Chapter 12 — Fragments of the Past Part 1
The atmosphere within the Academy had changed.
It wasn't just the flow of students or the constant movement in the corridors.
It was… the air itself.
Heavier.
More serious.
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Unlike the previous lessons, this would not be an ordinary class.
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The doors of the great hall slowly opened.
Students from different classes began to enter.
F.
E.
D.
C.
B.
A.
S.
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All gathered together.
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Remiel observed in silence as he walked beside Laylah.
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— A joint class… — he murmured.
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— Fragments of the past — Laylah replied calmly.
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They stopped at a more isolated spot.
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At the center of the hall—
there was a structure.
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A stone pedestal.
Ancient.
Covered in inscriptions.
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And above it—
a crystal.
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Large.
Translucent.
Carrying an energy that… did not belong to the present.
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— That… — Remiel said.
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Laylah crossed her arms.
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— A Memory Fragment.
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Her eyes faintly reflected the crystal's light.
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— Or as some call it…
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A pause.
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— Echo of the Past.
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Silence.
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— What does it do?
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— It allows access to memories from ancient eras.
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Remiel remained attentive.
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— It's not just observation — she continued.
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— You enter them.
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A brief pause.
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— Like a dungeon.
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Remiel analyzed the crystal once more.
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— And the risk?
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Laylah let out a soft sigh.
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— There is one.
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She looked directly at him.
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— You don't die physically inside.
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A pause.
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— But…
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Her gaze became more serious.
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— If you suffer extreme damage—
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— your mind can collapse.
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Silence.
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— A coma.
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Direct.
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— Rare…
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She shrugged.
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— But possible.
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Remiel gave a slight nod.
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— Understood.
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No hesitation.
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— And time?
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Laylah tilted her head slightly.
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— Time?
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— Inside the echo.
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Silence.
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She thought for a moment.
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— There's no fixed rule.
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She looked back at the crystal.
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— You might be unconscious for a minute here…
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A pause.
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— and spend months in there.
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Remiel remained silent.
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— It depends on the memory.
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She continued.
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— How long it lasts.
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— How far you go within it.
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— So…
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Remiel spoke slowly.
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— Time isn't proportional.
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— Not at all.
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Laylah replied.
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— It follows the flow of the memory.
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She paused briefly before continuing.
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— For example…
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Her gaze sharpened slightly.
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— Today, we'll probably access…
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— the era of the Black Dragon.
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Silence.
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Remiel showed no outward reaction.
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But—
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within him—
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something… trembled.
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— Even though the current calendar carries that name…
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Laylah continued.
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— the actual period when the Black Dragon lived was… much longer.
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A pause.
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— The closer you are to Sequence 1…
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— the longer your lifespan.
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Remiel briefly closed his eyes.
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Fragments.
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Chains.
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Darkness.
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And…
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eyes.
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He opened his eyes again.
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Calm.
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— I understand.
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Laylah observed him.
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But said nothing.
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— We need one more person.
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Remiel said.
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— Minimum group.
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Laylah nodded.
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— Yes.
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She looked around.
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— But that won't be difficult.
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A few minutes passed.
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Students talked.
Organized themselves.
Formed groups.
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Then—
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— Hey!
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A voice called out.
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They both turned.
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A boy was approaching.
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Blue hair.
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Average height.
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A friendly expression—
but with a firm gaze.
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— Are you still missing a group member?
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Laylah raised an eyebrow.
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— Maybe.
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The boy smiled.
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— Great.
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He stopped in front of them.
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— Marcos.
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He pointed at himself.
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— Class B.
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His eyes shifted to Remiel.
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— Same as you.
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Remiel simply observed.
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— My Path…
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Marcos paused briefly.
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— is the Beast Path.
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Silence.
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— Phoenix variant.
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Laylah was visibly surprised.
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— Phoenix…?
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She examined him more carefully.
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— I didn't know someone from that Path was here.
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Marcos shrugged.
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— It's not very common.
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Laylah crossed her arms.
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— That makes sense.
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She looked at Remiel.
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— Not all Paths are elemental.
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Remiel remained silent.
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— There are conceptual Paths.
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She continued.
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— Telepathy.
— Gravity.
— Magnetism.
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A pause.
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— And beast-type Paths.
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She looked back at Marcos.
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— Like yours.
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Marcos smiled.
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— It's not as simple as it sounds.
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His eyes gleamed slightly.
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— But it's strong.
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Remiel analyzed him.
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— You'll do.
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A direct response.
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Marcos blinked.
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— …Was that a yes?
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— Yes.
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Laylah let out a small laugh.
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— Welcome to the group.
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At the center of the hall—
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the professor finally stepped forward.
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Professor Arthur.
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His presence silenced the entire room.
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— Form groups of three.
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His voice echoed.
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— The test begins now.
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He slowly raised his hand.
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The crystal responded.
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Light.
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Energy.
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Runes began to rotate.
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The air… changed.
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A portal began to form.
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Right in front of everyone.
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Distorting space.
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Revealing something—
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beyond.
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Professor Arthur looked at the students.
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— Good luck.
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Simple.
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But heavy.
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Groups began to move.
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One by one—
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entering the portal.
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Laylah stepped forward.
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— Let's go.
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Marcos took a deep breath.
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— First time…
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— That's normal.
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Laylah replied.
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Remiel said nothing.
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He simply walked.
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They stopped in front of the portal.
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On the other side—
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it wasn't just light.
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It was…
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history.
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— Ready?
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Laylah asked.
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— Yes.
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Marcos answered.
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Silence.
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Remiel didn't answer.
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But—
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he stepped forward.
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And crossed.
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The sensation was immediate.
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Falling.
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Weight.
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Disconnection.
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The world… disappeared.
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And then—
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returned.
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But it wasn't the same.
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The sky…
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was different.
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Dark.
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Deep.
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And on the horizon—
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a presence.
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Ancient.
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Massive.
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The air was heavy.
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Dense.
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Alive.
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The ground—
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was unstable.
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Ruins.
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Remnants.
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Traces of something destroyed.
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Marcos dropped to one knee.
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— What… is this place…
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Laylah remained standing.
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But her eyes were tense.
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— The era of the Black Dragon…
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The wind passed.
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But it wasn't normal.
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It was… oppressive.
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Remiel didn't move.
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His eyes were fixed ahead.
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Something…
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was calling.
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Something…
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familiar.
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Inside him—
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time…
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reacted.
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Slightly.
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Almost imperceptibly.
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But present.
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Laylah looked around.
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— This isn't just a memory…
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Marcos swallowed.
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— It feels… too real…
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Silence.
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Then—
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a sound.
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A roar.
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Distant.
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But enough.
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The air trembled.
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Laylah froze for a moment.
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— That…
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Remiel didn't blink.
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His eyes—
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deepened.
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The world ahead began to move.
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The memory…
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was beginning.
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And Remiel—
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remained still.