After Elena finished packing her bag, she zipped it up tightly, as if closing a part of her day along with it. She stood for a moment in the middle of the room, her eyes slowly wandering around, taking in the walls, the furniture, and the window she was used to looking out of onto the street every morning.

  She walked toward the window and opened it.

  Almost at the same moment, the silence of the street was pierced by the short honk of a car, familiar enough to bring a faint smile to her lips without her noticing.

  She leaned slightly to look outside.

  There, right in front of the house, was the black car she knew well, parked as usual. Behind the windshield, Ryo's face appeared, waving his hand and calling out in his usual playful tone... the tone he specifically used when he wanted to tease her.

  He said loudly:

  - Hey! Are you still not coming down, my mistake?

  Elena raised an eyebrow, feigning annoyance, then opened the window wider and replied sarcastically:

  - I'm ready... coming now.

  She quickly closed the window, grabbed her bag, and dashed toward the stairs lightly, her steps barely touching the ground.

  As soon as she stepped out of the house, she saw Ryo getting out of the car and walking toward her confidently. He approached and simply took the bag from her hand without asking.

  She looked at him with a slight frown and crossed her arms over her chest.

  - How many times must I tell you... not to call me "my mistake"?

  Ryo smiled his usual smile, a mix of mischief and charm, then suddenly turned and ran toward the car, calling out challengingly:

  - Get in... my mistake!

  Elena muttered softly in irritation as she followed him quickly, then opened the door with a little force and sat beside him.

  Before he could start the engine, she raised her hand and tapped his shoulder.

  Ryo laughed, tilting his head to the side as if avoiding another strike.

  - Oh! What's this violence?

  he said, laughing.

  Finally, Elena smiled a little, but crossed her arms again and stared at the road ahead.

  She said quietly, with a slight hint of threat:

  - If you call me that again... you'll regret it, Ryo.

  Ryo smiled as he started the engine.

  - Alright... then what do you want me to call you?

  She replied coldly:

  - I warned you.

  Ryo laughed again as the car began moving away from the house.

  - We'll see.

  Silence lasted for a few minutes, broken only by the sound of the engine and the wind hitting the windshield.

  Then Elena suddenly broke the silence, in a tone full of obvious cunning:

  - By the way... at university today...

  Ryo looked at her for a moment before returning his eyes to the road.

  - What?

  She smiled and said:

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  - Do you know that blonde girl who always sits with Mateo?

  He thought for a moment and said:

  - You mean... Samantha?

  She nodded with a smile.

  - Yes, Samantha.

  Then she spoke slowly, as if enjoying the build-up:

  - Guess what she asked me yesterday?

  Ryo sighed.

  - What?

  She answered, almost bursting into laughter:

  - She asked me if I was dating anyone.

  Ryo's expression darkened slightly.

  - Stop. I don't want to hear more.

  He added irritably:

  - I've told you many times... I don't care about these things.

  Elena burst into laughter, looking at his annoyed face.

  - Now... we're even.

  Then she tried to change the subject quickly:

  - By the way, Ryo... do you know what my mom told me?

  - What this time?

  - Something strange happened at the hospital where you work.

  Ryo raised his eyebrows with interest.

  - What happened?

  She said enthusiastically:

  - A woman gave birth to quadruplets!

  Then she added, laughing:

  - And imagine... my mom said the father of the kids looks a lot like you... not just in appearance, but even in the way he behaves.

  Then she continued with light sarcasm:

  - I imagined you for a second trying to take care of four children... your frowning face, your grumpiness, and that lost look that appears on your face when things get out of control.

  Ryo laughed, shaking his head.

  But at that moment... he noticed something strange.

  Elena's smile suddenly faded... if only for a very brief moment.

  Her lips moved as if she was about to say something important...

  But she stopped.

  What Ryo didn't know was that a voice had been echoing inside her throughout the trip...

  a faint voice... whispering nonstop:

  "We are approaching... approaching more..."

  Ryo looked at her, puzzled.

  - What's wrong?

  She smiled faintly and shook her head.

  - Nothing.

  He joked:

  - Ah, I see! You're afraid of becoming the mother of my four children!

  Then he added, laughing:

  - Don't worry... that honor will be yours alone... I promise.

  Elena laughed, but her smile quickly dissolved.

  She said quietly:

  - No... that won't happen.

  Then she looked at him and added mischievously:

  - I won't marry you... nor have your children.

  She continued:

  - Find someone else.

  And she smiled:

  - And if that ever happens...

  I swear I'll be the biggest mistake of your life... just as you always call me.

  But the truth in her depths was not that.

  That voice... which had accompanied her since the beginning of her life...

  was now stronger than ever.

  It repeated relentlessly:

  "We will be reborn...

  and finally... we will become one entity."

  Elena tried to push the thoughts away, but she knew deep down that tonight would not be ordinary.

  Something... was approaching.

  She smiled and said:

  - By the way, Ryo... where are you taking me?

  He didn't answer.

  He just looked at her... then nodded silently.

  After a short while, the car stopped in front of a luxurious hotel on the outskirts of the Cairngorms resort.

  Elena's eyes widened in astonishment.

  The building looked like a dreamy palace amidst the white snow.

  The warm lights shining from the large windows reflected on the snow, creating an almost magical scene.

  Ryo got out of the car and gently opened the door for her.

  - We've finally arrived.

  Isn't the place amazing?

  Elena exclaimed in admiration:

  - It's incredible!

  I didn't expect it to be this beautiful!

  Ryo looked at her with eyes full of affection.

  - I knew you'd love it.

  They entered the hotel, greeted by warm air mixed with the scent of burning wood and hot drinks.

  In the middle of the large lobby, a stone fireplace blazed with golden flames.

  Elena admired the high decorated ceiling and the huge chandelier with obvious admiration.

  When they received the key to the suite, Ryo walked beside her in the corridor, observing her steps... she moved with childlike excitement as if discovering a new world.

  She entered the suite and stopped in front of a glass balcony overlooking the snow-covered mountains.

  She ran toward it, placing her hands on the cold glass.

  - Oh my God... the view is breathtaking!

  Ryo stood behind her, watching her radiant face.

  He thought to himself:

  "If only you knew how beautiful you look right now...

  and how much I love seeing you happy."

  After they rested a little, they went out to the ski slopes.

  The air was cold but refreshing, and the snow sparkled under the soft sunlight.

  Ryo helped her adjust her ski equipment, smiling.

  - Are you ready?

  She nodded enthusiastically, then laughed:

  - Try to catch up with me!

  She sped across the snow.

  Ryo looked at her with eyes full of love... while she was lost in excitement, unaware of the depth of his gaze.

  She was sliding quickly, snow scattering behind her.

  She didn't know she was being watched.

  And she didn't know that her strange life was only the beginning.

  What was coming... would be far stranger.

  And greater.

  Suddenly...

  She noticed something strange emerging from her body.

  Light.

  Small sparks, like flames, flickered.

  She froze in place.

  - What's happening to me...?

  She stopped near a snow-covered pine tree and sat, trying to catch her breath.

  - Just an illusion...

  I didn't sleep well last night...

  My mind is confused...

  There's no other explanation.

  Then she said anxiously:

  - Isn't that right... Zill?

  It was Zill, the voice that had accompanied her since childhood.

  A different entity within her... but living inside her.

  His voice trembled as he replied:

  - Elena... I think you're being watched.

  Her eyes widened.

  - Who's watching me? And why?

  Zill said fearfully:

  - Danger... Elena.

  The shadow dwellers.

  I think... you need to finish the last pattern... before the time comes.

  Her voice trembled as she said:

  - I don't want to go through something like... the previous two times.