'Kento loses his final thread of hope... and far away, someone awakens in a body that doesn't feel like their own. A new world opens its gates, but it may not be a kind one. 🕊️🕯️'
March 1st, 2017. Tokyo. Hori's Home, Shibuya District. Morning. 9:00 AM.
Kento stared at Shido's name on the screen. He couldn't speak. He just picked up. "Hello?" he managed, his voice thick with tears.
On the other end, Shido's voice was weak, filled with heavy breathing. "Kento... it's me. I... I'm disappearing."
Kento's world spun. The grief from Hori's loss slammed into the new terror. "No! Shido! No! What are you talking about? Where are you?" He scrambled to his feet, running out of the bathroom, out of the house.
March 1st, 2017. Tokyo. Streets of Shibuya. Morning. 9:05 AM.
Kento ran. He ran through the quiet morning streets of Shibuya, pushing past a few early walkers, not caring where he was going, only that he had to get to Shido. He held the phone to his ear, his breathing ragged, matching Shido's on the other end.
"I'm in my room, Kento," Shido rasped, his voice fading in and out. "I... I think it's my turn. But... listen to me, Kento."
"No! Shido, no! I'm coming! Don't you dare!" Kento yelled into the phone, tears blinding him. He was running as fast as his legs would carry him, towards Suginami, towards Shido's home. "We promised! We promised we'd get through this together! You can't die before me! I'll never forgive you!"
Shido coughed, a wet, struggling sound. "I... I never blamed you, Kento. For anything. You... you gave me a family. You were my first friend. My first family." His voice was barely a whisper now. "I... I never regretted anything. You changed my life... from the day we met."
Kento was sobbing openly, tears and snot running down his face. "Shido, please! I'm on my way! Just hold on! You can't leave me! I just lost Hori! I can't lose you too! It's not fair! It's too unfair!" His legs burned, but he pushed harder, weaving through the small amount of morning traffic.
A long, shaky breath came from Shido. "Hori...?" His voice was filled with deep sadness. "Oh, Kento... I'm so sorry. I... I hope she rests in peace." Then, a faint chuckle, weak but true. "Always thought I'd go first, anyway."
"Shido! Don't you dare!" Kento screamed, pushing through a small crowd.
"Goodbye, Kento," Shido whispered. His voice was full of warmth, like a final hug. "I was... grateful. For having a brother... like you."
The sound of his voice became crackly, like static, then cut off. The line went dead.
At that exact moment, Kento, blinded by tears and grief, tripped on the curb. He stumbled into the street, directly into the path of an oncoming car. The screech of tires filled the air, a loud, terrible sound, followed by a sickening thud. Pain exploded through him, then darkness.
March 1st, 2017. Tokyo. Ambulance en route to Hospital. Early Morning. 9:15 AM.
A siren wailed. Flashing blue and red lights spun outside. Kento lay on his back, he was inside a moving ambulance. Faces blurred above him, voices shouted urgent words he couldn't quite understand. Pain, dull and widespread, clouded his mind. He couldn't move. He felt cold.
He took a slow, rattling breath. His thoughts were hazy, floating. He saw Hori's sad smile, felt her last kiss. He heard Shido's voice, "My first friend... my brother." They were gone. All gone. He closed his eyes. The crystal castle... the pure world... it had won. It took them all.
His breath hitched. He felt lighter, as if a great weight had been lifted. A faint, sweet scent, like the one in Hori's bathroom, filled his senses. 'I'm coming,' he thought. 'We'll all be together again. In the pure world.'
His final breath left him, quiet and still, as the ambulance sped on through the busy streets.
Lilith Kingdom. Moving Carriage. Deep Night.
The Lilith Kingdom slept under a deep, quiet night sky. Above, the moon, round and silver, cast long, soft shadows over ancient lands. Tall, old trees, with leaves like shimmering silver lace, stretched towards the sky. Their branches twisted, looking like wise old arms reaching for secrets. The air was cool and still, carrying the faint scent of strange, sweet flowers that bloomed only in this part of the world. Far away, a mountain peak glowed with a soft, purple light, like a sleeping jewel. Everything felt very old, very magical, and very far from the usual world.
Through this quiet night, a heavy carriage moved along a narrow, winding path. It was a large carriage, made of dark, polished wood that seemed to drink the moonlight. Its wheels were tall and thick, rolling silently over the ancient earth. Carved symbols, like swirling vines and glowing stars, decorated its sides, hinting at old magic and secrets. It looked strong and grand, like something from a king's story.
Ahead of the carriage, two huge creatures pulled it. They were not horses. Their bodies were covered in thick, dark fur, like shadows themselves, but their faces were long and gentle, with big, calm eyes that shone faintly in the dark. Their steps were soft, making no sound as they moved, but they were powerful. They walked with steady grace, their movements almost like a slow, silent dance under the silver moon. Beside them, dark figures moved, walking just as silently. They were men, but their forms were cloaked and hooded, their faces hidden in shadow. They seemed to melt into the night, like guards from an old tale, making sure the carriage moved without a sound, without being seen. Only the soft creak of the carriage's wood, a quiet, sleepy sigh, broke the deep silence of the night.
