It was as if it were yesterday...
The two small children ran after one another in a field covered with grass, on the opposite side of the iron wall that surrounded the city that always shone, even under the light of the sun.
They fell onto the damp ground, but instead of feeling repulsed by the dirt, they simply kept playing, their smiles so innocent and unaware of the danger of that world.
The sister hugged her brother against her chest. She was slightly bigger, but almost the same age, perhaps one or two years older. Her hands squeezed the boy's cheeks and covered his face with kisses.
He was her favorite person, her brother, the one she loved the most. And she was his favorite person, his sister, the one he loved the most.
Their days were always spent close together, playing and running through the city. Their parents, protective, always watched them with loving yet firm looks.
They were taught, from childhood, to bathe together, where they would spend hours 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 had fun in the nature that separated the nations of that world, curious about some wreckage called "Memories of the Old Society", something opened in front of them.
A portal.
From a young age, everyone was taught that, upon seeing a portal, they should call an adult. But those children, stubborn and innocent regarding danger, entered the dimension.
And thus everything changed.
He only remembered the desperation of searching for his older sister. He cried without stopping. The monsters looked like mountains compared to his small size.
Everything was so hot, his sneakers had already fallen apart in the fire, and his feet burned with every step. When he finally found the exit, he did not hesitate to ask for help.
Hours passed with no results.
The hunters claimed that there was nothing in Inferius and that they needed to destroy the core to prevent any danger. They lamented it, but the theory was that Mariane Sybenkiosk had been burned by the fire.
The news shocked the entire family. His mother cried for hours every day. His father worked more and more, sometimes coming home only once a week. And the boy, Vector, felt guilt corroding his heart every day, every month, every year.
Seeing that bed beside his, empty and silent, without the stuffed bears and without the pink tone that once shared his room, was like seeing life itself lose its color.
His parents, 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 be different?
He had already tested that theory on himself. He did not have the courage to end his own life. Nothing he did, no matter how insane, would bring his sister back.
When he was accused, the little family support that remained shattered. He was abandoned.
But now, in the same hell where he found himself, the female figure before him, no matter how different she was, was her.
His sister.
All the pain he had felt after the fight dissipated like water flowing through a stream. He stood up, lips trembling, eyes beginning to swell, unable to contain the feeling upon seeing the arms and the smile of the one who had once been lost forever.
Slowly, but without hesitation, he hugged her with all the strength he had. He stammered, asking if he was dreaming. The woman's hands, more real than anything, touched his hair, caressing it with a delicacy impossible not to recognize.
No, it was not a dream.
Her nails rested on the man's face, causing her horns to rest lightly against his temple. She replied clearly that she was more than happy to see him again.
She felt fulfilled, proud to see what her younger brother had become, a handsome and strong man, even though he now suffered at the unjust hands of the system.
She promised to answer all of his doubts, but for now, she did not have much time. She said goodbye with a kiss on his head and dissipated into a dark smoke.
Feeling that warmth disappear was like taking a blow to the chest. He knelt down, staring at the ground.
What had his sister become? How was she alive? There were so many doubts...
But the exhaustion returned, and soon after, he lost consciousness.
At Renkata Bem Usada, Skyler, after finishing his appointments in the morning, leaned back in his chair, almost falling asleep.
A slap on his head pulled him out of his peace for a brief moment.
It was Lucy, using several curses to ask whether he was capable of making a "rich identity" so that she and Alice could infiltrate a party that would have the presence of Lhrariane.
With a hand on his head, Skyler stated that he was capable, but wanted to rest. In addition, he threatened that if she woke him again, he would hit her with whatever he had at hand.
Lucy let out a small laugh, but nodded and headed toward the exit. However, she ended up hitting her face against a chest.
With a brief groan and her nose twisted, Lucy raised her head, only to come face to face with Ferinish, who was holding her great sword... rusty?
Not noticing the detail, Lucy knelt down, uttering several apologies mixed with nervous stuttering. Ferinish said that such respect was not necessary, but Lucy disagreed.
She admired her.
The redhead sketched a proud smile and placed the sword on her shoulder to create a more majestic image, let's say.
Skyler watched everything with a disinterested look and asked the reason for the visit naturally, which left Lucy shocked for a moment.
Ferinish approached, claiming that the sword was wearing down far too quickly.
Skyler replied that this was precisely the intention.
The great Pillar of Combat raised an eyebrow, confused. Lucy cautiously left the shop, fearing an outburst of rage. Ferinish sighed and asked what his objective was in making the sword.
He explained that, when forging the blade, he thought of the warrior's experience and wanted to create something that, instead of losing strength over time, would grow stronger with use. The "wear" was just a transition to what he called "The True Blade".
She retorted, asking why he had not simply made the "True Blade" from the beginning.
Skyler replied that it would be very expensive and that he wanted to save effort.
A vein pulsed on the woman's forehead. She almost smiled in anger, but restrained herself and stated that Skyler was too kind to be beaten, although he should not abuse his luck.
The vendor merely shrugged and agreed with her.
Without saying anything else, Ferinish left with a heavy sigh. Skyler ran a hand over his face and muttered about the great possibility of being beaten by a woman.
At night, after receiving the appropriate items, Lucy and Alice dressed in formal clothes to go to the party. The blonde gave Flowey a farewell kiss, and the brown-haired one tied her hair into a bun.
Skyler was in the living room, fiddling with the computer to access the small microphones attached to both of their chests. The two stood in front of him, waiting for his visual approval for the party.
He raised his thumb.
That was enough.
In a few 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 full of important names from the city. No one cared about them in that environment.
And that was perfect.