Snow was falling silently from the skies.
Time itself seemed to have collapsed since the encounter between Sakolomeh-My0x and the Absolute Resonance, as if the world had taken years to breathe again.
Now separated, Sakolomeh was no longer a danger to the Dream.
He retained traces of it, certainly, but he had reinscribed himself into a coherent form, compatible with the order of the possible. As for Sakolomeh-My0x, he had joined the indescribable confines of the Meta world — places that even imagination could not reach.
And yet, even there, he had voluntarily restrained himself, in order to remain coherent with the Meta world, and above all, to remain what he was fundamentally:
the silent link between all things and the Absolute.
Sakolomeh advanced slowly through the snow.
His footsteps left clear imprints on the immaculate ground.
A long black coat enveloped his silhouette, and without hurrying, he headed toward a building with warm lights.
Arriving in front of the door, he raised his hand… and knocked three times.
The door opened.
— Sakolomeh?
It was Yuhida. Her gaze first expressed surprise, then a discreet relief.
Sakolomeh smiled gently.
— Hi. Are you doing okay?
Yuhida nodded.
— You came to see Baku, right?
He simply nodded.
Suddenly, small hurried footsteps echoed from inside, and a little girl burst out running. Her black hair with white tips waved behind her.
— Uncle Sakolomeh!!!
She jumped without hesitation into his arms.
Yes.
Yuhida was now Bakuzan's wife.
And during the monstrous battle that had shaken the Dream, five years had passed. It was in the very heart of that chaos that Yuhida had become pregnant with Bakuzan.
Sakolomeh placed an affectionate hand on the little one's head.
— So… you're doing well, Yuhizan?
She nodded energetically.
— Hey, uncle… what did you bring me?
Yuhida sighed softly.
— Yuhizan, you shouldn't always expect your uncle to bring you something. He's not obligated to.
Sakolomeh interrupted her immediately, still smiling.
— Don't worry. She's my niece… and I love her a lot.
He gently set her down on the floor, then slipped his hand into the pocket of his black coat. When he pulled it out, three lollipops appeared between his fingers.
Yuhizan's eyes lit up immediately.
— Oh! I want one, I want one!!!
Yuhida gave Sakolomeh a reproachful look.
— You wouldn't want her to get cavities, would you?
Sakolomeh let out a light, sincere laugh.
— Not in a million years. I could never wish that on my niece, come on.
He leaned down and handed a lollipop to the little girl.
— This one's for you.
Yuhizan grabbed the gift enthusiastically and immediately began unwrapping it, her eyes shining.
— However, added Sakolomeh gently, you have to listen to your mom, you know…
The little girl nodded vigorously, too busy savoring her victory to protest.
At that moment, a familiar voice echoed from inside.
— What's all this racket?
Bakuzan appeared, then stopped dead upon seeing Sakolomeh.
— Hey… Sakolomeh. You came for what we talked about last time, I assume.
Sakolomeh simply nodded.
Bakuzan closed his eyes and sighed, as if accepting a weight he already knew too well. Then he snapped his fingers. His appearance changed immediately: black clothes, dark jacket, exactly as before.
Yuhida looked at him, stunned.
— You… where are you going?
Bakuzan approached her and placed a kiss on her lips.
— I'll be gone for a while. But it's for a good reason.
She crossed her arms, suspicious.
— You're not going to cause another catastrophe in the meta-reality like last time, are you?!
Bakuzan raised his hands, trying to defend himself.
— No. And anyway… it wasn't even entirely our fault last time…
He shot a sideways glance at Sakolomeh.
— Well… not entirely.
Sakolomeh brought a hand to his head, silently acknowledging his share of responsibility.
Yuhida continued to scold Bakuzan, but Sakolomeh was no longer really listening. He was observing the scene.
Five years had passed since the monstrous battle. Five years during which so many things had changed. Here stood Bakuzan — the Black Grief, the Ebon Woe, once an absolute terror among the Deviants, a shadow that made even the great mythical entities tremble.
And yet… here he was now. Loving husband. Attentive father. In a peaceful house, in the heart of a world that had finally stopped collapsing.
Time had done its work. Not everything was finished, certainly, but what remained to be settled was no longer insurmountable.
Sakolomeh crossed his arms, watching Bakuzan clumsily try to calm his wife. A scene no one could have imagined back then — except those who truly knew Bakuzan. They knew that deep down, he had never been bad.
Finally, Bakuzan managed to calm Yuhida and sighed deeply.
— Honestly… women, you're really complicated. Even for me.
— What are you trying to imply there?! she shouted immediately.
