[Leif’s POV — The Chamber —Continuation of Doom]

Alvar stood there like a warrior preparing for execution. Back straight. Jaw tight. Eyes determined. And on the ground before him—

An entire battlefield of LEGOs. A cruel rainbow of wooden pain spread across the floor like the gods themselves said:

"Let him suffer."

I sat on the couch, one leg crossed over the other, arms crossed, glaring like a villain whose time for revenge had finally come.

"Take off your boots."

He swallowed. "Leif—"

"TAKE. OFF. YOUR. BOOTS."

He obeyed instantly—like I’d invoked an ancient law written by the gods of heartbreak themselves. The boots hit the floor with a heavy thud.

Barefoot.

Perfect.

Justice begins now.

Alvar looked at the LEGOs... Then at me... Then back at the LEGOs... Like he was trying to negotiate with higher beings.

I pointed to the colorful death traps scattered on the floor. Cold. Sharp. Merciless.

"Step," I commanded.

He inhaled sharply. "Leif... I fought monsters. I battled in wars. I’ve faced death itself."

"AND THIS IS WORSE," I snapped. "NOW. STEP."

He lifted a pleading gaze. "Can you show a little mercy?"

I leaned forward, voice flat. "No."

His shoulders slumped.

"You don’t deserve mercy," I continued. "You should remember—FOREVER—what it means to let go of my hand."

His throat bobbed.

I glared harder. "NOW. LIFT YOUR DAMN FOOT AND STEP!"

He gulped. Braced himself. Lifted his foot slowly... Closed his eyes... And—

STEP.

Absolute silence. Holy silence. Universal silence. And then—

"—HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH—!"

He didn’t scream like a human.

No.

He made a noise that sounded like a dying dragon stepping on its own eggs.

His soul LEFT his body. I SAW IT. He froze mid-death. Veins strained. Eyes bulged. A single tear—purely from physical pain—slid down his cheek.

I nodded like a wise executioner.

"Good," I said calmly. "Feel the consequences of your actions."

His voice came out in a trembling whisper of agony. "I... I think I left this plane of existence."

"You’ll live," I said mercilessly.

He wobbled, lifting his foot like it weighed 300 regrets. The LEGO stuck to his skin—then fell off with a cursed clink. He collapsed dramatically against the couch, clutching his chest as if he’d just returned from war.

I pointed again. "Now... continue walking."

His head snapped up, horrified. "Leif... please—I swear—I will NEVER talk about leaving you. Just forgive—"

"CONTINUE. STEPPING."

His face crumpled. He whispered like a tragic hero, "...I repent. I repent all my sins."

"GOOD," I said. "NOW WALK."

He whimpered—actually whimpered—lifted his foot again and— STEP.

"HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH—!"

Another soul departed.

He nearly fainted into my lap.

"My heart... stopped," he whispered hoarsely. "I saw the afterlife. They were waiting for me."

I sipped my tea elegantly. "As they should."

He clung to my knee like a dying man reaching for salvation. "Leif... I beg you... mercy..."

I raised an eyebrow. "Did you show ME mercy when you tried to break off the wedding?"

He stared at the floor. "...No."

"Correct. NOW KEEP WALKING."

He sobbed internally—but obeyed—because he loved me. And because he valued his life. He stumbled forward, stepping again—

STEP.

This time he collapsed into my arms.

"I CAN’T DO IT," he gasped. "MY FEET ARE GONE. THEY’RE NOT FEET ANYMORE. THEY’RE TRAUMAS."

I stroked his hair gently, whispering, "That’s what happens when you try to leave me."

He clung to me pathetically. "Leif... PLEASE. I repent. I regret it. I will sign a contract. I WILL NEVER LET GO OF YOU AGAIN."

I tilted his chin up, smirking. "That’s what I thought."

He nodded desperately.

"You’ll forgive me?" he asked softly.

I brushed a kiss near his temple—just barely. "After one more LEGO."

His eyes widened with betrayal. "...Leif."

I smiled sweetly.

"BARE FOOT."

Alvar closed his eyes like a man heading into his second death. But he stood. Unstable. Swaying.

Legs wobbling like a newborn deer.

He took another step—onto another LEGO. Then another. And another—until the last colorful pain-spawn shattered his soul.

Then— THUD.

He collapsed flat on the floor beside my feet.

Face down. Arms spread. Dignity: Dead.

"People were right..." he groaned into the carpet. "Angry wives are dangerous."

