Anemone sat next to the slumbering Elisabeth; the former's eyes were fixated on the latter. The little girl still found it difficult to believe that the sleeping woman was her childhood friend. "You grew up to be so pretty, Rosa," Anemone murmured, a tiny smile across her face. Then, she heard footsteps approaching her from behind.

"How's she doing?" asked Sam.

"Still out cold, this one. I guess this part of hers never changes."

"I see. How about you? I can tell it was not a pleasant experience."

"Hm, my arms feel a bit sore," the girl sighed, "Which is strange considering I'm just...what you would call a ghost." Anemone then shifted her attention to Rupert, who was having his feet bandaged up by his sister. "Quite a hit, your friend took. I'm surprised his legs are still intact."

"Oh, you don't have to worry about him. He's been in a much worse situation."

"Much worse? Like what?"

"Like nearly getting eaten by a giant monster."

Anemone chuckled, "It sounds like the three of you had a fun adventure. I really would love to hear the rest of the story, but um....”

Sam glanced at the girl's hands which had become slightly translucent. "But time is not a privilege you currently have," he finished the sentence.

Anemone gave the man a solemn nod. The girl then lifted her head; his eyes were fixated on the floating Crystal of Birth. “Do you think…the real Anemone will forgive her?” she asked.

“I…um,” Sam sighed, his gaze dropped to the ground. “I…I don’t know. It’s difficult to say. Both of them were friends – no, best friends. For one to be…killed by one’s close friend, I couldn’t possibly imagine the pain she must felt that day.”

“I’m sorry, that was not a fair question,” Anemone quickly apologized.

“Don’t be,” the vermillion-eyed man shook his head. “You know, I didn’t expect you to return after…um, after Silva?”

Anemone fidgeted; she felt a sudden chill running down her spine as she recalled her conversation with the leader of the Disciples. “Me neither. I don’t know what it was but, there was something inside of me…nudging me to go back – to help Rosa. Strange, isn’t it? For a ghost like me to have a conscience?”

“Or perhaps it wasn’t a conscience. Perhaps a part of the real Anemone lives in you.”

“Is that even possible? How can a memory have a soul?” said Anemone, her eyes narrowed.

“Well, there are lots of things we do not know about the Echo – even after nearly a thousand years since their first appearance. If you are just a memory, then you shouldn’t have come back to this place to help us.”

“Us?” the little girl retorted. “You said you came from a place far away – does that mean Rosa managed to escape this place?”

“Yes, she is a member of a group called the Faceless Order – the same group I’m currently in.”

“The Faceless Order? Oh, so that’s why you have those weird masks. What do you guys do anyway?”

“Well, our main job is to help the people in need all around the globe, primarily by defeating the Distorted and other similar threats.”

“Like heroes?” Anemone proceeded to giggle. “Heh, so that means Rosa is a heroine? That’s so cool! She always wanted to help people ever since she was little. Did you know the tunnel was her idea?”

“No,” said Sam before taking a hurried look at Elisabeth. “The only thing she told us was you built it together.”

“Yeah, but she was the first to propose it. Of course, everyone opposed the plan at first because we were nothing but a group of kids – some of us could barely walk or even form a simple sentence. However, as soon as they saw me and Rosa worked, they decided to help us.”

“Both of you inspired them – gave them hope that tomorrow will be a better day. In a way, you are a hero yourself.”

Anemone smiled sheepishly at Sam’s comment. Then, her grin faded away as her eyes fell on her slumbering friend. “I don’t get it. I heard the people in the suit speak about the Order, and…they sounded like they are scared of you. Why is that?”

Sam held out his hand in front of his face, and it instantly burst into flame – startling the little girl. But after recomposing herself, Anemone stared in awe at Sam’s burning hand, completely entranced by the dancing fire.

“Not all people regarded us as heroes like you – let alone as human beings. Some called us the accursed ones - children of the demons because they are afraid of what we can do.”

“I’m not,” Anemone proudly swiftly.

“Obviously, you are one of the brave ones,” Sam smirked, before extinguishing his flaming hand.

Their conversation was soon interrupted by Elisabeth's sudden moaning.

"W-What? Where am I?”

“Well, hello there, sleepyhead," said the girl in return before helping the woman sit up.

Elisabeth's tired eyes were fixated on Anemone -- as if she was still in utter disbelief at the sight of her deceased friend. Her lips were trembling, struggling to utter a single word.

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"Still being hard on yourself, I see," Anemone sighed. “That’s why the others were having difficult times talking to you.”

“I…I don’t get it. Why aren’t you screaming at me?” said Elisabeth, perplexed by the girl’s carefree remark.

“Huh, why should I be screaming at you?”

“Because I killed you! And our friends!” exclaimed Elisabeth furiously. “You should be…cursing me - punching and kicking me, but here you are, grinning and cracking jokes as if nothing happens.”

Anemone crossed her arms together; her right eyebrow raised. “Okay. You’re right, you killed me. I admit – when my memories came back, I did feel angry at you. No, enraged is a more suitable word. At least, that is what I think the real Anemone would say.”

“But you are real-.”

