Nyssa's hand trembled as tears slipped from her eyes—but what followed wasn't despair. It was a smile.
"Is it… truly worth it? Why do I keep restricting myself from what little of the world is left? There's no way you could care the same way I do."
She rose to her feet and glanced at the door.
For so long, she'd convinced herself the outside world only brought pain. That stepping beyond these walls would reopen wounds she barely knew how to close. But now… something felt different. A quiet pull instead of a push.
The dread that had clung to her for years began to loosen, slowly unraveling from her chest as she opened the door—and was met with a night sky so achingly beautiful that fresh tears fell from her eyes.
Why… why does today feel different? The wind has always touched my skin, yet now it carries something deeper. Something like grace. Is this what it means to let go? My chest tightens—not from fear… but from something that feels like joy. For so long, I convinced myself I didn't deserve this. The simple beauty of stepping outside… of feeling the earth beneath me. But I do. I'm here. And maybe—just maybe—it's time I finally step forward and see what the world has been waiting to show me.
In that moment, Nyssa felt it: true bliss. A yearning to explore what the world still had to offer.
"Nyssa!"
She jumped at the voice and turned. It was Kashikoi.
His face was tight with panic, hands trembling as he nearly dropped the food he carried.
But Nyssa didn't turn away. Instead, she looked up at the moon.
"Nyssa, I know you heard me. It's late—and it's not like you to leave unless something's wrong. Did someone come by? Are you—?"
"Kashikoi…"
He stopped.
She turned toward him fully, tears in her eyes, but a peaceful smile on her face.
She looked… whole.
"Kashikoi, thank you. For letting me feel human again. Even if it didn't last forever. I don't know what I would've done… had I not taken you in. Had I not raised you."
Her voice shook. The tears wouldn't stop.
"…Yeah."
Kashikoi didn't know what to say. He was afraid to speak, afraid to ruin what felt like a rare moment of peace.
"I'm sorry I got emotional. This really isn't like me. I guess I just needed a breath of fresh ai—"
Kashikoi set the food aside and hugged her tight, cutting her off.
"Don't hide your emotions. And don't fake them either. You earned the right to cry a long time ago."
That was it. Nyssa lost control. Her legs weakened as she broke into quiet sobs, holding him close.
"Thank you, Kashikoi. Thank you so much for being here."
One day earlier, deep within a forgotten underground facility, a man moved down a flickering corridor where no sunlight had touched in years.
His name was Damon—a high-ranking member of The Unforgiven, a covert group of four former government agents who had once tried to control Reiki after its discovery in 1980. When they were cast aside, they disappeared into the shadows.
He tapped away at a glowing interface on a small device in his hand, his coat swaying as he moved. At the end of the hall, a heavy door stood slightly ajar. A cold breeze slipped through the cracks, tugging at his jacket.
As he pushed it open, the night revealed itself—clouds drifting like waves across a star-swept sky.
A voice crackled through the device.
"Have you located Kashikoi yet, Damon?"
"He's been found, sir—but not by me. Galen decided to track him down himself."
"I'm not surprised. He never listens to me either. He's too valuable to lose, though. Watch him closely. He gets... obsessive."
"Understo—"
The transmission cut off. Damon didn't react. He stepped outside and began his quiet watch.
A boy has caught the ruler's eye. A new Sakusei Inheritor has been born. What the hell is going on…? Things are spiraling.
As the wind swept through the ruined land, Damon stared into the dark horizon.
Let the world crumble if it must. All knowledge of power will belong to me, eventually. That is my only concern.
One Week Later — Outside Joki's Cabin
Dawn stood alone, fists clenched as he struck a tree. Small bursts of Reiki flowed into each punch, controlled but intense.
Dawn — Reiki: 91% | Emotional Quota: Sane
From nearby, Joki narrowed his eyes. Just three punches, and Dawn's Reiki had already dropped noticeably.
"Stop!"
Dawn halted instantly, glancing over. Joki looked disappointed.
"You're doing it again," Joki said. "Just like with your studies—you get the right answer, but you rush. You're using too much strength, even in small bursts. That's draining your Emotional Quota."
"That again...? What even is Emotional Quota? Sounds like bullshit."
Joki sighed.
"You remember our fight? When you were clutching your head, panicking? That wasn't just stress. That was real."
Dawn stiffened.
"How would you know that's what I felt?"
"Because I've seen it before. That's what happens when you overuse Reiki. It starts in the limbic system—emotions. Eventually, researchers gave it a name: Emotional Quota. They even categorized it into four stages."
Dawn's breath caught. His mind spiraled, flashing back to his brother—his face gaunt and wild, the moment his fist nearly ended Dawn's life.
"…So what are the stages? And is it possible that someone could lose control—so much that they'd hurt the ones they love?"
The fear in Dawn's voice was palpable. His whole body trembled as buried memories clawed their way forward.
Joki paused, then spoke gently.
"First is Sane. You're stable. Focused. Then comes Fraying Edge. Emotions heighten. Your judgment slips, but it's manageable. The danger comes in the final two stages."
Dawn's eyes widened.
"Splintered Veil—what you experienced. Reality blurs. Hallucinations begin. Intrusive thoughts become action. You lose control.
"And Fractured Fantasy…" Joki met his gaze. "Yes. You'll attack the people you love. You won't even realize it."
Dawn froze. A strange mix of relief and sorrow filled his chest.
"My brother… when I was a kid, he snapped. He was drained, but suddenly had this burst of energy—and tried to kill me. I never understood why."
"Then he was gone. Either dead—or a shell, wandering."
"…Yeah."
Joki approached and placed a hand on his head.
"Your brother didn't die for nothing. He fought that madness to protect you. You owe it to him to push forward. To use that strength for something."
Dawn sat in silence, soaking in the words. Then, slowly, he nodded.
"You've made progress," Joki said, walking toward the cabin. "Last time you hit 80% after two punches. You're improving."
He opened the door and looked back.
"Next? You're going to test your abilities."