Forest of Gardenia, A Natural Treasure

Despite the continuous usage of Phantasmal Flicker, the vines still slowly gained on Kieran. So, when Agatha stopped them, Kieran felt tremendous relief. 

'Thank god for my increased internal strength, huh? I'm too young for a heart attack,' Kieran inwardly joked, only to pause and blink while staring into space soon after.

'Wait… when did I become so lighthearted?' Kieran muttered to himself, questioning these little jokes that he began to have with himself.

It happened outside of his notice at first, but this most recent mental blunder was too evident for him to overlook. As Kieran considered the reasons behind it, the first that came to mind was those around him.

With the way he was treated, especially by Scar, who had even jeopardized past relationships to ensure his safety, the vengeful ice that enveloped his heart began to thaw, allowing more emotions to seep through.

Though, Kieran could feel it.