hair flowing like snow under moonlight, partially obscured by a faint purple aura that hid her true presence.
Her eyes were soft… but deep.
"You're not a disappointment," she said gently, placing a hand on his cheek. "You're making me proud… my future husband."
Jay's face flushed immediately.
"Y-You again…"
She smiled, amused by his reaction, and leaned closer, placing a soft kiss on his cheek.
"Of course. I'm always here."
She laid down on his bed, patting the space beside her.
Without much resistance, Jay followed.
He laid down next to her, his body slowly relaxing.
For the first time in days… his breathing stabilized.
"I'll always stay with you," she whispered, gently brushing his hair. "No matter how broken you think you are… I'll still be here, my sweet Jay."
Her voice was calm.
Warm.
Dangerously comforting.
Jay closed his eyes.
And slowly… he fell asleep.
She followed soon after.
—
Cold.
Endless cold.
Jay stood alone in a frozen wasteland.
The wind howled.
Snow crunched beneath his feet.
His breath came out in uneven bursts.
His hand pressed tightly against his chest, as if trying to hold something together.
Then—
crack
He froze.
Looking down—
A skull.
Half-buried in the snow.
His eyes widened—
And suddenly, the ground beneath him shattered.
He fell.
Endlessly.
Into darkness.
Voices echoed all around him.
His own voice.
Distorted.
Broken.
Twisted.
Hands reached out from the void.
Touching him.
Pulling him.
Grabbing his arms, his legs, his throat.
One hand tightened around his neck.
Then—
A familiar laugh.
Saikopasu.
"You belong to me…"
Her voice echoed inside his skull.
She reached for him—
Tearing into his body.
But he felt no pain.
Only emptiness.
Then another voice.
Angrier.
Desperate.
"Why?"
A soldier.
The one he had killed.
"Why did you kill me?!"
"Why did you take me away from my family?!"
Jay trembled.
"I… I didn't—"
"You did."
Then—
Her voice.
Runa.
Cold.
Sharp.
"You're the worst."
"You're a monster."
"Never show your face to me again."
Jay collapsed to his knees.
"No… please…"
"You disgust me."
"Goodbye."
His fists slammed into the void.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Until his knuckles split open.
"I'm sorry…"
"I'm sorry…"
"I'm sorry…"
But nothing changed.
The darkness swallowed everything.
He kept falling.
And falling.
And falling—
"Jay."
A voice.
Faint.
"Jay."
Closer.
"JAY!"
His eyes snapped open.
—
The hospital ceiling came into view.
Mary was beside him, her face filled with worry.
"Jay! Are you okay?"
Her hands gently held his face.
He couldn't answer.
"Tell me… why are you crying?"
Her voice trembled.
"You're scaring me…"
Jay forced a weak smile.
"It's nothing… just a bad dream."
I can't even look at her…
Poul stepped forward.
"Jay."
His voice was firm.
Heavy.
"You need to stop pushing us away."
Jay froze.
"You're avoiding us," Poul continued. "Because you're scared."
"Scared to face us after what happened."
Silence filled the room.
"Then face it," Poul said, his voice tightening. "Face it like a man."
"Share your burden with me… with your father."
His voice cracked slightly.
"I failed to protect you."
Jay's chest tightened painfully.
"I'm a failure as a father."
No…
"But at least…" Poul continued, clenching his fists, "trust us."
"…please."
Jay lowered his gaze.
"I… I don't know…"
That was all he could say.
Poul stood there for a moment.
Then turned away.
Mary followed.
Luis too.
But Kyrai didn't move.
She sat beside Jay.
"…You're annoying," Jay muttered.
She blinked.
"What?"
"You're like a little sister that only causes trouble."
"…You sound like an old man."
Jay stared at her.
Then—
He laughed.
A real laugh.
"…An old man?"
Kyrai froze.
Then suddenly—
Tears filled her eyes.
"I thought I lost you…"
Her voice broke.
"I thought you were gone…"
Jay's expression softened.
"I'm here."
He pulled her into a hug.
"I'm back."
She hugged him tightly.
"Welcome back… big brother."
Jay closed his eyes.
This time… I'll protect her.
No matter what.
—
Later that day, Noa arrived with his parents.
They bowed repeatedly.
"We're sorry, Jay," his father said. "We should've taken better care of you."
Jay shook his head.
"It's okay."
Noa stepped forward.
Holding a book.
Bonk
"…What was that for?!"
"Because of you, idiot, I couldn't read the new volume of The Beginning!"
Jay blinked.
"…You bought it for me?"
"Tch. Don't misunderstand."
Jay smirked.
"When I get out, we're racing."
"Try me."
Kyrai laughed quietly.
For a moment…
Everything felt normal again.
—
Later, in his office, Poul received unexpected visitors.
Two Royal Knights.
They brought news.
The king was in the city.
Along with the Saint.
But that wasn't the important part.
A war was coming.
A massive one.
"If we lose," one of them said, "most cities will fall."
"…Where?" Poul asked.
"The Wall City."
His homeland.
"You may die."
Poul stood straight.
"I won't."
His voice was cold.
"I'll survive."
"And I'll kill that giant."
The knights smiled.
"That's what we expect from you… Ice Prodigy."
—
Back in Jay's room—
A girl entered quietly.
White hair.
Red eyes.
A calm, almost sacred presence.
Saint Clarice.
Jay looked up from his book.
"…This is peak."
She blinked.
"…What?"
He froze.
"…Wait—who are you?"
She placed a hand on her chest.
"I am Saint Clarice."
"I came to see if the hero's son was well."
Jay straightened instantly.
"I-I'm fine."
An elf…
Why now—
"…Can I read with you?" she asked softly.
Jay paused.
Then smiled.
"Yeah. Sit."
She hesitated.
Then sat beside him.
They read together in silence.
"…What does 'peak' mean?" she asked after a while.
"It means… really good."
She nodded.
"…This is peak."
Jay stared.
"…You've got good taste."
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"I feel… comfortable here."
Jay extended his hand.
"Wanna go buy books later?"
She looked at his hand.
"…Are we friends?"
He laughed softly.
"Of course."
Instead of taking his hand—
She hugged him.
"I'd like that."
The door suddenly opened.
King Valerius Adelio stood there with Poul.
"…Since when is your son this popular?" the king said with a smirk.
"I had no idea, Your Majesty," Poul replied.
Jay panicked.
"I-it's not what it looks like!"
Clarice quickly pulled away, embarrassed.
Poul, however…
Smiled.
—
Later…
"Jay," Poul said quietly.
"You've been discharged."
Jay blinked.
"…Really?"
"And…"
Poul hesitated.
"I'm going to war."
Silence.
Jay's eyes widened.
"…What?"
Fear.
Real fear.
After everything—
It returned.