Emma floated in silence.
She opened her character window. A new tab pulsed into view—she tapped it.
There it was.
The Evolve Button.
Her spherical body turned toward Huray, who lay motionless on the ground. Sunlight filtered through the trees, casting shifting patterns across the ground. The wind rustled the leaves like whispers.
"I have to wait until he's better," Emma whispered.
Huray stirred. Slowly, painfully, he pushed himself upright, coughing as he spoke.
"Don't wait for me… we must continue."
His voice was barely audible, blood dripping on the ground, but his eyes burned with determination.
Emma's face froze. When she saw the gash on Huray's across his chest.
Emma's glow dimmed. Her face froze. "No… it can't be." Her voice cracked. "When did you get slashed? During the fight?" Her eyes widened in horror.
"there's got to be something I can do." Emma glided around to checking Huray's bag.
"I found it" Emma shouts,Huray's knees buckled. Blood dripped from his side. Emma hovered nearby, her glow flickering with worry.
Then—his breath caught. A memory surfaced.
Years Ago — A Rainy Alley Behind the Guild
Huray was younger. Less scarred. He carried a bag of leftover bread from the guild kitchen, wandering the alleys like he always did after missions.
He saw him—a hunched figure, wrapped in rags, eyes dim but not empty.
Huray knelt and offered the bread.
The old man took it slowly, hands trembling. He didn't thank Huray. He just stared at the rain.
"Grief will shape you, boy," the man rasped. "But don't let it blind you. Let hope guide you. That's how we survive."
Huray blinked. The words etched themselves into his bones.
Back to Present
Huray's eyes opened. His voice cracked, but he spoke.
"Let grief shape us… let hope guide us."
Emma froze. She'd never heard him say it before. But it felt ancient. Sacred.
"Finally you reawoke" Emma sputtered out, hovering right above Huray
"I guess, I have" Huray Huray said as he sprang up off the ground, looking around
Huray's voice sharpened, cutting through the wind and rustling of the trees' silence.
"Who is this?" he asked, pointing to the cloaked figure standing on a rock about the size of a desk.
The mask was unlike anything Emma had seen—two heads split down the center, fused into one. Each half blinked independently. One side smiled. The other frowned.
Emma's glow dimmed further. She hovered protectively in front of Huray.
"I don't know," she whispered. "They weren't here before."
The figure didn't speak. It tilted its head—both halves moving in opposite directions.
Then it raised a hand.
Huray stepped forward, blood still dripping from his side.
"What do you want?" he growled.
The figure finally spoke. Its voice echoed—two tones layered atop each other.
"Unit 03 has been retrieved. The boy is no longer yours."
Emma gasped. She turned toward the bag.
It was open. It was empty.
"No…" she whispered. "No, no, no—he was right here."
Huray's knees buckled again. His hand clenched around the hilt of his sword, ready to unsheath.
The Evolve Button pulsed behind Emma—brighter than before.
"Give him back to us," Huray growled.
The mask shifted—its smiling half took control.
"HAHAHAHA! Can you believe this kid?" the masked figure cackled, voice echoing in layered tones.
Then the mask slid to neutral.
"I know, right? Like this kid could beat us," the figure muttered, tilting its head as if inspecting Huray.
The mask shifted again—this time to the weeping half.
"I don't know…" the voice trembled. "He looks pretty strong."
The figure stepped forward. The sun shining off his jester outfit. Its presence felt wrong—like a glitch in the world's rhythm.
Emma hovered closer to Huray, her glow now a flickering flame.
Huray unsheathed the sword. Slowly. Ritualistically.
"I don't care how many faces you wear," he said. "You took Ethan. That makes you mine."
The masked figure tilted its head again—this time, all three expressions flickered in rapid succession.
"You want him back?" it whispered. "Then catch me."
Huray stepped forward, sword drawn.
"You aren't going anywhere."
The mask shifted to its smiling half. "HAHAHAHA! You're funny, kid."
Then it slid to neutral.
"See you… never," the masked figure said, voice flat and final.
It rose into the air, cloak rippling in the sunlight. The jester outfit shimmered like broken glass. Then—gone.
Only the echo of laughter remained.
Emma hovered beside Huray, silent—then took off in pursuit of the masked man.
Somewhere far from the forest, Ethan opened his eyes. The chamber was cold. His eyes flickered weakly. A voice echoed from the walls: "Let's see what the boy remembers."