"Then pray, Rai'Ven…
that you can protect her from herself."
_ _ _
The throne room darkened.
The portal behind them roared open violently—
as if the realm itself was rejecting them.
Nagato grabbed Raymond's arm.
Nagato held Raymond's hand, guiding him toward the portal. Just as they were about to step through, Lothair stopped abruptly. He inhaled sharply, then smiled—slow, devious, unsettling.
His voice came as a whisper, yet eerily loud, echoing through the chamber.
"She's here."
Raymond's head snapped toward him. In Lothair's pupils, he saw it—Amara's faint figure reflected like a haunting vision. His heart slammed against his chest.
She was sleeping… did she follow me?
Lothair chuckled darkly.
"Oh, your poor human is lost. Allow me to help her find her way…"
With a lazy wave of his hand, he summoned chained souls—hundreds of them. Their shackles shattered, and he tore open another portal.
"BRING HER."
The souls twisted and transformed into monstrous, beastlike creatures, then charged into the portal.
Raymond jerked out of Nagato's grasp and dashed toward the opening.
"Rai'ven, NO!"
Nagato reached for him, but a massive blast exploded from Raymond as he roared:
"YOU WILL NOT TOUCH MY AMARA!"
The shockwave hurled everyone backwards, bodies crashing hard against the stone floor.
Raymond's bones were cracking, his wings erupting like molten iron tearing through flesh, each membrane unfurling with a sound that echoed like thunder in a tomb. Pain lanced through him, sharp and unrelenting, but beneath it, a raw, dangerous power surged, threatening to consume him entirely, till he was replaced by a monstrous, towering creature. Any beast rushing toward Amara was ripped apart within seconds, limbs and shadows flying.
Nagato stared, eyes wide.
He had always known Raymond was powerful—but he had never, ever seen him transform.
Lothair floated forward slowly, astonished… then smirked.
"Nagato. Deal with him."
"Me??" Nagato stammered, trying to hide his trembling hands. He forced himself upright. "My Lord… I—"
"You dare object to my command?" Lothair hissed.
Nagato screamed as his feet left the ground. Lothair clenched his fist, and suddenly Nagato was clutching his own throat, choking violently.
"M–my lord… p–please—" he gasped.
Lothair released him, throwing him against the wall like a rag doll.
Turning back, he advanced toward Raymond, who had just ripped the head off the last creature. Raymond's glowing eyes locked onto Lothair.
"Rai'ven… GO!" Nagato shouted with the last of his strength.
Immediately, Lothair snapped his hand shut, closing the portal — but Raymond leaped into it just as it sealed.
Raymond dove through the closing portal—just in time.
Darkness swallowed him whole.
The air inside the passage crackled like lightning, shredding the beast from his body piece by piece until his human form snapped back into place. His lungs burned. His heart hammered. But he kept running.
Ahead of him, floating like a fragile ember in a storm, was Amara.
She wandered aimlessly, confused, turning left and right as if searching for something she couldn't name.
"Amara…" Raymond whispered.
The tunnel trembled. Reality twisted.
And suddenly—
He was in her room.
Her dim lamplight washed over him. He was kneeling at the side of her bed, now fully human again, breath shaking. And there she lay—Amara—peaceful, unaware, the faintest frown on her brow.
For the first time since he transformed, Raymond exhaled.
A soft, broken smile touched his lips.
"She's safe… she's really here…"
But relief lasted barely a heartbeat.
Her body jerked. Sweat trickled down her temple. Her fingers twitched like she was fighting something he couldn't see.
Raymond's chest clenched.
Her soul… it's still trapped there.
She didn't escape.
Panic tore through him.
"Amara?" he whispered, touching her shoulder.
She didn't stir.
He shook her gently. "Amara, wake up. Please."
Her breathing quickened. Her face tightened in fear, like she was about to scream. Raymond's voice cracked as he shook her harder—
"Amara!"
Her eyes flew open.
"NO!!!"
She bolted upright, gasping, tears spilling instantly. Before he could say a word, she grabbed him—arms around his neck, body shaking violently against him.
Raymond froze.
Then he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close, holding her as if she might slip through his fingers again. His voice was a low tremble against her ear.
"I'm here… you're safe… I've got you."
Her sobs softened. She loosened her hold and wiped her tears, trying to steady her breath.
