Chapter 58: Petals Beneath the Veil
The journey toward the Origin Tree had begun.
The corridor they entered was vastly different from the others—a winding, spiraling staircase that led downward for what felt like hours. The walls shimmered faintly, reflecting fragmented images of the past. Faces. Events. Glimpses of worlds long forgotten.
"This place... it's alive," Lina whispered, her voice reverent.
"No," Airi murmured. "It's remembering."
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Riku's Perspective – Descent of Doubt
Each step echoed in Riku's chest like a drumbeat. The pendant around his neck grew warm, pulsing gently with every memory reflected on the walls. He saw his brother again. Standing on a cliff. Smiling. And then vanishing.
> Why did you leave me behind, Ren...?
The further they went, the harder it became to breathe. Not from lack of air—but from the weight of everything being shown to them.
Flashbacks bled into the present. He saw their group—smiling at the riverside, battling together, huddling around the fire. And then he saw the darker echoes: Airi crying alone. Kohana bandaging his wounds. Kaoru standing in bloodied silence after a fight.
> We're still standing. That has to mean something.
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Multiple Perspectives – Echoes Along the Path
Sera's Thoughts:
> Is this the price of truth? These memories... even the ones we never lived.
She saw a vision of herself as a child. Screaming. Her parents walking away, fading like mist.
Kaoru's Flashback:
> "If you ever want to be strong," the voice of his mentor echoed, "you must learn to lose with grace."
He clutched the hilt of his blade tighter.
> But what if I've already lost too much?
Haru's Guilt:
Images of the past—his squad, their laughter, the night they were taken by Bloom infection.
> I told them it was safe...
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Airi and Kohana – Confessions in the Dark
As the group paused to rest in a quiet chamber—its ceiling covered in star-shaped flowers—Airi sat with Kohana, knees drawn up, back against the wall.
"I used to dream about saving everyone," Airi said softly.
Kohana glanced over. "And now?"
Airi closed her eyes. "Now I just want to save us."
There was a silence. Then Kohana nodded. "That's enough."
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Arrival at the Echo Garden
The staircase opened into a massive underground expanse—a hidden garden overgrown with decaying flowers. Vines wrapped around black crystals, and in the center was a massive black seed suspended in mid-air, humming with deep energy.
Rei stepped forward, stunned. "This... is the Echo Seed."
Suddenly, laughter echoed across the chamber.
A figure emerged—draped in crimson, face hidden beneath a porcelain mask.
"So the children of the Bloom have arrived," the figure said.
Riku stepped forward. "Who are you?"
"I am what you could become," they replied. "If you let the Bloom consume your will."
And with that, the Echo Seed flared—and the battle began.
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Clash of Wills – Combat and Revelations
The masked figure moved like wind—striking with vines that twisted reality around them. Riku blocked one strike but was thrown back.
Kaoru charged, blade glowing. "We won't let you manipulate us!"
"You already have," the figure whispered. "Every choice you've made has led you here."
Flashes of doubt rocked the group—but Airi screamed, slamming her hands into the ground. Petals burst forth, encasing the Echo Seed in light.
Kohana followed with a burst of starlight. Haru backed them with cover fire. Sera called the winds. Lina summoned protective vines.
Finally, Riku reached the masked figure and drove his blade into the core.
But instead of blood, there was light. The mask fell.
And beneath it—
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Cliffhanger – The Face Beneath the Mask
Riku's eyes widened.
"…Ren?"
The figure looked at him. Half of his face was human. The other—cracked with Bloom crystal.
"Brother?"
Ren smiled faintly. "Welcome to the truth, Riku."
And then everything went white.
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