Morning came. The sun shone brightly, its light cutting through the haze of the slums and casting long shadows over the bustling streets. Shortly after waking, Rel made his way to the orphanage, where he found Faya already up, leaning against the wall as she adjusted her wrist wraps.

  Rel: "Morning. Are you feeling better?"

  She glanced at him, nodding slightly.

  Faya: "I'll feel much better come the afternoon, though..."

  Rel frowned, wishing she had changed her mind about the fight... But that wasn't the only reason he was there. He hesitated, unsure of how to begin.

  Rel: "We... We need to talk about Virno. You had enough on your plate last night, so I didn't tell you, but... there's something you should know."

  Faya's eyes widened, and she stepped closer to him, worry etched across her face.

  Faya: "Rel, you're worrying me... You told me he was home, safe and sound!"

  Rel: "Yeah, and he is. It's not so much about him-- it's about his family. Or w-was. I guess it *is* about him now. Sorry, I'm sounding crazy... Thing is, I overheard a conversation between his mom and the doctor..."

  Faya blinked, caught off-guard.

  Faya: "The doctor...? Well, I guess that makes sense. If Virno was hurt, the doctor probably checked on him since he was around and all."

  Rel shook his head, his expression darkening.

  Rel: "If I heard it right... Virno is cursed."

  Faya: "... Cursed?!"

  Her face twisted with shock and disbelief.

  Faya: "Cursed how...?"

  Rel took a deep breath, trying to explain.

  Rel: "It has something to do with a sword his dad tried to get years ago... His father failed, and the sword cursed him in return. The curse tormented him until the day he died. Now that he's gone... the curse transferred to Virno. The voices will keep calling to him, getting stronger over time. And the only way to break the curse... is to claim the sword."

  Faya's shoulders slumped, her face falling into a mix of sadness and frustration.

  Faya: "That's... horrible."

  Rel: "Yeah... but it doesn't stop there. The doctor thinks that the curse could eventually become so overpowering that Virno won't be able resist anymore. If that happens... chances are he'll go to the sword's resting place himself to try and claim it. And..."

  Faya: "And...?"

  Rel's voice dropped, his tone heavy.

  Rel: "... It seems to be the kind of place you don't return from alive."

  Faya lowered her gaze, staring at the floor in silence.

  Faya: "So... it's only a matter of time until he succumbs...?"

  Rel nods.

  Rel: "The doctor said he'd train him, though. That he'd prepare him so that, when the time comes, he'll have a chance to succeed and break the curse. But Virno's mom... she wasn't happy with the idea."

  Faya: "I can imagine. Accepting that your son needs to train for something that could kill him... No mother would want that."

  Rel: "Yeah..."

  He sighed, his frustration clear.

  Rel: "Anyway, I thought you should know. I don't really know what to do with any of it."

  Faya's expression hardened with determination.

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  Faya: "Well, we have to do *something*! If it comes to it, we'll talk to Miss Anya ourselves!"

  Rel blinked, raising an eyebrow.

  Rel: "Miss Anya...? You know her already?"

  Faya flushed slightly, looking away.

  Faya: "E-everybody knows her! She's started helping around the orphanage!"

  Rel chuckled at her embarrassment, but his smile faded as he remembered the other reason he'd come to see her. He cleared his throat, choosing his next words carefully.

  Rel: "Right... but coming back to you. I guess there's no talking you out of today's fight...?"

  Faya's face turned dead serious, her resolve unshakable.

  Faya: "I've been waiting for this moment for too long, Rel. There's no chance I'm letting it pass by."

  Her determination was absolute, and nothing in the universe could deter her.

  Rel: "Alright. Is it okay if Virno and I come to support you? Or would you rather not have anyone there?"

  Faya shook her head, her answer immediate.

  Faya: "No. Don't come."

  Rel frowned, concerned.

  Faya: "It... Won't be pretty. "

  Rel: "What do you mean...?"

  Faya: "It won't be pretty for Barr."

  Her tone darkened, her voice quiet but fierce.

  Faya: "I'm not holding back today. I'm going to make sure he never touches another girl again... You'll see."

