An old memory surfaced in his mind.
"Kakavasha…"
His older sister had told him to hide. Not long had passed since they lost their parents.
"You have to be strong."
It was hard to hear her. In Sigonia, the climate was always arid and, no matter what, the sky was always clouded, accompanied by the endless rumble of thunder day after day.
But they never felt the rain.
Except on that fateful day of his birth.
"Sis."
His parents and sister used to say that for that very reason, he was a child blessed by Mama Fenge.
"Sis, I'm scared… are they coming for us?"
His sister forced him to hide.
"I love you, Kakavasha."
That was the last time he ever saw her alive.
...
Aventurine blinked as he opened his eyes. Rubbing his aching forehead, he groaned when he realized he had blacked out.
How much precious time had he already wasted from his short life thanks to that stupid power of Harmony?
He shook his head.
What was his goal again? Ah, solve a case and reach a "glorious death." For some reason, he wondered if that old memory had shaken his determination a little.
"Maybe not your determination… but it did stir something."
A familiar voice answered, and Aventurine doubted his eyes when he saw who spoke.
"…Have I lost my mind?"
The figure before him laughed, as if amused.
"You've always been insane. What made you think otherwise?"
Aventurine sighed.
"Even if your words aren't far from the truth… wouldn't I be crazy to be talking with a translucent version of myself?"
The translucent version shook his head, crossed his arms, and looked at him with disdain.
"You can fool everyone but yourself."
Those were his words.
"Let's talk seriously while we walk." He said, turning his back. "I'll accompany you—I'll be with you until you reach the end of your road…"
As they made their way toward the ever-closer Clock Studios theme park, Aventurine couldn't help but ask this supposed "other self" of his questions.
"What exactly are you?"
The answer came calmly.
"Most in this world spend their entire lives searching for an answer… I am that answer. Kakavasha… I am your future."
Aventurine burst into laughter, clutching his stomach.
"Seriously? Great. First it was random memories, then voices in my head… and now I can see you! What's next, becoming a Harmony Emanator?"
Shaking his head, he continued through one of the park's side entrances.
A small figure made him stop.
"A Pepeshian…?" But no, looking closer—it was just a small child.
No matter the situation, Aventurine was always surprisingly gentle with children.
"Hey, kid. You okay? What are you doing here?" He muttered. "Weren't kids not allowed inside the Golden Moment?"
But the sight in front of him stole his breath.
"Your eyes…"
The boy smiled, answering kindly.
"Pretty, right? My sister says my eyes are a gift from Mama Fenge. When they're this colorful, they bring good luck."
The boy's eyes widened in awe.
"Wow! Sir, your eyes are really pretty."
Aventurine was struck speechless.
"Where are your parents?"
"At an amusement park. My parents and my sister went ahead, I'll catch up to them soon."
The boy waved his arms in a cheerful goodbye and walked toward the entrance.
"I have to go. I hope you have lots of fun too, sir! Bye!"
Aventurine murmured in shock.
"Those eyes… Mama Fenge… No!" He shook his head with all his might. "It can't be. There aren't supposed to be any Avgin left…"
He ran after him, but only heard his voice fading into the distance.
"Dad, Mom, Sis… here I come!"
The translucent figure appeared again.
"Only in Penacony, huh?"
"…You again?" Aventurine narrowed his eyes in annoyance. "What do you want?"
"Haven't you always known?"
He shook his head with disdain.
"The Family is anything but compassionate. If they truly extended their hands to everyone who needed help, why would they have such high walls and deep moats? But many refuse to see it, blinded by the sweet dream and the empty happiness it gives them. Expecting charity from them or from anyone else is like expecting the Antimatter Legion to save a world. Fantasies so absurd not even a Spurious Historian would tell them." His laughter only irritated Aventurine further.
"Isn't that right, Ka-ka-va-sha~? Do you still think with your pathetic strength you can tear down those walls and claw your way to the truth? Don't make me laugh."
The reflection stabbed him with words.
"Now you live on borrowed time—you, the foolish hyena that set aside his pride and sought help from the first group of capable fools that crossed your path. You know how rare opportunities are, which is why you chase them desperately like a dying man chases water in the desert."
"…From the way you say it, it sounds like you're claiming you're better than that."
