Chapter 50: The Tunnel She Left Behind
Darkness greeted them like an old friend. The entrance to the forbidden tunnel yawned before the group—a mouth carved into the ancient roots of the Garden's core, jagged and cold. Riku stood at its edge, torch in hand, shadows flickering across his eyes.
He inhaled slowly. "She came through here."
Airi stepped forward beside him, her voice low. "Your brother... or her?"
He didn't answer right away. Instead, he took a slow step into the darkness, the others trailing behind one by one—Kaoru, Kohana, Rei, Sera, Lina, Toma. The silence of the tunnel was a presence itself, oppressive and deep.
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Flashback - Riku, age 11
"Promise me, Riku," said his brother, Daisuke, crouched beside the entrance of their village's old mine. "You won't follow me down here, no matter what."
Riku frowned, clinging to the hem of his brother's shirt. "But why?"
Daisuke hesitated. "Because sometimes we have to leave things behind to protect what we love. Even if it means disappearing."
End Flashback
As the torchlight flickered, Riku blinked back a memory. The scent of wet stone was the same. The pressure in his chest returned.
Inner Monologue — Why did he disappear that night? What did he find here?
The tunnel opened into a vast chamber. The walls shimmered with luminescent moss, and ancient murals decorated the surface—depicting battles, betrayals, and a woman cradling a seed of light in her palm.
Kaoru approached the mural. "That… that's her. The first Seedbearer."
Sera narrowed her eyes. "No. Look closer. She's bleeding. She wasn't bearing the seed. She was consumed by it."
Airi shivered. "So this isn't just a tunnel. It's a grave."
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Elsewhere — Veyla's Quarters
Veyla stood over a pool of silver water, whispering to the visions inside. Faces emerged—some old, some young. One in particular—Riku's—burned brighter than the rest.
"Child of the Bloom... are you the heir or the harbinger?"
A voice behind her—low, male—echoed. "Perhaps both."
Veyla turned. "You've returned."
The man nodded. "And so has the Curse. Just as we feared."
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Back in the Tunnel
Further into the tunnel, the air thickened. Sera stumbled, clutching her head. "Whispers… they're loud here."
Rei steadied her. "What are they saying?"
She strained. "They… they remember. They remember her. The girl with ash-colored eyes."
Riku froze. "Himari."
Kohana turned sharply. "You've said that name before. Who is she to you?"
Riku's voice was tight. "She was my light. Before all of this. Before I knew what a Seed even was."
Flashback — Himari and Riku, under the willow tree
Himari laughed, pushing a flower crown onto Riku's head. "When I disappear, will you remember this?"
"Why would you disappear?"
"Because I'm already fading, Riku. The Bloom took something from me. And it will come for you too."
End Flashback
They reached a stone door engraved with her name.
"Riku..." Airi whispered. "This isn't just her past. It's yours too."
Riku stepped forward, hand trembling as he touched the door. It slid open.
Beyond it was a chamber bathed in pale blue light. In the center floated a figure encased in crystalline Bloom. Himari.
Riku fell to his knees. "No… not like this."
A voice echoed—hers. "You came. Even when I begged you not to."
The crystal shimmered, and her eyes opened slowly.
"To save the world, Riku… you must choose to forget me."
And everything began to shake.
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End of Chapter 50