The waves crashed gently against the sand, glimmering under the lazy warmth of the late afternoon sun. Teachers from the academy laughed and chatted along the beach, free from duties for the first time in months.
Farther down the shore, Mila sat quietly on a smooth rock, her bare feet touching the surf. The wind brushed through her silver hair, carrying a calm that soothed her restless heart. She had long since recovered from her paralysis physically, at least but her mind remained tangled in an emptiness she couldn't name.
"Everyone's laughing…" she whispered, watching the others play. "I guess that means I should be, too."
But her smile faded as a faint pulse of warmth burned in her chest.
She blinked.
The horizon blurred.
The sound of waves melted into echoes of war clashing metal, screams, and power that tore through the heavens.
Suddenly, she wasn't on the beach anymore.
She was standing in a vast, dark plain surrounded by the remnants of battle. The air shimmered with forgotten energy, and at the center stood two figures.
One had violet hair streaked with black and red, her violet eyes glowing faintly even in the darkness, A woman, watching her with calm sorrow.
Beside Alexia was a massive silhouette wrapped in darkness, so tall the light itself bent around it.
Even without remembering, Mila knew who it was.
The Forgotten God.
Then she saw herself Milly, standing before them in full armor, surrounded by the Forgotten Army.
A woman's voice echoed across the battlefield.
"You've always walked ahead, Milly. Even when the world turned against you. But one day… you'll forget this place. Forget us."
The Forgotten God turned toward her. His voice was like the weight of eternity itself.
"And when that day comes, child… the world will tremble again."
Before Mila could understand, the scene shattered like glass.
Pain sharp, blinding, ripped through her skull.
"Ah!" she gasped, clutching her head, falling to her knees on the beach. Her breath hitched, and the memory was gone every image fading as though swallowed by light.
"W–who… were they?" she whispered through trembling lips, before her vision went white.
Her body collapsed into the sand, waves quietly washing against her motionless form.
Moments later, a distant voice shouted,
"Hey Mila! Is she… is she asleep?"
Another teacher ran over, kneeling beside her.
"No, she's burning up get water, quick!"
The laughter from earlier vanished. Concern spread as several staff gathered around, lifting Mila gently from the sand.
Her silver hair glimmered faintly in the sunlight, and though her eyes remained closed, a single tear slid down her cheek
as if mourning something she could no longer remember.