Then she suddenly stiffened.
Raymond frowned. "What is it? What did you see?"
Amara blinked at him… then her eyes dropped—and widened.
"Raymond…" she whispered, voice trembling between shock and disbelief.
"You're… you're naked."
Chris exhaled deeply, relieved.
Then he turned to Raymond.
And froze.
"Yo… Raymond…" Chris raised a brow. "What are you… wearing?"
His eyes dropped to the ridiculous cloak.
Then it widened.
"Wait—did I interrupt something?"
Amara's face exploded red.
Raymond looked to the side, jaw clenched, silent.
Amara pointed toward the door. "Chris… go. Please. Just—leave my room now."
"But—"
"Now!"
Chris snorted a laugh, backing out of the room with hands raised. "Alright, alright! I'm going! Geez."
He left, still chuckling.
The door clicked shut.
Raymond let out a slow breath, tension draining from his shoulders.
Amara buried her face in her hands.
And the room fell into a thick, charged silence…
When Chris stepped out, the room didn't just go quiet… it tightened.
A heavy, invisible charge settled on the walls like the air itself was holding its breath.
Raymond didn't dare to move.
He stood exactly where Chris left him—bare-chested, eyes fixed somewhere on the floor to Amara's left, refusing to meet her gaze. The silence stretched until it felt like it might snap.
Amara swallowed, pulled the sheets closer, and finally broke it.
"Okay," she said slowly, her voice trembling but firm. "I'm sure I need an explanation. Why are you in my room… naked?"
Raymond lifted his head just slightly, still not looking directly at her. Then, without a word, he walked toward her in steady, deliberate steps.
When he dropped to his knees in front of her, Amara's breath hitched.
"Amara…" he whispered. "Even I'm… confused."
She blinked hard.
"I don't understand. How are you confused? It's your body. How are you naked in my room?"
He exhaled shakily, guilt tightening his face.
"I'm sorry."
A beat.
Then he looked up, finally letting his eyes meet hers.
"There's something I need to tell you."
Amara stared down at him, confusion twisting with fear.
"Tell me what?"
Raymond hesitated, like he was picking his next words from a minefield.
"Do you… remember anything?"
She was silent. Her fingers tightened on the bedsheet.
"Anything like what?"
He asked again, softer but more urgent this time.
"Do you remember anything that happened while you were sleeping?"
Amara shook her head.
"No. I can't remember anything. Why?"
Raymond dragged a hand through his hair, frustration etched deep into his features.
"How can you not remember?"
She threw her hands slightly.
"What am I supposed to remember? I was sleeping, then I woke up—"
"You didn't know you woke up crying?" he cut in.
Her mind jerked. A flash. A sound. A weight on her chest.
She frowned.
"I… I was crying. Yes. But—why?"
Raymond's eyes searched hers like he was trying to find something inside her.
"So you really don't remember anything?"
"I don't!" she snapped, fear rising. "Does this have something to do with why you're naked in my room?"
He lowered his gaze again.
"I'm sorry. One day it will all make sense. I just… I don't know how to tell you everything at once."
Amara's heart thudded against her ribs.
Raymond looked up again, the seriousness in his face sharp enough to cut through the thick air between them.
"All I know is… Amara… I don't think you're completely human."
She stared at him.
Then she laughed.
A startled, disbelieving laugh that filled the charged room.
But Raymond's expression did not change.
No smile.
No smirk.
Just pure, unwavering seriousness.
Slowly… her laughter died.
"Wait… are you serious?" she whispered. "I'm not human? What does that even mean?"
Raymond inhaled, steady and deep.
"Do you know that while you were sleeping here physically… your soul was wandering? And you were almost killed. I had to save you."
The room tilted.
Images slammed into her mind—
not one by one,
but all at once.
A tunnel.
A hand reaching for her.
A dark room.
A cold presence behind her.
A voice calling her name.
Raymond pulling her away—
Her eyes flew open.
The bedsheet slipped from her numbing fingers.
She stood up slowly, her movements dazed, like she was drifting underwater.
"So… it wasn't a dream," she whispered.
Raymond rose to his feet.
"No. It wasn't."
Tears welled up instantly, blurring her vision.
"What am I… Raymond?"
He swallowed hard.
"That's what I'm trying to figure out."
Her voice cracked.
"Then… who are you?"