Renzo's heart felt like it had been torn out of his chest. Every step he took felt heavier, each breath more labored than the last. His broken arm throbbed painfully, but it was nothing compared to the aching emptiness that had taken root in his soul. The battle had been brutal, and the God Beast had claimed Kael's life. Renzo wasn't sure how to process it—he had tried, desperately, to keep the man he looked up to alive. But now… Kael was gone.
He stood in front of Hana, Jinsei and Maiya by his side, their faces blank but their eyes red and heavy with unshed tears. It was time to tell her the truth.
"Big sis… Kael's gone," Renzo said, his voice cracking as the words tumbled out.
The room fell deathly silent.
Hana's face went pale as she stared at them, trying to comprehend the words. Her hands instinctively went to her chest, where her heart seemed to shatter into pieces. "No… No, you're lying. He can't be…" Her voice trembled with disbelief, but the truth had already been said. The unbearable truth was sinking in.
A sob broke free from her throat, and she collapsed to her knees. "Kael… Kael is gone…" Her words were a broken whisper, barely audible.
Before Hana could fall to the ground, Renzo reacted quickly. His broken arm screamed in protest, but he didn't care. With one swift motion, he caught her, his arm wrapping around her waist and lifting her up. Despite the pain, he held her steady as he carried her to the couch.
Jinsei and Maiya stood silently, watching. Maiya's face was twisted with sorrow, tears streaming down her cheeks, but she remained strong for Hana, her mommy. The grief was too much to bear.
Hana awoke moments later, her eyes red and swollen from crying. The memory of Kael's death was still raw and fresh, the pain too real to ignore.
"Renzo… I—I can't believe it," Hana sobbed, her voice shaking. "How could this happen?"
Renzo, kneeling beside her, gently placed his hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry, Big Sis. We did everything we could. But Kael… he's gone."
A flicker of realization crossed Hana's face as she slowly sat up. "Wait…" She wiped her eyes, trying to gather her thoughts. "I remember. There was that time… when Tetsu and I were…" She paused, taking a deep breath. "We were both dead. But Kael—he saved us. He brought us back. He used that elixir from the Rift of Lost Souls."
Her eyes shone with a new, desperate hope. "Maybe… maybe we can do the same for Kael. If we can get that elixir again, we can bring him back."
Jinsei, Renzo, and Maiya exchanged looks, their expressions hardening with resolve. They had to act. They couldn't just let Kael's sacrifice be in vain.
Tetsu, who had been quietly standing in the background, nodded in agreement. "You're right, Hana. I remember. Kael didn't hesitate. He brought us back, no questions asked. And if that elixir can bring us back, it should be able to bring him back too."
Hana's hands trembled as she reached out to grasp Renzo's hand. "I can't lose him. Not now. He's my everything… and Maiya's father."
Maiya, standing beside Hana, looked up at her mother with a determined expression on her face. "We're not going to lose him, mommy. I promise. I'll bring him back. I'll do whatever it takes."
Renzo, his broken arm now healed thanks to a pill Eri had given him, stepped forward. "We're all in this together. We'll go to the Rift of Lost Souls, get the elixir, and bring Kael back."
Jinsei nodded firmly. "We'll get him back, Big Sis. No matter what it takes."
Ryuu, who had been silently observing, finally spoke. "The Rift of Lost Souls is dangerous. It's not something to take lightly. We'll need a plan, and we'll need to be prepared for anything."
Tetsu agreed, his eyes narrowing. "The Rift is full of deadly creatures and traps. It won't be easy. But we've been through worse. If Kael can save us, we can save him."
Hana stood up, wiping away the last of her tears. She held her head high, determination hardening in her expression. "Then let's do this. Let's bring Kael back."
With their mission clear, the group immediately began preparations. Maiya, despite her young age, was as resolute as the rest. She would not lose her father. She had only just begun to understand what it meant to have him as a protector, and she wouldn't let death take him away.
As they packed their supplies, Eri handed Renzo another pill for his arm. "You'll need this for the journey," she said, her voice soft but steady.
Renzo took the pill without hesitation, the healing magic working its way through his arm. His strength was restored, and he felt the painful throbbing in his arm dissipate. It was time.
"We're ready," Renzo said, standing tall.
Maiya looked up at Hana, her eyes full of love and determination. "Mommy, we'll bring Daddy back. I promise."
With their resolve firm, they set out for the Rift of Lost Souls. The journey would be perilous, but for Kael, they would face any danger that came their way. The hope of bringing him back was a flicker in the dark, but they would hold onto it with everything they had.
And as they left, Hana whispered softly to herself, "Kael… we're coming for you."