Mira's eyes were vacant, her gaze piercing through the cold, damp stone walls of the cave. I sat beside her, trying to process everything that had just happened. The dim light from the strange crystals embedded in the walls was the only thing breaking the suffocating darkness, making the place feel like a maze detached from the world we knew—a labyrinth with no end.

I glanced at Mira, who was still quietly sobbing. Her cries had softened, but it was clear she was trapped in her own emotional wreckage. I didn't know what to say. I was never good at comforting people, especially someone like Mira. How could I console someone who had just tried to kill me?

Yet, despite everything, I felt something unexpected—a pang of pity.

"Mira..." I called her name softly, my voice nearly swallowed by the eerie silence of the cave. "Listen, I know what Abigail said hurt you, but maybe she didn't mean it."

She didn't react. Her trembling hands hugged her knees, her head hung low, but the tears still streamed down her face. I shifted closer, feeling the awkwardness of it all. I should've been angry, or at least relieved that she wasn't chasing me anymore. But seeing her like this, so broken, made it hard for me to act cold.

A voice inside my head whispered, "Pity, huh? She's so weak now, isn't she? Not like when she was swinging that pair of scissors at you, like some crazed maniac. Honestly, I liked her better when she was angry. At least it was interesting."

I chuckled faintly at that. "You really don't have any sympathy, do you?"

"Sympathy?" it answered, its tone icy. "Maybe not. But you can't deny that watching her rage was far more thrilling than this. Now she's just a broken doll. Pity or not, this is a bit boring."

I sighed, closing my eyes briefly. "I'll handle this," I muttered, trying to ignore the cynical voice.

I looked back at Mira. The silence between us was thick, broken only by her occasional sniffles. It felt like the calm after a violent storm, but I knew if I didn't do something, she might sink even deeper into her sadness.

"Mira," I repeated, more firmly this time. "I know what Abigail said hurt you. But sometimes, when people are angry, they say things they don't really mean."

I saw her bite her lip, but still, she said nothing. I knew my words probably sounded hollow to her, but it was the only way I could think of to reach her.

"I can't speak for Abigail," I continued. "But I know she's not the kind of person who'd hurt someone on purpose. You've known her longer than I have—deep down, you must know that too."

Her head lifted slightly, her tear-filled eyes catching the dim light. Her lips trembled, and finally, in a voice so soft I barely heard it, she spoke.

"I just wanted to protect her," she whispered, her voice breaking. "She… she's the only one who didn't leave me. I didn't know what else to do…"

She trailed off, but I understood. Mira had been obsessed with Abigail because Abigail was the only person who had ever accepted her as she was. Mira had grown up rejected by everyone, isolated, and Abigail had been her protector, her only friend—the only light in the darkness of her life.

"And now, you feel like you're losing her," I said, finishing her thought. "But Mira, you have to understand that the way you're trying to protect her is pushing her away. Instead of keeping Abigail safe, you're making her afraid of you."

Mira hugged her knees tighter, her sobs growing louder.

"So sad," the voice in my head whispered again. "She's so consumed by her obsession with someone she can't even protect properly. It's almost ironic, isn't it?"

I silenced the voice, trying to focus on Mira. This wasn't the time for cynicism.

"Mira, you can't keep going like this. Abigail might be angry now, but she won't abandon you forever if you're willing to fix things," I said gently. "But that means you need to stop acting this way. You have to stop going after people you see as threats. You have to trust Abigail."

She remained silent, her crying easing just a little. I sensed this was the moment to bring things to a close before we both got stuck in this emotional limbo any longer.

"And I'll stay out of your lives if that's what makes things better," I said quietly, feeling a strange sense of relief, though I wasn't sure if that was the right solution.

Suddenly, she lifted her face, shock spreading across her tear-streaked features. "You're going... to leave?"

I nodded. "If that's what you want. I'm not a threat to you or Abigail. I don't want this conflict to continue."

She didn't respond right away, but I could see the uncertainty in her eyes. It felt strange to feel sympathy for someone who had caused me so much trouble. But at the same time, I realized there was something inside Mira that was deeply broken—something that couldn't be healed with more violence but needed acceptance.

"How noble of you," the voice sneered, mocking me. "You're really going to sacrifice yourself for this girl? Let's just get out of here and let them deal with their mess."

I ignored it again, focusing on Mira.

"Mira," I said again, stressing each word, "Abigail won't hate you forever. But you have to stop trying to control her. You can fix things between you two, but not like this."

Mira finally nodded slowly, still sitting on the ground, but I could feel the tension between us start to ease. I didn't know if this would truly fix everything, but at least it felt like a new beginning.

I stood up and took one last look at her.

"We can leave here together. Maybe... we could start over," I said, offering my hand to Mira.

