The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the forest floor as Kibo, Syl, and Lily trudged through the dense underbrush. Their footsteps were muffled by layers of fallen leaves, and the air was thick with tension. The scent of blood still clung to them, though it was faint now—overpowered by the earthy musk of the forest.
Syl was uncharacteristically quiet, her ember eyes fixed ahead as if forcing herself not to look back. Lily followed close behind, humming softly, seemingly oblivious to the weight hanging over them.
After a long, tense silence, Syl finally spoke, her voice carrying a hint of frustration. "I thought Aunt Sora said we should survive."
Lily looked up at her, tilting her head. "She did, Syl."
"Then why," Syl snapped, spinning around to face them, "are we just walking through the forest?!"
Kibo didn't break stride, his expression calm but his tone firm. "If we stay in one place, she'll catch up to us. Moving around makes us harder to track."
Syl huffed, but the fire in her eyes didn't quite match her usual confidence. She turned away, kicking a stray branch out of her path. Kibo glanced at her from the corner of his eye, still troubled by how shaken she seemed.
You're thinking too much, brat, Ignis sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. She's just another weakling trying to act tough. Can't even handle a little kindness from a brainless beast.
Kibo's brow furrowed. You're not usually this chatty. You know something, don't you?
A low, cruel chuckle echoed through his mind. Maybe. Not my problem if your little friend's more fragile than she looks. Though, it's almost funny. A wild beast deciding to be her personal shield? Priceless.
Kibo tightened his grip on his katana, frustration gnawing at him. You really don't know why?
Another snort. Does it matter? If she breaks down, that's her problem. You've got enough to worry about without babysitting.
He didn't respond, but the unease lingered, gnawing at his thoughts. He wasn't used to seeing Syl that vulnerable, and something about it didn't sit right with him.
As they moved through a thicket, Lily glanced at Kibo, her bright eyes catching his attention. "Are you worried about Syl?" she asked softly, her innocent tone contrasting with the tension in the air.
Kibo hesitated, unsure how to respond. "...Not really," he muttered, but his gaze lingered on Syl's back.
Lily's eyes narrowed in thought. "Hmmm," she murmured to herself.
She then moved closer to Syl, her voice soft and filled with concern. "What's wrong, Syl?"
Syl flinched at the sudden attention and shook her head, her voice low and heavy with thought. "Nothing, Lily. Nothing at all."
Lily's brows knitted in worry as she looked up at Syl, her small frame almost bouncing with each step to match Syl's pace. What can I do? she wondered, biting her lip. She knew Syl was hurting—she could see it in the way her shoulders hunched and how her steps seemed sluggish, almost hesitant.
After a moment of silence, Lily spoke up, her tone unusually soft. "It's about the beast that protected you," she said cautiously.
Syl's eyes widened, and she tensed, her hands clenching around her blades. "Yeah... it is," she admitted, her shoulders slumping as if the weight of her guilt was finally too much to bear. "I can't take what happened today out of my mind."
"Why is that...?" Lily asked, her voice almost a whisper, as if she were afraid that speaking too loudly would shatter Syl's fragile composure. "The beast must have had a reason to protect you."
Syl's jaw clenched, and she tightened her grip on her blades, her knuckles turning white. "A reason, Lily? What's the reason? Why did I deserve such protection?" Her voice cracked, and she bit her lip, struggling to hold back the swell of emotions crashing through her.
Lily looked thoughtful, glancing up at the sky as they walked. She hummed softly, almost as if she were trying to make sense of the scattered thoughts swirling around in her mind. "Are you... sad about its death?"
Syl's lips parted, but she hesitated, and a shiver ran through her body as she forced herself to answer. "No... Why would I be? It's a beast—a mindless beast. Not something I should be thinking about."
Lily hummed thoughtfully, her expression a mix of curiosity and confusion. "You're right, it is a mindless beast," she acknowledged, nodding sagely as if confirming her own thoughts. "But even mindless creatures act on instinct, don't they?" A playful glint sparked in her eye. "Perhaps it was a loving beast, driven by a silly instinct to protect? Imagine it: a big, furry guardian, watching over my dear, dear Syl—a strong and precious sister of mine." Lily's tone turned teasing. "A mindless, loving beast, sensing that someone as wonderful as you needs protection. Isn't that just silly?"
