The night was still, the air heavy with silence broken only by the soft, even breaths of Lysera and Irielle as they slept nearby.

Yet Kana could not find rest.

A strange pull gnawed at her, a voice whispering through the shadows, threading its way into her mind. It wasn't the wolf goddess's power—this presence felt different.

Softer. Familiar.

She slipped quietly out of her bedroll, her bare feet brushing against the cool ground as she followed the voice.

The night opened before her like a veil, until finally, she saw her. Ruby stood waiting beneath the pale moonlight, her pink hair glowing faintly as though it carried the remnants of starlight itself.

Kana's steps slowed, and she frowned, torn between relief and suspicion.

"Ruby. What are you doing here?"

She called softly.

Ruby's lips curved, but the smile didn't quite reach her eyes.

"Since I remember everything now, I thought I should answer your questions. About why you're here. About your purpose."

Kana froze at those words. She hadn't expected directness from Ruby—every encounter so far had been shrouded in teasing or riddles.

"You're serious?"

Ruby nodded once, her expression unusually grave.

Kana drew closer, her heart pounding.

"Then tell me. Why am I here? Why me?"

For a moment Ruby's gaze softened, as if she were weighing whether or not to burden Kana with the truth. At last, she sighed, a breath heavy with regret.

"Because… you were chosen by another goddess. One who pitied you. She pulled you into this world so you could take her place."

Kana's breath caught, her chest tightening. Replace her? She struggled to comprehend it.

"Take her place… as a goddess?"

Ruby inclined her head, almost imperceptibly.

"That was the intention. But something went wrong. In pulling you here, the goddess disrupted the balance. She caused a glitch in the power system that governs this world. And that mistake did more than just weaken the framework of power—it fractured the wolf goddess herself. A part of her sanity was lost."

The words fell like stones in Kana's stomach. Her voice trembled when she spoke.

"So… this chaos. The wolf goddess losing herself… is it my fault?"

Ruby stepped forward swiftly, shaking her head.

"No. It is not your fault. You did not choose to be dragged here, nor did you cause the glitch. The goddess's miscalculation created this. You bear no blame for it."

Kana lowered her gaze, her fists clenching against the ache in her chest.

Still, the weight of it pressed on her. If she had never come here, would the world have remained whole?

Ruby's voice softened.

"But to fix it… to restore what has been broken… will require your powers. The system that clings to you, the privileges you hold—they are the key. Still, you are not bound by duty. You are not obligated to heal this world. It will be your decision to make."

Kana's lips parted, but no words came. Her mind whirled, thoughts colliding, fear and determination fighting for space in her heart. This world was not her own, yet so many lives had already brushed against hers.

Lysera, Irielle, even strangers like Rose—they were all entangled with her fate now. Could she turn away from them?

Before she could ask more, Ruby's form began to blur, the faint glow around her flickering.

"Think on it, Kana. And decide for yourself."

She said quietly.

Then she was gone, leaving only the cold moonlight and silence.

Kana stood there for several long moments, the weight of Ruby's words pressing down on her shoulders.

Finally, with a heavy sigh, she turned back toward the small inn room they had rented, slipping in as quietly as she had left.

She lay down again, staring at the ceiling until exhaustion finally forced her eyes closed.

Morning came swiftly. Sunlight filtered through the cracks in the shutters, falling across the wooden floorboards.

Kana stirred awake, greeted by Lysera already preparing her things. Irielle rubbed at her eyes sleepily, muttering complaints about early mornings.

"Ready?"

Lysera asked curtly, her voice lacking its usual edge of confidence.

Kana nodded, though her thoughts were far from steady. She gathered her belongings and followed the others out of the inn.

The streets bustled with early activity, merchants preparing their stalls and travelers setting out.

Their path led them beyond the town gates, the road stretching far into the distance. Each step carried them closer to their next destination—the dragon kingdom.

Kana walked beside Lysera, stealing glances at her companion. The female carried herself with practiced strength, her posture rigid, but her face betrayed a quiet heaviness.

Unlike Irielle, who chatted now and then to fill the silence, Lysera spoke little.

Kana tilted her head.

"You don't look happy about going home."

Lysera's jaw tightened, and she looked away, her voice clipped.

"It's nothing. Don't worry about it."

But Kana wasn't convinced. She could see the shadows in Lysera's eyes, the unease hidden behind her composure.

Still, she didn't push. Instead, she fell into step beside her, offering silent companionship.

Irielle, ever perceptive in her own way, glanced between them and smirked faintly.

"Well, whatever's waiting for us in the dragon kingdom, it's bound to be exciting. Dragons never do anything quietly."

Kana chuckled softly at her attempt to lighten the mood, but her thoughts lingered on Ruby's words. The truth she had been given weighed heavy on her shoulders.

This journey wasn't only about convincing dragons to join their cause—it was also a step toward deciding her own fate in this fractured world.

And somewhere, deep inside, she already knew. No matter what Ruby said about choice, her heart wouldn't let her turn away.

Kana notices Lysera's silence growing heavier with each step, though the woman tries to mask it with her usual calm demeanor.

Irielle, sensing the tension, strikes up idle conversation, but Kana's eyes linger on Lysera's back. She quietly resolves to stay close—no matter what awaits them in the dragon kingdom.

And then, the door of the Dragon kingdom came to notice.

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