  Rel hesitated, unsure whether to press further. But Faya's expression left no room for argument.

  Rel: "I understand. Then... I wish you the best of luck. And please be careful, yeah?"

  Faya nodded, her determination unwavering.

  Faya: "Don't worry about me! Worry about the poor sods in the audience who'll be traumatized for life after I'm done..."

  Rel couldn't help but smile faintly at her remark.

  Rel: "We'll talk after the fight, then. I'll swing by Virno's place to check on him. If he's up for it, we might come see you afterward. We should all do something to celebrate... we'll think of something nice."

  Faya smiled back, softer this time.

  Faya: "Sounds great...! Can't wait. I'll see you two later, then."

  Rel: "You bet."

  At the same time, Virno was still home, sleeping fitfully. He dreamt of the lake once again.

  The disembodied voice echoed in the depths of his mind.

  Disembodied voice: "Your father... He was too weak. Too weak to conquer me. Too weak to care for his own... Too weak to save even himself."

  Virno stood at the edge of the lake, staring into its still waters. Strange ruins had risen from the depths, breaking through the surface in jagged, ominous shapes. At the entrance to the ruins stood a familiar figure: his father, gazing back at him.

  Disembodied voice: "Look at him. Look at the man who caused you so much pain and suffering. And for what...? Knowledge? Fame? Wealth?"

  Virno tried to shout, to tell the voice to shut up, but no sound escaped his lips. His father turned toward the ruins and walked inside.

  Disembodied voice: "What are you waiting for? Go after him. Prove you're stronger. Better. More capable. Isn't that what you *really* want?"

  Virno's body remained frozen, tears streaming down his face as the voice laughed cruelly.

  Disembodied voice: "Coward. You choose to sit idly by when you could still save what you have left... Where's all that bravado you mustered yesterday to save that girl? Was it cracked the same as your ribs...? I'm afraid no magic can restore that. Your father may have already lost all he had, but you... you should still have reasons to fight."

  A powerful force began pulling Virno toward the ruins, like a violent wind dragging him against his will. He dug his heels into the ground, fighting it.

  Disembodied voice: "You can resist me now, but you are only delaying the inevitable. You WILL come to me. It is only a matter of time... and of how much you're willing to lose."

  The wind grew stronger, lifting Virno off his feet and flinging him toward the entrance.

  Disembodied voice: "Yours is a battle of ceaseless sacrifice, von Virtus... Remember this."

  Just as the ruins' dark maw engulfed him, Virno woke with a scream.

  Virno: "NO!"

  He was drenched in sweat, his heart racing. The sudden movement sent sharp pain tearing through his torso, and he grimaced.

  Virno: "Argh..."

  Hearing her son's scream, Anya bolted into the room.

  Anya: "VIRNO?! What's wrong?"

  She hurried to his side as he winced in pain.

  Virno: "It's... nothing. Just a bad dream."

  With her help, he slowly eased himself back into bed.

  Anya: "I'll fetch you some water... And some meat!"

  She left quickly, returning moments later with a glass of water and a small piece of beef.

  Virno: "Meat...? Mother, how --"

  Anya shook her head.

  Anya: "Don't worry -- it was a gift. The people in the orphanage are too kind... Now, please eat."

  Virno bit into the meat hungrily, savoring the taste. It had been months since he'd eaten any, and he devoured it in moments, washing it down with the water.

  Anya: "Better?"

  Virno nodded, though a flicker of worry lingered in his eyes.

  Virno: "Thank you. But... you should go. Head to the orphanage, coin's more important now. I'm fine."

  Anya shook her head.

  Anya: In the afternoon, perhaps... I want to stay with you this morning. Now get some rest. With a belly full of meat, your nightmares won't dare return!

  She smiled, but Virno could see the concern behind her expression.

  Virno: "Alright... Thank you."

  She kissed his forehead gently and left the room. As the door closed behind her, her smile faded.

  Anya: "A bad dream... He doesn't usually have those. Not as bad as this. Could it be...?"

  She worried silently, her thoughts returning to the curse that loomed over her son's future...