The rain fell like whispers from a forgotten past, each drop carrying fragments of a memory he could no longer reach. Ili stood at the edge of the city square, the pendant in his trembling hand heavier than ever. Around him, the world blurred—lights smearing across the slick pavement, voices drowned beneath the storm's relentless roar.

Through the curtain of rain, a shadow stirred. Her shadow. He didn't need to see her face; something deep inside him knew. His breath hitched, a fragile plea escaping before he could stop it.

"Wait… please…"

For a fleeting heartbeat, the world held its breath. His voice faltered, hope and despair colliding. "Is that you...? I finally—"

But the shadow dissolved into the storm before he could finish. He staggered, his grip tightening on the pendant until it bit into his palm. He opened his hand to find blood mingling with the rain, his chest hollow as the weight of the emptiness crushed him.

"I can't keep chasing shadows," his voice swallowed by the storm.

"Why…?" he whispered, and as the rain poured, it hid the tears streaking down his face, carrying them into the night.