Her gaze, still foggy with tears, started to show a faint spark of awareness. Just as I felt the tension ease between us, the voice inside my head—the other me—cut in sharply.

"Hey… do you hear that?" For once, it sounded serious, free of its usual sarcasm or mockery. "Something's coming. A strange growling… sounds like a monster."

I stiffened. My eyes darted around, trying to see through the dimly lit cave, but shadows danced on the walls, making it impossible to discern anything clearly. I stood up, instinctively shifting my body to shield Mira, who still seemed oblivious to the danger.

"Neumann," I whispered urgently, calling on my digital partner. "Did you catch that? I need you to scan the area. Something's wrong."

Within seconds, Neumann's calm, mechanical voice responded, and her holographic form—long black hair and all—appeared in front of me. "Order received. Initiating area scan."

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Her eyes lit up with a soft blue glow as a detailed holographic map of the cave flickered to life. I crouched down, watching the map closely. Several faint blips appeared, but one was moving quickly, headed right for us.

"Object detected," Neumann reported with her usual composure, even though my heart was beginning to race. "A large creature, resembling a wolf... but not entirely organic. Most of its body seems to be mechanical. Identification: mechanical wolf."

My brow furrowed at the news. "A mechanical wolf? Here? Aren't those only found in Fertissio?" Fertissio was a distant continent where mechanical technology and magic were often intertwined. But mechanical wolves weren't supposed to exist outside of that region.

"Doesn't matter," I muttered to myself, eyes still glued to Neumann's map. "No time to figure that out now."

My hand instinctively reached for the dagger at my waist. It wasn't much, but it had saved me more than once in tight spots. I spun it lightly in my hand, trying to steady my nerves.

Mira, still on the ground, was oblivious to the approaching threat. I couldn't just leave her like this, but if that wolf attacked… I'd have no choice but to defend myself first.

"Neumann," I ordered, "keep visual support active and track its movements. Warn me if it gets too close."

"Confirmed. Visual support engaged," she responded instantly. My vision lit up with highlighted paths and movement predictions, focusing on the cave's corners where threats could lurk. The holographic map showed the wolf drawing closer—its shadow now barely visible at the far end of the passage.

I straightened up, gripping my dagger tightly. The wolf's eyes glowed a menacing red as its massive form became fully visible. It was larger than any natural wolf, its body a blend of fur and steel. Its forelegs, jaw, and part of its chest had been replaced with mechanical parts. The faint hum of gears whirred as it moved forward.

"Complete identification," Neumann's voice broke through my focus. "Class C mechanical wolf. Typically found in Fertissio, equipped with tactical analysis and high speed."

I narrowed my eyes. "And now they're here… great." I muttered sarcastically. "Anything else I should know?"

"Combat difficulty is high. Probability of survival in direct engagement: 12 percent. Recommendation: avoid frontal combat."

I clicked my tongue in frustration. The wolf stepped closer, its metal jaws snapping open to reveal razor-sharp teeth that gleamed under the cave's crystal light.

Damn. Maybe I could take it under normal circumstances. But with Mira here, fragile and unaware, and the possibility of more wolves nearby, this could get bad, fast.

"Just attack it already. Let's see how tough it really is," the other me whispered, excited by the prospect of battle.

Without hesitation, I raised my hand and launched a fire spell toward the wolf. The flaming projectile shot through the air, but just before it could connect, the wolf darted to the side, swiping at the fire with one of its metal claws. The flames vanished on contact, as if they'd been snuffed out.

"Attack ineffective. The creature appears to have resistance to basic elemental attacks," Neumann informed me, her tone calm despite the rising tension.

I gritted my teeth. "Yeah, I see that." I readied myself for another attempt. "Neumann, analyze its weak points, quickly."

But before she could respond, the wolf lunged at me with frightening speed. I dodged to the side, but its claws still grazed my left arm, sending a sharp sting through my body. I staggered but managed to keep my balance.

"Get out of the way!" I shouted at Mira, though she still seemed lost in her own world, unaware of the danger. My mind raced for a solution. If I couldn't attack it directly, I had to outmaneuver it.

The wolf readied for another charge. I needed to be faster, more precise. I quickly summoned an illusion spell, creating several duplicates of myself that sprinted toward the wolf from different directions.

"Neumann, focus visual support on the illusions," I instructed. Neumann adjusted immediately, guiding the movement of my illusionary clones. The wolf hesitated, snapping at one of the phantoms, only for it to vanish in a puff of smoke.

This was my chance.

I darted from the side, aiming to drive my dagger into one of its mechanical joints. But just as I closed in, the wolf spun around with inhuman reflexes, swiping at me again. I barely dodged, feeling the wind of its claws pass close to my face.

"Arche, this is critical. I recommend immediate retreat," Neumann's voice remained calm, but I knew the situation was becoming dire.

