"Captain Zeid, we'll handle things here. You go to the White House. If that's their target, shouldn't you focus on that now?" Captain Kiro said, cutting down a monster in front of him.
"I'm coming with you," Aina—Captain Zeid’s fiancée—declared.
Captain Zeid scanned the hall, searching for Kaito, but the man had already fled.
"Go, Captain!" Captain Kei shouted, unleashing a powerful gust of wind that sent monsters flying.
Without another word, Captain Zeid moved, cutting down every monster in his path as he and Aina sprinted toward the White House.
---
Meanwhile, Nyssa and Kaito were locked in battle, both panting, neither willing to yield. Their clothes were torn, their wounds bleeding, but neither cared.
"Do you really want to die, Kaito?!" Nyssa roared, charging.
Kaito blocked her strike, snarling. "Are you backing down now, Nyssa? You said we’d bet our lives on this! Well, I’M READY TO DIE!"
He kicked her back, but she yanked his arm, sending them both crashing to the ground. Kaito was faster—in an instant, he was on top of her, his sword at her throat.
"But it won’t be me who dies today. It’ll be you."
Nyssa didn’t resist. She just stared at him.
"Why?! Why won’t you fight?! Why are you just accepting this—even your own death?!" Kaito shouted, his grip trembling.
"I know I’ll lose, Kaito," Nyssa said calmly.
"W-What?"
"Mira’s memories, her feelings for all of you… they’re inside me. Do you really think Mira could kill you?"
Kaito’s eyes wavered. His hands shook, but he refused to believe her.
"You’re not Mira. You’re nothing like her!"
"Did you even hear what I said?"
"You’re lying."
Nyssa took a deep breath, then gripped the blade of his sword.
"Then… kill me."
---
Suddenly, someone kicked Kaito away, sending him flying. Nyssa hissed as the blade sliced deeper into her hand.
Someone helped her up—Aina, Captain Zeid’s fiancée. Nyssa had forgotten her name, but in Mira’s memories, she recognized her face. *She was the woman at that party who clung to Captain Zeid’s arm, the one Lila had mentioned.*
Meanwhile, Captain Zeid had Kaito by the throat, his back turned so Nyssa couldn’t see his expression. But she knew—he was ready to kill.
"Thanks," Nyssa muttered to Aina before sprinting toward the White House. But before entering, she paused, looking back at Captain Zeid and Kaito.
His face was twisted in rage.
"Captain Zeid!" she called.
He glanced at her, his glare sharp—but she shook her head.
He seemed to understand. He released Kaito, binding him with a spell instead.
Nyssa rushed inside, finding Maxson and Janzen locked in combat. Maxson looked exhausted, barely holding his ground.
*We graduated from the same academy, but Maxson was always the strategist, not the fighter. If he held out this long, he must’ve outsmarted Janzen somehow.*
"Y-You’re late, Nyssa," Maxson panted, grinning despite his condition.
"You’re bleeding," he noted, eyeing her wounds.
"Mind yourself first," she snapped.
Then Captain Zeid appeared beside her.
"Go get the artifact. I’ll handle him," he ordered, stepping forward.
Nyssa rolled her eyes but obeyed, dashing toward the glowing artifact at the far end of the White House. It rested on a small altar, surrounded by clear water.
Just as she reached for it, Janzen lunged—but Captain Zeid intercepted him.
"T-Thanks," Nyssa breathed before turning back to the artifact.
As she approached, a strange warmth enveloped her. She reached out—
A blinding light exploded.
Mira’s memories—from childhood to her death—flooded Nyssa’s mind. Emotions overwhelmed her, tears streaming down her face.
*That time… before she died…*
*She wanted to say…*
"I’m sorry…"
Nyssa hugged the artifact, its power surging through her.
"NYSSA!" Voices shouted, but they were drowned out by the roar of energy.
When she opened her eyes, Mira stood before her, smiling. She took Nyssa’s hand.
"Nyssa… what a beautiful name for me," Mira whispered tearfully, cupping Nyssa’s cheek.
"Mira… what do you mean?"
Mira just smiled, stroking her hair.
"Exactly what I said."
Then—light swallowed them both.
---
Nyssa woke to noise and chaos. Annoyed, she sat up and threw a pillow at the two people arguing nearby.
"Shut up!"
The pillow hit its mark, silencing the room.
Everyone was staring at her.
"W-Why are you all looking at me like that?!" she snapped, wincing as pain shot through her left hand.
"Nyssa!" Maxson immediately hugged her like an overexcited child.
"HEY!" Lieutenant Ren and Eisha yanked him away, making the others laugh.
"You’ve lost your mind," Nyssa muttered, getting out of bed. She was still in a kimono, though a different one. She scanned the room. "What happened to Kaito?"
Just then, Captain Zeid and Aina entered.
"Obvious. They’re in custody," Captain Zeid said. "But we still need answers. Controlling those monsters isn’t their only goal—there’s something bigger."
Nyssa avoided his gaze. After what she’d learned in the White House, she wasn’t ready to face him directly yet.
"Good. Then it’s your problem now. I got what I needed," she muttered under her breath.
"Oh? So the wedding’s back on, right?" Captain Masashi teased, slinging an arm around Nyssa. "Unless our little Nyssa has something to say about that."
"Huh? What does that have to do with me?"
"Who knows? Hahaha!"
The other captains sighed at his antics.
"What about the artifact?" Captain Xu asked.
"The barrier’s restored. Hiyosko is safe again," Captain Zeid said, his gaze lingering on Nyssa.
"Why are you all looking at me like I’m a suspect or something?"
"Well, thank you, Nyssa. You nearly died giving up your spiritual energy," Captain Masashi said, tilting his head like a corpse.
"And by the way, that artifact is vital to the Chen Clan. Only wives married into the clan can channel energy into it. Yet it accepted yours," Captain Kei added, circling her. "It only accepts outsiders’ energy if they have a deep connection to a clan member or are a female relative. But that’s rare. And you’re not related, are you?" He gripped her arm. "Who are you really?"
"It doesn’t matter now," Captain Zeid cut in, walking out.
Nyssa shrugged and followed, the others trailing behind. They said their goodbyes as the captains continued their investigation.
As evening fell, Nyssa dragged Maxson back to the hotel.
They walked in silence until she stopped him at the entrance.
"What did you find out?"
He stopped and smiled at me.
"Well, I think their behavior is really weird. Especially toward you. So I looked around to find out whatever I could. And I learned about Mira. You and her... in appearance, there's no difference. Given all the strange things you've been experiencing these past few days, I think you're connected to her. Not just in looks, Nyssa," he said.
I looked away.
"It doesn’t matter anymore. All of that is in the past. They have new lives now. And in that life, Mira is no longer part of it," I murmured before smiling.
Maxson ruffled my hair and grinned.
"Shall we eat?" He changed the subject and pulled me along.
Right...
Whether I'm Mira or Nyssa, I no longer have a place in their story. Nyssa... It's funny, but my name means "Rebirth or Reborn."
Hmm... That doesn’t matter either. Maxson and I are leaving tomorrow.
I’m just happy we met again. All I wish now is for each of them to be happy. Especially Zeid.
Because that’s what Mira wanted for him. That’s what we—Mira and I—wanted for him.
For now, I’m happy with my life too. If our paths cross again... well, fate will decide.