And in that moment, Mirai made a decision. She has to die.
Maybe if Holea died, Mother would stop pressuring her. Maybe she could finally be free.
With fury in her heart, Mirai tensed her legs, ready to lunge.
But the moment she tried to move—
She froze.
No, it was worse than that.
Her body stayed kneeling, but her mind was spinning, her soul suddenly feeling loose, unsteady… as if something inside her was being ripped away.
"No!" she gasped, clutching her chest. "What—what's happening?!"
She turned toward Yu Holea, her voice rising in panic, anger, and fear.
"What did you do?! WHAT'S HAPPENING TO ME?!"
Yu Holea finally looked at her.
Her expression was calm. Cold. Steady as stone.
"You're returning what never belonged to you," Holea said evenly. "With interest."
Mirai's eyes went wide. "No... no, no, no... this isn't possible!" she shrieked. "You can't do this! You can't!"
But Holea didn't flinch.
"Oh, I can," she said. "And I am."
