❀══✧══❀
Several hours had passed since the long theory session Raythem had put them through.
Yuta slowly emerged from his meditation, not even bothering to check the time.
— Everything's off… Are they all asleep?
A cool draft brushed against the back of his neck. He turned sharply as a hand rested on his shoulder.
In the darkness, two red eyes stared at him.
— Arh, Scarlet! You really scared me!
— … Don't shout, or you'll wake everyone up. Evelynn will kill you if you wake her.
— Sorry… But what are you doing here at this hour? Living at night now?
Scarlet didn't answer. She walked over to the bar and poured herself a glass of water.
Her steps were silent, light like a cat's. Almost unreal.
— Scarlet? Yuta whispered.
She emptied her glass.
— … I can't sleep. That's all.
— Is it because of earlier? Your power?
— … Why do you want to know?
She set the glass down and walked toward the balcony.
— … You should go to bed, Yuta.
— You still don't want to talk with us?
Half in the shadows, half under the moonlight, Scarlet slightly turned her head. Yuta could only make out her scarlet eyes. Eyes carrying a past he did not know.
Her voice turned cold again, almost sharp.
— … Talk? What does that even mean? And why with you? Who are you to me?
Yuta stayed silent, searching for his words without forcing her.
— You know… I didn't like talking to others either. I didn't see the point. But I learned to tell the difference between those who drag me down and those who push me forward.
— … And what if everyone you ever knew threw you into a dark abyss? Could you still trust? Even your friends… or your family?
He met her gaze.
— You're not in our heads, Scarlet. But for me… you can trust me. If you want. Take your time.
He turned away.
— Don't stay up too late. Tomorrow might be like today. Good night.
She didn't answer.
Facing the full moon, Scarlet remained still.
The Void… the Vires Ignotae… my power… the Eygis…
Signum Mortis & Vitae… I have to meet them.
══ ✦ ══
Morning came.
Evelynn entered the living room, her hair completely messy.
Ryota burst out laughing. Yuta and Scarlet were nowhere to be seen.
Raythem arrived shortly after and noticed their absence.
A few minutes later, Ryota stepped out onto the balcony… and found Scarlet lying on the ground, fast asleep.
— What is she doing here…?
***
Thirty minutes later, everyone was gathered.
Evelynn had monopolized the bathroom for fifteen minutes.
Ryota had woken Scarlet up.
Yuta had just arrived.
They all stood in front of Raythem, still half asleep.
— I see you're not in great shape. That's fine. Training will wake you up. Today, we move on to practice.
Outside, a dome formed. An artificial sky filled with stars appeared above them.
— Objective: maintain an artificial eclipse for three minutes.
Yuta inhaled. A miniature star appeared in his palm. Unstable. Gravity slightly warped around him.
— Too dense, Evelynn warned.
Ryota projected a precise solar beam. The impact triggered a shockwave.
Scarlet vanished and reappeared in front of them, blocking the explosion with her blood.
— … Focus!
Yuta reduced the density. The star stabilized.
— Time… slowed, Evelynn murmured.
The world partially froze. Particles floated in the air.
Then a black crack appeared above them.
— This isn't a simulation, Ryota whispered.
The resonance between the sun and the stars spiraled out of control. The attraction became uncontrollable.
— Ten seconds, Evelynn said.
The heat rose.
Yuta closed his eyes.
Instead of feeding the star… he compressed it.
He did not learn to create.
He learned to extinguish.
The sphere absorbed the black mass.
Darkness engulfed the arena.
A heavy silence fell.
When the light returned, the dome was cracked. Everyone was breathing heavily.
From the platform above, Raythem spoke calmly:
— You did not learn to control your powers. You learned to survive together.
Above them, in Vera's artificial sky… one star was missing.