The air around them crackled with unseen energy, the power radiating from both Seraphina and Celestia palpable. Kaito stood frozen in the center, unsure of what to say or how to break the standoff.
"I don't want a fight," Kaito began, raising his hands cautiously. "This isn't the time or place—"
"Oh, there won't be a fight," Celestia interrupted, her voice smooth and calming. "I'm simply giving you a choice, Kaito. One that will determine your future."
Seraphina's fists clenched, and the shadows around her seemed to twist, reacting to her rising anger. "You think he'll choose you? You're delusional, Celestia."
The angel's wings unfurled slightly, shimmering with an otherworldly glow. "I don't need delusion, Seraphina. I have truth on my side. You're keeping him chained to the Abyss, a place where he'll be consumed. I can free him."
Kaito's head spun, the weight of their words pressing in on him from all sides. Every instinct told him to side with Seraphina—after all, she had been the one to protect him, the one who had helped him harness the power that now coursed through his veins. But Celestia's offer hung in the air like a beacon, promising escape from a dark fate.
Before he could speak, Seraphina stepped forward, her eyes locked on Celestia. "You think you can just swoop in here and take him from me?" Her voice was deadly quiet. "He's tied to the Abyss now, and nothing you say or do will change that."
Celestia's gaze softened as she turned to Kaito, ignoring Seraphina's venomous tone. "You're stronger than this," she said gently. "You don't have to be part of their world. You have the power to walk away."
The shadows within Kaito flared in response to her words, a reminder of the Abyssal power inside him. He swallowed hard, feeling torn between two forces that were quickly spiraling out of his control.
"Enough!" Kaito's voice cut through the rising tension. "This isn't a decision I can just make right here."
Both girls fell silent, watching him closely.
"I need time," Kaito said, his voice steady but strained. "I need to figure this out. This... power inside me, the Abyss, it's not something I can just ignore. But I can't make a choice when I don't fully understand it."
Seraphina relaxed, if only slightly. Celestia, however, was undeterred. She took a step closer to Kaito, her eyes soft with understanding. "I understand, Kaito. But know this—I'll be here when you're ready. The light is always waiting for you."
Without another word, Celestia turned, her wings folding gracefully behind her as she vanished into the distance, leaving Kaito and Seraphina standing alone in the shadow-filled courtyard.
Seraphina let out a frustrated breath. "She's going to keep coming back, Kaito. Don't be fooled by her. Her kind doesn't care about you—they only care about maintaining their precious balance. If she gets her way, she'll take you away from me... and from the Abyss."
Kaito rubbed his temples, the weight of the situation settling over him. "I don't know what to do, Seraphina. This power... I'm scared of it. I'm scared of losing control."
Seraphina stepped closer, her hand brushing his. "I'll help you. I promised I would. But you have to trust me."
He looked into her eyes, seeing the mix of concern and determination. For now, that was enough.
But as they stood there, both of them knew the battle was far from over. The forces of light and shadow were converging, and soon, Kaito would have to choose where his allegiance truly lay.