Echoes of the Mist

  As the Veil dissipates, Lunaria appears before Hitory and Tekime, her presence radiating a soft yet commanding light. She gazes at them with deep, tranquil eyes, as if she already knows everything they are about to face.

  She steps toward Hitory and, with a calm and serene voice, speaks directly to him:

  — "Hitory, depending on your relationship with édros, he will not cause harm. However, never let yourself be deceived. Now that he has been freed, he will appear in your dreams. Always stay alert. He will come, but do not let his presence consume you."

  Lunaria pauses for a moment, as if gathering the courage for her next words, then adds:

  — "Please, take care of him. Take care of my beloved. No matter what happens, I am certain he still carries something precious within him."

  With that, Lunaria gives a faint smile and slowly begins to fade into the mist, leaving behind a sense of urgency and responsibility. Hitory and Tekime remain silent, absorbing the weight of her words, now aware that something far greater than they had imagined is at play.

  After Lunaria’s words, the world falls silent once more. Hitory and Tekime, still processing everything, eventually succumb to exhaustion and decide to rest. Elyndra’s home, warm and safe, shelters them, yet Lunaria’s enigmatic words continue to echo in their minds as they drift into sleep.

  The Weight of Dawn

  The next morning, Hitory wakes before Tekime. He slowly sits up, glancing to the side. Tekime is still asleep, but her expression is uneasy. Her face is pale, her brows slightly furrowed, as if she is fighting something even in her dreams.

  Not wanting to disturb her, he quietly rises. Before stepping outside, he stops by the kitchen, setting the table for breakfast—placing bread and tea using the ingredients left by Elyndra. A simple gesture, but the least he can do for her.

  Stepping outside, he takes a deep breath. The surroundings are peaceful, filled with the scent of Elyndra’s flowers. Gripping his sword, he begins practicing precise movements, seeking to maintain his form and clear his mind.

  Meanwhile, Tekime wakes up shortly after, her body weak and her mind still trapped in the horrors of the past days. Her stomach aches with hunger, but the feeling has become almost familiar. Her body feels unbearably heavy, as if each movement demands an impossible effort. She slowly sits up, blinking a few times to adjust her blurred vision. The world seems clearer than she remembers, as if she is returning to reality after an endless nightmare.

  Noticing Hitory’s absence, she drags herself to the window, leaning against the frame for support. Her eyes find his figure in the garden, focused on his movements. She tries to smile, but her lips are dry and cracked. Even so, a strange sense of relief washes over her at the sight of him—safe.

  With hesitant steps, Tekime moves toward the kitchen, where the scent of fresh bread and tea begins to fill the air. The aroma hits her like a punch, her stomach twisting, the memory of days without food making her falter for a moment. With an involuntary tremor, she grips the edge of the table, taking a deep breath. For the first time in a week, something in the air brings her comfort.

  Silver Shadows

  Elyndra wakes later than usual, the distant sounds of activity in the kitchen pulling her back to consciousness. As she rises and walks in, she finds Tekime already sitting at the table, her expression calm.

  For a moment, Elyndra stops at the entrance, surprised. Something is different. Her eyes scan Tekime, a mix of relief and concern settling in. The young woman is here, alive, but… there’s something about her that seems to have changed.

  — "Elyndra… how long has it been?" — Her voice is hoarse and weak, as if unused for days.

  Before Elyndra can answer, she takes a step forward and, without hesitation, pulls her into a tight embrace. Tekime freezes for a moment, feeling the comforting warmth of the gesture. After everything she has been through, the simple sensation of human contact feels almost surreal.

  — "Are you okay?" — Elyndra asks, her voice heavy with concern.

  Tekime takes a moment to respond. Is she okay? Her mind says yes, but her body screams otherwise. Her stomach is empty, her muscles weak, and her head pounds. But still, she is alive.

  — "I… think so…" — she answers softly.

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  Elyndra pulls back just enough to examine her more closely. Her eyes scan every detail until something catches her attention.

  — "Tekime… what happened to you? Your hair…" — Elyndra’s voice is gentle but filled with surprise.

  Tekime, confused, pauses and instinctively touches her own strands, noticing the silver reflection now dominating her hair. The subtle yet elegant change seems to echo Lunaria’s words and the connection that had been established the previous night.

  — "I… don’t know. Maybe… never mind. Since I woke up, I’ve felt a little different, but I hadn’t noticed this." — Tekime hesitates, as if unsure.

  Elyndra watches her closely, a mix of concern and fascination in her gaze.

  — "This isn’t just a simple change. It’s a sign. Something is awakening. Do you feel anything different besides this?"

  Tekime shakes her head, still uncertain, though the weight of Elyndra’s words lingers in her mind. Elyndra slowly steps back, still surprised, but her thoughtful expression suggests she is trying to grasp the meaning behind it.

