"Urgh..."
Nolan clenched his fists, his earlier bravado crumbling under the weight of the truth he couldn't deny. Kai wasn't just some stupid bird, as he accused him of being; he was that. And if his brother had taken him along, then the danger he'd faced must have been…
No. He wouldn't think about that. Not now.
Instead, he lifted his chin, meeting his brother's gaze with renewed determination.
"Brother—I'm strong now!" he declared, voice ringing with conviction. "I awakened a month ago! I even got a powerful resonance gift!"
His brother's expression softened, a distant emotion flickering in his mercury eyes. "Good. I'm happy for you."
Nolan's chest swelled, and for a moment, he couldn't resist shooting a smug glance at Kai—See? My brother's proud of ME—but the bird's knowing smirk made him bite back his gloating. Right. This wasn't the time to brag.
Then, an idea struck him.
A brilliant idea.