The translucent Aventurine scoffed.
"I am better than the fool who left his back exposed so Sunday could sink his claws in."
His expression grew more serious.
"Listen closely. You should already know how rare it is for us to tell the truth." The reflection grimaced. "You saw a possible betrayal coming from Ratio—and it was a magnificent act! Come on, admit it, you know I'm right. What, did you really think there was even the slightest chance that someone like you could earn a shred of genuine affection from him?" The translucent figure barely managed to contain his laughter. "After all… don't you have such a great personality?"
"…I don't know what you're talking about."
"This is your fault, Mr. Cautious. Uptight, rigid, spineless, with an inferiority complex the size of a planet. You've won so much and still tremble at the thought of losing it."
He leaned in with a crooked smile.
"Everyone sees your swagger on the outside, the big bets you make. But under the table… your hand trembles while you cling to the chips like your life depends on it."
A chuckle escaped his mouth.
"No wonder the Tavern at the End of the World sent you an invitation—after all, aren't you the perfect fit to be one of the Masked Jesters?"
The reflection walked calmly at his side, as if savoring every word he threw like sweet poison.
"You even managed to fool yourself."
Aventurine let out a dry laugh, crossing his arms.
"One of the best ways to keep others from seeing your true intentions is to fool everyone—even yourself."
The reflection chuckled softly, shaking his head, a crooked smile curving his lips.
"Then explain something to me, Kakavasha… why did you turn down the invitation from the followers of Elation? After all, that Path fits someone like you best."
He tilted his head in mock confusion.
"Why choose the Corporation instead? Preservation? You don't belong in that Path. I wonder if there's even a single point of common ground between you and it."
Aventurine glared at him with irritation, frowning.
"You should already know. Now shut up or disappear. I've wasted enough time with your idle chatter. Time I could've put to better use."
He kept walking under the artificial lights of the Theme Park, ignoring the laughter that followed him like an echo.
In the distance, the boy appeared again. He raised his arms joyfully when he saw him.
"There you are, mister! Want to play?" He shouted with excitement, laughing like it was all just a game. "I'm really good at hide-and-seek!"
The little one ran off and vanished among the glowing attractions.
"I'll hide first!"
Aventurine smiled wistfully and muttered under his breath.
"Hide-and-seek… what a sweet childhood game…"
The reflection spoke up again, to his left, as if he couldn't tolerate even a moment of silence.
"Can you remember your mother's farewell? And how those Katicans hunted you down like jackals?"
He sighed, shaking his head side to side.
"Their shrill laughter still haunts your nightmares. Do you remember how you and your sister had to hide among corpses? Drenched in dirty water, mud, and blood… that white shirt your father gave you was ruined forever."
Aventurine scoffed with annoyance.
"It wasn't ruined. I still have it."
The reflection laughed harshly.
"Now it's nothing but a rag. Don't kid yourself. Don't keep pretending. These days you wouldn't even let a single drop touch your clothes. You've changed too much."
Aventurine shot him a deadly glare.
"I haven't changed at all." He muttered in irritation.
The reflection shook his head slowly, with a condescending look.
"Of course you have. Now you're the hunter. Now you're the one doing the chasing. I bet you enjoy it."
Aventurine clenched his jaw and stayed silent. He kept moving, scanning the dimly lit passages for the boy.
...
A sharp headache pierced through him suddenly. He grunted, clutching his forehead. From the corner of his eye, he saw the translucent figure still tailing him.
"Why do you insist on reminding me of everything I've done wrong?"
"Quit whining like a little girl. Just admit it—you're a mess."
The reflection lifted his hand, and between his fingers spun a gemstone glowing with amber light. Aventurine's eyes widened in shock.
"How… how do you have that?"
The reflection ignored him, wearing a playful air.
"A lovely Topaz. Shame it's in Sunday's hands now."
He smiled and, as if nothing, pulled another stone from his pocket—this one green. He held it up so Aventurine could see clearly.
"Aventurine is a stone of luck and tricks. Common, yes, but undeniably beautiful. Smooth and gleaming. Sometimes it can even pass for something else if it's close enough."
He turned the stone between his fingers with delight.
