The room fell silent, thick with anticipation and unease. Kazimir took a deep breath, his voice steady as he broke the tension.
(Kazimir spoke.)
"What you're saying is almost accurate… because I encountered Nebula."
The air seemed to freeze. Time itself paused as the weight of his words settled over the room. Shock rippled across their faces—no one had expected him to utter that name.
(He continued, his voice calm yet haunted.)
"She was pale, draped in a black veil. But her powers… they were just like mine. She didn't speak at first—she only stared at me. It felt like I stood there for hours, though in reality, it lasted only five seconds. She pulled me into a space of her own making. Imaginary, yet real. Vast. Intimidating."
(Kazimir's eyes seemed to drift, reliving the encounter.)
"She was massive, overwhelming. Her aura crushed the space around her—but she didn't harm me. Quite the opposite. The only word she spoke to me was… 'mine.' That alone confirmed what I feared. She is the heart of Nullity. And now, everything makes sense."
(Mia snapped out of her silence.)
"But—Solaris admires you. That doesn't make any sense! You can't be connected to Nebula. Someone as good as you… it's just not possible."
(Riah stepped forward, calm and resolute.)
"It's not a lie, Mia. Kazimir is connected to her. But his soul… it's not like hers. He's nothing like Nebula. Solaris sees the goodness in him. That means he's accepted by our god, even if he's a creation of Nebula that went wrong."
(Kazimir raised his hand gently, cutting in.)
"There are actually two of us."
(The room tensed again.)
"I met the other. Her name is Vanessa. She's a Vrasnai, currently serving the throne… waiting for my return."
(Riah's eyes narrowed.)
"Wait—'return'? What do you mean…?"
(Kazimir gave her a knowing look.)
"I forgot to tell you. I've been crowned King of the Vrasnai. Which makes you…"
He paused, smiling.
"…the Queen."
(Riah's face flushed.)
"Uhhh… I wasn't expecting that, but… I'll rule the nation by your side."
She tried to stay composed, but her heart was racing. Deep down, she wanted to scream with joy.
(James laughed, clapping once.)
"This guy never fails to impress. It's like you're some kind of divine miracle."
Kazimir shrugged modestly.
"I wasn't trying to be. It just happened, I suppose."
(He turned, his voice shifting back to serious.)
"Anyway, now that we know more about Nebula, I'll be heading off. I've got important matters to handle."
(James called out before he could leave.)
"Hold up, Kazimir—I've got one more thing to ask."
(Kazimir stopped, turning his head slightly.)
"It's about Gendai."
(He looked back at James, curious but silent.)
"When I talked to her… she said she's an embarrassment to this group. That she's too weak to get your attention, and that she's not worthy. Is that true? Or is there more to it?"
(Kazimir's expression softened.)
"It's none of that. Honestly, she just needs to find her own path. Gendai's already strong. Her problem is internal—she has to learn to overcome herself. That's not something I can do for her."
(He paused, eyes distant for a moment.)
"She blames others too much. She depends on me more than she realizes. But beneath that… she's got tremendous potential."
(His voice grew quieter.)
"I gave her the advice she needed two years ago. There's not much more I can do. But if the time comes—if she faces the hardest battle of her life—I'll be there. No matter what."
(James nodded, quietly impressed.)
"I see… it was good talking with you both. Have a great day, you two."
As Kazimir turned and walked away, the atmosphere shifted. A deeper understanding lingered in the air—of Nebula, of Gendai, and most of all, of the man who quietly carried the weight of worlds on his shoulders.