Yuu awoke late in the morning, the sunlight seeping gently through the curtains of his room. The pain was gone.
The wounds he'd suffered during the last battle in Blanc had completely healed. His body, once heavy and broken, now felt light—too light, almost like the calm that comes before something worse.
It had already been a week since they'd faced Kana in her palace and forced her to flee.
While Yuu had spent those days confined to bed, his team had stayed in the city of Sira. Meanwhile, the forces from Esios and Astalia remained on the front lines, working to secure the region now left without a Governor.
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Someone knocked on the door.
"Come in," Yuu said.
The door opened and he saw the shadow of a horrible figure — entirely black, with bloodstained, razor-sharp teeth. Its red eyes bore into him. The Darkness reached out a hand, then vanished as suddenly as it had appeared. Yuu's heart pounded; where the shadow had been, Shinya stood instead.
"You finally woke up," she said, laughing. "How do you feel?"
Yuu was still shaken by the vision, but he told himself it was one of Shinya's jokes.
"If you pull stunts like that I could actually die," he said, still unnerved. "I was really scared for a moment."
"Of what?" She looked puzzled, as if she didn't understand.
"Never mind," Yuu said, pushing himself up.
"About time we got back to fighting. The Esios and Astalia teams are hogging all the glory. Get dressed — I'll be waiting downstairs with the others," she said as she left.
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Yuu joined his team in the courtyard of the Sira palace.
Keiji was the first to run up to him. "You okay?" he asked right away.
"Relax, I'm more than ready to go beat up the Kingdom again," Yuu replied with a smirk.
"How long were you planning on sleeping, huh? Ahaha!" Toru laughed, clapping him on the back.
"Esios is practically conquered already," Mira said with a pout. "We'll probably have to wait for the next mission to get back into action... But at least you're up and moving again. That's good news."
"Let's go see Kyorano," Shinya added. "He said he wanted to speak with you the moment you recovered."
Yuu nodded.
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They found Kyorano in the briefing room, along with Arien and Hitoshi.
"Finally back on your feet," Hitoshi greeted him first.
"Yeah, I'm doing better now. You're up too, huh?"
"I was out of commission for a few days. That poison nearly did me in."
Yuu smiled. Even though Hitoshi was older and one of the leaders of Libertas, Yuu had started to see him as something like an older brother. "How are things here?"
"Good news," Kyorano replied. "During the liberation of Esios, we managed to free the prisoners held in Kana's labs. Among them was Gide—the last missing member of the old Aegir."
That was good news. Their forces continued to grow stronger.
But Yuu knew: the General wouldn't sit back and watch. His retaliation would be swift—and ruthless.
"Seriously? Where is he now?" Keiji asked.
"He's in the infirmary. No serious injuries. He'll be able to join us soon," said Hitoshi.
"I'll introduce you all to him later," Kyorano added. "But first, there's something we need to talk about." His tone grew serious.
"I'm listening," said Yuu.
Kyorano lowered his voice. "At the border near Era, one of our scouts found a girl. She claims to know Yuu—from Reeda Village."
A girl? Yuu couldn't remember meeting any girl from Era. Especially not one who'd know him that well.
"That's impossible. Yuu's never even been to Era," Keiji cut in before Yuu could respond.
There was a short silence. Then Kyorano continued.
"I don't know who she is. I only know she asked to see you… and to be taken to Reeda Village. She's waiting for you there now."
"We believe it could be a trap," Hitoshi said plainly.
"Tell him," Arien said, looking at Kyorano.
He nodded. "She also claims… the people who raised you in Reeda weren't your real parents."
Yuu felt like the floor dropped out from under him. The people who had raised him for 15 years… weren't his real family?
"W-What?" he stammered.
"Yuu, don't go see her," Toru said immediately. "It's obviously a trap."
"He's right. Don't go," Keiji added.
Yuu wasn't listening anymore. "I'll go."
