A vast field of lilies stretched out before me, each bloom seemingly having undergone its own journey of growth and realization. I inhaled deeply, savoring the exquisite fragrance that enveloped the atmosphere.
These flowers, which typically stand alone as a single stem in a bouquet or as solitary specimens, felt hauntingly nostalgic in their harmonious assembly. I could sense the myriad emotions they expressed—happiness, contentment, envy, love, hatred, anger, empathy, frustration, and more. Each feeling surged within me, overwhelming my senses, making me acutely aware of my own existence.
Yet, deep within, I sensed a rejection of this emotional tide. Almost abruptly, the once pristine white lilies were stained crimson, my blood oozing from my stomach, an overwhelming outpouring. The vivid red seeped into the delicate petals until the entire field transformed, morphing into a grotesque landscape where beauty had given way to malevolence.
Disgusting and harsh, the vibrant hue radiated malice as it invited a darkness I could not bear. I turned away from the field in disappointment, refusing to acknowledge my own complicity, my own part in this tragedy.
...
"Ryo!"
Akari's voice broke through the fog enveloping him, snapping him back to reality. To the onlookers, he had appeared lost in a trance.
"You spaced out for a while after you returned. Are you okay? Were you harmed in any way?" Tadashi asked, his tone laced with concern.
"Just now…" Ryo began, still disoriented.
"Just now what?" Akari inquired, her curiosity piqued.
"I was in a vast field of flowers. At first, it felt like a dream, but it was so vivid… Wait, my stomach." He doubled over, clutching his belly as if he had been injured.
"What happened? A stomachache?" Tadashi probed, worry etched across his face.
"No, it was bleeding. And a lot, too," Ryo said, his voice trembling.
At this point, Ryo's fragmented words only deepened the confusion of his friends. As they spoke, Sofia scanned the area but found no trace of the man in black.
"I think someone is deliberately trying to get inside your head," Svetlana suggested.
"It's not the first time I've experienced this today, but this time felt much more real. The earlier incident was just a memory of something that never happened," Ryo explained, trying to articulate the nature of his hallucinations.
As they absorbed his words, Ryo seemed to slip back into a trance. Without warning, he began to walk forward aimlessly. The others exchanged uneasy glances. Tadashi and Todd rushed to him, attempting to snap him out of it. But as they reached out, something even stranger occurred—Ryo began to crumble, fading into thin air.
"RYO!" They all cried out in unison, panic washing over them.
Sofia's frustration boiled over. "Why? Why does this keep happening? What forces are we dealing with here?"
They looked around frantically, but there was no sign of Ryo. They could only hope that he had been taken somewhere, rather than fearing the worst their minds could conjure.
†
I found myself in a cathedral, seated on a finely crafted pew among rows of others arranged in perfect order. The space was nearly empty, yet the atmosphere shifted dramatically when wedding bells began to ring. Suddenly, the grand entrance swung open with a rush, and a thick fog rolled in beneath it. From this mist emerged a bride, clad in an exquisite black wedding dress, her face completely veiled.
A black wedding dress was eerie and unconventional, yet it matched the beauty of a traditional white gown. However, it carried an aura more akin to a grand act of mourning than to the joyful union of marriage.
As the bride glided down the aisle, applause echoed through the cathedral. The once-empty seats had filled with undead skeletons, their hollow eyes fixed on the ceremony as if they were eager spectators. I found myself joining the clapping, a wave of goodwill washing over me.
At the altar stood the priest, a skeletal figure adorned in clerical robes. The groom was also a skeleton, dressed formally in a black tuxedo. I had expected the bride to share his skeletal nature, but when the black veil was lifted, I was taken aback. Beneath it was a stunning woman with raven-black hair and deep, dark irises. She exuded a mysterious beauty, her pale skin glistening in the moonlight that flooded the cathedral.
The priest began the ceremony with prayers, asking the couple questions of consent and their intentions for marriage. They responded calmly and positively, showing a deep connection. Then came the vows—a breathtaking moment. Finally, the bride and groom kissed, their lips meeting as the skeleton's teeth clicked against hers. The joy in the room was palpable as everyone, including me, rose to cheer and clap for the newlyweds.
...
