Trust

"You will have two choices..."

Its voice wasn't human, It was like multiple voices layered over one another, some screaming, some whispering, some… crying.

"Answer it… wisely."

Enix's eyes went wide.

Then suddenly.

Enix's eyes shot open.

He gasped his chest rising and falling fast. His vision swam with hazy colors, the world around him a blur of white and gold.

Slowly, it cleared.

And what he saw made his heart stop.

He was inside a massive hall, a throne room. The ceiling stretched up so high it vanished into mist. Floating golden lanterns hovered in the air casting a soft glowing light across the marble floor below. The floor itself was pure white, crafted from polished marble plates that shimmered like moonlight, each tile etched with ancient runes, spirals, and symbols only visible under certain angles.

And all around him, forming a huge circle that surrounded him from every direction, were people, dozens of them standing like statues silenyt watching.

Their eyes were cold.

Some afraid.

Some curious.

But none… friendly.

Enix was on his knees in the center of it all. Both hands and legs bound in glowing white chains that wrapped tightly around his limbs. The restraints hummed with power, divine energy, he tried to move, even just shift slightly, but the chains wouldn't budge.

"What…!" Enix gasped. "Where am I? Who… who are these people?!"

His eyes darted around in panic.

Then his gaze landed on the left side of the hall, just beside an enormous white pillar one of many holding up the massive structure, but this one was carved in full detail, swirling vines, thorny spikes, blooming flowers, and curling lines wrapping like veins around its surface.

And standing by it… were them.

Aaru and Koru

still, silent, staring at him.

Their expressions were unreadable serious.

"you..." Enix whispered, eyes wide. "Why…?"

But before he could finish, a voice echoed across the room.

"My Lords, he's awake."

Enix snapped his head forward.

At the far end of the hall, built upon a rising platform of white steps, were three thrones, each seated by a figure.

The lowest throne was occupied by a young boy, perhaps eleven or twelve, but his vibe was nothing like a child. His skin was pale like porcelain, eyes sharp and silver, hair long, black, and tied with red silk, he wore a kimono like robe with dark crimson flames embroidered into the hem, and a silver choker around his neck. Despite his youth, his expression was cold, mature, and emotionless.

Above him, on the middle throne, sat a middle aged man, his body tall and lean, dressed in black and gold robes that stretched like wings around the seat. His face was smooth but lined with faint creases of experience, one of his eyes glowed purple, while the other was covered with a bronze monocle, his black hair was slicked back, and a scar ran from his jaw to his neck. He rested one gloved hand on the armrest, tapping slowly with claw like fingers.

And at the very top… the Lord Father.

All three of them stared at Enix.

Judging.

Watching.

And he, chained in the middle felt like a bug under glass.

Meanwhile…

A soft hum of a brush gliding through hair echoed in the room.

Nki sat still in a large mirror lined makeup room, the walls were pale blue, faintly glowing, with indoor plants arranged neatly in ceramic pots around the floor. Despite the beauty of the room, her face was hard, unreadable. She held the red thread wrapped loosely around her fingers.

Lali stood behind her, gently combing through her hair, the brush moving slowly.

"Why…" Nki suddenly said, her voice cracking.

Lali paused.

"Hm? What is it?" she asked softly, as if nothing was wrong.

"Don't play dumb with me, dammit!" Nki snapped, slapping the brush out of Lali's hand.

Lali blinked in surprise as Nki stood up from the chair, her fists clenched, eyes filled with tears.

"What are you trying to do?! Where did you take him?! And what the hell is going on?" she screamed.

Lali sighed and picked up the brush. "Nki… just calm down."

"Calm down?! You tied us up, separated us, and now you're brushing my hair like everything's normal!"

"You're not a prisoner," Lali said calmly.

"Then what do you call this?! Huh?!" Nki yelled, shaking the red thread in her hand.

Her voice broke as tears fell down her cheeks. "You're all betrayers, you fooled us… I believed you. I trusted you. I—" she trembled, her voice cracking, "I shouldn't have believed in strangers…"

Lali's eyes paused.

Her eyes softened.

Then, quietly, she said, "Nki… it's not like we wanted to do this either."

Nki froze.

"W-what?" she whispered.

"Do you really think," Lali said, walking to stand in front of her, "that all of us were lying to you this whole time?"

Nki looked at her.

And suddenly, memories came flashing back...their jokes, the way they laughed, the pizza meal on the train.

Those smiles…

They weren't fake.

"Then why…" she whispered.

Lali looked at her through the mirror. "Because we're not the only ones here."

She turned slowly.

"We all accepted Enix... All of us in the Bluz and Owl club, we know he's different, we know he won't hurt anyone but… not everyone here believes that, not everyone forgives easily."

Nki's eyes widened.

"The corrupted soul," Lali continued, "has destroyed entire cities in the past, killed innocents, possessed the kind hearted and turned them into monsters."

Nki remembered.

The mirror demon. The way it stabbed Enix. The way his body changed…

Lali stepped closer.

"There are people here..

strong people who won't accept someone with the corrupted soul inside them, and if we let it show… if we act like it's okay… we'll all be banished."

Nki stared down at her trembling hands.

She didn't know what to say.

Then Lali knelt in front of her her voice softer now.

"He's in the Judgment Hall... They'll test him question him, push him, nut… I believe in him, we all do because....He loves you more then anything..right"

She placed a hand on Nki's shoulder.

"Don't you believe in him too?"

Nki's lips quivered.

Then she slowly nodded.

A tiny, broken smile curved on her face. "He's stupid and loud and stubborn but… yeah he'll be fine..."

Lali smiled warmly.

Then stood up and walked over to the corner of the room, picking up a small box wrapped in dark blue ribbon she gently placed it in Nki's lap.

Nki looked up, confused. "What's this?"

"Open it" Lali said.

Nki hesitated.

Then pulled the ribbon and opened the lid.

Her eyes widened. "No way…"

Inside was a brand new phone. Shiny black body, sleek glass. The logo glowing at the back.

"Berry 15 Limited Edition?!" Nki gasped.

Lali nodded proudly.

"Since you called me big sis, I thought I should get something for my little sister."

Nki stared at the phone, then at Lali.

Her voice cracked. "I'm sorry… for everything I just said."

Lali shook her head. "Nope! I get it. Honestly? I've seen people way worse."

Nki raised an eyebrow. "Worse?"

Lali grinned. "Some crash down crying and turn into zombies."

"Seriously?" Nki gasped

"I'm telling you, they cry so bad they become cringey and so gay."

Both of them burst into laughter.