Darkness.
Not the suffocating black of death, nor the hollow void of nothingness, but something softer. Velvet. Weightless. Tender. As though the air itself had wrapped him in a warm blanket and lulled him into drifting stillness. Aoi floated, neither falling nor rising, his body caught in a strange suspension between dream and wakefulness.
His lashes trembled. Ruby eyes cracked open. The sight before him stole his breath.
"This… isn't the park," he whispered, his voice faint and uncertain, the sound scattering into the endless quiet.
The pain was gone. The claws digging into his throat, the suffocating burn of starved lungs, the terror of seeing death reflected in a monster's eyes—all vanished like smoke. His chest rose easily now, and though his heart still pounded, there was no crushing grip upon him.
He stood barefoot on a surface that shimmered like glass, yet rippled faintly like water when he shifted. Each step sent golden and silver ripples across the expanse, overlapping rings that expanded outward until they vanished into infinity.
Above stretched a sky like no sky he had ever known. Not day, not night. One side burned with streaks of gold, like dawn forever frozen. The other shimmered with silver, like dusk scattered with distant stars. The two bled seamlessly into one another, dawn and twilight stitched together as if eternity itself were caught between breaths.
Aoi pressed a trembling hand against his chest. His heart pounded hard, the memory of that monster's snarling muzzle flashing unbidden across his mind.
"Where… am I?" His voice quivered, barely a breath. Fear lingered on the edges of his thoughts, yet awe began to seep in, softening the panic that threatened to seize him.
Then—voices.
"Aoi."
Not one, but two. One warm, like the sun through a window on a winter morning. The other cool, like moonlight spilling over quiet waters. They overlapped, twined in harmony, reaching him not with command but with gentle embrace.
He gasped softly. His golden hair swayed as he spun toward the sound. And there they stood.
Two figures crossed the radiant expanse toward him, their steps soundless yet heavy with presence. They were impossibly beautiful, so breathtakingly sculpted that they seemed less like beings and more like divine fantasies made flesh.
The first blazed with a radiance that seared itself into Aoi's vision. Golden hair cascaded down her back like molten fire, each silken strand alive with light. Her bronzed skin gleamed with warmth, smooth and flawless, stretched over a body that was both powerful and seductively feminine. Her curves were generous, her breasts full and heavy, rising with each steady breath as if daring the world to look. Her amber eyes burned with protective fire, but beneath that heat lingered a sultry promise, the allure of a sun that could scorch or caress.
The second was her compliment, softer but no less devastating. Silver hair tumbled like a river of starlight, glimmering with every subtle motion. Her skin was pale, flawless, and almost luminous, as though kissed by moonlight. She was elegance incarnate, her tall, lithe figure graced with the supple curves of a temptress. Her breasts pressed softly against the gauzy fabric of her gown, round and inviting, while her hips swayed with a languid rhythm that seemed designed to hypnotize. Her pale-blue eyes shimmered with a quiet tenderness, yet the gaze that lingered on Aoi was enough to make his cheeks burn — as if she could undress his very soul with nothing but her calm, knowing smile.
Together, they embodied not just sun and moon, but desire and comfort, temptation and safety. To look upon them was to feel torn between reverence and surrender, between worship and need.
Aoi's lips parted. Words tumbled out unbidden. "W-who…?"
His voice trembled, but instinct guided him. He drew his hands together before him, his posture polite despite the confusion clawing at his heart. "Who are you…?"
The golden-haired woman chuckled softly, her laugh warm and gentle, carrying no trace of mockery. "You ask so sweetly." She inclined her head with regal grace. "I am Seraphis, spirit of the sun."
"And I," the silver-haired one added, her smile tender and kind, "am Seleneia, spirit of the moon. Together, we dwell within your Sacred Gear."
"My… Sacred Gear?" Aoi tilted his head, ruby eyes wide, confusion etched across his delicate features. "I don't… understand. What is that? What are you talking about?"
The two exchanged a glance—concern flickered, but it was softened by affection. Seraphis stepped closer, her presence like a hearth in winter.
"Then listen well, little one," she said gently. "You deserve the truth."
And so they told him. Their words spilled into the twilight air like golden and silver threads weaving a tapestry.
They spoke of the God of the Bible—the Creator who once ruled Heaven, who carved miracles into the fabric of existence. From His hands came the Sacred Gears, artifacts not of metal or stone, but embedded into mortal souls. They were miracles to bridge the gap between fragile humans and the overwhelming might of angels, devils, and dragons.
They told him of the Great War: of Heaven's armies clashing with the legions of Hell, of the fallen angels of Grigori breaking away, of blood staining the skies and earth shattering beneath their fury. Of humanity caught between titans, powerless, yet unwilling to vanish quietly. Sacred Gears were humanity's answer—sparks of divinity, weapons of survival.
"This world you know," Seleneia murmured, her voice soft as snow falling in silence, "is not whole. Beneath the calm of daily life lies the clash of angels, devils, and dragons. A war that once consumed creation still echoes in shadows, shaping destinies unseen."
"And you," Seraphis said firmly, pride kindling in her amber eyes, "bear one of the greatest of those gifts. Eclipse Divide. A Sacred Gear born of balance itself—sun and moon, light and shadow. Our power is yours, and yours is ours."
Aoi froze. His lips parted, but no words came. His body trembled, his breath hitched.
Sacred Gears. God. Angels. Devils. Dragons.
Each word struck him like a hammer, breaking apart the world he thought he knew. The quiet mornings, the laughter at the table, the warmth of his mother's kiss—all of it felt suddenly fragile, resting upon a foundation he had never seen until now.
