The group dispersed, leaving Kai and Rerna standing awkwardly in the hallway. The tension was palpable, the air charged with the electricity of their unspoken secrets. Rena broke the silence, her voice softer than usual. "You can't let him get to you, Kai. He's just trying to provoke you."
Kai nodded, his fists still clenched. "I know," he said, his voice tight. "But he's right about one thing. I am different."
Rerna looked at him, her green eyes filled with understanding. "We all are," she said gently. "That's what makes us strong."
Her words hit him like a sledgehammer. They were all outsiders in their ways, brought together by fate and power. They had to trust each other, to rely on their differences to overcome the challenges ahead.
"Thank you," Kai murmured, his gaze dropping to the floor.
Rerna reached out, her hand ghosting over his clenched fist. "We're in this together," she assured him. "Whatever you're dealing with, you can tell me."