After the wedding, I found myself in a grand ballroom where skeletons gracefully danced and waltzed around me. A beautiful chandelier bathed the room in a warm golden glow, while the classic music played by the musicians filled the air with enchantment.
In the center of the crowd, the bride and groom twirled seamlessly, lost in their own world. I stood quietly, observing this blissful scene, feeling content in one moment, only to be transported to the next. Suddenly, I was in the groom's place, dressed in a sharp suit, waltzing with a mesmerizing girl. It felt as though this is how it was meant to be. I surrendered to the beauty and wonder of the moment, wondering if I had ever felt this fulfilled in my life.
"I see you've chosen to be with me instead," the mysterious girl said with a playful glint in her eye.
I responded quietly, "Was there any reason I would choose otherwise?"
Her smile was soft and enchanting, but just as it brightened, the music abruptly stopped. She stepped into my embrace, her slender form pressing against me. I could feel her softness, though her scent was elusive. I noticed that her dress was adorned with red poppies, yet the flowers were colored black against the fabric.
I held her close for what felt like an eternity before she finally spoke.
"I see you truly desire death, don't you, Ryo?"
As those words fell from her lips, the entire world around us began to shatter, and the dream crumbled into nothingness.
I found myself in a yojohan, a traditional 4.5 tatami room, seated across from the enigmatic girl I had encountered earlier. She appeared emotionless as she sipped her tea. As I looked at her, a sense of familiarity washed over me, and I couldn't help but wonder how I had ever forgotten her face.
Sitting there was the very girl who had vanished when everything had begun.
"Vallia?" I ventured.
"It's Lia, remember? Not that it matters anymore." She set her cup down with an air of finality.
"You're with them, aren't you? That's why you reached out to me."
I struggled to suppress my anger, maintaining my usual calm demeanor, although I found it difficult to meet her gaze.
"It's as you said. I'm a member of the Order of Thorns. In fact, you could say I'm part of the reason it exists; it's a bit complicated," she replied, her expression shifting as she spoke.
"You're one of the reasons it exists?"
"Yes, but I'd rather not delve into the details," she said in a measured tone.
"What does that have to do with me? Why did you go out of your way to meet me? What's this all about?"
I could feel my calm facade beginning to fracture under the weight of my questions.
"I had a premonition about you. It made me aware of your potential and how you could strengthen our cause—something I've been waiting for." She finally met my gaze.
"A premonition, like foresight or prophecy?" I asked, bewildered.
"Nothing as grand as a prophecy. It was more of a vivid feeling etched into my mind," she explained, her expression conflicted.
"So, your help, this meeting—it all leads to this moment?"
I was mentally exhausted, overwhelmed by the anger I didn't know how to channel. I felt it draining away; perhaps I wouldn't indulge this any longer.
"You're speaking as if I manipulated you. I recognize I had my own motives, but I had no reason to orchestrate all this just to reach this point. I simply wanted to understand who you were," she replied, momentarily shedding her cold demeanor and gesturing nervously.
"You were aware of the chaos that was going to unfold, yet you still allowed it to happen."
I clenched my fists in frustration.
"It's not that simple. I couldn't sway him, no matter what I said, he wouldn't listen. I had no choice but to look the other way. I... I'm sorry," her voice faltered, sadness etched into her features as she lowered her head.
"That's bullshit. You were also behind the illusions or the dreams I've been having, weren't you?"
"This one, and the last one, were dreams—born from your own mind and what you desire at this moment. The first was a glimpse into a memory of something you wished for, while the second reflected your current state of mind, revealing how you live," she elucidated. It was her ability, her scenario she used to peer into my very being.
"I'm truly sorry, but everything that has happened was necessary. I promise it will all make sense soon," she said, trying to reassure me.
"What you did cost me something precious—something I had no idea I would hate to lose. For that, I'll never forgive you," I shot back, my voice laced with anger.
"I accept that," she replied, standing up abruptly. "Ah, but we're out of time."
Suddenly, the dream began to unravel. We found ourselves in a suffocating darkness as thorns erupted from the very fabric of space, creating a glowing purple portal. She was being slowly drawn into it, but I felt rooted in place.
"Ryo, please listen to me. I know you might resent me for what I've done, but when the time comes, I need you to end it for me," she said, a smile on her lips that couldn't hide the tears in her eyes.