  — "And what about Hitory? Is he alright? Where is he?" — Elyndra asks, still intrigued by Tekime’s transformed hair. Her voice carries both concern and curiosity.

  Tekime doesn’t answer immediately. Her gaze drifts toward the window, and with a slight nod, she gestures outside. Elyndra follows her gaze and spots Hitory in the garden, executing precise movements with his sword. Each strike is measured, and the fluidity of his movements reveals the discipline behind his blade work.

  — "It seems like he doesn't waste any time. That boy has determination." — Elyndra commented with a slight smile.

  Tekime observed for a moment, a faint glimmer in her eyes, before turning to Elyndra. Her voice was weak but carried a quiet confidence.

  — "Can you call him?"

  Elyndra nodded and walked to the window, opening it.

  — "Hitory! Come have breakfast before it gets cold."

  Hitory paused his training, taking a deep breath as he wiped the sweat from his forehead. He looked up at Elyndra and nodded.

  — "I'm coming."

  Tekime closed her eyes for a moment, feeling the weight in her body, while Elyndra finished setting the table. Her strength was still far from returning completely.

  A short while later, Hitory entered the house, his firm footsteps echoing against the wooden floor. Without wasting time, he headed straight to the bathroom, quickly washing up to rid himself of the sweat from training.

  When he returned to the kitchen, he paused for a moment at the entrance, his eyes meeting Tekime’s. She looked so fragile… Her face was still pale, and though her eyes were alert, they carried the weight of exhaustion. Even so, there was something different about her, something he couldn’t quite explain.

  — "Are you okay, ie?" — he asked, his voice softer than he had intended.

  — "Yes…" — Her response was almost a whisper. Tekime lifted her gaze and gave a small smile.

  Hitory sighed in relief. — "That’s good."

  He approached and sat beside her. For a moment, they remained silent, simply feeling each other’s presence. Then, without warning, Tekime leaned in and embraced him.

  Hitory froze, surprised, but it didn’t take long for him to return the gesture. The warmth of that hug carried something beyond words—a silent thank you, a need to confirm that they were still there, alive.

  With the table finally set, Elyndra ensured everything was in order before sitting down. The scent of fresh bread and herbal tea filled the air, bringing a rare comfort after so many difficult days.

  As they ate, the atmosphere was calm yet carried a sense of renewal. Between bites and exchanged glances, there was a silent understanding that this moment of peace was precious.

  When they finished, Elyndra looked around and, with a curious smile, asked:

  — "Who prepared breakfast?"

  Her gaze landed on Tekime, who simply smiled slightly and directed her eyes toward Hitory. Elyndra followed the gesture and raised an eyebrow, surprised.

  — "Hitory, was it you?" — she asked, crossing her arms.

  Hitory scratched the back of his neck, looking away. — "I just organized a little…"

  Elyndra smiled and nodded. — "Thank you."

  Hitory simply gave a subtle nod before standing up and adjusting his chair.

  — "Excuse me, I'll continue my training."

  Tekime, still seated at the table, simply watched as he picked up his sword and stepped outside again. Elyndra also seemed intrigued by the boy’s dedication but chose not to comment, allowing him to follow his own rhythm.

  The day passed quietly. Hitory dedicated himself intensely to training, alternating between sword strikes and movement exercises to improve his agility. His focus was so intense that he barely noticed the time passing.

  Meanwhile, Tekime stayed close, sitting under the shade of a tree in the garden. With a book on magic open in her lap, she read attentively, absorbing every detail. From time to time, she lifted her eyes to observe Hitory—sometimes curious, sometimes thoughtful.

  At one point, she spoke aloud, almost to herself. — "He works so hard… It’s as if he's carrying something much greater, perhaps the weight of his promise."

  Elyndra, who was nearby tending to some magical plants in the garden, simply smiled slightly upon hearing Tekime’s words but chose not to interrupt the moment.

  The day continued like that, with Hitory and Tekime engaged in their own tasks but maintaining a silent, comfortable closeness, each preparing in their own way for the challenges ahead.

  As the sun began to set, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink, Hitory and Tekime walked together to the cherry tree at the edge of the house. It was the same tree where they had been before, during an important moment in their lives. The petals fell gently, just like back then, wrapping the place in a nostalgic aura.

  Hitory, exhausted after a long day of training, sat down first, leaning against the tree trunk. Tekime, with a peaceful smile, settled beside him, and in a natural gesture, Hitory lay down, resting his head on her lap.

  For a moment, silence reigned between them, broken only by the soft sound of the breeze rustling through the branches. Tekime looked at him with a mix of affection and melancholy before finally speaking.

  — "Hitory… do you remember that time we came here, and I said… 'alone'?"

  Hitory opened his eyes, looking at her gently before replying. — "Yes, I remember. It was right here, under this cherry tree. I found it strange at the time, but I decided not to ask. Why?"

  End of EP 11: "The Journey Beyond the Veil."