"I…" His voice was faint, nearly lost. "I don't… I don't even know what to say…"
Yet even as panic surged, he fought to steady himself. He had always been quick to learn, to connect threads others overlooked. Slowly, carefully, he pieced together their tale.
"So… Sacred Gears are like… miracles humans are born with?" he asked, ruby eyes flicking uncertainly between them. "Gifts that can… change battles between supernatural beings?" His throat bobbed nervously. "And… mine holds the two of you… Seraphis-oneesama, Seleneia-oneesama…?"
The spirits blinked. His shy honorifics, his earnest attempt at respect even in fear, struck deep in their hearts.
Seleneia gasped softly, her hands rising to her lips. "Aoi… you called me onee-sama…" Her voice melted into a delighted coo, as if the word itself had been a caress. She stepped closer, her silver hair swaying, eyes shining with fondness. "How sweet… how precious…"
Seraphis's lips curved into a slow, indulgent smile. She tilted her head, her golden hair spilling like fire as her amber eyes smoldered with affection. "Onee-sama, hm? Mm… what a darling way to address us." A throaty chuckle escaped her as she placed a hand over her chest. "To think our little wielder would be so polite even in confusion. My, my… you'll spoil us with such sweetness."
Both women leaned in, their presences heavy with warmth, cooing softly as if they could not get enough of hearing him say it. Their reactions were so full of adoration that Aoi's cheeks flamed crimson, his gaze darting to the side in shy panic.
"Yes," Seleneia said at last, her smile luminous as moonlight. "Exactly so. You understand, Aoi."
Seraphis's amber gaze glowed warmly, pride brimming. "As expected of our wielder. To grasp so much so quickly, without denial… That heart of yours humbles even us."
Aoi's cheeks flamed crimson. He lowered his gaze, fingers clutching the hem of his sweater. "I-it's nothing… I just… tried to listen carefully…"
The shy murmur only made his small frame seem even more delicate, his humility painting him in a light that neither spirit could resist. Seleneia's breath caught at the sight of his bashfulness, her heart swelling until she could no longer contain it.
Before Aoi could react, she stepped forward and wrapped him in her arms. "Ahh, you're too adorable," she cooed, her tone lilting with delight. She pressed him against her, his face sinking instantly into the soft swell of her breasts. Giggles rippled like windchimes as her fingers combed tenderly through his golden hair. "Ahh, so cute~ You're like a little kitten…"
Aoi stiffened. His blush spread until his ears glowed. "S-Seleneia-oneesama—!" His muffled voice quavered with panic and embarrassment.
Seraphis chuckled, though her gaze softened with fondness. "He truly is precious. Just look at him—fragile, yet shining. How could anyone not want to protect him?"
Aoi squirmed faintly, managing to peek his flushed face out from Seleneia's embrace. His breath came fast, his lips trembling. "P-please… I still don't understand something…"
Seleneia loosened her hold, though her hands lingered warmly on his shoulders. "Yes, my sweet one?"
"…That monster. The werewolf…" His ruby eyes wavered, doubt flickering. "Can I really fight it with this Sacred Gear? It felt like… I only shone for a moment. I couldn't even stand before fainting. Isn't this… just… support power?"
The question pierced them both.
Seraphis knelt, lowering herself so amber eyes met his level. Her warmth wrapped around him like sunlight, fierce yet gentle. "Yes," she admitted softly, "your Sacred Gear is not a sword meant to strike nor a shield meant to block. Its essence is balance—fragile, but unbreakable when guided." Her gaze softened, a tender smile curving her lips. "But do not mistake balance for weakness. Even a flame meant to guide can burn, and even the moonlight meant to soothe can blind. With our power flowing through you, even enemies far stronger than that beast can be defeated."
Seleneia leaned closer, her hand cupping his cheek, thumb brushing the blush blooming there. Her pale-blue eyes shimmered like starlight. "Support does not mean helplessness, my sweet one. It means adaptability. You can sustain, empower, and turn the flow of battle itself. And when you need to strike, we will shape that light and shadow into blades sharper than any steel." She smiled faintly, her voice dropping into a tender coo. "You will not only survive—you will prevail."
Aoi's lips parted. Awe shimmered in his ruby eyes. Their words wrapped around him like dawn and dusk together—terrifying, yet comforting, like standing before a storm while sheltered in warm arms. For the first time since claws had crushed his throat, he could breathe.
"…Then…" His voice shook, but determination gleamed within it. He clutched at his chest with trembling hands. "Please… teach me. I… I don't want to be useless. I want to be strong enough to protect… and to stay with everyone."
The spirits exchanged a glance, their eyes brimming with pride and love. Their smiles bloomed like dawn and dusk meeting, and when they spoke together, their voices harmonized in perfect balance—sun and moon, golden and silver threads weaving into a vow.
"We will."
The words rippled through the twilight expanse like a promise carved into eternity.
Seraphis stepped closer, her amber eyes glowing with protective fire. "We will guide you, little one. If you stumble, we will steady you. If you fall, we will carry you. No shadow shall ever reach you while our light remains."
Seleneia drew him gently into her arms again, brushing her fingers through his hair as though cradling something priceless. "You are ours to protect, to love, to cherish. With us beside you, you will never have to face danger without strength."
Their voices joined once more, tender and resolute. "Together, we are whole. Together, we will face whatever comes."
And with their vow echoing in his heart, Aoi felt something shift inside him—not just relief, but certainty. He could survive. He could stand. He could even defeat the monster waiting for him.