​The night following Dalgor's death, Zero Castle was no longer the same.

​It wasn't just the visible physical damage everywhere—the cracked walls, the completely dead control panels, or the dark corridors where binary lights occasionally flickered and died with a sickening tick... tick... sound. The silence tonight felt foreign. Usually, there was always a harmony of accompanying sounds: the low hum of energy panels, the heavy thud of Dalgor's footsteps returning from the control room, or Riri's bright laughter. Now, all of that had been sucked away. All that remained was the sigh of the wind outside brushing against stone walls, and the sound of their own breath, which felt heavy and stifling.

​Dayat's room was shrouded in dimness. Dola had intentionally lowered the binary lights on the ceiling. She knew her husband didn't want to see anything too bright. Dola's white cloak hung neatly on a wooden chair, while her black bodysuit was still dull with the soot of battle that she hadn't yet had the chance to clean.

​Dayat sat motionless on the edge of the bed. His hands were wrapped in clean white bandages—covering the wounds caused by his fists clenching so hard his nails had pierced his own flesh. Although Dola had cleaned them earlier that afternoon, faint brownish-red spots still seeped through the gaps in his knuckles.

​Dola sat beside him. She didn't immediately embrace him or offer empty words of comfort. She simply sat in silence, giving Dayat the space to breathe. She knew her husband well; Dayat was not a man who could immediately pour out his heart after a loss.

​Several minutes passed in an oppressive silence. Finally, Dayat's raspy voice broke the quiet.

​"I... I almost gave up."

​Dayat cleared his throat softly; it felt dry. "Back on Earth, in Jakarta... my life was very ordinary. Wake up, work, go home, sleep. Sometimes I felt lonely or useless, sure. But at least... no lives were lost because of me."

​Dola didn't interrupt. She kept her gaze on Dayat's profile, which seemed to have aged years in a single night.

​"Dalgor fell because I wasn't strong enough. Kancil, Loy, Riri—they nearly lost their lives too. And I could only stand here, watching everything break," Dayat continued. His bandaged hand clenched again, making the fresh gauze stretch. Rripp...

​"Sometimes I wonder, what if I never existed in this world? Maybe everything would be much better. Maybe—"

​"Don't."

​Dola's voice was soft, yet it carried an undeniable firmness. Dayat turned, and Dola's blue eyes searched his. There was no longer a cold glint there, only a pressing warmth.

​"I will never forgive you if you speak like that again."

​Dayat fell silent, his lips slightly parted.

​"I was the one who brought you here. I was the one who chose you. If anyone must shoulder the burden of this mistake, it is I, not you." Dola reached for Dayat's bandaged hand, gripping it with fingers that were cold but steady. "But I don't regret it, Dayat. Not for a single second."

​Dayat stared at their joined hands. The coldness of Dola's skin always felt soothing to his thundering heart.

​"I am here," Dola whispered again, softer this time. "I am not going anywhere, no matter what happens next."

​Dayat didn't reply with words. He simply squeezed Dola's hand back, channeling his pain and gratitude through that touch. Outside, the Forest of Lamentation was still dark and the fog still crept maliciously, but inside that room, the weight on Dayat's shoulders felt a little lighter.

​The following morning, The Binary Kitchen looked like a dead space.

​Usually, breakfast was the loudest moment of the day. Kancil would arrive first and grab a stack of bread, followed by Loy with messy hair, then Riri helping Lunethra set the table. Dalgor was always the last to enter, carrying his digital tablet while complaining that Dayat's coffee was so strong it could be used to lubricate engines.

​This morning, the dining table felt far too large.

​The wooden chair where Dalgor usually sat stood empty. No one dared to take it, as if the seat still held the presence of the old Dwarf who would never return.

​Kancil entered the kitchen with heavy steps. His Desert Eagle, which usually gleamed from constant cleaning, looked dull this morning with the dust of yesterday's battle. He sat down without touching a single piece of bread.

​Loy and Riri followed, sitting closer together than usual. Riri's eyes still looked puffy and red. Under the table, Loy gripped the girl's hand tightly.

​Lunethra had been busy at the cauldron since dawn. She cooked far more than the usual portions—a futile effort to keep her trembling hands busy. She wanted to ensure everyone ate, even though she knew their appetites had vanished along with the ashes of war.

​Dayat and Dola entered last. They sat in a silence broken only by the soft clink of spoons hitting plates. Ting... ting...

​Finally, Dayat set his spoon down. He took a long breath. "I know this is incredibly hard for all of us."

​All eyes turned toward him.

​"Dalgor wasn't just a technician to us. He was family. He's been with us since we were still fugitives, even before this castle stood firm."

​Kancil lowered his head as far as it would go. Loy squeezed Riri's fingers harder.

​"But we cannot continue to drown in grief. Dalgor... he wouldn't like seeing us give up now. He fought until his very last breath. He fell while standing, fell as a warrior." Dayat looked at them one by one, ensuring his voice didn't waver. "We must continue his struggle. Not merely for revenge, but to ensure his sacrifice was not in vain."

