The scene shifts back to Kael, who finds himself in the Lynquils HQ medical room after his fainting episode on the battlefield. Slowly opening his eyes, Kael is momentarily disoriented, his surroundings blurred, but as his vision clears, he notices Aelyna resting her head on the side of his bed. Her presence startles him; Kael is baffled that someone he barely knows seems to care more about him than those he has been greeting every day at the HQ for the past decade.

Aelyna stirs, sensing Kael’s movement, and her face lights up with relief when she sees him awake. Without speaking, she quickly scribbles something in her notebook and shows it to him: “Welcome back!” Kael reads the message, a mixture of gratitude and confusion washing over him.

Just as he’s about to respond, the door opens, and Pruline enters the room, pulling up a chair beside Aelyna. She greets Kael warmly before pointing at Aelyna. “So, as you already know, Aelyna is mute, right? Well, look what we discovered,” Pruline says, tapping Aelyna gently on the back.

To Kael’s astonishment, Aelyna nervously opens her mouth and speaks, “H-hello...” The sound is soft and shaky, but it rings like a revelation to Kael. His eyes widen in disbelief. “You... can talk?”

Pruline explains, “Aelyna’s power is unique. Whatever she speaks into existence becomes reality. She chooses her words carefully because anything she says—whether an object, an action, or even an abstract concept—can manifest, sometimes in dangerous ways.”

Aelyna looks slightly embarrassed but nods in agreement, confirming Pruline’s explanation. Kael, still processing what he’s heard, asks, “And I’m assuming there are downsides?”

Pruline continues, “The downsides are significant. The longer the words or the more complex the wish, the more her artifact shatters. If the artifact is fully destroyed, a part of Aelyna’s brain that controls speech is temporarily disabled until the artifact regenerates.”

Kael takes a moment to absorb the implications of this limitation. “So, she becomes mute again... until it repairs itself?”

“Exactly,” Pruline responds. “It’s a delicate balance—useful but dangerous.”

Despite having many questions racing through his mind, Kael decides to ask one more. “What is her class?”

Pruline hesitates, visibly uncomfortable. The room’s silence grows heavy, and Aelyna eventually starts writing in her notebook. She holds up the note: “I’m classified as Reality Class.”

Pruline’s eyes widen, clearly shocked, while Kael looks puzzled. “Reality Class? I’ve never heard of that,” Kael says. “What does that even mean?”

Pruline takes a deep breath. “Classes are ranked based on the level at which an ability can manipulate reality. The common ranks are Leaf, Rock, Tree, Wind, Continent, Sea, Earth, Meteor, Otherworldly, Planet, System, Galaxy, Cosmic, Universe, and Interdimensional. But Reality Class... it’s not even listed among the ranks.”

Aelyna begins writing again, and her note explains further: “According to the doctor, Reality Class is a secret rank, known only to those at the highest levels of Lynquil organizations. It was forgotten because no one ever achieved it... until now.”

Pruline watches Aelyna’s small hands move rapidly across the page, intrigued by how quickly the girl is able to communicate her thoughts. Kael, on the other hand, struggles to come to terms with what he’s just learned. His voice trembles slightly as he asks, “So Reality Class is higher than Interdimensional... But how is that possible? You couldn’t even withstand my slashes back there.”

Aelyna flinches at the mention of his attack, and Pruline quickly reassures her. Kael, noticing the reaction, feels guilty for bringing it up, but the questions continue to churn inside his mind.

Pruline turns to Aelyna, asking why she shared such a secret with Kael. Aelyna simply points to the health status display next to Kael’s bed. They both look, and Kael’s examination report is visible on the hologram—a shining gold frame surrounds it, just like Aelyna’s.

Pruline gasps, her shock evident. “Kael... your report has a gold frame too?”

Kael glances at the hologram, just as confused. “I don’t understand. I’ve never seen this before.”

Pruline’s mind races. She’s seen reports of high-ranking Lynquils from other organizations, but none have ever had a gold frame. Kael’s and Aelyna’s reports are the only ones of their kind. Pruline’s suspicion grows—Kael and Aelyna’s powers are somehow more significant than any class, hinting at something far beyond the comprehension of the Lynquils organization.

The room falls silent, the weight of unspoken possibilities hanging in the air. Both Kael and Pruline realize that their paths have become deeply entwined with something larger than either of them could have predicted.

Pruline’s thoughts drift into a memory from nine years ago, a time when she was just a child newly welcomed into the Lynquils HQ after her powers had awakened. She was still adjusting to her new surroundings, feeling both excited and nervous about her new life. After finishing her examination, she headed toward her assigned dorm room, navigating the vast, unfamiliar halls of the HQ. As she turned a corner at a busy intersection, she accidentally bumped into another kid, a boy who looked to be about a year younger than her.

They apologized quickly, awkwardly exchanging nervous smiles. “Sorry,” they said in unison, the first words they shared. Before parting, they exchanged dorm numbers and went their separate ways, each feeling a strange sense of curiosity about the other.

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The next day, Pruline was walking into the cafeteria, tray in hand, scanning the crowded room for a place to sit. She spotted the same boy from the hallway the day before, sitting alone in the corner with a plate of untouched food. Without hesitation, Pruline approached him, sitting across from him with her own meal. She introduced herself with a cheerful smile and asked for his name. The boy hesitated but eventually told her his name, and the two struck up an easy conversation. They laughed, joked, and bonded over the simplest of things, enjoying each other's company as they ate.

From that day on, Pruline and the boy were inseparable. Every day, they could be seen walking together, chatting, and exploring the HQ as if it were their own little world. They hung out after training, exchanged secrets, and shared their dreams, quickly becoming best friends. Their days were filled with laughter, and the two of them always found solace in each other's presence, making the sterile and intimidating atmosphere of the HQ feel warm and welcoming.