"End what?" I asked, instinctively reaching out. A part of me wanted to pull her back, to stop her from being consumed by the portal.
"At this moment, you're nothing like the feelings I had, but if you ever change, remember the kindness you've received"
She then took on a serious tone a she stared deeply into my eyes, "If you change too much, I swear I will kill you myself."
I struggled to grasp her words and knew that if I pressed her for clarification, she would likely remain silent. Instead, I asked her a question that had been bugging me since our encounter, although I had an idea of what the answer was.
"Hey, V... Lia, so you've dropped the act, huh?"
She giggled, her face illuminated by the purple glow.
"What do you mean? This 'was' the act. Silly Ryo," she teased. "See you again soon~nyu."
†
Fifteen minutes had passed since Ryo had mysteriously vanished, leaving his friends both puzzled and worried about his whereabouts. Sofia, visibly anxious, suggested that they return to the isles and search for him herself. However, the rest of the group insisted they wait, unable to shake the dread that something terrible might have befallen him—after all, it was entirely possible that someone else's abilities were at play.
Meanwhile, the battle against Sir Briar raged on.
"This bastard is strong," Roxane remarked, circling the formidable foe as Steve kept him occupied with a barrage of heavy-hitting firearms.
With the mythrilic flame sword clutched tightly in her hand, Roxane swooped in closer. She struck with precision, each swing igniting bursts of flames that danced around them. Sir Briar warped the space around him to evade the fire, but the force of her blows still managed to inflict real damage. As she continued her relentless assault, she saw the once minor scratches on him deepen into significant wounds. Steve's explosions only added to the chaos, forcing Briar to keep up defensively.
Roxane observed that every time Sir Briar prepared to open a portal, it was signified by a wave of his hands. But in this fight he had gestured twice without any portals appearing, raising her suspicions. This meant he might have opened portals elsewhere, or perhaps he was simply bluffing; both possibilities felt equally plausible.
"This guy is persistent," Steve grumbled, frustration evident in his voice.
"I would have loved to wrap this up with Ginger quickly, but he's full and won't come out. Besides, I can't use apexes in the city—that complicates things even more," Roxane replied, her focus unwavering as she continued bombarding Sir Briar with strikes and fire.
"Hey guys, you're moving too fast! It's all blurry! I'm going to need my glasses—hic!"
Yuki yelled from below, her drunken frustration evident.
"Is she drunk or something? That's the genius prodigy from the Darkness Isle, isn't it?" Steve asked, confusion overtaking him as he continued to provide cover fire.
"Looks like it. I'm kinda busy over here, so just ignore her," Roxane replied, still focused on the fight.
"Hey! Kuriyama, right? Can you lend me a hand? Maybe you've got something that can suppress this motherfucker!" Despite Roxane's suggestion, Steve called out to Yuki.
"What's he saying? Something about a lot of water?" Yuki squinted up at them, unable to make out Steve's words from afar.
Just then, Steve unleashed a powerful explosion aimed at Sir Briar. As Yuki stumbled around, a tiny stone fell and hit her on the head.
"___UEK!"
"Ow! That hurt, Metal Dude!"
In a fit of rage, she leapt off the ground, moving with the agility of a wild animal.
"And who might you be?" Sir Briar asked, watching as a black shape darted toward him. It was Yuki, and, surprisingly, she moved through the air with the same nimbleness as he did, jumping from place to place as if each landing solidified a cloud of dark magic beneath her feet—an ability from her Scenario's powers.
This dark magic allowed her to truly fight on his level.
"I'm going to rip that metal armor off you and send you home in your underwear!" she declared, her voice dripping with fury.
As if possessed by some primal force, she cloaked her arms in dark magic, forming long and razor-sharp claws that resembled daggers. She swung at him fiercely, mixing in powerful kicks. Her combat skills were extraordinary, creating openings for Roxane to strike while also dodging to give Steve a clear shot. They fought in a seamless, high-speed tag team that would bewilder any onlooker.
"You're pretty light on your feet, dude! I'll have to change things up. I'm ending this in one blow—hic!" Yuki declared, though her hiccup was a little concerning to Roxane and Steve.
