They ran until their legs burned, until the torches of the castle disappeared behind the trees.
The forest swallowed them in darkness.
Ren carried Haruto on his back, stumbling over roots.
Lira helped keep Haruto's head steady, whispering:
"Please… please wake up…"
Nova carried Sataro, struggling with his weight but refusing to let him fall.
None of them spoke much.
They were too scared.
Too drained.
Too broken.
There was only one place far enough from the kingdom…
The old hideout.
The cave.
The Hideout — Hours Later
They laid Haruto on blankets by the fire.
Sataro on another.
Ren collapsed onto the ground.
Lira sat beside Haruto, holding his hand tightly.
Nova paced back and forth, panicking silently.
Ren muttered,
"We're safe… I think…"
Lira shook her head.
"No one's safe. Not anymore."
Nova didn't speak.
She kept staring at Sataro.
At the boy she had betrayed.
At the boy she had set up to die.
At the boy she had just saved.
Her emotions were a storm.
Sataro Awakens
Hours later, just as sunlight hit the cave entrance, Sataro gasped awake.
He sat up violently, clutching his chest.
He looked around frantically.
"Where— where am I— Haruto— HARUTO?!"
He stumbled to his feet, dizzy and pale.
Ren jumped.
"Hey— hey! Relax!"
Sataro shoved past him and dropped beside Haruto.
Haruto lay unconscious, breathing slowly.
His right palm glowed faint blue.
A pentagon burned into his skin.
Sataro froze.
"What… what is this?"
His fingers hovered over the mark, terrified to touch it.
He looked at Haruto's face — peaceful, but wrong.
"Haruto… did this to himself…?"
His heart twisted painfully.
"This must be a dream," he whispered.
"I died. I know I died…
So this is… a dream…"
He shook his head.
"No. No…"
He heard voices deeper in the cave.
Nova's voice.
Lira's.
Ren's.
He stood, fists clenched, and walked toward them.
Sataro Confronts Them
Nova was sitting with her head in her hands.
Ren was talking quietly.
Lira looked exhausted.
They all looked up when Sataro entered.
His expression was pure rage.
"You brought her here?"
Ren flinched.
Lira froze.
Nova's eyes widened.
Sataro pointed at Nova.
"WHY is she in my hideout?!"
Nova stood slowly.
"Sataro— listen—"
"No. YOU listen."
Sataro's voice shook with fury.
"You betrayed us. You led us into that trap.
You killed me."
Nova's jaw trembled.
"I didn't know—"
"Liar," Sataro growled.
"You used us. You smiled in our faces and then walked away while they murdered me."
Nova's breathing grew fast.
Ren stepped between them.
"Sataro, she helped us escape—"
"BECAUSE SHE HAD NO CHOICE!" Sataro snapped.
"We didn't bring her. SHE followed YOU here."
Ren shut up immediately.
Lira stood and tried to defend her.
"Sataro, please… we didn't know where else to go—"
Sataro glared.
"You don't bring a snake into the den!"
Nova's eyes filled with tears.
"Stop," she whispered.
Sataro ignored her.
"You put Haruto in danger again. You put ALL of us in danger—"
"STOP." Her voice cracked.
Sataro stepped closer.
"You don't belong here. You never did. You don't care about anyone. You only care about yourself. You—"
"SHUT UP!!"
Nova screamed it.
Tears ran down her face as she shook violently.
"Do you think I WANTED this?!" she sobbed.
"Do you think I wanted you to die?!"
Sataro stopped mid-breath.
Nova clenched her fists.
"I lied because I had to! I betrayed you because I HAD TO!
The king said he'd kill my parents! I had one chance to save them!"
Sataro's voice softened… but only slightly.
"And he lied to you."
Nova shut her eyes tight, crying harder.
"I know… I know that now…"
Then she ran at him—
And grabbed his face with both hands.
Before he could react—
She kissed him.
Hard.
Desperate.
Crying.
Sataro froze like he had been struck by lightning.
His fists unclenched.
His breath stopped.
His anger evaporated.
He didn't kiss back.
He didn't push her away.
He just stood there, stunned.
Nova pulled away slowly, tears dripping down her chin.
"Sataro… I'm sorry," she whispered.
"I'm sorry for everything."
Sataro stared at her, completely lost.
"How… how am I alive…?" he whispered.
Nova shook her head.
"I don't know…"
But Sataro's heart raced.
Because he had no idea what scared him more:
Haruto's glowing demon mark…
or the fact that Nova kissed him
and he didn't feel hate in that moment.
He only felt confusion.
A lot of confusion.