"I knew you'd say that," Shinya sighed. "You've got a head harder than stone. At least let us come with you."
It was almost certainly a trap—but Yuu needed to hear what that girl had to say.
"All right. We go together," he told his team. "Khala's coming too. I promised we'd return to Reeda together after Esios."
"Keep in touch," said Kyorano, tossing him a communicator.
Yuu caught it with one hand.
"I'll have a Lizard prepped," said Hitoshi as he left the room.
"Come on, I'll introduce you to Gide before you head out," Kyorano said, motioning for them to follow.
The Harthland team exited, leaving Arien alone in the room.
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The leader of Libertas led them into the infirmary, which—like always—was full of wounded soldiers.
He guided them to a bed where a man was lying down, slightly younger than Kyorano, with short white hair. His eyes were closed, but the moment he heard footsteps approaching, he opened them—crystal blue.
"So these are your protégés," he said, smiling at the group.
"Sir, it's an honor to meet you," said Shinya promptly. "I'm Shinya, commander of the main operations team from Harthland. These are Keiji, Mira, Toru, and Yuu."
"There's no need for such formality," Gide replied with a calm voice. "I wasn't exactly the most successful leader of the Libertas cell in Atlas. After the new Governor took control of the region, she built an enormous web of spies with herself at the center. She made the people distrust each other—anyone could be reported for simply being suspected of aiding Libertas. Eventually, they found our base… and we were wiped out. Most of us were killed. The few who survived scattered to other regions. I tried to reach Esios to join up with Arien, but I was captured almost immediately."
He paused, his eyes growing distant.
"After spending time in Esios' labs, I don't think I'll ever be the same. I still hear the screams—every night."
"Luckily for you," Kyorano added, "Kana never realized you were one of the Thirteen."
Just then, Arien entered the infirmary and walked up to them. "Your transport is ready," she said with her usual cold tone.
"Don't waste time. Go—and good luck," said Kyorano.
"Soon we'll fight side by side," said Gide with a faint smile.
The team saluted Gide and Kyorano, then headed toward the hangar.
Khala was already waiting for them aboard the transport, while Hitoshi stood at the main doors.
"Report back to us the moment you find out anything. Safe travels," he said.
After a brief farewell, they boarded the Lizard—and soon, they were airborne.
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It was noon, the sun high in the sky, and despite early autumn, the heat was intense. The villagers who saw him pass whispered among themselves. After so long, it was only natural they didn't recognize "Yuu the Pest" and his companions.
The remains of his house still stood. No one had cleared them away, because what happened that day to that family could have happened to anyone, and no one wanted to forget.
Yuu knelt down. "Mom, Dad, I'm home," he whispered. "I kept my promise, I've grown stronger… If only I'd been stronger back then... I could have saved you..."
Tears started rolling down his cheeks. His friends stood silently behind him.
Only a voice broke through his memories. "There you are, Yuu."
It was a girl's voice.
Yuu turned to look at her.
Dressed in a long black dress that touched her bare feet, with long blond hair and eyes as deep black as night, the girl had appeared silently behind them, a gentle smile on her face.
"Are you the girl who was looking for me?"
"Yes," she answered, still smiling.
Yuu stood and stepped toward her. The little girl was observing the others in his team.
"Don't worry, they're my friends," Yuu said. "They are Shinya, Keiji, Toru, Mira, and Khala."
"Hi, little one," Shinya said, immediately hugging her.
"What's your name?" Mira asked.
"I'm Sora!" the girl said, returning Shinya's embrace.
"Why are you barefoot? Didn't anyone give you shoes?" Keiji asked, worried.
"No, I just don't like wearing them," Sora replied.
"In that case, let Uncle Toru carry you on his shoulders!" Toru bent down to offer.
She shook her head. "I like to walk on my own."
"Um… well…" Yuu began. "What did you want to tell me? About my parents..."
She looked at him again, her expression turning serious. "The people who lived in this house were not your real parents."
