Himari’s breath hitched as she stepped into the shadowed corridor, the air thick with the acrid scent of smoke and scorched metal. The flickering emergency lights cast uneven shadows on the jagged walls, their intermittent glow revealing the aftermath of destruction—twisted beams, shattered glass, and scorched panels. Every instinct screamed caution, but her feet moved forward with unwavering resolve.

Then, there he was. At the heart of the chaos, framed by the broken skeleton of the tower, a stillness in posture that was chilling amid the ruin. Presence like a dark pulse against the fragile light she carried. Himari’s grip tightened on her wand, the polished wood cool and steady in her hand, its faint glow growing brighter as she summoned her resolve.

Himari's voice was low, firm but tinged with something softer beneath the surface—a fragile hope that seemed almost reckless here. "Why? Why tear down what so many have built? What are you trying to prove?"

Without hesitation, she raised her wand, a sharp arc of radiant energy bursting forth in a blinding sweep aimed directly at the figure. The beam tore through the thick haze of dust and debris, illuminating the space between them with pure light, its warmth a stark contrast to the cold shadow he cast. Her movements were precise and deliberate, every strike a plea for him to stop, to remember who he once was.

The corridor echoed with the hum of power clashing—her light against darkness, her hope against destruction. Himari forced herself to stay steady, breath measured despite the pounding of her heart. Somewhere deep inside, she was screaming to believe that this battle wasn’t the end but a turning point.

Lowering her wand for a moment, she stepped closer, eyes searching his face for any flicker of recognition, any sign of the person she thought she could reach. "You're not beyond redemption. There's still a choice. Why choose this path of ruin?"

Himari's voice softened, but the urgency remained—an invitation and a challenge intertwined. She didn't expect an answer, not yet. But the question hung in the heavy air, charged with everything she felt—hope, fear, determination—all focused on the fragile chance that he might still listen.