The air still reeked of blood. Not human blood—this scent was thicker, more bitter, mixed with the stench of miasma clinging to my skin like soot that refused to wash away. A thin rain dripped from the edge of the collapsed roof, its chill sliding down my temple, but my body was far too hot to feel it.

The energy inside me spun wildly, like a wire charged with unending current, pressing from every direction, demanding to be released. Every breath felt like swallowing shards of molten iron. Around me, the corpses of monsters began to dissolve into black mist, sucked into the heavy night air. A low hum crawled through my skull, its pulse matching the erratic beat of my heart.

I looked down at my palm—cracks of light ran along my skin, pulsing fast and sharp. I knew this sign. One more step, and I would lose control.

And when an Esper loses control, nothing can stop them—except their Guide.

“Rae.”

Her voice made my head lift. She stood there, a few meters away. My Guide. The only anchor that could keep my mind from shattering.

As an Esper, I lived with a power no ordinary human could possess—and the curse that came with it. Every time I fought against the miasma or pushed my power too far, that limit was worn away. A Guide was the only one who could enter my mind, dampen the storm before it tore everything apart. But that guidance could only happen through direct resonance—physical contact.

My steps were heavy but steady, cutting through the puddles beneath my feet. The air around me rippled, its heat like molten metal. I didn’t take my eyes off her, even though I could see the hesitation in hers.

“Don’t stand there,” my voice was rough, strained by ragged breaths. “You know I can’t hold this much longer.”

I stopped in front of her. Close—too close—until every breath she took brushed against my skin. My right hand rose, my fingers brushing along the curve of her cheek before cupping her jaw. Her skin was cold, a sharp contrast to the burn searing through my fingertips. I felt the tension in her jaw beneath my touch.

Without realizing it, I tilted my head, leaning in until my forehead rested lightly against her temple. Strands of her damp hair clung to my jaw, the chill of it piercing, yet only making the heat in my chest burn hotter.

My left hand came up, touching her back, slowly pulling her toward me. Her body felt fragile beneath my hold, but her presence alone was enough to keep my power from spilling completely over the edge. My chest pressed against her shoulder, feeling her heartbeat—quick, but steady—a sharp contrast to my own, heavy and chaotic.

I closed my eyes for a moment, inhaling deeply near her temple. That faint, familiar scent of hers cut through the blood and rain, sinking in far too deep. The heat in my body surged, pushing against the edges of my control, seeking release through every point of contact.

My thumb traced the line of her jaw slowly, a movement almost like committing it to memory. My lips moved close enough for my words to brush against her skin.

“I need you"