"Then who are my parents? And how do you know things I don't?" Yuu didn't know where the trap might be, and the fact someone spoke like that about the people who raised him made him nervous.
"Calm down, Yuu. Let her speak," Keiji said.
"Sorry," Yuu apologized.
She didn't seem troubled. "You were brought here by order of the Aegir leader, Hono."
Yuu remained still, hiding his curiosity. The Aegir leader, Hono, the strongest Esper in history, killed in betrayal by the General, had some connection to him—a child from a poor village at the eastern border of the Kingdom.
"Go on," Yuu urged.
She shook her head. "I only know that he had you brought here by his lieutenant Soshiro and his wife. I lived in the Era desert all this time with my father until he was killed a few days ago. My father was one of Hono's most trusted men, I believe. As he lay dying, he made me promise to come find you and tell you this part of your past. It was his last wish..."
"Why would Hono keep from Yuu the truth that those weren't his real parents? What makes him so special?" Mira asked.
"I don't know, my father only told me this before he died," the girl answered, her face nearly in tears.
"And the rest of the story?" Yuu asked.
"I don't know anything else about your past, but my father said that somewhere in the village of Reeda, a relic is hidden that will give you the answers you seek."
A relic? Yuu and his friends had lived there all their childhood, knew every secret of the village, but they had never found any relic.
"I see," Yuu finally said.
"Yuu, you want to search for this relic, don't you?" Keiji asked. "Maybe Kyorano needs us, and we should head back..."
"No," Yuu opposed. "Kyorano gave me the freedom to choose, and I want to go all the way. But I won't force you to come. If you want, you can go back."
Shinya stepped forward. "We're a team. We'll come with you."
The others nodded as well.
Khala put a reassuring hand on Yuu's shoulder.
"Guys... thank you!" Yuu said.
"Where do we start? The village isn't very big, and there are no secret places," Mira said.
"Yuu," Sora interrupted. "Have you ever searched your house?"
Yuu tried to remember.
As a child, he had always loved exploring every corner of the house, every corner of the village. Sometimes he even snuck out of the village without his parents knowing. He tried to dig deeper into his memories.
"Yuu!" It was his father's voice. "How many times have I told you not to go down to the cellar? It's dangerous, you'll get hurt!"
The cellar. His father had always forbidden him to go down there. Once, he had opened the door beyond the trapdoor and caught a glimpse of a long, dark spiral staircase—just before his father shut it again. It was the only place in the village he had never seen.
"The cellar!" Yuu exclaimed.
"The cellar?!" Toru echoed.
"Yeah, it's the only place my father always forbade me from going."
"I remember that time your father scolded us when we wanted to hide there while playing," Khala said.
Sora smiled again.
"Maybe Raxis's lightning didn't damage it," Mira added.
"This way," Yuu said, starting to move the rubble blocking the passage.
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After twenty minutes of searching through the rubble, they found the hatch. Yuu placed his hand on the handle and pulled. The wood was dry from all the years that had passed, but finally, they managed to lift it. Below was a small empty room with a rotten wooden door lying on the floor. Beyond it was the dark spiral staircase he remembered. "Let's go."
"Maybe it's better if you wait here, Sora," Shinya said. "It could be dangerous."
"Don't worry, big sis. I can take care of myself!"
Shinya took Sora's hand. "Then you'll have to stay close to me."
She nodded and squeezed the girl's hand.
Yuu lit a small flame on the tip of his finger to illuminate the way. They descended deep underground until they reached a narrow corridor. At the end stood a stone door. "I'll go first," Yuu said.
He placed his hand on the door and slowly pushed it open, just enough to peek inside. There was a large hall made of stone and marble, lit by sunlight streaming through several cracks near the stone vault. In the center, a small altar stood. "It looks safe. Come on."
They all entered.
Sora let go of Shinya's hand and dashed toward the altar. "That's the relic!" she exclaimed.
"Keiji, inform Kyorano of our location," Shinya said.