"A real pity this one's in Sunday's hands too. You know its name, don't you?"
Aventurine's lips pressed together. He lowered his head and murmured under his breath.
"…Jade."
The reflection burst out laughing.
"Not even Sunday could tell jade from aventurine. Everyone won, and at the same time, everyone lost. Topaz, Jade, Aventurine… three hearts of stone bound tighter than the Family itself, giving rise to this spectacle right under Penacony's leaders' noses."
Aventurine scoffed.
"Three tokens were more than enough. All or nothing."
The reflection tilted his head, savoring the discomfort he caused.
"The first or the second? Won't be long before you get your answer."
In silence, Aventurine recalled his masterstroke. The real aventurine, his cornerstone, was still hidden in his bag. To pull it off, he had to use a terrible method—destroying it.
Reducing it to simple fragments, tucked away among the rest of the jewels to slip past Sunday's eyes.
The reflection laughed softly, with a cruelty that froze the blood.
"Now it really is just like you. Tiny. Pathetic. Shattered into pieces… just like your life."
Aventurine ignored him completely.
The reflection watched him intently, leaning toward him like a judge pronouncing a sentence.
"Do you really think you'll walk away unscathed once they discover what you did? Breaking a cornerstone is considered sacrilege—an offense against Qlipoth's very body."
Aventurine clicked his tongue, waving his hand dismissively.
"Diamond only cares about results. As long as the outcome outweighs the cost… the end justifies the means."
Aventurine sighed with a hint of resignation.
"Even shattered, my Aventurine still holds its power. Diminished, sure… but still useful. For what I intend to achieve, it's enough."
The reflection walked calmly by his side.
"Useful, yes. But tell me, Kakavasha… do you really believe that nonsense, that the greater the risk, the greater the reward? Or is it just a dogma you forced yourself to tattoo into your skin in order to survive?"
Aventurine raised a brow, impatient.
"And now you're questioning my method?"
The reflection laughed softly.
"You call it a method. I call it a ritual of self-destruction. Every step you take brings you closer to a suicide dressed in etiquette. Every decision you make seems calculated to corner yourself, as if you seek the razor's edge just to feel it cut."
Aventurine shook his head sharply.
"What you lack is vision. You can't see how I'm going to succeed."
"Success…" The reflection sighed, shaking his head with feigned pity as they descended along a spiraling path. "Fine, let's keep going down. Let's see if that vision of yours is bright enough to light this spiral."
...
The distant echo of laughter from the park contrasted with the heavy silence surrounding them.
A child's cry tore through the stillness.
"Mister!"
Aventurine rushed forward and found the boy, cornered by hostile Memes stretching out their arms to seize him.
With a snap of his fingers, Aventurine unleashed a handful of golden chips that spun through the air before crashing down like guillotines. The ground trembled. The Memes were crushed in yellow flashes, dissolving like smoke into nothing.
The boy looked at him with relief, tinged with a bit of embarrassment.
"I guess I lost the game of hide-and-seek… but it's good to see you again, sir."
Aventurine gave him a light smile.
"Did you find your parents and your sister, little one?"
"Yes. But now they're playing hide-and-seek too. Dad said that when the game ends, he'll take me to watch a movielie."
Aventurine chuckled, ruffling his hair.
"It's called a movie."
"Oh really? Then a movie it is! Do you want to come with us? My sister says that when we watch movies, we feel happy. And you… you look like you need it."
Aventurine arched a brow, surprised.
"Why invite me?"
"Because you look really sad. I want to see you happy."
For a moment, Aventurine was left speechless. Then he smiled ironically and shook his head.
"I'm already happy."
The boy tilted his head in confusion.
"Doesn't look like it."
Aventurine turned his gaze away, emotions tangled inside him.
"That doesn't matter."
The boy smiled.
"Is that so? Well, either way, I hope you can still find fun and peace here in the theme park!"
Aventurine blinked in surprise as he realized something—he still didn't know the boy's name.
"What's your name?"
The boy laughed and stepped back a few paces.
"If you want to know… you'll have to catch me!"
Aventurine sighed.
"I'm too old for these games."
The reflection burst into laughter.
"Old, yes. Practically a cranky old man. Why don't you grab a cane, Kakavasha? Maybe then the boy will pity you."
