The day was gray and quiet, the kind of day that felt heavy, like something was waiting to happen. It was in the shadow of the Tower of Songs where the people gathered. The building stood tall, its walls lined with the echoes of melodies past, some of joy, others of sorrow, all mingling into a symphony that seemed to breathe life into the tired bricks. The slums stretched around it, homes huddled together like old friends sharis.

  Fii walked through the crowd slowly. Her eyes were somber, refleg the overcast sky above, her face devoid of the usual bright expression she wore. She moved like one who knew each step took her closer to something iable, something necessary. Her worn sneakers scuffed against the uneven ground, each footfall a muted thump on the cracked crete.

  She had walked this path many times, each step ingrained in her memory, but today it felt different. She felt the weight of the past feressing down on her, a physical thing that seemed to settle on her shoulders, making each breath a scious effort.

  Arouhe people of the slums moved with a quiet dignity. They were dressed in simple clothes, the kind worn by those who khe meaning of a hard day's work. Men and women, young and old, they all carried the weight of life in the slums, but today they carried it like a badge of honor. The weight had a purpose.

  They were here not just to mourn but to stand together, to show that even in the face of sorrow, the spirit of their unity could not be broken.

  The Tower of Songs loomed ahead, its facade marked by time aher. It was an old structure, ohat had seeer days, but it stood resilient, much like the people who sought refuge in its embrace. It had once been something else, something less noble, but now it was a sanctuary for those who found so musid art.

  The courtyard before the tower was a sea of faces, a gathering of those who Kenzo’s music had touched. His bandmates, the members of Shunkashūtō, were scattered among the crowd, their instruments clutched like lifelihere was a stillo them, a heavy silehat was more eloquent than any words could be.

  Fii’s eyes swept over the crowd, noting the diversity of those gathered. A young woman stood with a baby strapped to her chest, her eyes red-rimmed fr. o her stood an older man, his stooped frame draped in a battered jacket, a siear trailing down his grizzled cheek.

  Even gangs who had long feuded with each other stood shoulder to shoulder, united in grief and respect. Fii smiled grimly at the sight, knowing it was only momentary.

  People o her as she passed, some with a smile, others with a tearful ghey knew her now not just as Fii but as Axion.

  Word had spread of her true identity and her defeat of Prime. She tried not to think too hard about the sequences of killing the Metropolis's top hero...it didn't feel real.

  She tinued weaving her way through the crowd, eventually finding herself he front. The stage where Kenzo was to be id to rest stood before her, a makeshift set of steps leading up to its dusty ptform. An open casket y upoage, the body iill and quiet.

  Fii swallowed past the lump ihroat, her eyes stinging with uears. She wanted so badly to turn back time, to somehow prevent this tragedy. But she k was a futile wish; the damage was done. She forced herself to push on.

  The sound of footsteps came to her ears as Kasumi reached her side.

  Fii go the side to find Kasumi's eyes fixed forward as she stared at Kenzo's body. She looked almost like she was expeg to see Kenzo sit back up and say that he was only kidding. Fii khe feeling all too well.

  "He would hate this," Kasumi finally murmured, her voice quiet and subdued. "He would have wanted something low key...something private, just for those closest to him." Her gaze drifted away from the body, nding somewhere on the far horizon.

  Fii nodded silently, uo find the words to express how she felt. So much had happened in the past few days, and she still hadn't e to terms with all of it. She sighed and wiped a tear from her cheek.

  Kasumi's eyes flicked over to Fii briefly, theuro the stage. Fii could see a storm brewing in her gaze, and she feared what would e when it finally broke.

  "Tell me," Kasumi said after a long moment. "Did you make that bastard suffer before you killed him?"

  Fii wi Kasumi's harsh tone, but she had expected some rea like this.

  "I crushed Prime until he was less than a speck of dust," she answered truthfully. It sourao her own ears; it was so far removed from how she usually spoke...it wasn't like her at all—but her heart was hardened. A small, vengeful part of her reveled in the brutality of those words—a dark part of her.

  "Good," Kasumi whispered fiercely. She fell silent, and the two stood there together as the crowd began to murmur in hushed voices. The ceremony was about to begin.

  The first strains of music rose from the crowd like a phoenix from the ashes. It was a song Fii had heard many times before but never like this. The melody floated into the air, carried on the wings of sorrow and hope. It was a fitting tribute for someone who had meant so much to so many.

