Kana's eyes fluttered open slowly, her head pounding faintly as her vision adjusted to the dim light filtering through the wooden beams overhead.

For a brief moment, panic surged through her chest—she thought something terrible had happened again, that the wolf goddess or the strange voice had dragged her away.

But instead, she found herself lying on a narrow bed, a blanket tucked around her.

Irielle sat nearby, her arms folded across her chest, though her posture softened the moment she realized Kana was awake.

"You collapsed. Exhaustion. Nothing more. You're fine now."

Irielle explained quietly, her golden eyes steady.

Kana blinked, her lips parting as a rush of shame rose to her face. She clenched her hands into the sheets.

"I… collapsed? After everything we went through, I was the first to—"

Her voice was small. Irielle leaned forward and cut her off, shaking her head.

"Don't do that. We all pushed ourselves too hard. No one blames you."

Kana swallowed, the guilt still lingering, but she forced herself to take a deep breath and sit up slowly. She steadied her voice as best as she could.

"What happened after? Did… did we make it safely?"

Irielle's mouth pressed into a thin line.

"We reached the settlement, yes. But…"

She hesitated, her tone sharpening as she continued.

"...We are not welcome here. The elves made it clear—they see us as outsiders. Enemies, even."

Kana frowned.

"Enemies? Why?"

"Because we don't worship the wolf goddess. That alone is enough reason for them to be hostile."

Irielle replied flatly.

The words struck Kana harder than she expected. She lowered her gaze, her chest tightening at the thought that even here, answers would be out of reach because of a goddess's shadow.

For a moment, her own discouragement showed plain on her face.

But then she looked at Irielle. The elf's expression was calm, guarded, almost as if she had already endured such rejection countless times before.

Kana's heart twisted. She wanted to cheer Irielle up, to reach for her and tell her they'd figure things out together.

"Irielle…We'll… we'll find another way. I don't want you to carry this alone."

Kana tried softly, offering a small, wavering smile.

But Irielle shook her head before Kana could say more. Her voice was cool but not unkind.

"Kana. Focus on yourself. Don't be bothered with this—it doesn't matter to me anymore."

Her words lingered heavily in the air, and Kana realized just how much pain Irielle must have buried behind that calm face.

Kana fell quiet after that, unsure of how to respond. Irielle's tone hadn't been sharp or angry, but there was something final in it—a wall carefully built, brick by brick, to keep certain wounds from reopening. Kana pressed her lips together, her thoughts churning.

She hated this helpless feeling, hated watching Irielle carry so much alone.

She wanted to say something, anything, but the words died on her tongue. Instead, she tugged the blanket a little closer and drew her knees up, curling her arms around them.

Silence lingered until Lysera entered the room, carrying a tray with three cups of steaming tea. Her gaze softened when she saw Kana sitting upright.

"You're awake. Good. How are you feeling?"

She said, her voice laced with relief.

"A little embarrassed. But better."

Kana admitted, her cheeks coloring.

Lysera set the tray down on a small table and gave her a reassuring look.

"There's no shame in it. You held your ground when it mattered. Everyone has limits, Kana. Even you."

Kana's eyes lowered to the cup placed in front of her, the fragrant steam rising between them. Limits. The word stung.

She had been pushing herself harder precisely because she didn't want to have any. She didn't want to be the one who collapsed while others kept fighting.

Irielle reached for her own cup, though she didn't drink.

"Don't think about it too much. We made it, that's all that matters."

Kana tilted her head, searching Irielle's face.

"But we're not allowed inside, right? What are we going to do now?"

"That is the question."

Lysera said, settling herself into a chair.

She glanced between them with a thoughtful expression.

"The elves have drawn their lines clearly. Unless we bow to their goddess, they won't even let us through their gates."

Kana bit her lip, unease crawling up her chest.

"But that means… we won't be able to get the information about the wolf goddess, or about why she's connected to me."

Neither Lysera nor Irielle immediately answered. The weight of Kana's words pressed down on the room like heavy stone.

Finally, Irielle sighed and set her cup aside.

"There are other ways to get answers. The village archives may be closed to us, but not every elf follows the goddess blindly. Some will talk. We just need to find the right person."

Her voice carried confidence, but Kana didn't miss the shadow in her eyes. Irielle had grown up here, after all.

The hostility of her own people wasn't something she could easily brush off, no matter how steady her tone sounded.

Kana leaned forward slightly, her voice softer this time.

"Irielle… are you sure it's okay? Coming back here… it must be difficult."

Irielle gave her a small, unreadable smile.

"Difficult or not, it doesn't matter. What matters is making sure you get the answers you're looking for."

Kana's chest tightened again, but she didn't press further. She could tell when someone didn't want to be pushed, and Irielle was already carrying more than she let on.

Lysera, noticing the heaviness between them, tried to lighten the air. She sipped her tea and leaned back with a dramatic sigh.

"Well, if the villagers insist on glaring at us, I'll just glare back. I doubt they'll enjoy a staring contest with me."

Kana blinked at her, then let out a small laugh despite herself. The sound seemed to ease some of the tension in the room.

Even Irielle's expression softened, though she rolled her eyes at Lysera's theatrics.

"Honestly, you're impossible."

Irielle murmured.

"Maybe…but I'm also practical. If they won't let us in, then we make them want to. Either by proving ourselves or by finding a way around their stubbornness."

Lysera said with a faint grin,

Kana hugged her knees a little tighter, feeling warmth spread in her chest at the sight of both of them—so different, yet both so firmly at her side.

"Thank you."

She whispered, her voice almost lost beneath the crackle of the fire.

Neither of them asked her what she was thanking them for. They didn't need to.

As the night wore on, the exhaustion from their journey settled heavier on Kana's shoulders.

But this time, instead of shame, there was a faint flicker of determination beneath it. No matter how unwelcome she was here, she couldn't give up.

Not when the truth felt so close, waiting just beyond the walls of this hostile village.

And though Irielle and Lysera tried to hide their own burdens, Kana promised herself silently that she would be strong enough—not only for her sake, but for theirs too.

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