Aventurine clicked his tongue, the comment sparking a flicker of competitiveness in him.
"What do you know?"
...
The boy disappeared into a small labyrinth. His voice echoed between the walls, singing with joy.
"Shine~, shine~! Reach for the stars! Every one a precious jewel within your grasp!"
Aventurine stopped, nostalgia washing over him.
That song…
It was so similar to the one his mother once sang to him.
"Do you remember it?" Asked the reflection.
He nodded silently.
"Your mother's song… and later, when she was gone, your sister's."
Words floated in the air.
All rocks, no water, a gravel road and nothing more.
Aventurine remained silent.
He walked on until he reached a dead end. There, on the ground, lay a pair of rusty handcuffs, stained with what looked like fresh red marks.
The reflection spoke with venom.
"Do you remember? The remnant of your first job." He sighed. "The barcode on your neck should remind you of those days as a slave."
Aventurine stayed silent.
"The last Avgin, turned into a neat little trophy. A prized possession, a status symbol for a greedy man. Nothing more."
"Shut up."
But the figure didn't obey.
"Your chains. And your first weapon."
A flash crossed Aventurine's mind.
The face of his first master.
"A man obsessed with status… and with children. He called himself a connoisseur of beauty. And you, little Kakavasha, were the jewel of his collection. Do you remember his gaze? His gloved fingers reaching for you, not just to drag you to work."
"Enough!"
The reflection went on, deaf to his protests.
"Remember. The night he tried to touch you. You broke the chains. Wrapped them around your fist. And when you came to… he was no longer breathing."
Aventurine's breath turned ragged.
The reflection laughed.
"Seems you cling to hiding your weakness. Why? It's natural—everyone has them."
"How can someone this weak take so many risks…?" Aventurine muttered.
The reflection clapped mockingly.
"A thrill-seeker, that's what you are. Despite the fear, you're addicted to the rush of gambling with your life. A gambler who bets it all even when the house has already won. Do you know what they really call you?"
Aventurine glared at him.
"What?"
The reflection leaned in, a twisted smile splitting his face.
"A true hopeless pervert. Someone who can't live without dancing with death. You're not a gambler, Kakavasha. You're the bet itself."
More words floated in the air.
If there were water, we'd stop to drink.
As the reflection vanished, Aventurine couldn't help but mutter.
"…Leaving after dropping lines like that. That's cheating."
........
The reflection never tired of talking, as if every step through the park was just another excuse to tear open more wounds.
"Your mother only left you two things. That necklace… and that golden amulet. If you had sold them, maybe you and your sister could've had a normal life. Maybe even a peaceful one. Don't you ever think about that? That could've been your greatest play."
Aventurine frowned.
"They were only two things. And there would never be a third."
The reflection smiled maliciously.
"You say that with such firmness… but haven't you regretted, more than once, not doing it? Come on, Kakavasha. Go on, tell me I'm wrong."
Aventurine shot him a murderous glare.
"If you've got nothing better to say, then shut up."
The translucent figure tilted his head with feigned innocence.
"Surely you're saying that because of her. Because of your sister. After all, you used to be a good boy."
Aventurine spun on him, and the reflection relished the attention.
"Do you remember what she used to tell you? You, the child blessed by Gaiathra, were meant to lead the Avgin toward happiness. Always protect yourself. Never resent pain or poverty. She said it with such faith…"
The reflection shook his head and sighed.
"A lifelong regret."
The memories hit him mercilessly—shrieking laughter from the Katicans, cries of agony, and him, trembling in filth, listening as his sister's life slipped away.
"Shut up!"
The reflection laughed loudly.
"Well, look at you, silencing me like a champion. All that effort you put in, waking drenched in sweat after screaming in your nightmares—it's finally paying off."
Aventurine clenched his fists but said nothing.
"Didn't you say you'd ruin this sweet dream and create the most glorious death? That's what you preached from the very start. And you still haven't forgotten."
The reflection ticked off his words indifferently.
"Robin lost her voice. Then her life. Others followed. And yet, amid all that chaos, you only care about one word."
Aventurine narrowed his eyes.
"Which one?"
The reflection smiled.
"Death."
He looked straight at him with mocking eyes.