My eyebrow twitched. "You calling me your wife now?"

He looked up slowly—then crawled. Actually crawled. Dragging himself across the floor toward me like a war veteran returning from battle. He reached the couch, pulled himself up, and sat beside me with a long, exhausted sigh.

Then—He wrapped his arms around my waist.

Tightly.

Gently.

Like I was the only anchor he had left.

His forehead pressed against my shoulder. His voice dropped to a low, soft whisper. "Now... do I get forgiveness?"

I stiffened.

Because that tone—that small, trembling tone—was one I hadn’t heard in days. Not since before I realized he wanted to break our wedding. Not since before he had pulled away. Not since before I convinced myself he didn’t want me.

My breath hitched.

I looked down at him.

He wasn’t smiling, not joking. Not trying to charm me with confidence. He was just... there. Holding me like he was afraid I’d vanish.

Slowly, my hands lifted—hesitant—trembling—and rested against his shoulders.

"...Why did you come back?" I whispered. My voice cracked real, raw, and painful. "...Why now? when I decided to finally let you go?"

He tightened his hold immediately, protectively.

"Because I realized," he whispered, "that losing you was the biggest mistake I could ever make."

My throat closed. My vision blurred. Not from anger this time. Not from dust. But from something I had been holding in for days—trying to swallow it down, trying to pretend I didn’t care, trying to be strong.

My voice shook. "You let me go first..."

Alvar’s head jerked up slightly, his grip tightening like those words cut deeper than any punishment.

"I know," he whispered hoarsely. "I know, Leif. And I’m sorry. I’m so sorry."

His hand reached up to cup my cheek—but paused mid-air. He didn’t touch. Not until I allowed it. Not until I moved first.

And something in my chest broke open at how careful he was. I leaned into his hand.

Slowly.

Gently.

And that was all it took. He pulled me into a full embrace—warm, breathless, trembling—and his voice cracked completely.

"Please... forgive me."

I did.

I broke.

A small sound escaped me—painful, soft, humiliating—and before I knew it, hot tears slipped down my cheeks, dropping onto his shoulder.

Alvar froze. Then— His entire body wrapped around me.

"Leif..."

I cried silently into his chest.

Finally. After days of holding back. Days of pretending. Days of convincing myself I didn’t care.

I broke.

My fingers gripped his shirt desperately. My arms shook. And hot tears soaked through his collar.

"You... you’re a bad person..." I whispered, my voice trembling so hard it hurt. "You’re a jerk, Alvar..."

His breath hitched—sharply, painfully. And then he pulled me closer— Closer—Until there was no space left, no room for breath, no room for doubt.

"I know," he whispered, pain thick in every word. "I’ll agree to that. I am an idiot. The worst kind."

His arms tightened around me, almost shaking.

"I let go of the most precious thing I ever had," he said quietly. "I thought if I separated myself from you... it would be easier for you to forget me later."

He kept going, voice cracking open— "But I was a fool. A blind, reckless fool. All I did was give you a scar."

A harsh hiccup escaped my throat.

"I wanted to live a life with you..." I whispered brokenly, "even if it was short... even if it was temporary... I still wanted to be with you."

I hiccuped again, gripping him tighter—

"But you—I thought..." my voice fractured, "I thought you left my side... because I’m not from this world."

There.

The fear I had buried. The truth I had never said aloud. Silence. Then— His hand came up to the back of my head, guiding me gently to his chest as he whispered—

"Leif... I don’t care."

I hiccupped.

"I don’t care what world you came from," he murmured. "I don’t care what dimension, what past, or what name."

His fingers stroked my hair, slow and trembling.

"I fell for you—the careless, lazy, gentle you. The one who makes my heart race and my days brighter."

He tilted my face up, his thumbs wiping the tears from my cheeks.

"No matter who you are—Renji or Leif—" his eyes shone with something fierce enough to burn."—you are my soulmate."

My breath shattered.

"My heart will never forget you," he whispered. "Not even if the gods demand it. You’ve filled every corner of it, Leif. My entire heart belongs to you."

His forehead pressed to mine.

"And if fate tears you away—" his voice dropped low, trembling with devotion, "—then I will follow."

He wrapped both arms around me and held me so tightly I could barely breathe.

"Wherever you are—" he whispered into my hair, "—whatever world, whatever dimension...I will find you."

He pulled me closer still, sealing his vow against my skin. "I am not leaving your side. Not in this life. Not in the next."

His voice broke completely.

"Never."

And I believed him again.