That night, the sky outside Takeshi's window was quiet.
Too quiet.
No wind.
No cars.
Even the street dogs weren't barking.
It felt like the world was holding its breath.
---
Takeshi lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.
Sleep wasn't coming.
His body was tired—but something kept pulling.
A soft buzz behind his eyes.
A whisper at the back of his neck.
---
Then, like a switch flipped—
He was back.
Back in Nehvarra.
---
But this time, something was off.
No bone trees.
No mist.
Just a long hallway.
Stone walls. Dim torches.
And at the end… a black door.
It had no handle. No lock. No name.
Just a strange mark glowing faintly—blue and sharp, like a crack in glass.
His mark.
---
Takeshi reached out.
His fingers stopped inches from the surface.
The door hummed. Alive. Waiting.
But afraid.
> "Don't open it," a voice said.
Takeshi turned.
Asami stood behind him. Her eyes were sharp—but her face pale.
> "Why not?"
> "Because some doors close for a reason."
> "And some are waiting to be opened," he replied.
She looked down.
Then back at him.
> "If you open this one… things won't go back to how they were."
Takeshi stared at the door.
> "Maybe they're not supposed to."
---
Before he could touch it—
The hallway vanished.
---
He woke up.
Cold sweat.
Sheets tangled.
Breath shaking.
And on his wrist… the mark was glowing again.
---
The next day at school, things felt heavier.
Asami avoided his eyes.
Rei didn't say a word.
And Takeshi kept thinking about that door.
No name.
No key.
Just his hand… and something behind it, waiting.
---
End of Chapter 26