It felt as if it were yesterday...
The two small children ran after each other through a field covered in grass, on the far side of the iron wall that surrounded the city that always shone, even under sunlight.
They fell onto the damp ground, but instead of feeling disgusted by the dirt, they simply kept playing, their smiles so innocent and unaware of the dangers of that world.
The sister held her brother against her chest. She was slightly taller, but nearly the same age, perhaps one or two years older. Her hands squeezed the boy's cheeks as she covered his face with kisses.
He was her favorite person, her brother, the one she loved most. And she was his favorite person, his sister, the one he loved most.
Their days were always spent together, playing and running through the city. Their parents, protective and caring, always watched them with loving yet firm eyes.
They had been taught since childhood to bathe together, spending hours there with their toys.
Everything was so wonderful. Why can't everything in this life be eternal?
Why does nothing in this life last forever?
While they played among the wilderness that separated the nations of that world, curious about some ruins known as the "Remnants of the Old Society," something opened before them.
A portal.
From a young age, everyone was taught that if you ever saw a portal, you should call an adult. But those stubborn, innocent children, unaware of the danger, entered the dimension.
And everything changed.
He only remembered the despair of searching for his older sister. He cried endlessly. The monsters looked like mountains compared to his small size.
Everything was so hot, his sneakers had melted in the fire, and his feet burned with every step. When he finally found the exit, he didn't hesitate to cry for help.
Hours passed with no results.
The hunters claimed there was nothing left in the Inferius and that they had to destroy the core to prevent further danger. They expressed their sorrow, but the theory was that Mariane Sybenkiosk had been burned in the flames.
The news devastated the entire family. His mother cried for hours every day. His father buried himself in work, sometimes returning home only once a week. And the boy, Vector, felt guilt eating away at his heart day after day, month after month, year after year.
Seeing that bed beside him, empty and silent, with no stuffed animals, no soft pink hue dividing the room, felt as though his entire life had lost its color.
His parents, now divorced, with every pain and every tear, blamed him for everything.
Was it really his fault? If he had died in her place, would things have been different?
He had already tested that theory on himself. He didn't have the courage to end his own life. Nothing he did, no matter how desperate, would ever bring her back.
When accused once again, the little family support he still had broke completely. He was abandoned.
But now, in the same hell he found himself in, the female figure before him, though changed, was her.
His sister.
All the pain he had felt after the fight vanished like water flowing through a stream. He stood up, lips trembling, eyes swelling, barely able to hold back his emotions as he saw the arms and smile of the one he thought he had lost forever.
Slowly, but without hesitation, he hugged her with all the strength he had. Stammering, he asked if he was dreaming. The woman's hands, more real than anything, touched his hair, caressing him with a tenderness impossible not to recognize.
No, it wasn't a dream.
Her nails rested against his face, making his horns lean slightly against her temple. She spoke clearly, saying she was more than happy to see him again.
She felt fulfilled, proud of what her younger brother had become, a man so strong and handsome, though now suffering under the injustice of the system.
She promised to answer all his questions, but for now, she didn't have much time. Saying goodbye with a kiss on his head, she dissolved into dark smoke.
Feeling that warmth fade was like being struck in the chest. He fell to his knees, staring at the ground.
What had his sister become? How was she alive? There were so many questions...
But exhaustion returned, and soon after, he lost consciousness.
At Renkata's Well-Used Workshop, Skyler, after finishing his morning appointments, leaned back in his chair, nearly drifting into sleep.
A slap on his head broke his peace for a brief moment.
It was Lucy, shouting and cursing as she asked if he could make her a "rich girl ID" so she and Alice could infiltrate a party that would feature Lhrariane's presence.
Holding his head, Skyler said he could, but he wanted to rest. He added a threat that if she woke him again, he'd hit her with whatever was within reach.
Lucy giggled but nodded and headed for the door. However, she ended up bumping her face into someone's chest.
With a short groan and a scrunched nose, Lucy looked up only to find herself facing Ferinish, who held her large sword... rusty?
Without noticing that detail, Lucy knelt down, spilling out apologies between nervous stammers. Ferinish said such reverence wasn't necessary, but Lucy disagreed.
She admired him.
The redhead gave a proud smile, resting the sword on her shoulder to create a more majestic image, so to speak.
Skyler watched the scene with a disinterested look and casually asked the reason for her visit, which left Lucy momentarily shocked.
Ferinish stepped closer, explaining that her sword was wearing down too quickly.
Skyler replied that this was intentional.
The great Combat Pillar raised an eyebrow in confusion. Lucy slipped out of the shop cautiously, afraid of an outburst. Ferinish sighed and asked what his true goal was in making that weapon.
He explained that when he forged the blade, he considered the warrior's skill and wanted to create something that, instead of losing strength over time, would grow stronger with use. The "wear" was merely a transition into what he called "The True Blade."
She retorted, asking why he hadn't simply made "The True Blade" from the start.
Skyler answered that it would be too expensive and he wanted to save effort.
A vein bulged on her forehead. She almost smiled in anger but held herself back, saying Skyler was far too kind to deserve a beating, though he shouldn't push his luck.
The shopkeeper merely shrugged and agreed with her.
Without another word, Ferinish left with a powerful sigh escaping her nose. Skyler ran a hand over his face and muttered about the high chance of getting beaten by a woman.
That night, after receiving their supplies, Lucy and Alice dressed in formal clothes for the party. The blonde gave him a farewell kiss, and the brunette tied her hair into a bun.
Skyler sat in the living room, typing on his computer to access the small microphones hidden on their chests. The two women stood before him, waiting for his visual approval for the event.
He gave a thumbs-up.
That was all they needed.
Within minutes, under the protection of their umbrellas, the two determined women stood before the mansion where the welcome party for Lhrariane Des Montes would take place.
It was the perfect night. A place filled with the city's most important names. No one cared about them there.
And that was perfect.