“No, Rosa. You and I know that I am not the real Anemone. What I am is the manifestation of your guilt and shame, born in a shape of a girl you once called your closest friend. I exist only because you allow me to exist.”

Elisabeth grimaced, refusing to believe every word uttered by her friend. However, as soon as she saw the girl’s translucent arms, she finally realized that the Anemone standing in front of her was merely a figment of her imagination.

“If I let you go, then I have no reason to live anymore,” the amber-eyed woman spouted.

SMACK!

The sound echoed throughout the chamber shortly after Anemone slapped Elisabeth in the cheek. With a scowl, the girl scolded her friend, “Don’t you say that! You believe every life is a gift, and now you dare to throw away yours just so you can remain in the past – blaming yourself over and over again for something that was beyond your control? It is an insult to your friends’ memory – and to yourself.”

Without taking her eyes off the little girl, Elisabeth rubbed her aching left cheek - slightly surprised by the strength of the slap. “That…was quite painful,” the amber-eyed woman commented.

“I hope it does, ‘cause you’re wasting a lot of beautiful flower bouquets.”

“So, you know? About the flowers?"

"Of course, I do. I saw you bringing them down here every day after dusk. From now on, you should stop doing that, or better yet, leave this place, and never come back.”

“What?”

“Your talent is better used in places other than this godforsaken lab. Besides,” Anemone paused as she gestured at Sam and the Nightingales with her fading right hand. “You have great friends who you can rely on – who need your help to save the world.”

Elisabeth glanced at Sam who quietly nodded his head in return.

“You want me to move on. That’s…that’s easier said than done,” Elisabeth exhaled with tears trickling down her chin.

"Indeed, but I believe you can do it. You are much, much stronger than you think.”

Raising her head high, Elisabeth watched as her best friend disappeared right in front of her very eyes. A long silence ensued – until Sam came up to her, and asked:

"Are you alright?"

Elisabeth quickly wiped her tear-soaked face before answering, "Yeah." As she gets to her feet, her eyes dart toward the floating yellow crystal. She sees Silva's decapitated body still partially inside the gemstone with his head lying nearby. "How did you do it, Edelweiss? How did you break me free?"

"It's, um...a long story," Sam retorted before returning the ax he's been holding to its rightful owner.

"I see. Then, I owe you one," Elisabeth retorted. Her eyes later darted toward Silva's headless body, still trapped inside the crystal.

"Did he…did he suffer? Or at least, beg for mercy?”

"To his goddess, he did. Sadly, his prayer wasn’t answered – just like last time."

“Good,” Elisabeth exhaled deeply. Strangely enough, she felt slightly sympathetic for the misguided man – despite everything he did to her and her friends. “It’s time to end this.”

With a straight face, Elisabeth approached the Crystal of Birth and planted her ax deeply into the object. What started as a tiny crack soon spread all over the gemstone. The crystal began to quiver as if it was writhing in pain -- its color briskly changed into multiple shades of blue.

Then, the crystal shattered, filling the entire chamber with a blinding white light.

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Sam grunted as the acrid smell of smoke penetrated his nose. He opened his eyes and was welcomed by the horrid sight of a burned-down forest. But what surprised him the most was that his friends had disappeared without a trace.

"Another dream," he deduced before taking a step forward.

CRACK!

Startled by the sudden sound, Sam looked down, only to realize that he was standing on a field covered with bones. "What the hell?" he uttered, unable to contain his bewilderment.

"Saddening, isn't it?" said a familiar voice.

Sam instantly spun around and saw the Veiled Lady on her knees with a sunflower in her hands. Even though the woman didn't carry any weapons, Sam couldn't help but feel slightly intimidated by her mere presence. "What is this place?" he asked.

Instead of answering the question immediately, the Veiled Lady dug through the bones with her bare hands before quietly planting the stem. After finishing her task, the mysterious woman turned her head toward Sam and replied, "This place was once the home to a tribe called the Faes."

"Faes? You mean like fairies?"

"Not exactly. They are mortals like us, but they are extraordinarily gifted – capable to turn a desolate land into a fertile, green plain. I believe they are now known as the Tree Dancers."

"Tree Dancers...," Sam's voice trailed off as he tried to remember the map of Discordania. "They're the ones that reside south of the Land of the Sapphire Star, right? I wasn't aware they were called Faes before."

"The term is pretty archaic, so it's no surprise they didn't use them anymore." Then, as the Veiled Lady got to her feet, the entire scenery shifted to the shore where the two initially met. "You've done well. Not only did you rescue your friend, but you also liberated her from the shackles of regret."

"I didn't do anything. That girl, Anemone, was the one who freed her."

"But, if it wasn't for you, they'll not meet in the first place. You may think your actions were insignificant, but they managed to change someone's life. Who knows? Perhaps your actions can also change the world. For better or worse."

Sam's eyes narrowed as soon as he heard the Veiled Lady's foreboding words. However, the man suddenly felt drowsy before he could inquire further.

"I suppose it is time for you to return to your friends," said the Veiled Lady as she caught Sam mid-fall. She gently laid the man on the ground, closing the latter's heavy eyes with her fingers, and whispered into his ear, "There will be a time when the whole world will go against you. Even then, do not falter, my child, and never lose hope."

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