Winter stood at the cabin window, his metallic blade unconsciously extending and retracting from his palm—a nervous habit he'd developed since discovering this new ability. The setting sun cast long shadows through the trees, reminding him of that hellish portal that had swallowed Eldo whole.
"It's been a week, do you think he's okay in there?" Kyo said softly from his bed.
Winter's jaw tightened. "He has to be."
"I keep thinking about everything that happened," Kyo continued, absentmindedly stroking Elliot's fur. "The mountain collapse, our transformations, Strider..." His voice trailed off as he remembered the skeletal figure who had given them sanctuary.
"Eldo's strong," Winter replied, though Kyo noticed his blade extended a bit further with worry. "He managed to hold his own against me when that flame spirit possessed him. Hell, he even helped save your life when you were unconscious."
Kyo sat up. "That's what worries me. What if that spirit tries to possess him again? What if—"
"We can't think like that," Winter cut him off, finally turning from the window. "Eldo will finish what he started. He'll make it back in one piece."
"I hope you're right," Kyo whispered, looking at the spot where the portal had appeared. "I just wish there was some way to reach him, to help him fight whatever he's facing in there."
Winter's blade finally retracted fully as he placed a hand on Kyo's shoulder. "Sometimes the hardest battles are the ones we have to face alone. All we can do is believe in him and be ready when he returns."
"When," Kyo repeated with a slight smile, emphasizing Winter's choice of words. "Not if."
"Yeah," Winter nodded, a rare smile crossing his face. "When."
"Hey, check this out!" Kyo suddenly perked up, reaching under his bed. A gentle electric current danced around his fingers as he pulled out what looked like a metallic cylinder. "I've been working on something pretty cool."
Winter raised an eyebrow, though his attention remained mostly on the window.
"So, you know how my body generates all this electrical energy?" Kyo continued, his eyes lighting up with excitement. "Well, I figured—why waste it? I've been designing this mechanical conduit that can actually store the electricity, kind of like a battery!"
He held up the cylinder, which had intricate copper wiring wrapped around its surface. "See these coils? They help channel the current. And inside, there's this special conductive material I've been experimenting with. It's not perfect yet, but yesterday I managed to store enough charge to power a small light for almost an hour!"
Winter nodded absently, offering a small "Hmm" of acknowledgment.
"The real challenge was figuring out how to contain the energy without it dispersing," Kyo rambled on, electricity crackling around his fingers with his enthusiasm. "I mean, electricity wants to travel, right? But if I can perfect this design..." He trailed off, already lost in thoughts of future improvements.
"That's... good," Winter said, managing a slight smile despite his preoccupation. While he might not share Kyo's passion for engineering, he could appreciate how the project kept the boy's mind off darker thoughts.
"Thanks!" Kyo beamed, "I'm thinking of making a whole series of them. Maybe even figure out a way to combine them into a larger power source. The applications could be endless!"
He continued tinkering with his invention, the familiar work of adjusting wires and testing connections providing a welcome distraction from the worry that gnawed at the edges of his mind.