The Superior Rebirth: A Hero's Awakening

Even Darkness Has Wounds

The scene opened up with both Xavier and Adam standing before a massive building that read, "Mental Clinic Hospital" in full silver metal on the wall.

Xavier looked confused as to why Adam had brought him here. But before he could question him, Adam calmly began walking toward the hospital entrance, casually saying, "Don't be anxious, Xavier. I'm not plotting anything. You can trust me."

Taking a moment to reflect, Xavier gave in and decided to follow. He was already here, and it wouldn't hurt to see Adam's reasoning.

As they entered the clinic, passing by staff and other admitted patients, the atmosphere shifted. Sterile. Heavy. After a quiet walk through the halls, they arrived at a room marked: Patient Room 21.

Adam knocked firmly, then slowly opened the door.

Inside was a woman dressed in white—standard hospital clothing. Her long, delicate hair hung down like spider silk, shimmering with a brilliant orange hue, like the sun at dawn.

"Miria," Adam said softly, with a sweet tenderness in his voice that caught Xavier completely off guard. He had never heard Adam speak like this before. "How have you been lately?"

The woman didn't answer. She only turned her head slowly—her blazing orange eyes meeting theirs. Her skin was pale, ghostly. Her eyes, lifeless and ringed in black, seemed to peer straight through reality.

Xavier stiffened. Something about her shook him to the core—she looked like a walking corpse, barely holding on to the thread of existence.

Adam stepped closer, kneeling slightly as he ran his hand gently through her hair, almost like he was calming a frightened animal. "Have you been eating? Sleeping well?"

Still no response. Her expression remained blank, but something beneath it twitched. A flicker of irritation. Xavier noticed it.

Adam frowned slightly. Then, realization dawned.

"Wait... you're not mad at me for not visiting in a while, are you?"

That got a reaction. Her cheeks puffed in childish frustration. Then, without warning, she pinched Adam's arm.

"Ow—okay, okay!" he laughed nervously, flinching at the unexpected strength behind the gesture. "I'm sorry, Miria! I won't ever go weeks without visiting again. I promise."

He softened. "Do you forgive me?"

There was a pause.

Then, for the first time in what seemed like years, a radiant smile broke across Miria's face—so warm, so sudden, it lit up the room like sunrise after an endless night.

She threw her arms around Adam, hugging him tightly. Adam blushed, clearly flustered.

Then he turned toward Xavier, suddenly remembering he wasn't alone.

Xavier stood awkwardly at the edge of the room, arms behind his back.

"Ah—sorry," Adam said with a chuckle, quickly recovering his composure. "Xavier, this is Miria."

He gestured toward her, smiling proudly.

"My wife."

"Wife?!" Xavier blurted in shock. "You have a wife?!"

Adam laughed again, sheepishly this time. "Don't say it like that. It shouldn't be that surprising, right?"

He shrugged. "Though, I suppose with how I come off... people assume otherwise."

He turned back to Miria. "And Miria, this is Xavier. The boy I told you about—the one I would meet after leaving for Russia."

Miria's gaze shifted to Xavier, and her eyes locked onto his. Cosmic. Bright. Familiar.