Shards of Memory

Location: Gaia HQ – Memorial Garden

The garden had been built to honor the fallen—those who gave their lives defending the world from the Abyss. Rows of crystalline trees shimmered with memory leaves—ether-imbued glass fragments containing names, deeds, final words.

Hikari stood beneath one of the larger trees, her hand brushing over a leaf marked:

"Arden Yukimura – Beloved Sister. Light in the Dark."

The memory shard flashed softly under her touch, and a small, flickering illusion played before her. Arden's laughter—soft, melodic, full of warmth—danced through the air.

"Don't hide yourself, Hika. You'll miss the whole world trying to protect it from you."

The memory faded.

Behind her, Cyg approached, silent as usual. But he didn't speak right away. He just stood beside her, allowing the silence to stretch comfortably.

"I was five when she took me in," Hikari said at last. "My birth parents were gone. The villagers feared me. Arden was the only one who smiled."

Cyg remained quiet, waiting.

"But when the Abyss came, I wasn't strong enough. I froze. She died protecting me."

"You blame yourself?" he asked.

"I was the reason she died. If I hadn't existed…"

"Then she would have died without anyone remembering her."

Hikari turned to him, startled.

"You carry her name. Her memory. Her voice. That's not a burden. That's a gift," he said.

"Cyg… how can you be so certain?"

"Because I know what it's like to carry ghosts. The only difference is… I stopped letting them define me."

Location: Training Yard – Late Afternoon

The Octagon had gathered for scheduled training, the eight central members rotating through various drills. Today, however, something felt different.

Charlotte twirled her chakrams with mechanical grace, but her eyes kept darting toward Hikari and Cyg, both locked in a mock spar.

Sylvia leaned toward Elaine, whispering with barely-contained curiosity.

"Did they get closer since the memorial?"

"I think so," Elaine whispered back, "but they're both too awkward to say anything."

Mia watched quietly, Lexigra floating beside her. Her hand clutched the grimoire tighter than usual.

Eun-Ha, meanwhile, stood beside Thea, who was observing from the higher platform.

"She's growing," Eun-Ha noted. "But still hesitating."

"That hesitation is the seed of compassion," Thea replied. "She just needs a reason to wield it."

Location: Training Grounds – Duel in Progress

Cyg lunged with a feint, switching from blade to gun form mid-strike. Hikari deflected him, but not without stepping too close. Their bodies nearly collided, breaths brushing against each other.

"Your stance is off," he said, breaking the moment.

"You did that on purpose," she accused, blushing slightly.

"Maybe."

She scoffed, but couldn't hide the tiny smile on her lips.

They resumed the spar, blades clashing in rhythmic tempo. Sanguira's crimson aura pulsed in harmony with Aetheron's silver-blue hue. At one point, their strikes connected perfectly—energy surging and resonating in a shockwave that halted all training around them.

The resonance lingered, warm and subtle.

"That energy…" Thea whispered. "They're beginning to synchronize."

Location: Gaia Library – Night

Later that night, Hikari wandered into the Gaia Library. Rows of ancient texts towered above her, but one section drew her in—forgotten lore about Divine Artifacts.

She trailed her fingers across a worn tome: "On Assimilation: When the Artifact Accepts the Soul."

She flipped through the pages until one line caught her eye:

"A cursed soul may only achieve Assimilation if they learn to accept their light—before it is devoured by their past."

Hikari touched her chest, where the warmth from the earlier training still lingered.

"Accept my light… even if it hurts."

From the shadows, Sylvia emerged, her expression soft.

"You're not the only one trying to heal, you know," she said.

"I never said I was special."

"No. But you are," Sylvia smiled. "To some of us, more than you know."

"Including Cyg?" Hikari asked.

Sylvia blinked—then laughed.

"What do you think?"

Hikari turned away, biting back a blush.

Closing Scene: Hikari's Quarters – Before Sleep

She looked at her locket again, then placed it gently on her desk.

"Sister… I'm still afraid. But I think I've found something worth staying strong for."

She held Sanguira in her hand, its pulse now soft and steady.

"And I won't let fear keep me silent anymore."

As the moonlight bathed her room, for the first time in years… Hikari allowed herself to sleep.