Inside this moving world, Kaneri Tamiko woke up with a sharp gasp. Her eyes flew open, but darkness wrapped around her. It was thick, soft, and quiet. Her head felt heavy, like it was stuffed with cotton. She felt herself panting, trying to pull in a deep breath. For a long moment, she just sat there, trying to understand. Her chest rose and fell fast.
She quickly touched herself, her hands rushing over her arms, her chest, her legs. She looked down, checking if she was alright. Her fingers pressed against her skin. It felt real. She felt real. And then, a wave of pure, clear relief washed over her. She was not hurt. Not even a scratch. A small, shaky smile touched her lips, and a quiet laugh bubbled out, a sound of pure joy and surprise. 'I'm okay! I'm really okay!'
Now, she truly came back to her senses. She was sitting upright, very peacefully, but there was something strange. All around her was a soft, shimmering light, like a wall made of thin, clear glass. It seemed to hold her gently, like a very large, invisible bubble.
'What is this?' she thought. 'Some kind of light wall? Why am I here?'
She slowly lifted her hand, reaching towards the shimmering wall. Her fingers were almost there when a voice, smooth and deep, stopped her.
"Do not touch it. You will hurt your soft and beautiful hand."
Tamiko's hand froze in the air. Her eyes snapped to the sound. In the dim light, she saw a tall figure of a man standing a few steps away. He was wearing ancient clothes, unlike anything she had ever seen. His attire was quite good-looking and impressive, made of dark, rich fabric with intricate patterns that seemed to glow in the faint light.
'What in the world is he wearing?' she thought, looking him over quickly. She looked here and there, trying to make sense of her strange surroundings. As she looked around, she noticed something else. The floor beneath her was not still. It moved. Slowly, steadily, constantly. A gentle sway, a low rumble from somewhere below her.
Then, after a while, a small clatter from outside, a soft, rhythmic thudding sound, clicked into place in her mind. She was not on solid ground. She was inside a carriage, and it was constantly moving.
"Where... where am I?" Tamiko asked, her voice small and shaky, like a child's lost in the dark.
The man smiled. It was not a kind smile. It was slow and thin, like a blade. His eyes looked at her with a bad gaze, cold and hungry. It made her skin feel prickly, like tiny needles.
"You are in a carriage, little lamb," he replied, his voice a low purr. "And you are being taken."
He took a step closer. His smile widened, showing no kindness at all. "But tell me, what would I get in return for answering your questions?" He laughed then, a dry, rasping sound that sent shivers down her spine. "Do not think of me as an innocent person, sweet one."
Tamiko's breath caught in her throat. Her heart began to pound, a frantic drum in her chest. The small, happy laugh from earlier was long gone. This man was not good. This place was not safe. She quickly pulled back, pressing herself against the shimmering barrier behind her, trying to make herself small, to disappear into the shadows.
"Stay back!" she cried, her voice trembling. "Don't come near me!"
And so, as she pulled back, her eyes fell upon the dress she was wearing. It was a long gown of a vibrant red color, not just a gown, but probably a very, very heavy and long kimono. Detailed patterns and designs, like delicate artwork, were put onto the fabric in gold and silver threads. 'This dress... it's not mine. What is this?' she thought, her mind racing.
Then she looked down at her hands. They were covered in heavy jewelry. Rings with large, shining stones sat on her fingers, and bracelets clinked softly on her wrists. Beyond them, she saw some very long, light pink things draped down around her. She held one of them, her fingers closing around something soft and smooth.
'My hair!' she gasped. It spilled around her like silk. Long. Soft. Pink. 'This… this isn't mine.'
 She touched her head, her fingers finding more heavy jewelry woven into her hair. There was also a soft, red colored, transparent veil made of thin cloth, draped over her head, covering part of her face.
Fear, cold and sharp, gripped her. 'Where in the world am I? What is this place?' She looked from her own ancient-looking clothing to the man standing in front of her, dressed in similar old styles. 'He's wearing ancient clothes... and so am I. This isn't right. This isn't home.'
Panicked, she lifted her hand and slapped herself hard on the cheek. 'Wake up! This has to be a dream! Just a bad dream!' The slap stung fiercely. It hurt. It hurt more badly than it normally should, a deep, burning ache that proved this was real.
Tears sprang to her eyes, hot and sudden. She began to cry, soft, desperate sobs shaking her body. 'What has happened to me? Where in the world am I?' As the tears flowed, the painful events of her past rushed back, clear and undeniable in her mind.
