Episode 25: Whispers of Blood and Truth
The moon hung low over the ancient forest. The air was heavy — not with fear, but with the weight of a story long buried.
Ayra sat alone near a glistening stream, her feet gently dipped in the cold water. Her necklace glowed faintly, responding not just to her presence—but something else nearby. She stared at it.
Ayra (breaking 4th wall): "You know, Author-san… You really enjoy keeping me in the dark. You throw trauma like confetti. Can I at least get a peaceful picnic once?"
She mock-glares at the sky, as if the author might answer.
A quiet chuckle echoed from behind the trees.
She turned quickly—hand glowing slightly, ready to summon her energy blade—but it was just him. The boy.
His presence had become oddly comforting. Ever since she saved him from the collapsing ruins, they'd shared a strange bond. Not like love—more like a mirrored pain.
"You talk to the sky a lot," he said, a slight smirk on his lips.
"It talks back sometimes," Ayra replied casually.
They sat in silence.
Then he asked the question she didn't expect.
> "What would you do if you found out your whole life… was built on lies?"
Ayra's eyes narrowed.
"Been there, done that," she said quietly, her hand clutching the necklace. "My mother's death… my unknown origin… it's all part of something bigger."
He looked away. His hand brushed against the ring on his finger—a ring he never removed. One that pulsed like it had a soul of its own.
Ayra caught that.
"What's that ring, anyway?"
He stiffened. "A curse… or a reminder."
But before she could press, the earth trembled.
From the distance, a cloaked man stood at the edge of the forest, his eyes locked onto the boy.
"…Found you," he whispered.
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Meanwhile, Far Away…
In a golden chamber suspended in cosmic energy, a man knelt before a throne surrounded by stars. He had one arm missing, a scarred face, and eyes filled with fury and loyalty.
"Your Majesty," he said, "I've found him. The prince lives."
And in that moment, across the galaxies, fate began to twist once more.
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