After the voice announced Zero, Zeroth did not move.
He did not collapse.
He did not scream.
He did not cry.
He simply stood there.
His body was upright, his breathing shallow, his eyes unfocused—as if the nightmare had ended, yet something inside him had refused to wake up with it.
He wasn't happy.
He wasn't proud.
He was ruined.
First his mother.
Then Kaelor.
The order didn't even matter anymore. The weight was the same—crushing, final, irreversible.
Zeroth wanted it to end.
Not the nightmare.
Everything.
The world around him distorted, folding inward like torn paper, and the figure appeared once more, its presence calm, indifferent, eternal.
"You passed the test," it said. "Remember?"
Zeroth didn't respond.
He had forgotten. Forgotten why he was there. Forgotten why ten people had to die. Forgotten what a test even meant. The word felt meaningless now—small, childish, insulting.
The figure drifted closer.
"You shall be rewarded, Zukiro."
And then it vanished.
No light.
No thunder.
No miracle.
Zeroth didn't react.
He didn't chase it. He didn't ask what the reward was. He didn't care. The idea of being given anything after what he had done felt hollow—almost offensive.
He stood there for a long moment.
Then voices began to seep in.
Not cruel.
Not mocking.
Not cold.
Warm.
"Zeroth… Zeroth… wake up."
Gentle. Familiar.
"Good morning."
The inner world shattered.
His eyes snapped open.
Reality rushed back in like ice water.
Mirai was leaning over him, her expression soft, relieved—until their eyes met.
She froze.
Zeroth's gaze was empty.
Not tired.
Not angry.
Absent.
Something in her expression changed instantly. Her mouth opened, as if to speak, then closed again. Whatever she had been about to say died in her throat.
Zeroth sat up slowly, mechanically, and stood.
Without a word, he walked past her.
"Zeroth—" she started, then stopped herself, watching his back retreat.
"Hey! Don't you want something to eat?!" she called after him, louder now, trying to sound normal.
He paused.
Turned his head slightly.
And nodded.
Nothing more.
Breakfast was prepared quickly—too quickly. Mirai had pulled strings, spoken words that carried authority she wasn't even aware she possessed. Plates were set in front of him: warm bread, meat, fruits he had only seen from afar before.
For Zeroth, it was excessive. Almost unreal.
He ate silently.
No chewing sounds.
No complaints.
No gratitude.
Mirai sat across from him, fidgeting, watching his hands instead of his face.
"Hey," she finally said, forcing a laugh. "Why aren't you talking?"
No answer.
He kept eating.
She sighed sharply. "Fine. Don't speak. But at least don't forget to wear the new clothes I reserved for you. And take a shower. You stink. Seriously."
For a second, his lips twitched.
Almost.
He looked down at his plate.
Why is she like this?
Why is she kind?
Humans like this felt wrong to him. Illogical. Dangerous.
Only his mother had ever been like that.
And now—
"T-thanks," he whispered.
The word barely existed.
Mirai blinked.
"…What?"
"T-thanks," he said again, louder. Still quiet—but real.
A small tear threatened to form. He turned his head just enough to hide it, wiping it away with the back of his hand.
Mirai smiled. Just a little. Her cheeks warmed.
"You're welcome."
After eating, Zeroth disappeared.
Mirai thought about following him.
She didn't.
He sat beneath a small tree, notebook resting against his knees, writing without fully understanding what he was writing. Symbols. Lines. Names. Half-formed thoughts.
His new clothes fit awkwardly, but they were clean. Whole.
To him, they meant everything.
She's nice to you, a voice inside him whispered. You should be nice to her too.
Another voice snapped back immediately.
Only Mother matters.
"SHUT UP," Zeroth barked aloud, startling himself.
Two days.
Two days until Kaelor would return.
He stood and began walking.
Slowly.
His posture was straight, but his eyes were hollow. He wandered the palace halls like a ghost that hadn't realized it was dead.
The voices came back.
"You killed everyone you knew."
"You don't care about your mother."
"You killed the only man who supported you."
He didn't stop walking.
"Yeah," he muttered. "Yeah. Whatever."
At the gates, the triplets stood together—Kirius, Tarius, Vitrus—gearing up for training, laughing loudly.
They noticed him immediately.
"Oi! Where'd you steal those clothes?" Kirius barked.
Zeroth walked past them.
Didn't slow.
Didn't look.
Didn't acknowledge their existence.
Something shifted.
The air felt heavier.
The triplets felt it.
Not peace.
Not pressure.
Destruction.
"HEY!" Kirius shouted. "HOW DARE YOU IGNORE US!"
Tarius grabbed his arm. "Stop."
Vitrus's eyes were locked on Zeroth's back. "…Don't."
"What are you two doing?!" Kirius snapped.
"Trying to keep you alive," Vitrus muttered.
"His eyes," Tarius said quietly. "They're not normal anymore."
Kirius scoffed—but he felt it too.
Then hurried footsteps.
"Zeroth! Where are you going?!"
Mirai.
She reached him just outside the gate, breathing hard.
Vitrus grabbed her wrist. "You're not going with him."
"Let go," she snapped.
"You don't decide what I do."
Zeroth slowed. Just slightly. One eye angled back.
Vitrus lost patience.
The slap echoed.
Mirai stumbled.
The world snapped.
Zeroth blinked.
And suddenly, Vitrus was staring at a fist inches from his face.
THUD.
Black Punch.
The impact folded Vitrus instantly.
"You don't hit your own sibling," Zeroth said calmly.
Too calmly.
Tarius reacted on instinct, water magic forming in his palm.
"Shadow Block."
The barrier flared.
Zeroth stepped past them.
Past the gate.
Mirai stared, frozen.
The triplets seethed.
"You'll pay," Kirius whispered.
Outside the palace, Mirai followed him anyway.
"Why are you following me?" Zeroth asked flatly. "Mind your own business."
She swallowed. "Shut up."
Then, softer: "Thank you… for earlier."
"…Where are you going?"
"Wandering," Zeroth said. "To fight people."
Her expression fell. "You're empty," she said quietly. "But I know you're not nothing inside."
That did it.
"Shut up," Zeroth snapped. "Get lost before I kill you."
Her breath hitched. "You're joking. You wouldn't—"
"Why wouldn't I?"
Silence.
Something broke.
"Fine," Mirai said sharply. "I won't interrupt you anymore. What am I to you anyway?"
She turned back.
Zeroth felt relief.
Then regret.
The voices returned.
"You betrayed her."
"She cared."
"You ruined it."
He snapped.
"ENOUGH! I KNOW I'M A FAILURE! I KNOW IT'S YOU, FIGURE!"
Laughter echoed.
And ahead—
A small town.
Waiting.