"Don't these things get tired?!" shouts Kiran. He sprints while a wave of black humanoids claw and trip through the water.

One hand comes from underneath and grabs Kiran's ankle. Out of the water rises a black humanoid figure. It has no eyes, nose, or even ears—only a mouth with sharp white teeth.

"SKRAA!!"

"AH! Crap!"

Kiran trips and falls over. He sees the wave of black humanoids get closer and closer. His body instinctively reacts and he kicks the figure's head which holds onto him. It splashes and becomes one with the water again. Kiran stands up and continues his escape.

"So hitting its head destroys it? But there are too many of them! There's not a chance I can handle them! Keep running Kiran!"

When more hands reach out the water, Kiran jumps over them. "Not this time!"

He runs until he reaches a dead end – the black lock.

"Oh no…" Kiran stares at the lock with silver engravings. He turns his head and sees the wave of black humanoids not stop. They crawl and horde on towards him.

"How do I open this? This is the only place I can go! If those things group on me… I don't know why, but I know I'll die! I need to get through here!" His hand trembles as he reaches out to the lock. He yanks it away.

Kiran stares at the lock and looks at the sides. The countless chains indicate there is no way around it. He has to open it.

"Come on, come on! Open!" yells Kiran. Nothing happens. Then the memory of Brain-Lady kicks in.

"When she touched it… I couldn't see anymore. So…" Kiran reaches out again and his hand trembles.

"Not now body! I can't be afraid… It's either this or the horde! And they freak me out!" He places his hand on the lock.

"CHASE THE LIGHT!! CHASE THE LIGHT!!" bounces once again, just like before.

Kiran's head rings with the sound. The images of a black figure hurting a smaller figure continuously flash through his head. Meba striking Easton. The crow attacking Garnett. Bone-monster piercing Israr's body. Kiran's body stiffens.

"No… Stop… Pl-" He was about to go on his knees to hold his head.

"FOCUS KIRAN!" he shouts. He places both hands on the lock. "I WILL NOT LET THEM GET HURT!"

The images disappear. There is complete silence around Kiran. "Did I… black out again?" He frantically shakes his head and grabs it. "Oh no! Did I die?!"

"No Kiran, you didn't die," says a voice Kiran recognises, but he doesn't know from where. His head turns to the voice.

A smoke-like being stands in front of him.

The smoke-like being doesn't have a body. As smoke evaporates, humanoid body parts can be seen – even a smile where a face should be. The smoke keeps covering the entire body as soon as it evaporates, not allowing Kiran to see the being's full body.

Stolen novel; please report.

"Who… are you?"

"I'm surprised, Kiran. You're not supposed to access this part yet. It must be that woman who touched your head."

"Who are you!" shouts Kiran, but he suddenly feels bad. "Huh? Why is my body reacting like this… like I said something wrong? My chest feels heavy."

"You're still so kind, Kiran," says the smoke-being, "Even when you can't remember or recognise me, you feel bad for talking like that."

Kiran doesn't know how, but he understands the emotion. "It's happy… relieved. Why?"

Kiran peers at the smoky figure. "Are you the OmniOne? The one telling me to chase the light?"

"No, I'm not the OmniOne. But I am the one who spoke those words, yes."

Kiran walks towards the smoke, but it feels like his body is pulled back. "I want… to get closer to you."

"I know you do. But you're not strong enough yet. You have to get stronger. If you come too close, what happened to that large man can happen to you."

"Not strong enough? How do I get stronger?"

"It seems you are in the right place to get stronger. Trust those around you and they will guide you."

"O-Okay… That seems weird. I still don't know who you are."

"I need you to wake up now. You've been in here too long. Those black things will break through soon, and I can't protect you here."

"Wait! But… but I want to talk to you!" Kiran's heartbeat rises. He hears it in his ears. "My body doesn't want to leave you!"

"Yes. I know. But trust me, we will see each other again, once you become stronger."

Kiran doesn't know why, but he must trust this figure. Its words give Kiran hope. "All right. I'll get stronger. But…" He scans the dark area. "I don't know how to wake up."