Syl froze in place, her steps faltering as she stared at Lily in disbelief. A lump rose in her throat, and she couldn't stop the way her hands trembled. "You... think of me as your sister... Lily?"
Kibo walked past them, giving them a quick side-eye before looking straight ahead again.
Heh, Ignis sneered. You've got some clueless women on your hands, brat. One's too soft, and the other's too dense to even know she's loved. Keep watch, or you'll drown in their mess.
Lily didn't notice Kibo's glance, too caught up in her own rambling thoughts. She grinned up at Syl, her eyes glimmering with genuine affection. "Of course! Why wouldn't I? Or... you don't see me the same?" Her voice grew quieter, and her eyes glistened with tears, as if the mere thought of Syl not seeing her as a sister was too painful to bear.
Syl's heart twisted, and before she knew it, she pulled Lily into a tight hug, clutching her as if she would disappear if she let go. "No, no! I didn't mean it like that!" Syl stammered, her voice shaky and raw. "I... I always thought of you as my sister. Always. But I thought you didn't think of me like that."
Lily giggled softly, wrapping her arms around Syl's waist and nuzzling into her chest. "I do, Syl! I've always thought of you as my flesh and blood—my number-one sister. You're always so strong and amazing and kind... and I know you're hurting, but that doesn't change how wonderful you are to me. No one can come against a wonderful person like you."
Syl couldn't hold back anymore—her tears spilled over, and she buried her face into Lily's hair, her shoulders trembling. "Thank you... Lily," she whispered, voice cracked and uneven. "You mean the world to me."
"I know, I know," Lily murmured, gently patting Syl's back as if comforting a child.
Syl loosened her grip, wiping her tears with the back of her hand as she pulled away. "It was terrible, Lily... I wasn't strong. A beast—a life—protected me and ended up dying."
Lily reached up and cupped Syl's cheeks, wiping away the lingering tears with her thumbs. "I understand, Syl. Let it all out. You couldn't do anything, and that doesn't make you any less of a person. You did your best, and that's what mattered. The beast—no, the life—must have had its reason to do so. Sometimes, even when it doesn't make sense, things happen for a reason... and that doesn't mean you failed."
Syl bit her lip, fighting back another wave of sobs as Lily's words sank in. She felt... lighter somehow, like a weight had been lifted from her chest.
Kibo watched them from a distance, his gaze softening despite himself. Something about how Lily handled Syl made his chest tighten—a warmth blooming within him that he didn't quite understand.
One of a kind, huh... Ignis muttered, his tone uncharacteristically thoughtful. She's got a way of breaking through those thick walls—even yours. But be careful, brat. That kind of softness is a liability.
No, Kibo shot back mentally, his jaw clenching. She's not a liability.
Ignis chuckled, low and dark. You say that now, but it only takes one moment of weakness to lose everything. Better keep your guard up—especially around your little lover.
Kibo gritted his teeth, ignoring him, but his instincts suddenly screamed at him—something was wrong. A suffocating pressure crashed over him, as if the air itself had thickened and grown hostile. His heart pounded, and he glanced around, trying to pinpoint the source.
"Aunt Sora..." he whispered, the name coming out as a strained breath. He knew it—her presence was faint, but undeniably there, like the calm before a storm. Kibo's hand tightened around his katana, his entire body on edge, yet he forced himself to remain still.
But just as quickly as it appeared, the overwhelming presence faded—gone as if it had never been there. Kibo took a slow, deep breath, glancing at Syl and Lily. They hadn't noticed at all.
He couldn't help but shiver, his instincts still on high alert despite the lingering silence. Something wasn't right. Aunt Sora wasn't the type to just vanish like that. He knew she was toying with them—watching, waiting.
They pushed onward, wary of every rustle and shadow, knowing that Aunt Sora was out there—waiting, hunting. And somehow, the uneasy silence between them felt just as suffocating as her looming presence.