​Lunethra nodded slowly. Another tear fell down her cheek, but this time she didn't sob.

​"I'm not forcing you to forget immediately. But life must go on. We cannot stop here."

​Kancil lifted his head. Though his eyes were still red, a spark of fire began to ignite within them again. Dola, sitting beside Dayat, almost wanted to warn them about the second wave that would be much more massive. She knew Wabil's pattern; this was only the beginning. But seeing the glimmer of determination newly grown on the faces of Kancil and the children, she chose to keep that information to herself for a moment. Let them swallow this breakfast with a bit of peace.

​That night, the atmosphere in The Heart of Logic felt more stable.

​Everyone had gathered at their respective positions. Kancil had cleaned his weapon until it gleamed once more. Lunethra stood tall near the door with her magic staff in hand. Dayat had just finished checking the emergency panels that were still functional. Only passive sensors remained, but it was enough to provide an early warning.

​Dola stepped forward, standing right beside Dayat. It was time.

​"Everyone," Dola began, her voice calm but authoritative. "There is something important you must know."

​Silence immediately blanketed the room.

​"Yesterday's attack was merely the first wave. A sort of bait." Dola looked at them gravely. "I recognize the pattern because I was once in the same position. Wabil sent a small force to map our defenses. Now she knows our shields are down and our sensors are blind. She will send a second wave that is far larger."

​Riri moved closer to Loy. Kancil clenched his fists, his jaw tightening until the muscles in his neck strained.

​"I don't know exactly when they will arrive. Perhaps tomorrow, or the day after. But one thing is certain: this time, the Harbinger herself might take a hand."

​Dayat stepped forward, standing between Dola and his friends. "I won't hide the reality of the situation. Things will get much worse from here. But I promise you all one thing: no one else dies. I will not let that happen again."

​Kancil nodded firmly. Loy looked at Dayat with eyes full of conviction. Riri wiped her reddened nose and then gave a small nod. No one spoke of surrender. Zero Castle might be cracked, but its foundation—the people within—still stood firm.

​Midnight arrived. Dayat was still awake.

​He had tried to close his eyes beside Dola, listening to the rhythm of his wife's breathing as she slept from sheer exhaustion. However, his mind kept spinning around Wabil and the promise he had just made. Eventually, he got up and walked toward the kitchen.

​The lights in The Binary Kitchen were very dim. Dayat took a cup and poured coffee from a pot that was surprisingly still warm—Lunethra must have prepared it on purpose. The bitter aroma of the coffee slightly calmed his frayed nerves.

​"You can't sleep?" 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

​Dayat started slightly and turned. Lunethra stood in the doorway, wearing simple linen sleepwear.

​"Something like that. You?" Dayat replied.

​Lunethra entered and took another cup. "I'm used to it. Ever since the events in Verdia, a sound sleep has become a luxury for me." She poured herbal tea into her own cup. "That's coffee. You need tea if you want to calm your mind."

​Dayat gave a faint, almost invisible smile. "You used to say my coffee was too bitter. Now you go through the trouble of making tea for me."

​"Hm, people can change over time, can't they?" Lunethra sat across from Dayat, sipping her tea slowly.

​The atmosphere returned to silence for a moment, punctuated only by the occasional clink of cups touching.

​"Dayat," Lunethra began, her voice very soft. "May I speak honestly?"

​Dayat nodded, setting his cup down on the table.

​Lunethra took a deep breath. "I've wanted to say this for a long time, but I never had the courage. Because I know you've already made your choice, and I respect that immensely."

​Dayat remained silent, listening intently.

​"I just want you to know... my feelings for you aren't merely as a teammate." Lunethra stared at the tea in her cup, not daring to meet Dayat's eyes. "But I know where I stand. I know how much you love Dola, and I would never dream of ruining that."

​Silence enveloped the kitchen for a few moments.

​"I just needed to say it now. After Dalgor's death, I realized that life is too short to keep words unsaid."

​Dayat didn't give an instant answer, and it seemed Lunethra didn't expect one either.

​"I will stay here," Lunethra continued. "Not to wait for you, but because you all are the only family I have now. Verdia is no longer my home. This castle... you all are my home."

​Dayat nodded slowly, his gaze softening. "You mean a lot to this team, Lun. Not just because you cook or tend the garden, but because your presence gives us a sense of peace. That is more than enough."

​Lunethra smiled sincerely, a smile indicating acceptance. "Thank you, Dayat." She rose from her chair. "Don't stay here too long. Dola will surely look for you if she wakes up."

​Dayat nodded slightly as Lunethra walked out. Her footsteps seemed lighter, as if a heavy burden she had been carrying was finally lifted.

​Now Dayat was alone again in the kitchen, staring at the remains of his coffee. He stood up, walking back toward his room, returning to Dola's side. Outside, the Forest of Lamentation might still be full of Plagueborne threats and Wabil's wicked plans, but for tonight, there was a warmth that no darkness could ever extinguish.