Fun Fact: There has never been a world war, although countries still have their rivalries. The neighbouring countries, Hydrus City and Pollux Isles, have been competing with each other ever since their independence. Some conspiracy theorists even claim that the Hydrus bomb was originally developed by the Pollux Isles’ Artificers.

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All around him was despair as he breathed pain and spat torment. There was nothing but more agony for as far as he could see. Fire seared the air, turning the entire mind space into some sort of Hell.

Still, he did not give up. He pushed hard, wading through the quagmire insistent on trapping him. Felix kept his mind focused on the faint psychic signature. She was far away, but not out of reach yet.

More memories assaulted his mind.

Lives came and went in a fleeting moment. Worlds consumed by war, plague, and death. Cries of agony splatter the fragile canvas as if painted by some cruel, uncaring artist. Strokes after strokes of despair lash out as the sky falls, shrouded in flame. And among them all, desperate cries for the answer to the question.

Why were they given life if naught but suffering awaits even after death?

Felix grunted, collapsing in a trembling heap. It was too much for him to bear. He crawled painfully toward the little figure in the distance. She was so close now, but his strength had already left him. There was no strength left in him to continue. The boy’s outstretched hand finally fell limply to the ground.

An unfamiliar voice rang in his head.

March on, my child. Even should you falter, find a way back to life. Seek joy amidst deepest despair. Seize onto hope, even should your demise be looming. Look within for guidance.

And even as darkness descends, find light everlasting!

Felix stirred as energy surged through him. It was not much, but it was enough for him to fight back. The black fog enveloped him again, but pink light burst through them this time, revealing the true nature of those memories.

Legacies preserved for ages, long after men’s deaths. Worlds peppered with moments of graciousness and hospitality, even when disasters rage around them. Cries of joy breaking the otherwise gloomy day. People with enough conviction to lift the sky, should it fall on their loved ones.

The boy broke into a run as images flashed all around him like a film reel rolling in reverse. The faint images got clearer and clearer, until he found himself in a familiar room. It looked almost exactly the same as he remembered, except for the girl kneeling with her back turned to him.

Felix stretched out his hand, reaching for her.

“Felix! W-what are you doing here?” Aglaia jumped.

“Aglaia, please stop.” Felix’s voice was weak, yet determined. “You don’t have to do this.”

“You don’t understand. I must!”

Felix recognised his surroundings. Aglaia’s mind had projected itself back to the day the abominations began, and she had already entered his mind. Realisation dawned on him as he recalled the strange voice in his dream that night.

“I wanted to save you first…” she whimpered. “I tried to relieve you of your soul, but I lost control of the power. It’s all my fault in the first place. It was I who accidentally transformed the air instead of you. They were right; I am a monster.”

“Aglaia, it’s alright.”

“I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t end their suffering… I’m so sorry.” The girl closed her eyes, shaking her head. “So many voices crying for help… I can’t save them all. I can’t…”

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“Focus on one at a time, Aglaia.”

Felix kept a single finger outstretched, watching the girl tilt her head up in surprise. She backed away, as if afraid that it would somehow cause her harm.

“You have done no wrong, Aglaia. And you are not a monster.” He smiled warmly. “You are brave to have felt so much pain and still seek to save us. All I ask is for you to be brave once more and look upon the world again.”

Darkness swirled violently around the two psychics, engulfing their surroundings in a hurricane of despair as if threatening them to back away. But Felix kept his finger out. He had faith in her, and he knew that she too, had faith in him.

Their fingers connect.

A brilliant gleam of light burst out as their auras exploded with power. Entwined streaks of pink and blue arced above them like rainbows of starlight, leaving blazing trails of colour. The darkness fled as the bubble of black covering them melted away.

The girl pulled Felix into a hug, not wanting to let go of the hopeful memories streaming into her mind. A final wave of red burst out from her body as she broke down, sobbing hard into his shoulder.

“I never felt… so much hope…” Aglaia’s body was rapidly going limp in his arms. Felix held her hand tightly, offering his final comfort to the girl who was now drained of arcani.

“T-thank you… for showing it… to me.”

And as Aglaia’s eyes closed, a serene smile etched itself on her face.

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Gaius slid on the floor, freezing the two spindly legs to the ground before flipping back to his feet. The abomination twisted its body around, screeching at the boy running for cover. But it had failed to notice the real threat.

An enormous energy beam tore it in half.

“There goes the last of our proton cannons,” Kleopatra muttered to herself, dropping the smoking piece of metal to the ground.

“What’s taking that guy so long?” Gaius complained, flipping over yet another flurry of tentacles. Blades jutted out of his gauntlets as he danced around, relieving the monster of all its appendages. Cybele rushed in, unleashing a barrage of energy beams at the abomination.

“I do hope he’s okay.” Kleopatra leapt away and casually tossed a grenade into a snapping maw.

“Kleo, look out!”

The girl only had time to gasp at the spikes hurtling in her direction. A figure flashed before her eyes, taking the hit for her.

“Gaius!” she screamed as the boy groaned and staggered around for a moment. He raised his hand and panted, as though simply trying to catch his breath. Kleopatra reached for him, but the abomination was already looming over her. She gritted her teeth and raised her rifle-

It disintegrated in a puff of smoke, dropping a corpse onto the floor.

The Guardians slowly put down their weapons as all their adversaries disappeared in an instant, leaving the ground littered with corpses of the Meta Liberty Fighters. Kleopatra rushed over to Gaius, but he was already standing up.

“Oof. My back…” He stretched. The girl covered her mouth to hide a small squeal of relief as she watched the wounds in his back close themselves up.

“You… you idiot.” Kleopatra pouted, hitting Gaius’ arm lightly. “Why’d you take that hit for me? You could’ve died!”

“W-well… I guess I just… acted without thinking…?” The boy laughed, scratching his head awkwardly. “Besides, I’m fine. I have regeneration, remember?”

Kleopatra punched him again, her face flushing red this time. “That was for making me worry.”

She pulled him closer and gave him a quick peck on his cheek before letting go quickly.

“A-and that was for saving my life.” The girl’s voice dropped as she looked away shyly.

Gaius’ mouth opened and shut itself as if he had suddenly lost the ability to think. He looked around, pretending not to notice Cybele staring daggers at him with her arms folded.

And finally managed to spot a familiar figure before things got any more awkward.

“Felix!” he called out louder than intended. The Guardians rushed to the boy trudging out of the bunker.

“Is… is she?” Cybele began, motioning to the girl in his arms. Laying there all curled up in his arms, Aglaia did not look so dangerous anymore. Despite everything that happened, she was still just a little girl.

Felix shook his head.

“She’s drained of arcani, aye.” His voice was strained, and Gaius couldn’t tell if it was because of exhaustion, or if he had been crying. “But she’s in a deep coma. Her brain activity is very little now, so I don’t think she will be waking up any time soon.”

The Guardians kept their heads low. Although they had pretty much just saved their country, they were in no mood to celebrate.