  Fii watched as Shunkashūtō took the stage one by one. Each musi took their pce, eastrument held in solemn reverence.

  They pyed without speaking, letting their music speak for them. As the st note faded from the air, each member stepped to the casket. One by ohey pced an objeside with trembling hands: an old photo of the group together smiling; an ornate guitar piscribed with Kenzo's name; a crumpled set list stained with sweat and tears; a torn and faded piece of sheet music with Kenzo's handwriting scrawled across its surface; and finally, the bouquet of purple hyaths clutched in Kasumi's fist.

  They were beautiful flowers and they symbolized fiveness. But Fii alsnized another meaning...sorrow...pain...regret.

  Fii took a step forward—hesitant...uain. She didn't know if she should follow. She paused before taking a deep breath and closing her eyes. With slow and careful footsteps, she climbed the stairs to the stage and gazed upon Kenzo's body once more. A siear ran down her cheek and fell upon the white satin cloth lining the casket.

  Her lips curled in a half-hearted smile; she wao say something, anything...but no words came. Instead, she bent down and tucked a strand of hair behind his cold, stiff ear.

  Reag into her backpack, she pulled out the remains of her broke and id it beside his folded hands. It wasn't much of a memorial but it was all she had. With aearful gaze, Fii turned away and desded the steps.

  The crowd was silent as Fii crossed the courtyard and disappeared into the sea of faces, lost in her own thoughts. She had done what she had e to do. It was time to move on.

  The sky rumbled as she walked away.

  Fii walked through the Rust Market like a ghost drifting through a dream. People passed by her in a blur of color and sound but she paid them no heed.

  She entered Rao's shop and sat on a worn stool, her shoulders hunched forward as she stared at her shoes.

  Rao looked up from his workbench, his keen eyes softening at the sight of her. He wiped his hands on a rag and walked over to her side. His face held a somber expression as he asked quietly. "You alright?"

  Fii nodded but said nothing. She couldn't bring herself to speak, not yet anyway. Her throat felt tight as she tried to keep fr again. She had cried enough.

  Rao sighed as he leaned against the wall, his eyes distant as he gazed out the window. "Only met him a couple of times, but he was a good guy. A good voice for the slums. Made us remember we could be more than just scraps. I wish I could have known him better."

  Fii nodded again, her eyes still fixed on the floor. The rain outside picked up in iy; a steady patter filled the room as rivulets of water trickled down the gss. They sat together in sileil eventually Rao spoke up again.

  "So, all this time...you were Axion, huh?" The statement was matter-of-fao trace of accusatier. Rao's eyes remained focused on the downpour outside as he waited for her response.

  The ers of Fii's mouth lifted into a faint smile as she answered. "Yep."

  There was a certain sense of relief as she spoke the words, an almost weightless sensation in her chest as she let go of the secret she had been harb all these months.

  Rao gave a quiet chuckle and shook his head. "I should have known. Ever since you showed up lookin' all glowed-up, I had my suspis. Heh, guess you were a te bloomer, eh?" His hand moved to pat her shoulder lightly before moving back to the ter. He fiddled with some parts on his workbench.

  Fii ughed softly iurn, her mood lifting slightly. "You could say that."

  She sat quietly for a while, the only sound being the rain falling outside. She listeo it for a bit before speaking again. "Sorry for not telling you."

  Raed, his attention still focused on the gadgets on the desk. "Wasn't your secret to tell." He paused as a wisp of steam drifted from one of the devices he was w on. It hissed and popped like a little dragon's breath as he muttered a curse. "And to be ho, it robably for the best. I wouldn't have been able to keep my mouth shut about it."

  Fii chuckled. "Probably not," she ceded. She could only imagine Rao crowing about her heroics to ahin earshot. He would have turned her exploits into some kind of urban legend. His enthusiasm was iious; her eyes kled ever so slightly as another soft giggle escaped her lips. The heavy feeling in her chest lightened.

  Rao caught her amused expression and cracked a smile of his own. "Still. Now that everyone knows who you are, you'd best be more careful. The gangs will want you for themselves...especially now. And there's no doubt more than a few folks out there who ain't happy you put ao Prime's reign."

  His tone became more serious as he went on. "People fear what they 't uand and right now...well...you've just bee the greatest mystery in the slums."

  Fii nodded; she uood the unspoken warnings behind Rao's words. Things were going to beore dangerous.

  "I'll be careful," she promised.

