A loud, declarative roar erupted from Obsidian's throat—angry, confused, uncontrolled.
He didn't know what he was doing.
Trapped in a foggy, fractured mind, his thoughts splintered, his instincts barely his own—but his heart still felt full.
Then, without warning—
A hesitant yet forceful attack.
Obsidian lunged for the duo.
Shock flickered across their faces—their reaction instinctive.
Both dodged.
Synthena summoned platforms of blue dust, manipulating gravity to lighten the weight of her jump.
Her body moved weightlessly, carried by momentum as she flew in quick strides away.
Absynthe darted in the opposite direction, both of them splitting apart.
Obsidian's fists collided with the cabin walls, the cedar splintering beneath his impact.
For a moment, he was frozen.
His body locked in the landing position, as if his consciousness was desperately fighting for control.
Synthena realized her distance from Absynthe and swiftly formed another platform—a small lift from the ground, just enough to propel her forward.
She landed beside Absynthe, their stances fierce—ready.
Then—Obsidian moved again.
His slight control slipped away.
He stood, body slouching for only a second before twisting into an unnerving stance.
His form contorted, movements jagged, unnatural.
Then—sounds escaped his throat.
Not human.
Not beast.
Something between.
A werewolf's roar, but broken, distorted—controlled, yet eerily silent.
His arms jerked to his sides.
Then, he lunged for them.
Synthena reacted instantly, twisting her platforms into a spiked fence—a barrier of blue dust, closing around Obsidian like sharpened teeth.
Absynthe didn't hesitate, but dread curled inside her.
This attack was about to land on the greatest—and most annoying—friend she had ever known.
Obsidian was about to feel her sorrowful wrath.
She manifested her energy sword, the silver light gleaming like fractured starlight.hey silver veins pulsing.
She struck.
Synthena shattered the spiked fence with her red dust, opening the moment for Absynthe's great swing.
The impact stunned him.
The force sent him crashing through the hole he had torn earlier, hurling him outside the ruined cabin.
Obsidian landed hard in the grass, once vibrant and green, now tainted by his presence.
Absynthe lowered her sword, her tears barely visible, pooling in the corners of her eyes.
Obsidian pushed himself up, his movements jagged.
He leapt to his feet, ground regained, fury undeterred.
He charged.
Absynthe and Synthena's strength was spent from the battle before.
They could barely hold their stance, desperation flickering behind their exhaustion.
But Obsidian's charge was fast—he was too close—
"Quick—this way!"
A voice called from behind the bean bags.
Celestia's hand pushed through a trap door, urgency echoing in her pitch but calming tone.
"Hurry!"
Absynthe and Synthena darted toward her, Obsidian closing in fast.
Synthena slipped through first, disappearing below.
Absynthe paused, just for a moment.
She looked back.
Her eyes were peeled with pain, no tears visible—just pure sorrow.
Obsidian stood there—his form twisted, corrupted, unfamiliar.
A memory flashed—
His cheeky, mischievous grin.
Red bangs hanging messily over his gold eyes, teasing mockery dancing in his voice.
"Hey, baby."
Then—
"Get down here, quick!"
Celestia snatched Absynthe by her uniform, yanking her down.
The trap door slammed shut behind them, locking them within the unknown depths below.
**************************************************************************************
"Celestia—oh my gosh, you're alive!!"
Synthena sprang forward, excitement lighting up her face as she wrapped Celestia in a tight hug.
Their cheeks pressed together, the embrace holding the warmth of a long-awaited reunion, as though Celestia had been on a journey far too long and had finally returned home.
"I thought you were dead!" Synthena exclaimed, playful yet tearful, emotions swirling in a chibi-like storm of worry and happiness.
Celestia smiled, her expression unredeemed yet full of quiet relief.
"Where have you been all this time?" Synthena's voice softened, curiosity creeping through the fading excitement.
"And why didn't you come and find us!?"
Their banter continued, despite Celestia's visible irritation—she was never as affectionate as Synthena, and now was no different.
Then—
Absynthe stood apart, distant.
Her aura was unnervingly still, yet the shadows around her twisted, swallowing her in silent disdain.
She remained unmoved by the reunion, her back turned to Celestia and Synthena, shoulders slouched, tense fury and despair flickering in the silver veins beneath her skin.
Even the glow of the celestial starlight that had once burned so brilliantly had dimmed.
A dull, eerie silver, matching the emptiness in her expression.
The warmth of Synthena and Celestia's reunion faded, the weight of time pressing heavily between them.
Synthena's arms remained wrapped loosely around Celestia, but now, both glanced toward Absynthe, watching.
Synthena spoke first, voice gentle yet unwavering.
"Absynthe… are you okay?"
Her words were soft, carrying a supportive aura despite the suffocating tension.
Celestia's eyes dulled, the weight of unspoken regret settling on her face, shadowed.
Absynthe didn't look up.
Her voice broke through the silence, sharp and cold.
"Why is it you?"
Her head hung low, strands of white hair barely hiding the storm behind her eyes.
"Why are you still here? I'll never forgive you."
She glared at Celestia, her gaze dark and unrelenting—anger buried deep beneath layers of betrayal.
Celestia's expression didn't shift.
Only regret deepened within her, the kind that was too familiar, too suffocating to explain.
"I know what I did was—"
She averted her gaze, looking away.
Synthena stepped back, her grip on Celestia loosening.
Then, she darted forward, her voice breaking through the tension.
"You have to forgive her at some point!"
Her declaration was firm, though tinged with frustration.
"Weren't you kind to her in the café earlier?"
Absynthe snapped, the weight of old wounds unraveling beneath her words.
"That was a different time!"
"That doesn't matter!" Synthena argued back, her emotions raw, unfiltered.
"She saved our lives back there!"
Absynthe's expression flickered, realization creeping in—but quickly dismissed.
She scoffed, turning away, her left arm twitching faintly.
Celestia's face remained shadowed, doubt and guilt curling beneath the surface.
Then, she turned without another word.
She headed toward her workspace, her stride sharper, almost mechanical.
The room was lined with high-tech computers—equipment fit for a professional hacker.
"Forget it."
Her voice was low, muttered.
"Let's just move on."
Absynthe growled, frustration flaring again as she darted toward Celestia.
"Why did you do it!?"
Her voice hit the air like a blade, slicing through the quiet.
"Tell me—NOW!"
Celestia froze just before sitting, her back facing Absynthe.
Synthena stood quietly, her fist pressed to her chest, her gaze locked on the concrete below.
Celestia finally spoke.
"I had no choice."
Absynthe growled again, her arms crossing tightly, her eyes burning toward the ground.
"Is that your excuse every time I confront you?!"
Synthena stepped between them, her voice firm yet strained.
"You guys—stop!"
Her hands trembled, pressed to her heart.
"There are far worse things we need to discuss than this. This… old quarrel from when we were in middle school…"
The words hung between them, heavy yet desperate.
Synthena's fists clenched, her eyes locked on the floor.
"it ..it needs to end at some point.."
her voice soft and sorrowful
Then—
The quiet was shattered.
The sound of Celestia's fingers raced across the keyboard.
As though she was about to reveal something far more important than their past.