After the children of the time that never were were finally calm, the roots of the Tree of Life slowly reformed into a spiral formation. No more echoes of cries remained, yet the sky above the Stones still held its breath. It was as if the world was waiting, under the dim light, the shadows of ghosts mingled with the damp moss that vibrated with silence.
Fitran and Rinoa stood at the altar of roots, their bodies physically exhausted, yet their magic still surged. The aroma of wet earth and decaying leaves wafted in the air, creating a suffocating sense of humidity. A cold wind whispered, touching their skin like gentle fingers from nature trying to give them strength. Between them, sparks of energy felt increasingly intense, as if each was sharing the burden of the power they carried. "We cannot back down," Rinoa said, her voice trembling in the gusts of wind. "This is what we have been waiting for." The strength of her determination radiated, amplifying the magical intensity around them.
Suddenly, the main roots surrounding Sheena's grave pulsed. Not in a rhythm of healing. Each pulse echoed with the lungs of the earth, creating a marakana of energy that felt both frightening and exhilarating, as if demanding praise from its inhabitants. Fitran looked at Rinoa, their eyes sparkling with the realization that this moment was not just about them, but about everything they loved. "We are not alone," he shouted, his spirit igniting brightly, awakening the hidden strength within their souls.
But in the rhythm of trial. Silence reclaimed its place, yet behind that calm, the dormant power began to rise, awakening a premonition of an inevitable battle. A terrifying tension enveloped them, filling the air with an indescribable sense of anxiety. Rinoa felt the uncertainty like an electric vibration within her soul, yet she knew her courage had to be greater than the fear that lingered.
Without warning, the ground before them split open. The crack released a hissing sound with every movement, demonstrating the power of the mysteries hidden within. With a haunting silence, shadows from the darkness began to flow out, creating figures that carried a sharp chill. Rinoa grasped Fitran's hand, feeling his rapid heartbeat, and softly said, "Together, we can face it." The wind seemed to approach them, whispering hope amidst the looming threat.
From within the dark and deep crevice, two figures slowly rose—gliding rather than stepping, moving in a rhythm that defied the gravity of the world. The sky began to swirl above them, creating dark clouds that marked the transformation from a dream into a terrifying reality.
One wore a soft silver robe, eyes closed, with a face like a teenager who had never dreamed of nightmares. Yet, behind that softness, there was a flowing power, felt like a magical vibration that shook the entire place. The strength within the silence of his robe radiated a calming yet mysterious charm. In his mind, he prayed for goodness to prevail, even though he knew darkness awaited to take over. The other wore obsidian armor with a shadowy crown, eyes open yet devoid of light. The armor gleamed like the night ending in stars that seemed to witness the awakening of these two guardians. However, when their gazes met, there was a glimmer of deep emotion—a struggle between hope and fear reflected between them.
Hypnos.
Thanatos.
The dual guardians of Sheena's will. One guarding the dream side of wounds. The other guarding death from misguided forgiveness. With a single movement, they asserted their contrasting natures, playing in harmony of duality—courage and fear in the same breath. In this tension, the atmosphere seemed filled with whispers of lingering spirits, filling the space between them with profound regret.
Hypnos spoke first, his voice flowing like an ancient lullaby:
"You touch roots that are not yet meant to be opened."
Thanatos continued, his voice heavy like a stone at the river's bottom:
"And you sing in the name of someone who has not been allowed to return in name."
Rinoa stepped forward. "We are not bringing Sheena back. We just want the world to remember that she once loved." As she spoke, a soft light danced in her eyes, as if hinting at a hidden hope. In her heart, she knew that lost love could sometimes be stronger than death itself.
In the dim twilight, the shadows of the Stones stretched toward the horizon. Among the towering trees, the sound of trickling water flowed gently, as if accompanying the debate. The cold earth beneath their feet felt like it was vibrating, as if holding onto long-buried stories. The movement of the wind carried the aroma of wet earth that kissed the evening sky, adding a mystical feel amidst the tension.
Hypnos touched the ground, and sleep momentarily descended upon the entire Stones. "Love is not enough if it repeats old wounds."
Fitran stood firm. "Then test us. But do not blame the will if the world itself has rejected it from the start." Fitran's voice was filled with determination, reflecting his inner struggle between following his heart and facing the bitter reality.
The sun sank lower, casting dramatic shadows on their faces. The aroma of wet grass and the gentle traces of the evening wind seemed to support the debate, adding weight to the atmosphere. In that moment, Rinoa's heart raced, feeling that every word spoken was a magical trap drawing closer.
Thanatos drew his sword made of the shadows of time. Hypnos opened a scroll of unwritten dreams.
"Then the test begins," they said in unison.
"One in the name of Healing Sleep
One in the name of Unaccepted Death."
Hypnos cast his first spell:
✦ Somnum: The Spiral Lullaby
A melody of dreams that binds the surrounding reality in a spiral of sleep. Anyone who hears more than three notes will not fall asleep into a dream, but into an alternate reality they despise.
