I spin on my heel and there he is—Kazimir—stride unfaltering as he crosses the shattered mosaic of the Prismic Gathering Field. My heart hammers against my ribs, my legs feel like they're about to give way. His violet‑blue eyes land on Tyrone, who's nursing a tender cheek, and I dare to hope he'll glance my way.
"Not bad, Tyrone," Kazimir's voice is calm, almost detached. "You've still got a long way to go, but you put on one hell of a show. I thought you had her beat—until she finally tapped into her inner self."
Tyrone grins and claps him on the shoulder. "Yeah, I know," he says, oblivious to the storm inside me.
Kazimir doesn't look at me. He kneels, helps Tyrone to his feet and hoists him effortlessly over one shoulder—no word of congratulations, no flicker of pride in his eyes. I stand frozen, wishing with all my might that he'd notice me, that he'd tell me I did… something worthwhile.
Just then, Riah's voice cleaves through the silence. "Gendai! You finally did it! You unleashed your potential— I always knew you had it, but this whole time you've been hiding it behind that black‑and‑white hair and those ruby eyes."
I force myself to meet her gaze. My lip curls. "Why are you still talking to me? I don't want your praise. I told you to stay away."
She flinches, but her voice stays steady. "I apologized for what happened between us. We were friends—happy friends—until you shut me out."
I turn away. My chest tightens, and by the time I reach my room in the Prismic Gathering Chambers, my legs betray me. I collapse face‑first onto the bed, my uniform snagging on the crystalline edge of the mattress.
Tears burn as I press my cheek into the cool fabric. Why doesn't he accept me? I whisper into the silence. I did exactly what he wanted—no more holding back. But he still… doesn't… see me.
A soft knock at the door jars me back. Jessie slips inside before I can answer. She closes the door gently and perches on the edge of the bed.
"I heard you crying," she says, voice low. I try to brush her off, but she reaches out and takes my hand.
I exhale, the dam breaking. "I showed him everything I'm capable of, Jessie… but he didn't even look at me."
She squeezes my hand. "Remember what you said to him on the ship? You accused him of abandoning Tojo and Xavier—two people he loves and would never leave behind."
My cheeks burn with shame. "I know. I manipulated him, guilt‑tripped him… I'm a piece of—"
Jessie's eyes soften. "You weren't thinking. But those two… and Riah… they're the last people you should have pushed away." She pauses, takes a breath. "Kazimir carries so much more than you know. We met our father on the last mission—a monster who worshipped Nebula. He killed Mother and half our people."
My throat closes. "That can't be true."
"She had a contract with the world‑eating god," Jessie continues. "Kazimir killed him to protect us. Mother's spirit freed itself through Father's blade—the one Kazimir wields now. Our people accepted him as king, but his duty didn't end there. Humanity needs him too."
I let her words sink in. "He's… so young."
"Twenty," Jessie says softly. "And he carries the hopes of two worlds. Riah shares his burden because she's the only one who stands beside him without fear."
My tears flow freely now. Jessie draws me close, and I let myself cry into her shoulder. In her warmth, I understand for the first time that forgiving myself—and him—might be the only way to find my place again.