With a swift leap backward, Yuki took a fighting stance, drawing her left leg back and positioning her hands as if she were drawing a sword. Dark magic began to swirl around her arm, forming a long, sharp katana.
"Dark cloak, lend me your strength," she chanted, solidifying a dark blade. With a snap of her fingers, an enveloping darkness surged around her, rendering Sir Briar's surroundings invisible. He felt dizzy, overwhelmed by the sudden void.
Then, with blinding speed, she launched herself at Sir Briar, ready to strike—only for him to vanish completely at the last second. However, the sheer force of her swing obliterated the building behind him.
"H-holy shit," Steve gasped, staring at the destruction.
Ser Briar was nowhere to be found, but a voice emerged from a ripple in space: "That was an excellent bout. I didn't expect you insects to put up that much of a fight. It would have been effective to deal with you all accordingly, but it seems we're done here."
With that, the voice vanished.
---
▪︎Petal of salvation "12th Lunaria "3:15pm (The Attack On Griown)
Ryo rematerialized at the spot where he had left off, and everyone present turned to him in surprise, rushing forward.
"Ryo, what happened?" Tadashi asked, concern etched across his face.
"I just got whisked into a dream. I'll share the details once we're back on the isle," Ryo replied, sinking wearily to the floor.
"But you just—" Akari began, but was interrupted by Sofia.
"I sense you're overwhelmed and could use some time away from this city," Sofia said, her tone calm and steady. "If that's the case, we'll respect your wishes. I'll take you to your respective isles. Then, Mr. Ryo, you can tell the staff what you experienced. For now, I'll keep my own curiosity in check."
Sofia's level-headedness helped to diffuse the tension. Akari took a breath, calming herself as she held back her own worries and curiosities. Tadashi decided he would inquire about it later, once the storm had passed. Svetlana had a similar thought, while Todd struggled against his own curious instincts. However, seeing the maturity in everyone around him, he chose to suppress his urge to ask questions.
"Thanks, I appreciate it, Sorry for the trouble" Ryo said, grateful for their understanding.
"I should be the one apologizing," Sofia replied, her gaze softened with sincerity. "I failed in my duties as this town's protector—and all of yours. I am deeply sorry. Twice I've been unable to save you from situations that could have easily led to your end." She bowed her head, expressing the weight of her remorse.
Ryo understood that she carried the burden of self-blame. He found himself at a loss for words.
"Look, I forgive you," he said, mustering a reassuring smile. "But I'm not entirely comfortable with being protected by a stranger—especially a lady."
Her demeanor reminded him a bit of Tsukiko, who had saved him and others countless times in the past, perhaps feeling it was her responsibility as the adult back then.
"Hey, Sofia! It's been a while!" Roxane called from a distance as she walked alongside Yuki and Steve.
"Lady Pierce, it has indeed been some time since we last spoke," Sofia replied with a warm smile as her colleagues approached.
"Hey, blonde dude, is it just me, or does Sofia have a twin?" Yuki joked, nudging Steve playfully.
"Uh, Sofia, is this girl okay?" Steve scratched his head, clearly puzzled by Yuki's state.
"Please forgive her. I've never seen her this drunk before," Sofia said, a note of disappointment in her voice as she looked at Yuki.
Yuki pouted slightly before wrapping her arms around Sofia. Using her dark cloak, she covered her hands and made them translucent, allowing them to slip through Sofia's armor. Shocked, Sofia felt Yuki's hands groping her.
"I told you, Sofia, I'm not drunk!" Yuki insisted with a mischievous grin.
"Yuki! Unhand me at once! This is… this is terribly inappropriate!" Sofia exclaimed, flustered and embarrassed.
"Hehehe, looks like you've grown! My hands just sink right in now!" Yuki teased, enjoying the moment.
"That's enough out of you!" Sofia finally shook Yuki off, her chest heaving as she fought to calm her embarrassment.
Sofia was easily flustered by such antics, and Yuki seemed to revel in taking advantage of it whenever she could.
"To think this was the fierce beast we saw back there," Steve grunted, unable to reconcile this playful persona with the impressive warrior he had observed earlier.
"Our resident prodigy, groping the woman known as the strongest lady knight—can't make this stuff up, can you?" Roxane chimed in, bursting into laughter as Steve joined her, shaking his head in disbelief.