In Bayam, inside the safe house near the Wave Church district,
"Huff... huff... huff..."
Lorne leaned back in his chair, his chest heaving violently. His eyes snapped open, filled with confusion and bewilderment.
He pressed a hand to his throbbing forehead, feeling as though he had just lived through something unimaginable, something immense. But his mind was utterly blank as to what it had been.
Uh... I can't remember anything.
It felt like waking from an incredibly vivid, incredibly important dream, only to find that he could not remember even a fragment of it.
All that remained was a hollow, indescribable exhaustion.
"Brando? What's wrong?"
Danitz, beside him, had noticed something was off. Seeing Lorne jolt awake, pale-faced and drenched in cold sweat, he immediately asked in concern.
"Meow?" Curled up beside Lorne's legs, Lucky also raised her head anxiously, staring unblinkingly at her owner with her amber eyes.
Lorne said nothing.
He felt an indescribable strangeness that sank deep into his bones. He picked up the half-finished bottle of liquor Danitz had left on the nearby table,
unscrewed the cap, and took a huge swig straight from the bottle.
Only when the fiery liquid burned his throat did his chaotic thoughts settle a little.
"Hey, Brando, what exactly did you sense?" Seeing his unusual behavior, Danitz pressed him again.
"Did Ailment Maiden follow us here?"
Lorne shook his head.
Honestly, he felt exhausted.
It was not physical fatigue, but a deeper weakness, as though his soul had been hollowed out. Even speaking felt like an enormous effort.
It felt as though he had fought some indescribable battle and spent every last scrap of strength he had.
He waved a hand at Danitz to indicate that he was fine, then leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.
He