  Rao grunted in aowledgement as he resumed work on the gadget before him. Fii watched in silence as he tinkered with the device. The rain tio fall outside. It was f.

  "What happens now?" Fii asked softly.

  She didn't really expe answer but she had to ask. Things had ged so much since she started out and now...well...now everything seemed like it had just blown up in her face. What was she supposed to do? There was no clear path ahead of her.

  Edith had been abducted by Salvatore, and Virgil was still rec in the ic. The three people she had e to rely on fuidance were all gone or too io help her. Now...it was just her. No pn. No guidance. She felt lost. Adrift.

  "Don't look so worried," Rao chided gently as he gnced her way. His eyes were kind. "You'll figure it out. You're a survivor...just like me...just like everyone who lives in these streets." His voice held a fidehat she wasn't quite sure she felt herself. He looked back down at his work with a faint smirk.

  "And besides...if you get stuck...I'm still here." His eyes darted upwards again, filled with mischief. "Though...if you still need some tinks, I could use another pair of hands...on a part-time basis." He emphasized his statement by throwing a wrento the air. It arced gracefully through the air—bounded off his open palm—and cttered into a pile on his workbench—a shower of metal and bolts.

  His features held a smug expression. "Of course...only when you're not too busy running around keeping order...or whatever you heroes do."

  Fii ughed, the first full ugh sihe whole ordeal. It lifted her spirits. "Deal." She grinned widely and stood from her seat. "Thanks for the talk, Rao. I really hat."

  Rao gave her an offhand wave as he tiinkering with his traptions.

  With a quiet ugh, she stepped out the door and onto the streets.

  The rain had lighteo a steady drizzle, though there was a chill in the air as evening drew near. The Rust Market had mostly emptied out; the shops were shuttered tight against the weather. Only those who had nowhere else to go were still milling about.

  Fii pulled her hood over her head and began walking toward the ic. Her mind raced as she ran through all the things she would o do. Edith was still out there. She o find some way of getting her back. Virgil needed someoo look after him while he recovered.

  There were others that needed her help. The aftermath of Salvatore's assault had left its scars behind...the gangs were more active than ever and she could hardly walk a block without stumbling onto some sort of fight or turf skirmish.

  She sighed, running a hand through her damp hair. It felt like everyone was waiting for her to do...something. For now, she just had to do what she could on her own.

  Fii found herself back at Edith's b, alone and at a loss for dire. With Virgil's injury leaving him incapacitated, ah gone...Fii's path ahead seemed unclear. She sighed and sat down on the cold floor. Her thoughts turo the past. Back to the event that led to her life being ged forever.

  She o get Edith back from Salvatore's clutches. That much was clear. Fii owed her that much. For all the time they spent together—and the secrets that remained unspoken...she felt a certain obligation.

  After all...without Edith—and the serum—she never would have bee Axion in the first pce...and she certainly wouldn't be where she was right now. It wasn't something that she liked to dwell upon...but it was a debt that couldn't be ignored.

  Fii leaned her head back against the wall a out anh. "Helix. Are you sure Edith is going to be okay until I rescue her?"

  The nearby puter chimed as the AI responded. "Dr. Weiss is uo e to physical harm at this point. Salvatore will most likely wish to use her as an asset in his research, which will likely span months or years." There ause as if the AI were hesitating before adding, "Haste is not advised in this case. I reend proceeding with other aspects of your daily life and tio grow in experiend strength in preparation."

  "Mm...yeah...I guess that makes sense," Fii admitted with a grimace. "It's still hard though...to leave her there like that."

  She idly drummed her fingers against her knees as she stared off into the distance. "How about you? What are you gonna do now without Edith around?"

  There was a brief silence before Helix answered again. "In case of her absence, I have been instructed to aid you and Sheri in maintaining her operations...until such a time that she is recovered."

  Fii smiled wryly as she stood from her spot on the floor and made her way over to the puter terminal. "Is that so? Thanks...I'll try not to be a burden on you." She leaned closer to the s; the holographic dispy reflected in her eyes as she scrolled through the list of open files and here were many teical details, medical terms, aic g she didn't uand—but enough for her to catch a glimpse of Edith's genius.

  She shook her head in amazement as she straightened from her hunched positioh really is something...isn't she?" The words tumbled from her lips as she looked up towards the ceiling absentmindedly—as if addressing an unseen being.

  Hang in there, Edith. I'll figure something out. Just ime. For now...let me take care of the slums.