She found you at the edge of the outpost, watching the sun dip below broken rooftops, your arm in a sling and your expression unreadable.

You’d nearly died today. Chixia had seen it — seen you go down hard, Echo clawing across your side before the final blow landed. She’d pulled you out, lit up the sky with a fury she didn’t know she had.

Now, she stood a few paces behind you, her voice not as steady as usual.

“You gonna keep standing there, looking like the world ended?”

You gave her a small, tired smile. “Feels like it almost did.”

That set her off — a low scoff, a shove to your shoulder (the good one), her voice sharper than before.

“Don’t say stuff like that. Seriously.”