Bakuzan raised his hands, as if abandoning all resistance.
— Okay, okay. You win. I give up.
He then turned to Yuhizan and gently placed his hand on his daughter's head.
— You, you be good with mommy, okay? I don't want to hear when I get back that you've been up to mischief again.
The little girl looked up at him, serious as ever… before nodding energetically.
Sakolomeh and Bakuzan walked side by side, their footsteps sinking into the fresh snow that continued to fall silently around them.
After a moment, Sakolomeh broke the silence.
— It must be… nice to have a wife.
Bakuzan turned his head toward him, surprised.
— What's gotten into you to say that all of a sudden?
Sakolomeh looked away and stared at the snowy horizon. A slight smile formed on his face.
— You and Yuhida make a really beautiful couple. You can feel your complicity. You've been through a lot together… especially during your secret relationship. A relationship which, by the way, you completely hid from me.
Bakuzan smiled and looked up at the sky, as if amused by the accusation.
— We didn't hide anything from you. I remind you that you had disappeared into another reality to play at being Melokosa.
Sakolomeh blushed instantly.
— Hey! That doesn't count! I wasn't even conscious of myself at that point!
Bakuzan chuckled.
— Anyway, it proves I had nothing to hide. Salomeh, Mother, and Bakuran had known for a long time. You, on the other hand, we had to go fetch you while you were living it up in another life.
— Okay, no need to make a big deal out of it, Mr. Married Guy! replied Sakolomeh, still red.
Bakuzan burst out laughing, then grabbed Sakolomeh by the neck in a brusque and affectionate gesture, pressing his head against his arm before ruffling his hair.
— What the hell are you doing, Bakuzan?! protested Sakolomeh.
— You know, replied Bakuzan with a chuckle, despite everything you've become — a monstrously powerful thing — deep down, you're exactly the same. And that's what's funny.
Sakolomeh pulled away immediately and ran a hand through his completely tousled hair.
— Great… For once I'd taken care of my hair, and you ruin everything.
Bakuzan smiled and slipped his hands into his pockets.
— I love you, little brother.
Sakolomeh stopped, stopped fixing his hair, and looked at him. A sincere smile appeared on his face.
— It's been a long time since we talked like this, just the two of us. It feels like you missed it… big brother. Or should I say: the married man.
Bakuzan replied in a falsely solemn tone.
— Oh, don't worry. I'm sure you too, one day, you'll get married. Well… if a girl accepts the great lost-in-love that you've been for decades.
Sakolomeh turned bright red immediately.
— Damn it, stop making fun of me!
Bakuzan burst out laughing.
— Relax, I'm kidding! You've really lost your sense of humor!
As Sakolomeh and Bakuzan were still immersed in their moment of brotherhood, a voice interrupted them from behind:
— I'm not disturbing you, am I?
They turned around almost at the same time. Then their faces softened.
It was Erasa.
The demon who, against all odds, was the apostle of a divinity — or rather, of a principle of the Dream, something that far exceeded the classical notion of god. Said like that, it might seem absurd. Yet, in the reality of the Dream, it was almost… logical.
Sakolomeh had gotten to know her over time. For a demon, Erasa was surprisingly upright. Kind, deep down — but icy in appearance. A bit like Bakuzan. Both shared that strange trait: they only laughed in the presence of those in whom they had absolute trust. In front of others, even a smile was a rarity.
— You really show up at the perfect time, you, said Sakolomeh with a sincere smile.
Erasa advanced, her black coat floating slightly under the snow.
— You don't have your mask this time? remarked Bakuzan.
She lifted her chin slightly.
— It's not necessary in front of you.
Then she turned her gaze to Sakolomeh.
— Do you have news from Ravena and Neru?
Sakolomeh shook his head.
— Not yet. But anyway, the meeting is scheduled for today. If they don't come… maybe they've given up.
Erasa crossed her arms. Her smile faded.
— Including Zar'Khan in all this… honestly, I don't like that idea.
Sakolomeh smiled calmly.
— We have to give him a chance to prove he's changed, right? You're really harsh in your judgments.
Erasa stared at him, frowning slightly.
— Or maybe you're too lenient. I guess that comes from being "the one who calmed the Absolute Resonance."
Sakolomeh raised his hands immediately, almost embarrassed.
— Technically, it wasn't me. It was Sakolomeh-My0x.
— And so? replied Erasa bluntly. Is there a difference?
Sakolomeh nodded slowly.
— Yes. A huge one, even.
Erasa crossed her arms more firmly, her gaze piercing.
— Oh yeah? And what's the difference, exactly, between you… and your "other self"?
Don't take me for an idiot.