In a tense atmosphere, dark colors enveloped the arena, creating a mystical ambiance. At that moment, time seemed to slow down for every fighter, while the roaring wind carried whispers of buried fears in their hearts. Dark shadows cloaked the arena, as Hypnos's gentle voice danced in the air, creating fuchsia silhouettes that spun as if enchanted by the captivating notes. A cool breeze surged, carrying the warm scent of the night, as if aligning with the regrets lingering in the hearts of every fighter.
Fitran tried to counter with Corpus Resonantia, but all the Corpus magic rebounded like water on a mirror. Behind his stern face, the tension enveloped his mind—a series of memories flashed, as pride and fear collided within him.
Rinoa shouted, "Fitran, this magic isn't attacking you! It's drawing you into your own mistakes!"
Rinoa's words hung in the air, drifting among the ruins of hope. In the fading light, it seemed she was trying to ignite the spirit that was beginning to fade within Fitran. She knew well that failure was not an option for those standing on the brink of this uncertainty. They had shared laughter and lost themselves in previous battles; now, Rinoa's voice became a bridge of hope, trying to bring Fitran back to the right path.
Meanwhile, Thanatos unleashed:
✦ Necrotheos: Verdict of the Unwritten
A death spell that can only kill those who have never died spiritually. It attacks the soul with a judgment about "who you should have killed, but never did."
Fitran was struck by a blow. His body was uninjured, but his mind revisited Elbert, whom he had once allowed to live in the illusion of forgiveness. Guilt flared up again. He felt as if Elbert's shadow was staring at him, judging him with a gaze full of questions and regret.
In the burning haze of memories, the atmosphere turned dark; the whispers of shattered hope seemed to vibrate in every corner of his soul. Amidst that emotional storm, shadows of past issues danced, reminding him of how fragile the human soul is in facing darkness. Occasionally, those shadows seemed to possess Fitran, bringing back moments when the decisions he made hurt him and those around him.
Rinoa activated Aria Absolutia, but Hypnos sang the minor key of that song and forced it to tremble. The melancholic sound he sang echoed in the space surrounded by shadows, as if the moonlight struggled to pierce the darkness, creating a tense and hopeful atmosphere. Rinoa could feel every note flowing through her, calling to mind memories of beautiful moments that now only remained as shadows. In her heart, she was determined not to let the dark overcome the remaining light.
"So... you want to unite the harmony of the world?" Hypnos said. His expression reflected confidence, yet beneath the surface, doubt trembled like a lost note in a melody. "This world is a mess... only one song can unite the lost voices," he added, his voice quivering with tension.
"Then sing... in the darkness."
However, Rinoa, with trembling breath, fought back with a new technique: Around her, the wind began to gently swirl, gathering moments of mixed sadness and joy, forming energy waiting to be released. In the tension filling the air, she could feel every heartbeat, as if her spirit vibrated in harmony with the power flowing around her, reminding her of every loss she had ever experienced.
✦ Resona Vita: Breath of Shared Grief
A short song from the heart of the Tree of Life that can only be sung by those who have lost and accepted that loss does not need to be returned. In every lyric, Rinoa's voice seemed to penetrate layers of time, creating a bridge between grief and hope. With every note, the song also seemed to channel the pent-up tension within Fitran, awakening memories and dreams that had been buried by pain. This song made the roots beneath the ground grow toward the light, neutralizing the effects of Necrotheos. Rinoa felt as if the score of their history danced with her, every note singing for a brighter future.
Hypnos and Thanatos began to use dual magic, opening Laminae Somniorum—the inner layers of the collective dreams of the Stones. The wave of energy they created felt like the ripples of the sea in the midst of a storm, creating a resonance that seemed to invite all the soul's powers around them to unite.
Amidst the bursts of shimmering energy, the surrounding atmosphere seemed to vibrate, as if light and darkness intertwined in a thrilling dance. How sad this was, Rinoa thought, as she felt sadness and hope battling within her. Night flowers bloomed with a sweet aroma, adding to the magical ambiance surrounding them, while a thin mist hung beneath the dim light of the moon. Every second felt precious, as if they were on the edge of emptiness, where their destinies were determined by the certainty of uncertainty.
The roots around them began to create existential corridors. Within them, Fitran and Rinoa would be forced to fight… not just against magic, but against another version of themselves. Fitran felt this tension biting, every movement testing his limits, while Rinoa's voice ignited new strength within him—urging him not only to fight but also to embrace the part of himself that had long been buried.
As the anticipation vibrated in the air, the shadows of clones howled in the distance, whispering secrets hidden in the core of their souls. Every step felt like walking on an invisible bridge, where the past and future collided in flashes of black and white light. Rinoa felt uncertainty creeping into her heart, the magical energy vibrations filling the space around them. "Are we really ready?" she whispered, her voice almost drowned by the breeze carrying the scent of wet earth and mysterious herbs emanating from the Stones. Fitran turned, his eyes blazing with unwavering spirit. "We cannot back down, Rinoa. This is part of us," he replied, affirming the burning determination within him.
And the voice from Sheena's grave slowly said:
"If you cannot accept the meaning of this wound, then I will remain asleep... forever."