I stepped back, trying to create distance. Blood dripped from my arm, and the pain made it hard to focus.

Damn. At this rate, I won't last much longer.

I could feel my heart pounding, my breath growing ragged, and the sting of my wounded arm pulling at my attention. But louder than all of that was the voice inside my head—my other self—growing sharper and more forceful.

"Enough!" It hissed in frustration. "You're too slow, Arche! If you keep this up, we'll die here. I'm taking control."

Before I could protest, a surge of energy overwhelmed me, pulling me back into the depths of my mind, while the other me seized full control of my body. My vision blurred, and then everything shifted.

"Neumann, enhance focus and track every movement of the enemy," my other self commanded with cold precision.

"Complying," Neumann responded, adjusting the visual support instantly. The world sharpened around me, filled with lines and points highlighting the wolf's trajectory and weak spots. My body moved with new agility, faster and more coordinated than I could ever manage. My other self didn't hesitate. It wasn't burdened by fear or hesitation like I was.

One of the mechanical wolves lunged from the side, its metal claws gleaming in the dark cave. In a quick, fluid motion, I sidestepped, easily avoiding the strike. My dagger flashed as it drove into a joint in the wolf's mechanical leg. The creature let out a growl, but before it could retaliate, I channeled lightning magic through the embedded blade.

A bright blue light flared as electricity coursed through the creature's body, causing a small explosion within. The internal circuits fried, sending sparks and smoke into the air, filling the cave with the scent of burnt metal.

"You're too weak, Arche. If you'd let me take over from the start, we wouldn't be hurt right now," my other self hissed, jumping toward the next wolf without waiting for a response.

The second wolf charged, but I easily read its movement, aided by Neumann's enhanced visual support. With precise timing, I drove my blade under the wolf's jaw, where its machinery was most vulnerable. A blast of ice followed from my hand, freezing the creature's inner mechanisms and leaving it immobile.

One by one, I eliminated the wolves using a combination of electricity and ice magic. Each strike, guided by Neumann, hit their weakest points, causing small, controlled detonations. After a few minutes, the cave floor was littered with broken metal, wires, and shattered components.

I stood amidst the wreckage, my breathing heavy. But instead of feeling any satisfaction, my other self merely scoffed.

"Pathetic. You're too soft, Arche. Without me, you'd already be dead."

Exhaustion washed over me, but control still rested in his hands. He turned and stalked over to Mira, who was still huddled on the ground, trembling and weeping silently. Her vacant eyes hadn't changed since the fight began.

"Get up!" My other self barked, roughly grabbing Mira's arm and yanking her to her feet. She flinched, her eyes widening slightly, but she didn't resist. She just followed, her body limp and unsteady.

A pang of guilt struck me, watching Mira being handled like that. I wanted to say something, to stop him, but I was trapped, just a bystander in my own body.

"If you want to live, then shut up and follow me!" His voice was cold, dripping with disdain. He began dragging Mira along, her footsteps faltering as she staggered behind me, pulled along like dead weight.

Neumann, still projecting the cave map in her holographic display, gave a warning. "Safe area detected within a 500-meter radius. Recommend relocating to avoid further potential monster encounters."

"Good," my other self muttered with a sigh. "Lead the way, Neumann. I'm done dealing with these creatures for now."

As we hurried through the narrow cave passage, the echoes of our footsteps filled the silence, punctuated only by Mira's quiet sobs. My other self, unaffected, pressed on without pause.

"She's utterly useless," he growled. "If it weren't for weakling Arche, I'd have left her back there. Carrying dead weight like this is a waste."

The words stabbed at my heart. I wanted to scream, to protest, but I was powerless to do anything.

After several tense minutes, we reached the area Neumann had deemed safer—a small chamber deeper within the cave, far from the wolves' ambush point.

"We're safe for now," my other self said, his voice still emotionless. "Stay here. Don't cause any trouble."

He released Mira's hand with a harsh shove, causing her to collapse to the ground. She didn't fight back, didn't speak. She just continued to cry in silence.

I couldn't take it anymore. "Stop!" I screamed inside my mind, forcing myself to wrestle back control. "You don't need to treat Mira like this!"

"Oh, now you want to speak up, Arche?" my other self mocked. "She's weak, just like you. Useless."

"Maybe I'm weak, but I won't let you keep hurting her!" With all the strength I had left, I pushed forward, fighting to regain control of my body.

There was resistance, a fierce pull from my other self, but I didn't give up. Slowly, inch by inch, I reclaimed control. My body felt heavy, my breathing shallow and labored.

Mira was still on the ground, trembling, her tears flowing.

"Mira..." I whispered softly, my voice shaky with guilt and exhaustion. "I... I'm sorry."

***