'I remember now,' she thought, her voice silent in her head, lost in the wave of memories. 'I kissed Shido before leaving.' The memory was sweet, quickly turning bitter. 'Then I went to the plane with my uncle and aunt.' The joy of the trip, now a cruel illusion. 'But then, suddenly, one of the engines failed. The plane was going down. I was screaming.' The fear of that moment was still a fresh wound. 'Then everything went black. And after that... after all that, I found myself here. Inside this carriage. With this strange, perverted person.'
"There is no need for me to come closer," the man stated, his voice calm but firm. "Your fate is already set."
Tamiko's heart pounded. She felt trapped in something she couldn't understand.
"Please," Tamiko pleaded, her voice cracking, "What do you want? I can give you anything! Money? Jewels? My family is rich! Just let me go!"
The man chuckled darkly. "You misunderstand the scale of what your life means, Princess Yamagoto Sara."
He slowly raised his hand, revealing a crystal embedded in the center of his palm. It glowed faintly blue, then pulsed like a heartbeat. A shimmering, ancient sigil — shaped like a three-pointed star with a chained crown — flared briefly on his hand and echoed beneath Tamiko's collarbone, searing into her skin with light.
She gasped in pain, clutching her chest. "What... what did you do?!"
"Marked you. The Crystal Sigil of Binding," he said coldly. "You are the key, the curse, and the cure. You will die so that we may live."
Suddenly, with a flash of icy light, a coiling, frost-covered chain burst from the ceiling — no longer just a weapon, but a magical manifestation — wrapped in ice and shimmering glass-like links. The air itself turned cold. The chain twisted around her neck, and as it did, the sigil under her skin glowed.
The man grinned cruelly.
"Let the Gelidus Chain silence your protest, dear sacrifice."
The chain tightened violently. Tamiko's eyes widened in terror. Her hands flew up, clawing at it. The frost bit into her skin like knives. Her windpipe closed. Her vision began to blur.
'I can't breathe…!'
'I'm dying again…!'
Suddenly, the carriage gave a violent jerk and screeched to a halt...
The man from Cicia stumbled. His hand broke. The glowing runes flickered.
The chain snapped open, recoiling with a glass-shattering hiss, flying back into the ceiling like a banished ghost.
Tamiko collapsed to the floor, coughing violently, ice fog pouring from her lips.
The barrier shimmered, then shattered into dust.
When she finally opened her eyes again, her vision was blurry. She could make out a tall figure standing over the man from Cicia, who was now lying still on the floor. It seemed the figure had killed him. The figure had long, dark hair, but she couldn't see anything else clearly. Everything was still hazy, swimming before her eyes. She closed her eyes again, feeling too weak to keep them open.
Then, a voice, strong and urgent, pierced through her daze. "Sara Hime! Sara Hime! Open your eyes! Look at me!"
'Sara Hime?' Tamiko's mind was confused. 'What is he talking about? Who is Sara? And 'Hime'? That means... princess!' A fresh wave of shock, sharp and clear despite her weakness, forced her eyes open once more.
A man was kneeling in front of her. Her head was resting gently on his lap, a comforting warmth spreading through her. His hand was softly caressing and touching her cheek, his fingers gentle against her skin. He was looking down at her, his face filled with deep worry. "Sara Hime, please," he said again, his voice softer now, pleading, "You must stay awake. Open your eyes and look at me."
Tamiko looked at him carefully. He had deep blue eyes, so bright and full of peace, like an ocean full of clear water. They were unlike anything she had ever seen. "Such beautiful..." she whispered, her voice barely a sound, lost in his gaze.
The man gave a small, relieved sigh. He carefully gathered her into his arms. He held her close against his chest, her head resting on his shoulder, and carried her out of the swaying carriage.
The cool night air hit her face. Outside, the Lilith Kingdom at deep night was breathtaking. The moon above was larger than any moon she had ever seen, casting a silvery glow that made the tall, silver-leaved trees shimmer. The air smelled sweet with strange flowers, and far off, the purple light from the mountain pulsed softly. The path they were on was surrounded by ancient, quiet beauty, very different from the dark, cold carriage.
"Everything is alright, Sara Hime," the man whispered, his voice gentle and full of calm. "You can rest assured. You are safe now. Just rest."
Tamiko didn't want to sleep. She felt like there was so much she needed to understand, so many questions. But her body was weak. Her eyelids felt heavy, too heavy to keep open. She had pushed herself beyond her limit. Slowly, against her will, her eyes flutte
red shut. Consciousness slipped away.
And then, at last, everything faded.
But in the arms of a stranger… under a strange sky… she was safe.
---
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
This chapter took everything and turned it upside down. From Kento's heartbreaking loss 💔 to Tamiko's terrifying awakening in a strange, ancient world — the shift is real.
We're officially stepping into new territory now: fantasy realms, hidden identities, curses, and people who may not be who they seem. đź‘€
I know this one was intense — full of fear, mystery, and that one comforting moment under the stars at the end. I hope you felt it too. 💫
As always, thank you for reading and breathing life into this story with me! 🙏
Next chapter: Allies or enemies? Who is the man with the ocean-blue eyes? 🌊