The Black Mage Village was quiet that night, the kind of stillness that pressed on the air like a heavy blanket. Lanterns flickered faintly against the wind, their glow chasing shadows from the cobbled paths, yet never quite banishing the gloom. The graves at the edge of the village stood like silent witnesses, rows of markers beneath the dim light of the moon.
Vivi's small form walked back slowly, each step heavy, the trinket clenched tightly in his hands. The faint hum of magic within it vibrated against his palms, a whisper of warmth in the cool night. He didn't fully understand what it was, only that it was important—something given with intention, something meant to guide him.
Inside the inn, Zidane lounged across a chair, boots kicked up on the table as if he had lived there his entire life. Garnet sat by the window, her eyes distant, gazing at the faint outlines of the forest beyond. Quina, true to form, was sprawled on the floor near the fireplace, fast asleep, a thin line of drool escaping from the corner of their mouth.
The door creaked as Vivi pushed it open. Zidane's head turned instantly, his golden tail flicking lazily before he grinned.
"Hey, there you are, buddy," Zidane said, straightening. "We were starting to think you'd wandered off into the forest again. You okay?"
Vivi hesitated in the doorway, the trinket hidden behind his back. "I… I was at the graves." His voice was soft, barely louder than the crackle of the fire.
At that, Garnet shifted, her gaze moving from the window to the boy. Concern softened her features. "The graves?" she asked gently. "Were you… visiting someone?"
Vivi shook his head and stepped inside, closing the door carefully behind him. "Not someone I knew. But… they were Black Mages. Ones that stopped moving." He glanced down, his glowing yellow eyes dimming. "No. 288 was there. He… he talked to me."
That caught Zidane's attention. He leaned forward, curiosity piqued. "288? That's one of the mages, right? What did he say?"
Vivi hesitated, fingers tightening around the charm. He felt its warmth pulse once, as if reassuring him. "He told me about the others. About how some of them didn't want to fight, how they wanted to live… just live, even if their time was short. He said they all knew they'd eventually stop." Vivi's voice cracked on the last word, a quiet tremble echoing through the room.
Garnet stood, crossing the floor to kneel beside him. She placed a hand gently on his shoulder. "That must have been very difficult to hear," she said softly.
Vivi swallowed, his head dipping low. "I… I don't want to stop moving. I want to live. But hearing them say it—knowing it's real—it scares me. I don't know how much time I have." His hands trembled as he finally revealed the trinket, holding it up to them. "Then… he gave me this."
Zidane's brow furrowed as he leaned closer. "What's that?"
"A trinket," Vivi said. "No. 288 called it a good luck charm. He said… he said it might help me someday."
The charm glimmered faintly, catching the firelight. Garnet tilted her head, studying it. "It feels… different. There's magic in it, but not like any I've seen before."
Before anyone could say more, Quina stirred. "Mmm… food?" they mumbled, half-asleep. Their wide eyes blinked open, landing on the charm in Vivi's hands. Quina sat up immediately, drooling. "Ooooh! New spice? You bring food?"
Vivi nearly dropped it in alarm. "N-no, it's not food! It's a charm!"
Zidane burst into laughter, falling back into his chair. "Quina, not everything's edible!"
"Everything edible if cook right," Quina replied seriously, wagging a finger.
Even Garnet couldn't help a small giggle at the exchange, though her gaze soon softened again at Vivi's solemn expression.
Zidane leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "So… do you believe him? This No. 288 guy. Do you think this charm really will help you?"
Vivi stared at the trinket, its glow reflected in his luminous eyes. "I don't know. But when I hold it… I feel less afraid. Like maybe… maybe I can keep moving, even if it's just for a little longer."
A silence settled in the room after that, broken only by the fire's crackle. Garnet finally spoke, her tone thoughtful. "Vivi, maybe it doesn't matter how much time we have. What matters is what we do with it. Whether it's days, years, or just moments, we make them count."
Vivi nodded slowly, Garnet's words sinking into his heart. "I'll try," he whispered.
Zidane stood, his grin returning. "That's the spirit, buddy. And hey, whatever happens—you're not alone. We've got your back, all the way."
Quina raised a hand lazily, still half-dreaming. "Yes, yes. Vivi not alone. We eat together, fight together. Maybe someday cook together too."
The group chuckled, and for the first time that day, Vivi allowed himself a small smile.
He clutched the trinket tighter, its warmth steady in his palm. Somewhere deep inside, he could feel it pulse again, like a heartbeat, like a promise. He didn't know where it came from, or what it truly meant, but he knew one thing: he would hold onto it, no matter what.
Later that night, as the others drifted into sleep, Vivi lay awake in his small bed, the trinket pressed to his chest. His thoughts wandered between fear and hope, between the graves he had seen and the future he couldn't yet imagine.
"I'll be brave," he whispered to himself in the dark. "I'll keep moving. For them. For me."
From afar, Sirius watched unseen, the faintest smile on his lips. Yes, little one. Keep moving. The time will come when you'll understand.