"Yes. I noticed you've been trying to wake up since you've been knocked out. I guess you need some fluctuation in energy."

"How can I do that?"

"Activate your gift in here. That should do it."

"Okay!"

Kiran closes his eyes and focuses. His eyes quiver and his arms shake. "I can't do it!"

"Hmm. It seems you haven't fully understood your desire yet."

"Isn't it chase the light?"

"That's a cute way to put it in words, but no. It's close, but not enough. The motivation isn't strong enough."

The water surface they stand on starts to ripple.

"It seems the black figures are breaking in. Hmm."

"Crap! Let me run!"

"I can't let you go deeper. Not yet."

"Then what do we do?!"

Kiran can't see it, but he feels the smoky figure smile. Calm. Protection. Love.

"Don't worry, Kiran. I think I know what to do. You might not have been able to handle it earlier, but I think you are strong enough for this now."

"What do you mean?"

"My name is…"

Kiran's eyes widen as the smoky figure states its name.

"Why did his temperature rise again?" says a female voice.

Kiran's eyes slowly blink awake. "… Ramon?" Everything is blurry in front of him. He feels something wet on his head.

"Oh no! He's awake!"

The sound of someone scurrying away faintly travels through Kiran's ear. He slowly blinks his eyes into focus.

"Where… am I?" He surveys his area and sees he's on a drip. He notes all the medical equipment around him. Kiran tries to lift his arms, but struggles.

"I thought I heard something," says Anu coming around the corner. Kiran freezes for the unfamiliar face.

"Oh… hello."

"Hi, Kiran. I guess this is our first time meeting. I'm Anu, Director of Medicine, and head doctor here at Harmony."

Kiran smiles when he hears this. "It's a pleasure to meet you!" It occurs to Kiran that Harmony was mentioned.

"Wait, I'm back at Harmony? How long was I knocked out?"

"Hmm, a few days. Some Arkodians have slept for longer. You hit your head pretty hard." Anu walks up and touches the wet cloth on Kiran's head. "Hmm. Still wet. It is a bit cold in here." He removes the towel and feels Kiran's forehead. "Your fever broke, so that's good. You don't need the towel anymore."

While Anu checks Kiran further, a friendly face walks into Kiran's room.

"Kiran! You're awake!"

"Israr!" Kiran smiles wide. "What are you doing here?"

"Right! You were knocked out!" Israr points towards his chest. He's wearing the same grey as at Sharmeija but doesn't have a red shield this time. He has the red rose of Harmony instead.

"I've joined Harmony! I am a protector here now. It's a long story."

"Whoa! That's cool!"

"I'll give you two time to catch up. All your vitals seem fine, Kiran," says Anu. "Just make sure you get some rest."

"Okay! Thank you, doctor!"

Anu exits the room.

"Man Kiran, you made me scared for a bit. Of course, I know people who have slept longer, but it's still scary!"

"Sorry, Israr. I didn't mean to make you worry." Kiran tries to push himself up, barely moving.

"Let me help," Israr lifts Kiran and helps him sit straight. "Better?"

"Yeah. It doesn't feel like I've been knocked out. My body feels so tired." Kiran looks at his hands. "Is it because of what happened in my Soul Psyche? That didn't feel like a few days… it felt much shorter."

"Give it some time, like the doctor said. Now that you're awake, you'll be back to normal in no time!"

"Right!" As Kiran responds, the words of the smoky figure enter his mind – the words from Ramon. "I need to find out more," he thinks.

"Israr," says Kiran. "I need to become stronger."

The sudden change in intensity catches Israr off guard. "Oh… why's that?

Kiran grips the blankets. "I need to find out. Something weird happened in my head and I want to understand it. I need to become stronger to understand. But also…"

While traversing his Soul Psyche, there was one thing clear for Kiran. The crow, the bald man, the large man – he has been lucky to survive those instances. He didn't do anything.

"I don't want to be a burden, so I need to become stronger."

Israr grins from ear to ear. "Well then, Kiran. I know the perfect way for you to become stronger." He puts his arm around Kiran's shoulder, leaning close to his face. "Become a protector of Harmony with me."