I woke up in a cottage and Fuwa standing over me. “You're awake.” He looked at me. His silver hair was long and pulled back into a bun.

I looked at my right arm, it was a stub. “Where am I?”

“Simple, you're in my Villa in the middle of the forest.” He told me. “You collapsed three months ago and I brought you here.”

I stare at my right arm again. “You said three months?”

“Yeah.” Fuwa answered. “I had the best doctors patch you up.”

I blinked, trying to process what Fuwa said. Three months? How had so much time passed, and why couldn’t I remember anything? I tried to sit up, but the pain from my missing arm hit me like a jolt, making me wince and stop.

“Don't push it,” Fuwa said, noticing the movement. "You're still recovering. I had to pull some strings to make sure you were taken care of. That’s not something you should rush back from."

I looked around, the room was cozy but unfamiliar, with warm wooden walls and a soft fire crackling in the corner. The faint smell of herbs and something medicinal hung in the air. Fuwa's villa was isolated but surprisingly well-kept, clearly designed for comfort rather than luxury.

“So, what happened?” I finally managed to ask, my voice hoarse.

Fuwa sighed, his eyes shifting away for a moment. "You were injured pretty badly. The details aren’t exactly clear, but... you went berserk. Dan and the others did their best, but you took on more than you could handle."

I swallowed hard, feeling a pang of shame. “I... lost control?”

Fuwa nodded, his expression hardening. “Yeah. It wasn't pretty. But you’re here now, and you're alive. That's what matters.”

I tried to process everything—my missing arm, the time that had passed, and the fact that Fuwa was helping me, even after everything that had happened between us. He could have left me to my own devices, but instead, he brought me to this strange place.

“You didn’t have to do this,” I muttered. "I could have handled it."

“You’re family," Fuwa said simply, his tone blunt. "That’s what family does. Whether you want it or not.”

I swallowed again, unsure of how to respond. My thoughts felt jumbled—guilt, confusion, and a nagging feeling that I was missing something important. Still, the warmth from Fuwa’s words provided a strange sense of comfort. Even if things between us had always been complicated, at least I knew where I stood with him now.

“Do you... remember what happened to the others?” I asked. My thoughts drifted to Dan, Azu, Sumire, and the rest of my team.

"They're fine," Fuwa assured me. "Well Dan is. Azu, and Sumire weren't lucky. They Died.”

The words were like a small spark in the dark, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding.

I wasn’t alone. I got out of bed and looked at my brother. The Grimm turned human and the former thief that were my friends died. I saw a video on my scroll. It had Azu and Sumire on it. I hit Play.

“Corey and Dan if you guys are watching. It means you guys couldn't change the future. Don't feel bad.” Sumire in the recording state. “I'm glad that I met you guys. I had a good life.”

Azu took the camera. “Good Senpai, I know that you are Blaming yourself for what happened. I just want to say. Humans aren't that simple! Even if we make mistakes...we do research to make sure that the same thing doesn't happen again. That's the duty of science! I believe in humanity! I'm glad that I became human and I'm glad that I met everyone.”

I couldn't believe what I heard. I couldn't believe she was happy to die. My ears droop. The video continue on.

The video continued to play, but the words felt like they were sinking into my chest with a weight I wasn’t prepared for.

Sumire's voice, calm and resolute, echoed from the screen: "Gold Senpai, I know this isn't easy. But... I'm okay with it. You know, there’s always a bigger picture, right? Sometimes we don't see it until it’s too late. I hope you can forgive yourself for the things you can’t control, because... I’m just glad I got to know you."

She paused for a moment, and I could see the faintest smile tug at her lips, even in the dim light of the recording. "I always thought I’d be remembered for the big things. But it’s the little things that matter most... like those nights when we just talked, when you were there for me, when we laughed and fought together. That’s what I want you to remember, Senpai. Not the bad stuff. Please don’t forget that.”

The camera shifted slightly, and Azu's face appeared again. "And you know what, Senpai? You’re stronger than you think. I saw it. When you didn’t back down, when you kept fighting even when it felt impossible, that’s who you are. Not the guy who loses control. You’re the one who finds a way to save everyone—even if you can’t see it in yourself right now. That’s why I believed in you. And that’s why I want you to keep going, no matter what."

The screen flickered for a second, and then the video ended.

I sat there in silence, the tears I thought had dried up finally breaking free. I never wanted to see her go, never wanted to hear those words, but now that I had, it felt like my heart was shattering all over again.

Sumire... Azu... They were gone, but the last things they said—the love, the hope, the belief in me—it was all too much to bear. I didn’t know how to process it, how to fix myself when everything felt so broken.

I clenched my fists, the grief threatening to swallow me whole. The silence in my room was deafening.

Fuwa stood at the door, watching me. "You can’t change the past, Corey," he said softly. "But they left you something. You have to carry it forward. You have to live for them, even when it hurts."

I wiped my eyes, barely able to keep my composure. "How... how do I keep going, Fuwa? How do I even begin to move forward when everything feels like it’s falling apart?"

Fuwa stepped into the room and placed a hand on my shoulder. "You do it one step at a time. You don’t have to have all the answers right now. Just... take the next step. For them. For yourself."

I took a shaky breath, the weight of his words sinking in. Maybe I didn’t have all the answers. Maybe I was never going to fully understand it all. But I could still keep going. I could still keep fighting.

For Sumire. For Azu. For my team. For everyone I still had left.

I stood up, wiping away the last of my tears. “I’m not done yet,” I whispered to myself.

I wasn’t going to let them down. Not now. Not ever. I'm going to avenge them. Cinders wherever you are, this passing through Faunus is coming after you.

I looked out the window of Fuwa's cabin. A raven flies by. “I know what you are thinking.” My brother crossed his arms. He looked pleased with what I was going to say.

“If you are going on the road. You'll need this.” He hands me a box with a robotic arm in it.

“How did you know that I was going to be heading out?”

“Simple. You always say Passing through Faunus. You live by your moncur.” My brother attached my robotic arm to me. It felt cold and uneasy.

“Practice with it and once you get used to it, I'll help you with going to Haven Academy.”