One day, during one of their usual lunches together, Pruline found herself staring at the boy more often than usual. She couldn't help but admire his striking blue hair and his calm, gentle eyes. Eventually, the boy noticed her gaze and asked, “Why are you looking at me like that?”

Pruline blushed, unable to hold back her feelings any longer. “I think you have really pretty eyes and... I’ve always loved your hair color. It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen.” The boy was caught off guard, his cheeks flushing red as he tried to come up with a response. Gathering his courage, he smiled shyly and said, “I think your violet eyes and hair are beautiful, too.”

Pruline suddenly grabbed his hands, looking at him with a seriousness that startled the boy. “I like you,” she confessed, her voice trembling but filled with sincerity. The boy was flustered, his heart racing, but after a moment of stunned silence, he admitted with a shy grin, “I like you too.”

From that day forward, their hangouts were no longer just casual meetups—they were dates. They spent even more time together, enjoying every little moment, from training sessions to quiet walks in the HQ gardens. Their bond deepened, and one day, while lying on the grass under the stars, Pruline promised, “When we grow up, let’s get married.” The boy’s eyes sparkled with joy as he nodded, the two of them dreaming of a future together, full of hope and happiness.

But life took an unexpected turn four years later. Pruline, now a teenager, had taken on a role at the HQ as the money converter and job giver, a position that kept her busy. The boy, meanwhile, had made the difficult decision to leave the Lynquils HQ, feeling drawn to explore the world beyond its walls. Pruline was heartbroken at first, but the boy reassured her, saying he would visit her often and that they would never truly be apart. They shared a heartfelt farewell, Pruline watching as he left, holding onto his promise.

The very next day, Pruline was at her station, engrossed in her work when she overheard a conversation between two Lynquils passing by. They were discussing an accident—a boy, only thirteen years old, had been hit by a truck and was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. Pruline barely registered their words, dismissing the conversation as just another piece of tragic news. She was too busy counting down the hours, eagerly waiting for her friend’s promised visit.

Evening came and went, and the boy never arrived. Pruline stayed at her station long after sunset, her eyes fixed on the entrance, hopeful that any moment he would walk through the door. One of her coworkers eventually approached, concerned by Pruline’s lonely vigil. When asked why she was still there, Pruline explained that she was waiting for a visitor—the one who had promised to see her.

The coworker hesitated, recognizing the look of desperation in Pruline’s eyes. With a heavy heart, she broke the news Pruline hadn’t wanted to hear. She told Pruline about the boy’s accident and his untimely death, confirming that he would never be coming to see her again. Pruline was stunned, her mind refusing to accept the truth. She stared blankly, numb and hollow, unable to process the loss of her best friend—the one person who had promised to always be there for her.

That night, Pruline sat alone in the corner of her counter, her face expressionless as tears silently fell. She mourned quietly, clutching onto the memories of the boy who had meant everything to her. The laughter, the promises, and their shared dreams—all shattered in an instant, leaving Pruline with nothing but an empty ache in her chest.

Pruline snapped back to reality, her mind reeling from the sudden rush of memories that flooded her senses. She had been looking at Kael’s examination report, the date catching her attention: he had been at Lynquil HQ for thirteen years. Her eyes flicked to his face, taking in his familiar features—the same blue hair, the gentle eyes that had once been her entire world. Her heart pounded in her chest, and she couldn’t stop the blush that crept across her cheeks as the realization hit her like a tidal wave.

"Kael Varis..." Pruline whispered, her voice trembling. "I remember now..."

Kael looked at her, his expression shifting from confusion to concern as he noticed the tear that had slipped down her cheek. "Pruline, are you alright?!" he asked, his own voice edged with worry.

Pruline’s voice shook, her emotions threatening to overflow. "You’re... you’re..." she stammered, tears streaming freely down her face now. She was overwhelmed, the boy she thought she’d lost forever was standing right before her, alive.

Kael’s confusion turned to a soft, pained smile as he, too, felt the weight of their shared past. A tear escaped his eye, mirroring Pruline’s. "So you remembered... I’m sorry..."

Unable to hold back any longer, Pruline dashed forward, wrapping her arms tightly around him. Kael hesitated only for a moment before embracing her in return, his touch warm and familiar. "Don’t be sorry," Pruline murmured into his shoulder, her voice thick with a mix of joy and heartache. "I missed you so much..."

Their hug tightened, the unspoken bond between them rekindling as if no time had passed. Aelyna, standing nearby, quickly realized she was intruding on a deeply personal moment. Feeling like a third wheel, she awkwardly pulled her scarf up over her already blindfolded eyes and covered her face with her hands, trying to give them some semblance of privacy.

"Our promise..." Pruline whispered softly, her voice barely audible.

Kael’s arms tightened around her, his own guilt and relief pouring out. "I’m sorry I made you worry," he said, his voice tender and sincere.

Pruline shook her head, her tears soaking into his shoulder. "It’s nothing... what matters now is that we... reunited," she whispered back, her heart finally feeling at peace.

Kael pulled back slightly, just enough to look into her eyes. "Our promise may have been broken," he admitted, his voice tinged with regret, "but we can still act like we successfully fulfilled it."

Pruline nodded, her eyes shining with determination and a soft smile on her lips. "Yes!" she answered, her voice filled with the hope of a new beginning.

As the two of them shared their moment, Aelyna found herself inadvertently caught in the emotional crossfire. The warmth between Pruline and Kael felt like a long-lost family reuniting, and before she knew it, she was pulled into their embrace, feeling like an adopted child witnessing the reunion of her parents. She didn’t mind, though; the sense of belonging she felt at that moment was comforting in its own strange way.