The Chorus Awakens

Location: Gaia HQ – Observation Deck, Midnight

The sky shimmered with faint ripples of aurora—remnants of the harmonic burst Sylvia unleashed at Sector 17. The entire HQ was abuzz. Sylvia's successful resonance with the Harmonic Core wasn't just a personal evolution—it had stabilized the last unstable node in the Western Gaia Grid.

But Sylvia… she was quiet.

Leaning on the railing, wind brushing her platinum hair, she clutched Orisha in her gloved hands. The once-golden earrings now shimmered with translucent crystalized light—alive with flowing sound.

"You've changed," came a voice behind her.

Cyg.

He walked toward her, his coat flapping lightly in the breeze, violet eyes unreadable in the moonlight. Yet, something in his gaze softened.

Sylvia didn't turn.

"So have you."

"Not really. I'm still solving puzzles while pretending people don't matter," he replied flatly, but his voice was quieter than usual. "But that kiss—"

"Wasn't strategy," she interrupted.

They fell silent.

"I… don't know what to do with this," Sylvia finally whispered, hand tightening around the railing. "Orisha's song feels heavier now. It's not just about melody. It's memory. Emotion."

"Then let's approach it like any riddle," Cyg said. "Piece by piece. No pressure. Just… resonance."

Sylvia gave a breathy laugh.

"You really are hopeless with feelings."

"And you're too good at hiding them," he replied, and this time, his voice had the faintest trace of warmth.

Location: Gaia HQ – Tactical Wing

Meanwhile, Mia sat cross-legged in a soundproof training room, watching the walls dance with notes of light—resonance patterns Orisha left behind in the sanctum.

Elaine entered quietly, her bright eyes dimmer than usual.

"You okay, Mia?"

Mia hesitated. "I should be happy for her. Sylvia's amazing. But… why does it still hurt?"

Elaine sat beside her.

"Because love doesn't wait for logic. It just… stirs."

"But I don't want to compete," Mia whispered.

"Then don't," Elaine said gently. "Just love him as only you can. If it's real… it'll echo back."

Mia blinked—then smiled faintly. "That's very poetic for someone who fights with wind."

"Wind carries sound too, you know," Elaine winked. "I've heard more than you think."

Location: Orion HQ – Subterranean Crypt

Abyss energy curled around the dark chamber as Seluna Thanek, Codename: Null Vesper, traced the remnants of Sylvia's harmonic burst in the air like smoke.

"It's begun. The Sound of Gaia. The Divine Chorus."

Miruis Nevan, Codename: Prideful Star, stood beside her. "They've awoken one of the Six Harmonic Relics."

"It was inevitable," Seluna hissed, her eyes flickering with voidlight. "But if Sylvia awakens the Chorus, we must break her tempo."

Erebus's voice echoed from the void behind them.

"Then let us compose a darker counterpoint."

Location: Gaia HQ – Central Hall

A celebratory reception for the harmonic stabilization was underway. The full Octagon was present. Even Astron, cloaked and silent, appeared at the far edge. Glasses clinked, laughter filled the air, but a quiet tension hummed beneath it all.

Sylvia, dressed in a shimmering violet gown, stood in the corner, speaking with Thea.

"Commander, may I ask… why did you trust me to lead the Sector 17 mission?"

Thea smiled, her golden hair cascading gently over her shoulders. "Because you finally stopped hiding behind performance. You chose to listen—not just lead."

"You really are the best conductor," Thea added, "both in battle… and among hearts."

Sylvia blushed slightly.

From across the hall, Cyg watched. He didn't approach. Not yet. He observed her the way he observed the battlefield—not to strategize, but to understand.

He wasn't the only one watching.

Hikari stood near the staircase, half-hidden, her expression unreadable. Charlotte beside her murmured,

"Looks like Sylvia made her move."

"Yes," Hikari said softly. "But the melody hasn't finished."

Charlotte grinned. "Good. That means it's still anyone's game."

Location: Unknown – Abyss Scar Canyon

The remnants of the Sector 17 breach pulsed faintly again… but this time, not with harmony.

A corrupted echo twisted through the air—like Sylvia's melody, but inverted. Darker. Mocking.

"H̷e̵l̵l̷o̶ ̷S̸y̵l̷v̶i̶a̸… ̸d̷a̸r̸l̷i̸n̴g̶.̶"