Part One: The Dawn
Muken woke before dawn.
His grey uniform was folded on the chair. He dressed slowly. The crescent shadow emblem caught the faint light.
"You are nervous," Kage said.
"I am ready."
"That is not the same thing."
"It will have to be."
He walked to the courtyard.
Shiori was already there. Her dark hair was pulled tight. A small pack hung from her shoulder.
"Ready?" she asked.
"No."
"Good. Honesty is the first step."
Kagura waited at the gate. Ren, Yuki, and Haru stood behind her.
"The carriage will take you to the Gin Tou border. From there, you walk."
Muken nodded.
Kagura stepped forward. She placed her hand on his shoulder.
"Do not die."
"I will try not to."
"That is not good enough."
"Then I will not die."
She held his gaze. Then she nodded.
Ren punched his shoulder. "Do not embarrass Hikari Tou."
"I will try not to."
"You said that already."
"Then stop asking."
Ren almost smiled.
Yuki bowed. "Be careful. The labyrinth is dangerous."
"I will return."
Haru was crying. "Thank you," she whispered.
"For what?"
"For being brave."
Muken did not know what to say. So he nodded.
Shiori stepped up beside him. "We need to go."
Muken looked at Kagura. At Ren. At Yuki. At Haru.
"Goodbye," he said.
He turned and walked toward the gate.
Shiori followed.
The gate closed behind them.
Muken did not look back.
✦ ✦ ✦
Part Two: The Carriage
The carriage rolled through the crystal fields.
The aurora sky brightened. Shiori sat across from him, eyes closed.
"You are thinking about them," Kage said.
"About Ren. Yuki. Haru. About Kagura."
"You will see them again."
"You do not know that."
"No. But I believe it."
Muken looked at his shadow. It stretched across the floor.
"Kage."
"Yes."
"When we first bonded, I was afraid of you."
"I know."
"Now…"
"Now?"
"Now you are the only thing I trust completely."
The shadow was silent for a long moment.
"That is the kindest thing anyone has ever said to me."
Muken almost smiled.
Shiori opened her eyes. "What are you whispering about?"
"Nothing."
"You were not whispering. You were thinking loudly."
Muken looked at her. "I was talking to Kage."
"About what?"
"About trust."
Shiori studied him. Then she nodded.
"Good. Trust is important." She closed her eyes again. "Wake me when we reach the border."
Muken looked out the window.
The crystal fields blurred past.
Somewhere ahead, the Gin Tou waited.
Somewhere behind, the war was beginning.
He pressed his palm against the window. The crystal was cold.
"We will return," Kage said.
"I know."
"How?"
"Because we have to."
The carriage rolled on.
✦ ✦ ✦
Part Three: The Silver Wall
The Gin Tou territory was marked by a wall of silver crystal.
The wall was grown, not built. Beyond it, the landscape grew sharper and colder. The carriage stopped.
Two guards in silver uniforms approached.
"State your business."
"Muken Sato and Shiori Amano of Hikari Tou. Here to see the archivists."
The guards exchanged glances.
"You are expected. The tower is half a day's walk. The carriage cannot go further."
Muken stepped out. Shiori followed.
The guards opened the gate.
"Follow the silver path. Do not stray. The labyrinth begins at the tower's base."
Muken walked through.
The gate closed behind them.
Shiori looked back. "No turning back now."
"There was no turning back the moment I ate that fruit."
She nodded. "Then forward."
They walked.
The silver path was narrow, winding through fields of sharp crystal. The air was cold. His breath fogged.
"The Gin Tou," Kage said. "The tower of knowledge."
"Where dreams are preserved."
"Where dreams are studied. Cataloged. Stored."
In the distance, a spire of silver crystal rose against the sky.
Shiori pointed. "Is that it?"
"Yes."
"It looks… empty."
"The Gin Tou values function over form."
Shiori frowned. "It looks like a tomb."
Muken said nothing.
He walked faster.
✦ ✦ ✦
Part Four: The Tower of Knowledge
The Gin Tou was not like Hikari Tou.
Hikari Tou was chaos – light refracting, walls curving, gardens growing sideways. The Gin Tou was order. Perfect, unbroken order.
The spire was smooth, unbroken, polished to a mirror shine. No windows. No balconies. Just a single door at the base, carved with symbols Muken did not recognize.
The door opened before he could knock.
A woman stood in the doorway. Tall, thin, silver hair, pale eyes. Her uniform was the color of old parchment.
"Muken Sato," she said. "I am Archivist Hideo. I will be your teacher."
Muken bowed. "Thank you for having me."
"Do not thank me yet." Hideo turned and walked into the tower. "The Mind Riving is dangerous. Many have tried. Few have succeeded. You may fail. You may die. Are you prepared?"
Muken looked at his shadow.
"Yes," Kage said.
"I am prepared."
Hideo glanced back. Her expression was unreadable.
"Then follow me. The labyrinth awaits."
She walked into the darkness.
Muken followed.
Shiori stayed at the door.
"Wait for me," Muken said.
"I will," she replied. "Do not take too long."
Muken stepped through the door.
The darkness swallowed him.
But before the door closed, he heard Shiori's voice.
"I will be here. No matter how long it takes."
The door shut.
Muken stood in the dark.
His shadow pulsed.
"Are you afraid?" Kage asked.
"Yes."
"Good. Fear keeps us alive."
A light flickered ahead. Hideo was waiting.
"This way," she said.
Muken walked toward the light.
The labyrinth was waiting.