"But whose?"
Aventurine emerged from the spiral of the labyrinth. He turned to the translucent figure with a cold smile.
"You'll have to wait until the end of this game to know. Don't worry. I'll keep you a front-row seat to witness it."
...
The echo of the child's laughter guided him once more.
"I don't want to go home yet! Let the game last longer, longer!"
The boy's voice sounded closer.
Aventurine kept moving, fighting off Memes shaped like jackals with hyena laughter, dissolving them with golden chips summoned at every snap of his fingers.
At last, he reached him.
The boy looked at him with a trace of sadness.
"I don't know why… but I always feel like I want to learn more from you. Even though I know it's impossible. I should go. Tell me, sir… did you have fun playing with me?"
Aventurine studied him for a moment before nodding.
"Will you come back?"
"Soon it'll get dark and rain. I don't want the others to worry."
"Where's your home?"
The boy laughed.
"That's a silly question. My home is where my dad, mom, and sister are. Here, in this dream, in this fantasy. They are my home."
Aventurine sighed as their eyes met for an instant.
"And yet you wonder why I can't be happy here."
"Why not? Everyone loves theme parks."
"Because they aren't here with me."
The reflection appeared behind him, wearing the same twisted smile.
"And where are they?"
Aventurine lowered his head.
"I don't know."
The reflection shook his head slowly.
"Yes, you do. But I won't push you… not this time."
His tone shifted, dropping the mockery. His voice now carried pure weariness.
He stepped forward until he stood beside the child.
"Look at us, Aventurine. Your past and your future. We're tired. Say it. Admit it—you are too. We chose to stay here. Why don't you?"
Aventurine looked at him seriously.
"How much time is left?"
"Time is eternal, as long as we remain in this dream."
The reflection placed a hand on his shoulder and smiled.
"This is the greatest honor we can offer you. You chose to keep walking your path even if it means diving headfirst into your death. After all… your life was always the chip you were most eager to gamble."
He chuckled softly.
"You never cared about something boring like the Watchmaker's legacy. Nor about who the real killer was. From beginning to end, you only put your own skin in the game because you wanted a reason, an excuse to be the center of attention. To put on a magnificent show… and reach true freedom."
Aventurine smiled.
"It'll be perfect."
The reflection mirrored him.
"After all, gathering three Stellaron and an Emanator for the grand act… now that will be a spectacle like no other."
At last, Aventurine, the boy, and his reflection walked together toward the heart of the theme park—Clock Studios.
*********
Aleph opened his eyes heavily. The dreamlike water faded from his skin, and as he sat up from the bathtub, he noticed Black Swan asleep on his bed.
"…Seriously?"
He stared at her for a moment, confused, but in the end just shrugged.
He walked into the bathroom, took a quick shower, and changed into dry clothes.
The fatigue began to weigh on him.
He dropped onto the bed wearing nothing but black shorts, his eyes slowly closing. As usual, he stretched out an arm searching for something to hold—whether his life-sized Pom-Pom plush or Stelle, who once again had snuck into his room.
Without thinking, he pulled it close.
"Mmm… feels softer than usual…" He thought briefly before dismissing it.
...
He didn't know how much time had passed when he opened his eyes again. The first thing he felt was a foreign warmth, the faint weight of a body nestled in his arms. He blinked, dazed.
Black Swan was there, curling up naturally against him, as if that had always been her place.
She yawned softly and looked at him with a drowsy, content expression. For some reason, Aleph couldn't help but think she looked like a lazy cat.
"It's comfortable… being like this with you."
Aleph pulled back a little, uneasy.
Black Swan's eyes shimmered with a trace of sadness at how quickly he moved away from her.
She hesitated for a moment before speaking again.
"When we're alone… I'd like you to call me by my real name. The one I had when we first met."
Aleph frowned in confusion.
"…Your name?"
He had no idea what she meant.
Disappointment overtook her, and Black Swan lowered her head, unwilling to let him see her expression.
"I knew it… it's still not the right time."
A pang in his chest caught him off guard.
He couldn't understand why seeing her sad unsettled him so much—it was maddening.
As if something deep inside whispered that such a thing was absolutely unforgivable, especially if he was the cause of her sadness.
