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Everyone was so caught up in partying that they didn't notice time passing, and by the time midnight came, the monastery finally became quiet.
Everyone went back home and the other ninja went to sleep, even Jay, although he didn't seem thrilled to stay in the monastery to begin with, especially after Nya showed him his room. He couldn't stop talking about how "weird" it was to have a room decorated with his favorite color and his favorite stuff, but he still accepted to sleep in it anyway.
In the end, Nya was the only one awake roaming the monastery, from Lloyd's bedroom to Wu's bedroom and finally to his meditation spot.
Nothing.
"Hmmm"
She looked outside until she glimpsed a shadowy figure sitting on the wall. She smiled to herself as she climbed the ladder and approached him quietly.
"Have a hard time sleeping too?"
The shadowy figure (Lloyd) did not respond to her.
"Lloyd?"
No response again as he sat cross-legged looking at the horizon. He almost looked like a stone statue; Nya could swear she didn't see him blink or breathe for a moment.
Nya got closer and put her hands on his shoulder gently and called him again.
"Lloyd?"
Lloyd flinched and moved his head toward her, his expression a mix between confusion and fear, but it changed fast to calm when he realized it was no one other than his sister.
"Oh Nya, I... didn't see you there."
He quickly turned his head back to where he was looking as Nya sighed and sat beside him.
"Are you alright?"
Silence followed Nya's question as Lloyd tapped his knees and bit his lower lip, but she didn't say anything and waited until he finally spoke, his voice so quiet she would have missed it if she wasn't particularly close to him.
"I did the right thing, right? By letting them go with... Ras."
He took a deep breath and words vomited his thoughts before Nya could even react.
"I had to let him—to let them go after what Arin told us about his parents, that Master Wu's doing could have been what cost them their lives. I felt like... I had failed him. I have no right to ask him to stay."
He stopped for a moment to catch his breath and continued a bit more calmly this time.
"I want to believe Master Wu—my uncle, did it for a greater good, but every time I remember Arin's voice as he told us, I just... can't."
He stopped, his voice almost sounding broken, and he coughed in a failed try to hide it, as his tapping became faster.
"And sure, now we know Ras was lying, but... I don't think that would have changed anything. I know what it is like to be manipulated. I know that if I tried to stop him with force, he would withdraw from m—us. Just saying 'what you are doing is wrong' won't convince him. I know from childhood experience, kids are just like that, haha..."
His laugh at the end sounded robotic.
"And I needed him to know that I am okay with it! So when that time comes, he will know the monastery doors are open to them. I—"
He stopped talking as he felt himself embraced by Nya's warmth, her head resting on his.
"Everything will be okay, Lloyd. I promise you."
"I feel... lost."
"I know, I know."
They stood like this for a while until her arms began to loosen a bit
"But to be honest, that wasn't what I was asking about."
"Huh?"
"Lloyd, I saw your soul leave your body. I saw your lifeless body resting on the ground."
Lloyd didn't face her as she spoke, he couldn't; what was he supposed to tell her?
About the agony he felt as his soul was getting sucked? About how he saw his life flash, a mix of tragedy and happiness, or could he tell her how cold it felt when his soul was wandering around, how lonely it was and yet it was peaceful?
Then he felt guilty because for a moment he didn't want to come back—
"I'm fine."
Was the only thing to come out of his mouth.
He stood up, leaving Nya hanging as he stretched his legs, talking so fast so she couldn't say a thing.
"Well, it's too late. I have to sleep now so I can start the search tomorrow, good night!"
He started walking too fast, it almost seemed as if he was running, but Nya didn't chase him; she knew he would withdraw if she tried to press it.
"My doors are always open too."
He froze in his place but didn't dare to look at her; not with how he was acting now, he couldn't risk it.
"I just want you to know that."
He nodded without a word before disappearing.
Lloyd's thoughts were too loud that night.