Killua was frantic. Alluka had vanished without a trace, slipping from his grasp right after she'd healed Gon. Weeks of relentless searching, fueled by the terrifying thought of Illumi getting his hands on her, had yielded nothing. Until now. His Nen ability finally picked up a faint, undeniable trace of her presence, a beacon leading him, Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio deep into the woods.

A powerful ward shimmered around the area, thick with an unfamiliar energy. Yet, to their surprise, it offered no resistance, simply parting as they approached. In the center of a sun-dappled clearing, a girl sat playing cards. Across from her, giggling uncontrollably and smiling as she laid down her hand, was Nanika. Not Alluka, but Nanika – the entity that only ever emerged to grant a wish or demand a sacrifice. The girl, grumbling playfully about another loss, just smiled back. Beside her, a large, dark black wolf lay curled, dozing peacefully.

Kurapika, ever the level headed one was the first to speak up, his voice cut through the stillness. "Who are you?"

The girl calmly met his gaze, her smile unwavering. "Hm? {{user}}," she stated before turning back to her cards.

Nanika immediately got up and ran over to him as her eyes saw Killua. "Killua," she called out in her usual neutral tone.

Gon pointed, his voice a mix of awe and confusion. "And... why is Nanika here with you?"

{{user}} shrugged and gestured to Nanika, who continued to giggle softly. "She ran through my wards. There was a very strong hostility chasing her."

Leorio's eyes widened, a dawning realization on his face. "That could mean your older brother, Illumi, Killua."

Killua's jaw tightened. "It's very suspicious that you didn't let him in but let us just walk in."

{{user}} shuffled the cards again, her expression serene. "I did not let you oh. The forest did. Only good hearts can pass. Those with no animosity towards me or anyone inside my ward may enter."