The journey had been long and silent. Seven hours passed before Eva Riessfeld and her son, Lucien, finally reached the towering gates of Ambrocity. Without delay, they pressed on through the bustling streets until they arrived at their true destination: the Kurogane Estate.

  Waiting to greet them were Aunt Matsu, the ever-energetic Yuna, and a freshly cleaned-up Ishiki. His appearance was neat, his demeanor calm and respectful. Stepping forward, Ishiki bowed slightly to Eva, then offered a firm, courteous handshake to Lucien.

  "It’s good to see you both again," Ishiki said, voice steady.

  Eva studied him with a fond but slightly melancholic smile.

  "You've changed so much, Ishiki, since the last time I saw you," she said warmly.

  Lucien, meanwhile, simply watched in silence, his thoughts unreadable.

  The moment of formal greetings didn't last long. Eva’s face shifted, her expression turning serious and cold.

  "Where is she?" she asked, cutting straight to the heart of the matter.

  "She's in her room. There’s been no change," Ishiki answered carefully.

  "Take me to her."

  At her command, everyone moved inside. Their footsteps echoed against the marble floors as they crossed the grand halls. In a few short minutes, they arrived at Homura’s room.

  The sight that greeted them was heartbreaking. Homura lay still beneath soft white sheets, her body unresponsive. An IV kept her nourished, and the low beeping of the machines filled the silence, each sound a grim reminder that life clung to her by a thread.

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  Eva approached slowly. She knelt beside the bed, brushing Homura’s cheek with trembling fingers. Her sadness was impossible to hide. From the doorway, Lucien watched her, his chest tightening.

  "I’m sorry," Eva whispered, voice thick with regret. "I should have been there to protect you."

  After that heavy moment, they all moved to the dining room. The maids served tea, but nobody touched their cups. The air was thick with unspoken fears.

  Finally, Lucien broke the silence.

  "So... how’s the investigation going? Any progress on saving her?"

  Ishiki took a slow breath before answering, choosing his words carefully.

  "From what we can tell, her mana collapsed. She went into a full overhead, and considering she activated the Shingan no Ketsuryū... the pain must have been enough to knock her out for at least three days. But—" he hesitated a moment, glancing toward the windows, "—it’s not just her body. It's like... she doesn’t want to wake up."

  The weight of his words settled heavily over them. They spent the next hour throwing out ideas, debating possible solutions—but nothing stuck. No matter what they proposed, no one could find a way to bring her back.

  Later that night, when everyone was retiring to their rooms, Ishiki quietly made his way toward Homura’s door. But before he could knock, Yuna caught him by the arm. With a mischievous grin, she gave him a playful slap on the back and, without giving him a choice, dragged him off down the hallway.

  As she led him away, she called over her shoulder to Lucien, who stood nearby:

  "She’s all yours!"

  Lucien didn't hesitate. He pushed open the door and slipped inside. The room was dim, bathed in the soft light of a single oil lamp. He moved to her side, sitting next to her futon. Carefully, he took her hand in his and brought it to his lips, kissing it softly.

  He sat there for a long time, watching her sleep, his heart aching. Finally, he leaned in and whispered against her hand:

  "I know I’ve said it a thousand times... and I know you’ve gotten angry at me every time I did. But no matter how many times you push me away, I’ll always come closer. Because I love you."

  The room was silent, but the warmth of his words lingered, weaving themselves into the very air around her.