Kaelith stayed there, sobbing quietly, her shoulders shaking in uneven breaths.
Noir curled her lips slightly, her voice cold—like a blade sliding across skin.
"Then… you chose to betray me, so they could live.
But Kaelith— from the moment you agreed, you also crushed every last hope with your own hands."
Kaelith's eyes trembled. Her fingers clenched tight.
She turned away, unable to bear the pressure of that hollow gaze—empty, yet piercing straight through her.
Her footsteps hurried out of the room, leaving behind a thick, suffocating silence.
Inside the room, only Noir remained— and Lysander at the doorway.
He slowly walked toward her, his shoes echoing softly against the tiled floor.
"I wish I could see you when you're weak… Noir," Lysander said, his voice low and quiet, mixed with something close to regret.
He stopped right in front of her, bending down to look at her restrained body.
Noir didn't answer. She only looked up.
The red-and-blue glow in her eyes flickered faintly— a silent warning.
Lysander gave a small smile, but there was no warmth in it. He slowly knelt down on one knee beside her, his hand brushing against the restraint ring on her wrist.
"I know… you won't forgive. No matter who it is.
Not everyone can choose the same path you did."
He paused, his voice dropping, meant only for her.
"I promised I wouldn't let them touch you. I said I'd protect you.
But now… I don't have the strength to keep that promise anymore."
For a brief moment, Noir tilted her head slightly, her voice lowering until it felt ice-cold.
"A traitor's promise… was never worth believing."
The air in the room froze.
Lysander fell silent. Pain flashed briefly in his eyes, before he hid it behind calmness.
He stood up, turning his back as he spoke.
"Get some rest. I'll bring you some food."
Then his tall figure slowly disappeared into the darkness.
Outside the base.
Specter and Orion moved quietly, searching for any trace of Noir and Kaelith.
The map in their hands trembled as red marks spread across towns and districts.
Noir's portrait—her full name stamped beneath it, marked with "ABSOLUTE WANTED"—covered notice boards, night markets, even electric poles.
Orion ground his teeth, his voice half-mocking, half-burning with rage.
"See? She shook the entire organization. And now she's gone.
Listen—if anything happens to Noir… I swear I'll burn that organization to ashes."
Specter didn't respond. He only tightened his grip on the gun, his eyes heavy.
A hollow ache spread inside his chest.
/Noir… where are you?/ he whispered.
The detention room.
Noir was still bound to the metal chair, both arms locked by steel restraints wired with electrodes.
Suddenly—
"Click… click…"
A sharp sound rang out, and high-voltage electricity surged through her body.
Noir convulsed violently. The smell of scorched metal and flesh filled the air, thick and suffocating.
Figures in black lab coats watched from behind the glass, laughing in amusement.
"The perfect doll—now just another experiment for entertainment."
"Hahh. Let's see how long those so-called 'god eyes' can last."
They kept adjusting the controls. Each shock forced Noir's head back—yet her lips curved into a faint, cold smile.
Pure contempt etched across her face.
Kaelith stood further back, her hands shaking uncontrollably.
Her eyes were empty, wanting to look away—yet unable to turn her back.
Inside her mind, she screamed.
What have I done…?
Lysander remained silent, standing in the corner.
His gaze was locked onto Noir.
Every jolt that made her body tremble felt like a vice crushing his heart.
He bit his lip until blood surfaced—yet he couldn't move. Couldn't do anything.
Noir tilted her head slightly, her eyes still icy as they pierced through the glass barrier, as if fear didn't exist.
Even bound by chains, even with blood slipping from the corner of her mouth,
that gaze remained—
like an invisible blade,
driving straight into Lysander's heart,
into Kaelith's guilt,
and into the rot at the core of VOID.