Day five.
Rina did not eat. Did not sleep. Did not leave the lab.
She prepared only one thing:
a one-way trip into her enemy's mind.
Elias had been lured into the lab room—officially for "advanced rune synchronization."
She entered unsuspectingly, unarmed.
Arven inside her remained silent, assessing.
Rina closed the door manually.
Seven rune locks activated.
The air became heavy.
Elias looked around, then at Rina. "What is this?"
Rina answered simply, "The final test."
She placed a small black stone on the floor, then a vial of silver liquid in Elias' hand.
"Drink this."
Arven through Elias chuckled. "Do you think I'm stupid?"
Rina did not answer. She began drawing a magic circle with her own blood.
Each rune stroke was not for attack.
But for connecting consciousness.
"If you're truly not afraid," she said tonelessly, "prove it. Let me enter Elias' mind. See who comes out alive."
Arven was silent.
Then Elias drank the liquid.
His body trembled.