Keiji grabbed his communicator but put it down moments later. "No signal down here."
"Let's hurry back upstairs, I don't like the feel of this place," Mira said.
Yuu approached the altar but was suddenly hit by a fiery explosion.
"A trap!" Toru shouted.
The flames condensed into a humanoid figure. Khala screamed.
"What the hell?!" Mira exclaimed.
"A fire monster," Shinya said.
"Toru, take Sora and Khala away! Even you can't do much against that fire monster!"
Toru nodded reluctantly, picked up Sora, and hid behind a pillar. Khala took cover behind the next pillar.
Shinya drew her scythe and unleashed a psychic slash at the monster, but the flames only thinned for a moment before reforming. "Damn it!" she cursed.
Keiji tried to pierce it with a lightning bolt, but it had no better effect.
"Let me handle this," Mira said. The ninja marked the ground, glowing runes appearing around her. As the monster moved toward her, it stepped on one of them and was suddenly trapped inside a sphere of air.
"Disappear!" Mira shouted. She sucked the air out of the bubble, and the flames inside extinguished; all that remained was a strange red pearl.
"The flames regenerate from that pearl! Destroy it!" Shinya yelled.
"Mira, remove the sphere. I've got this," Yuu said. She nodded and canceled the runes.
As soon as she lifted the barrier, flames burst from the pearl, starting to regain their humanoid form—but Yuu struck hard with his sword, shattering it. The fire went out immediately.
Sora clapped her hands behind them. "You were amazing!"
"Things like this are nothing for us Espers," Shinya laughed.
The girl stepped forward toward the altar. "It's been fun playing with you all, but now the party's over," Sora said seriously. She took a small diamond from the altar. "Finally, the last one is mine. For the grand finale, I invite you all to the Cathedral of Cordis, Libertas!"
A chilling air filled the room. Yuu gripped the sword's hilt tightly. "Sora, what does this mean?"
"Sora doesn't exist. My real name is Ryser, but many know me simply as the General."
"What?" Everyone froze in fear.
"I'm tired of this boring war, but I have a spectacular celebration planned to end it. If you don't want all of Anima to suffer a terrible fate, I suggest you show up at the Cathedral within three days. Inform Kyorano and the other leaders—I'll be waiting."
From the General's back sprouted two wings black as night. In the blink of an eye, the girl took flight across the grand hall and landed behind Khala. "She's coming with me as guarantee. Should you choose to decline my generous invitation, you can imagine what will become of her."
The General conjured black ropes that wrapped tightly around Khala's body. With a powerful beat of his wings, Ryser soared into the air, dragging Khala with him.
"Yuu!" Khala reached out her hand, and Yuu did the same, but they could only brush fingers for a moment. The General raised his hand and threw a dark sphere at the ceiling, shattering it into a thousand pieces.
"I'm going after them," Mira said, taking flight.
"No!" Shinya grabbed her. "You don't stand a chance alone against the General."
Yuu couldn't believe it. Why had the General come all the way to the small village of Reeda? Why had he asked for Yuu? Why reveal the truth about his parents? Was it all a trap—or was there some truth to it? He needed to know. He wanted to learn more about the relic the General had stolen, that small diamond. But most of all, he had failed to stop Khala's kidnapping right before his eyes, frozen by fear.
"Let's go back to Kyorano," Shinya said.
"Yuu!" Toru called out.
Yuu stopped thinking and turned to his friend.
"I don't know if this has anything to do with your family, but I found this behind that pillar." Toru handed him a small dusty wooden box.
Yuu took it and opened it. Inside were dusty sheets of paper. He examined them closely. At the bottom was a signature: A. Hono.
"They look like notes on an Esper technique created by Hono. I'll read them once we're back in Sira. But for now, we need to get back and talk to Kyorano immediately. You all know, no matter what he says, I'm going to save Khala. After all, we've been personally invited by the General—we definitely can't miss this appointment!"