The air inside Cain's house was thick with unspoken tension, a palpable weight that seemed to press down on everyone who crossed the threshold. It had been days since Victoria's unexpected arrival, and the fallout was far from over. Cain sat on the couch in the living room, a book in his hands, though he hadn't turned a page in over an hour. His eyes scanned the same paragraph repeatedly, but the words refused to register. His mind was elsewhere, tangled in the web of drama that Victoria had woven with her mere presence. Across the room, Astra sat in the high backed chair by the fireplace, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. Her piercing gaze was fixed on Cain, though he refused to meet her eyes. He could feel her stare like a physical force, burning into the side of his face. It wasn't the first time she'd watched him like this, and he doubted it would be the last. But tonight, her silence was particularly unnerving. She hadn't said a word since he'd walked into the room,

The festival had been a whirlwind of colours, sounds, and laughter, but now, as the last embers of the celebration faded, Cain found himself alone on the quiet streets of Nagasaki His legs ached with every step, each one feeling heavier than the last. The lanterns that lined the streets cast a warm, golden glow, but their light did little to ease his exhaustion. The cool night breeze brushed against his skin, carrying with it the faint scent of street food and the distant echoes of music. It was a peaceful night, but Cain was too tired to appreciate it.He yawned, rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand. The others had already gone their separate ways—Astra, Lyra, Selene, and Ravena had each taken different paths home, and Mira had simply waved before vanishing into the shados. Now, it was just him and the empty streets."Ugh. Never again," Cain muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible over the soft rustling of the wind.He trudged forward, his feet dragging against the