His vision blurred for an instant; her figure shifted—her clothes turned into a school uniform, her hair into golden braids, her eyes into gemlike green.
But the vision vanished as quickly as it appeared. Black Swan was herself again.
Still unable to understand why seeing her like that stirred his soul, Aleph sat beside her and, without thinking too much, took her hand.
She was surprised, then laughed softly, as if the heaviness had lifted.
"That gesture of yours… it hasn't changed one bit."
The smile that followed was so genuinely pure and bright that Aleph couldn't help but wonder.
What kind of relationship had they once shared?
"Don't stare so much…" She murmured, turning her face away, cheeks faintly flushed.
She tried to slip back into her usual coquettish tone, but instead what came out was sweet and gentle, stirring in Aleph a familiar feeling… longing.
He couldn't stop himself from leaning closer, meeting her gaze more deeply.
"Tell me something… did we know each other?"
Black Swan sighed.
"It's a story from long, long ago. But yes… we knew each other. We were close, closer than you can imagine."
Her grip on his hand tightened, almost desperately. With her other hand, she held his face so he couldn't look away.
"Don't worry about that…" She whispered softly. Aleph could feel the intensity of emotions in her gaze, and it was exactly that which unsettled him.
"The only thing that matters is that, no matter what, I'll always be your ally."
Aleph swallowed hard. She smiled, pleased with his reaction.
"Someday your memories will return. My name will be there… and so will what we lived through together. We just have to wait."
A throb pulsed in his head, making him squint. He could've sworn he saw a translucent jellyfish floating in the room before it vanished.
Black Swan rested her head on his shoulder, clinging to his arm as if she feared he might disappear.
"Even though you've changed… you're still the same. Sweet. Warm. Just like I remember."
The way she held him carried a tremor that wasn't simple tenderness, but the shadow of desperation.
"When we're alone… don't call me Black Swan." She whispered near his ear.
"Even if it's just for now, until you remember the name I had when we met… call me Durga."
...
Later, after a restorative rest, Aleph dressed again.
Black Swan reluctantly left the room after he asked her to.
Was it really strange that he liked how much softer and more affectionate she'd become? She really did look quite cute when she pouted.
…Maybe he was overthinking.
A notification pinged.
He picked up his phone and checked the Express group chat.
[Welt: "Are you there, Aleph?"]
[Welt: "If you're rested, I think it'd be best if you joined the meeting we're about to have."]
[March: "Hurry or you'll miss it!"]
[Stelle: (attaches a photo of March covered in cream, making a goofy face)]
[Stelle: "You're already missing a lot."]
[March: "Stelle!"]
[March: "You promised you wouldn't show that!"]
[Stelle: "Dear March, just like in love and war—you must crush your enemy when the chance presents itself!"]
[March: "I thought we were friends…"]
[Himeko: "Enough, you two."]
Poor Himeko. Aleph could already picture her sighing while March and Stelle carried on with their antics.
[Himeko: "We're at Golden Moment Plaza, in front of the Clockie statue."]
Aleph set the phone down on the bed and scratched the back of his neck. For a moment he wondered:
"Is this the third… or fourth time I've had to change clothes since I got here?"
At this rate, he was going to run out of outfits.
...
Golden Moment was buzzing with people and vehicles. Aleph pushed through the crowd until he reached the plaza where the Clockie statue stood tall.
March and Stelle were waiting there, both with their arms crossed and serious expressions.
For a moment he worried something bad had happened.
But then he saw the way they were eyeing him, like teachers inspecting a mischievous child who had vanished for too long.
"Check him!" March said, pointing. And before a baffled Aleph could even blink, Stelle had already jumped on him, sniffing him.
"Well?" March asked.
"Clear—smells like rest!" Stelle added.
Aleph looked at them strangely.
"Am I in trouble?"
The two of them studied him for a moment, then nodded in satisfaction.
"It's fine. He looks rested." March said.
"I guess so." Stelle shrugged.
Without giving him a choice, they each grabbed one of his hands and dragged him in front of the statue.
On a nearby bench, Himeko sat humming a soft melody while typing something on her phone. When she looked up and saw them arriving, she smiled warmly.
"Perfect. Get ready. Welt should be here any moment."