The alarm in the stronghold didn't sound.

  It spread as pressure compressing bones, as area rules closing every gap.

  Arthian knew immediately.

  If they stayed = Erasure.

  Verin knew faster, because she started coughing blood.

  "This way," she said shortly. Didn't turn back.

  Arthian followed. Didn't ask.

  Elene standing outside looked in. "Hurry!"

  "I know!" Arthian shouted back.

  They ran through corridors where power structures cracked in half. Spell field fragments still spinning like storm wreckage.

  Verin stopped. Forced herself to stand, then burned herself again.

  Not attack power, but opening a path.

  She used her own life core as a wedge, prying area rules apart briefly.

  Arthian saw clearly. Every time she did this, something vanished permanently.

  Not power.

  But time.

  "Stop!" he shouted.

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  Verin didn't listen. She kept opening the path.

  Arthian ran up and grabbed her arm. "You're killing yourself!"

  "I know," she replied flatly.

  "Then why still do it?!"

  Verin looked at him. Gaze cold and exhausted.

  "Because if I don't, we both die."

  A pause.

  "At least this way, you still have a chance."

  Arthian released her hand. Not from acceptance, but knowing argument was useless.

  But as the escape route opened, he did something.

  He let the void spread out. Not absorbing from Verin, but from the remains she left behind.

  Burned power. Broken rules. Ownerless spell fragments.

  He gathered it carefully, then sent it back to her.

  Not much, but enough so she didn't have to burn herself that much.

  Verin turned to look. Eyes wide.

  "You... what are you doing?"

  "I'm using what you discarded," Arthian replied. "Not theft."

  She stared at him, then laughed shortly. Coughed blood.

  "You're strange."

  "I've heard that often."

  Pressure from the stronghold surged again. The escape route was closing.

  Verin used the last time—but this time not as heavy, because Arthian helped carry the burden.

  Her body trembled but didn't shatter.

  They broke free from the base perimeter. Entered the lawless zone.

  Verin collapsed. Arthian caught her.

  "Let go!" she pushed.

  "No," he answered shortly.

  Elene ran over. Helped support the other side.

  All three walked on until completely beyond the pressure.

  Verin sat on the ground. Breathing heavily. Blood still flowing from her mouth.

  "Why?" she asked, looking at Arthian. "Why help?"

  He sat beside her. "Because you helped me first."

  "I told you I didn't help."

  "I know," Arthian replied, then smiled faintly. "But the result is the same."

  Verin looked at him long, then shook her head.

  "Don't learn from me," she said, voice faint but clear.

  "If you walk this path, your end will rot worse than mine."

  "I won't walk the same path as you," Arthian replied.

  Verin looked up. "Meaning?"

  "I'll walk my path," he explained. "A path where I don't have to burn myself."

  A pause.

  "A path where I defeat rules, not just dodge them."

  Verin stared at him, then laughed. Voice hoarse.

  "You're insane," she said. "But maybe... maybe that's what's needed."

  She stood up. Legs trembling, but standing.

  "We part ways here," she said.

  Arthian stood too. "Where will you go?"

  "Where people like me go," Verin replied. "Where there's still time left to sell."

  She turned away. Walked off, then stopped.

  "If you succeed," she said without turning back. "If you really defeat the rules."

  A pause.

  "Tell me what it's like."

  Arthian smiled. "I promise."

  Verin walked and vanished into shadow. Leaving the scent of blood and loss behind.

  Elene stood beside Arthian. Looked in the direction Verin disappeared.

  "She... she'll die sooner or later, right?"

  Arthian nodded. "Yes."

  "Then why didn't you stop her?"

  He turned to look at her. "Because that's the path she chose."

  A pause.

  "And I have no right to take anyone's choice away."

  Elene looked at him long, then nodded slightly.

  "Maybe that's what," she said, "makes you different from others."

  Arthian didn't answer. He looked ahead. His path.

  A path where he wouldn't have to rely on anyone's remains.

  A path where he would write the rules, not dodge them.