The stone stairs leading up to the third floor of the academy seemed to be alive.
With every step, Zero felt the walls breathing.
Kai was carrying his brother on his back. Jin was still unconscious, but his pulse was normal.
Lyria was silent.
She looked back one last time before entering the floor.
It was as if something was tearing inside her.
Zero approached her.
"Are you okay?"
Lyria smiled, averting her eyes:
"This floor... feels like it belongs to me."
________________________________________
Introduction: Painful Awakening
When the door opened, screams suddenly filled her ears.
Not real screams... echoes from the depths of her mind.
Both sides of the corridor were lined with huge wall panels.
But these panels weren't made of stone, they were flesh.
And... there was a face on every panel.
Screaming, crying, frozen faces...
Kai whispered:
— "This is... the Room of Memories. The Academy displays memories here by shouting them out. But... not yours. Those of your loved ones."
Lyria took a step forward.
One of the panels... began to glow.
And at that moment... the wall spoke.
"LYRIA! Why did you leave them?"
"Your mother died while you were running away!"
"Because of you, the kingdom fell!"
Lyria stepped back. She covered her face with her hands. Tears streamed down her cheeks.
The wall was vomiting her past.
Zero rushed to her side, but the moment he touched her hand...
Both of them were pulled into the wall.
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Lyria's Past (Mental Entry)
When Zero opened his eyes, he found himself in a palace hall.
But the sky was dark, as if it were ablaze.
Lyria was kneeling in a corner, clinging to her mother's bloodied body.
There were screams in the background.
Soldiers, flames, cries...
And Lyria was just a child.
Zero realized that this scene belonged to his mind.
At that moment, Lyria raised her head.
She didn't speak to Zero, but to the void.
"I didn't want to... I had to run away... Forgive me, Mother..."
Zero approached her. He sat down beside her.
He placed his hand on her shoulder.
"It's not your fault."
Lyria looked into Zero's eyes for the first time.
"I... chose to fight. Even if I had to run away. But my heart is still crying."
Zero held her hand.
For the first time, a clear connection formed between them.
"Then this time... we'll fight together. Without fear of the past or this Academy."
At that moment, as the wall cracked, Zero's body glowed faintly.
The curse within him reacted.
"Your soul bond... has grown stronger."
And the two of them returned to the outside world together.
________________________________________
Soul Bond: The Curse's New Power
When Zero opened his eyes, a mark on his forehead flickered.
The curse was speaking to him.
"This girl... gave you her heart. This is not your power, but your bond with her heart."
"Now you... can touch souls."
Zero felt for the first time that he had gained a true curse ability:
Soul Touch – Soul Bond: You can delve into the depths of any soul within the area, see it, and speak to it.
Kai turned his head as he watched the scene.
— "There's another bond between the two of you now."
Lyria said nothing. But she gently touched Zero's arm.
Quietly, confidently.
________________________________________
Jin's Awakening and the Shocking Truth
Kai was kneeling beside his brother's head.
Suddenly, Jin opened his eyes. His eyes were still pale, but his mind had returned.
Kai immediately embraced him.
— "I will never let you go again!"
But Jin's voice was unexpectedly cold.
— "Brother... I still can't leave here."
Kai was surprised.
— "What do you mean? We saved you!"
Jin shook his head.
"No. Because this Academy... was summoned by someone from the outside."
Zero's eyes widened.
"What are you saying?"
Jin struggled to his feet.
"Someone... awakened the Academy. The goal... is to bring the curse to the outside world."
Zero's heart nearly stopped.
Kai whispered:
— "So... there's still someone alive inside?"
Jin shook his head.
— "And that person... is at the center of the Academy. Waiting for you."