Finding Strength in Tears.

Looking through the stack of papers, something didn't feel right. "There's no record of the missing students," I muttered to myself as I went through the documents one by one. The faculty room was quiet, and I was the only one left, which made it easier to concentrate.

"Strange," I said, turning to the computer. "There's nothing in the system, either. No records of students who dropped out or any reports about those who went missing."

My brother could be right—this could be an inside job, perhaps with the government's involvement. It was a disturbing thought, but the lack of evidence was even more troubling.

"Ms. Yi," someone knocked on the door, pulling me out of my thoughts. "Aren't you going home? It's already past work hours," a colleague said, pointing at his watch.

"Ah, I'm just finishing some lesson plans. I'll head out soon," I replied with a polite smile. After he left, I sighed, wondering if Lucian had found anything related to the case.

I decided to message my brother for further assistance. After sending him a text, I shut down the computer and gathered my papers into a neat pile.

I stood up, stretched my legs, and left the faculty room. "Where could Lucian be right now? I wonder if he went home alone. Though I doubt it—he doesn't even know the address of the household," I thought aloud as I walked down the hallway.

As I turned a corner, I saw someone standing by the statue, seemingly lost in thought. I immediately recognized him.

It was Lucian, but something was off. He was just staring at the statue, not moving or reacting to anything around him. His usual flustered expression was gone, replaced by a blank, distant look.

"Ehem," I cleared my throat to get his attention, but he didn't respond. "What's wrong with him?" I muttered, stepping closer. I tapped his shoulder and called his name softly.

"Lucian," I said, almost in a whisper. No reaction.

"Lucian!" I repeated, raising my voice a little. Suddenly, he seemed to snap out of whatever trance he was in, but his reaction was alarming.

He started shouting and flailing his arms, his eyes wide with fear.

"AHHH! AHHHH!" he screamed, his breathing erratic and sweat streaming down his face.

I grabbed his shoulders, trying to steady him. "What's wrong? Look at me!" I said, my voice firm but full of concern.

"Please don't kill me again! I can't bear the pain!" he shouted, his voice full of desperation.

"Lucian! Wake up!" I shook him gently, trying to bring him back to reality.

"NO! PLEASE DON'T KILL ME!" he cried, struggling against my grip.

My frustration grew, and I clenched my right hand, then slapped him across the face. The sound echoed through the hallway, but it seemed to work.

His eyes refocused, and his breathing slowed as he looked at me with a mix of confusion and relief.

"Lucian," I said, my voice softer but urgent.

"You're safe. It's just me, Lykon. You're not in danger." I kept a firm hold on his shoulders, hoping my words would calm him down.

It took a moment, but eventually, he seemed to recognize me and nodded slowly, his eyes filling with tears.

"I'm sorry... I don't know what happened," he said, his voice trembling.

"It's okay," I replied, guiding him away from the statue. "Let's get out of here. You're okay now."

I was worried about what might have triggered his reaction, but for now, I just wanted to get him to a safe place where he could calm down.

We ended up outside the campus, sitting on a bench in a quiet corner. I handed Lucian a can of orange juice, hoping it would help calm him down.

"So, what happened?" I asked gently, watching him as he stared at the can in his hands. He was still trembling, his head bowed low, and his expression filled with uncertainty.

"I... I don't know," he said, his voice hesitant and shaky. He shook his head slowly, as if trying to shake off whatever had spooked him.

I let out a sigh, giving him the time he needed to gather his thoughts. It was clear he had been through something intense, and I didn't want to rush him.

"I... No, I saw a little girl," he finally said, his voice barely audible. "In that small room where there were a lot of toys. It was eerie and... scary at the same time."

He took a deep breath, his eyes still fixed on his hands. "She said, 'how dare' I go back in there without knowing anything. 'I am not permitted' to go there if I don't remember a thing." His words were disjointed, but I could sense the fear and confusion beneath them.

"Did she say anything else?" I asked, trying to understand what he was experiencing. It sounded like he had encountered something or someone that triggered a deep-seated fear.

"No, she just... she just looked at me like I wasn't supposed to be there," he said, his voice trailing off. The memory seemed to unsettle him, and I could see his hands trembling more as he recalled the details.

I didn't want to press him too hard, but I needed to know more. "Did you recognize her? Or anything else about the room?" I asked, keeping my voice calm and supportive.

He shook his head again, this time with more vigor.

"No, I... I just felt like I was in the wrong place. Like I was intruding on something I shouldn't have seen." His breathing became unsteady, and he took a sip of the orange juice to calm himself down.

I placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder, hoping it would help ground him. "It's okay, you're not alone. If you need time, take all the time you need," I said, watching as he tried to steady his breath.

"I don't really know a thing." Lucian's voice was bitter, but his tears flowed freely. I glanced at him, my heart aching for the pain he must be feeling.

"I don't really know anything," he repeated, his words full of despair. "Why was I spared? No one ever gives me a clear answer." He looked so lost, like a child desperately seeking an explanation for the chaos in his life.

I sighed and turned away, feeling the weight of his question. "I saved you," I finally said. "Not because I need something from you.

I saved you because I wanted something to protect." The words hung in the air, and when I glanced back at Lucian, I saw his eyes widen in surprise.

"People—no, my brothers—mocked me for my Alice," I explained, my voice filled with memories I'd rather forget. "You saw it before, right? I can open a portal. Any portal."

Lucian nodded, his expression thoughtful, but I could see the flicker of recognition in his eyes. He knew what I was talking about.

"That's the only thing I can do. It's the weakest Alice we have in our household," I continued, trying to keep my voice steady. "And one day, Klein came to me and said, 'Your Alice won't be able to protect anyone. You can only use it to escape from danger. Coward.'"

I paused, letting the memory sink in. "I cried a lot that day because I knew he had a point. I was disregarded by the rest of my family."

Lucian seemed to understand, his tears mingling with a new sense of empathy. "So, you saved me because you wanted to prove them wrong?" he asked quietly.

"Not exactly," I replied, shaking my head. "I saved you because I needed to believe that my Alice could be used for something good, something more than just running away. I wanted to protect someone, and you were there, needing help. I couldn't just leave you to face that darkness alone."

"I'm sorry, Lykon. I'm such a crybaby," Lucian said, finally managing a small smile as he wiped away his tears.

"Don't worry. I understand what you're going through," I replied, trying to sound as sincere as possible.

"About what happened to you earlier—" I started to ask, but Lucian interrupted me, shaking his head.

"No, it was just a nightmare. I need to get a grip," he said, his voice still a bit shaky. "About the investigation, I haven't gathered much information yet, but I'll do my best to find a lead."

"Alright. I'm counting on you," I said, giving him a reassuring nod. "I expect good news from you then."