The next morning was a peaceful one.
A normal day.
Marine woke up late—again. She rushed to get ready, hair flying in all directions. Isaka had already packed her lunch, Silvey busied herself with chores, and Megum sat calmly at the table, finishing his breakfast.
After gulping down hers, Marine waved to Silvey and Isaka and bolted out the door, while Megum quietly slipped downstairs.
On the way to school, Marine spotted Gara walking slowly ahead. She crept up and patted her on the head.
Gara spun around, her fierce glare sharp enough to kill.
Marine froze, her face twisting into a nervous grin.
"Wooh, Gara, don't be so angry! It's just me!"
"Oh… it's you. I thought it was that jerk Rex again." Gara rubbed her hair, embarrassed.
"Ohh? What did he do this time?" Marine asked, curious.
"Don't you know? He proposed to me again yesterday." Gara's face twisted with irritation.
"Aww, come on. Just say yes already, my badass witch!" Marine teased, laughing.
"Hey! Don't make fun of me!" Gara roared.
At that exact moment, a boy jumped out of nowhere and tackled them both into a tight hug.
Yep. Rex.
"I've been waiting for you two!" he said cheerfully, refusing to let go.
"Get off, fool!" Gara snapped, thrashing to escape.
"Ahh, Gara, you'll never change." Marine gave him a silly face.
"Don't look at me like that," Gara muttered, puffing her cheeks in irritation.
Rex blinked innocently. "She's still mad at me, isn't she?"
Marine sighed, half-serious. "No, Rexy. She just thinks we're too young for this stuff. And honestly… she's right."
"Ohhh, fine then," Rex groaned. "By the way, did you finish the homework?" His grin turned mischievous.
Marine gasped. "Homework?! I completely forgot! And how could I, when you stole my notebook?"
She leapt at him and punched him playfully in the face.
"That's what you get for taking people's stuff!" she huffed, though she was smiling.
"Come on now, we'll be late!" Marine shouted as she broke into a run.
"Why am I always the target?" Rex grumbled, running after her. "Why always me?" His face was the picture of a distressed lover.
They raced into school, where Gara and Hiro were already waiting in the classroom.
---
The day started out normal. Too normal.
Their teacher arrived and handed back yesterday's test results.
Marine had scored yet another perfect 10.
Rex, on the other hand, barely scraped a 2. Studies were never his strength.
Hiro did well too, but Gara's marks weren't as great this time.
When classes ended, Rex turned to them eagerly.
"Come on, let's go to the park! Just for a little while. It won't take long."
"I don't know… I haven't asked Mommy about it." Marine hesitated.
"Oh, grow up a little, Marine," Gara teased.
"I am a grown-up girl, you stupido!" Marine declared, striking a dramatic pose. She then pointed grandly toward the park. "Forward march, soldiers of Marine!"
Laughing, the group set off together.
---------
They played far longer than expected, until the sky began to turn dark.
"Heyy, Gara, mad Rex—why don't you come to my place for dinner?" Marine called out, still swinging lightly on the seesaw.
"Okay, count me in," Rex replied instantly.
"Fine, Marine, I'll come too," Gara said, but she smirked. "Not for you though—for Isaka." She shot Marine a teasing glance, as if to say Isaka was better than her.
Marine puffed her cheeks. "Meanie."
They parted ways, only to meet again at Marine's home.
Marine walked down her street, carefree, like the typical little girl she was. But as she drew closer to her house, a strange stillness settled over her.
The streets were empty. Silent. Not even a soul stirred.
"Where is everyone today?" she wondered aloud.
Then—her heart dropped.
Up ahead, a crowd. A horde of people gathered, whispering, staring.
Her legs froze. Cold fear gripped her.
No… no, please.
She pushed her way through the crowd.
And what she saw… snatched the ground from under her feet.
Her house.
Gone.
Nothing but ash.
Ash, and silence.
A scream tore out of her chest. A scream so raw, so broken, it pierced the ears of everyone around.
Tears streamed down her face as she collapsed. Her cries shook the air, yet no one came to hold her.
"Why is that girl crying?" someone whispered.
"Maybe it was her house. Maybe her family died in there," another murmured.
Marine heard them. Every word. But her body wouldn't move. Her spirit shattered in an instant.
The crowd dispersed, leaving her alone in her grief.
Then—
A sound. A faint shift from the debris.
Marine's eyes widened. She stumbled forward.
From the ashes, a hand broke through.
"Isaka!" Marine screamed. She grabbed her sister's hand, pulling with all her might.
Isaka emerged, barely. Her frame broken, wires sparking, lights dimming. "I… I don't know what happened… I couldn't save anyone. I'm sorry, sis…"
Her voice was faint, her blue lights flickering out like a dying candle.
Marine hugged her tightly, tears soaking into the cold metal of her chest.
But her tears… weren't ordinary.
As they fell, they glowed faintly green, seeping into Isaka's body. The light spread, wrapping around her in waves. Marine didn't notice at first, too lost in grief.
Then—Isaka gasped. Her body shuddered.
The glow grew stronger, reshaping her broken shell. Not wires. Not circuits. But veins. Breath. Life.
Marine blinked, astonished.
Isaka's chest rose and fell. She looked up at Marine, tears in her eyes.
"You're… stubborn, Marine. Why didn't you let me go?"
"I won't… never… not till my last breath," Marine sobbed, clinging tighter.
Her tears had given Isaka a new life. Not human, not machine—something beyond both.
But grief still consumed Marine. Her cries for her mother and brother echoed into the night.
And then—
A portal ripped open behind her.
She didn't notice, clutching Isaka too tightly.
But a man stepped out. His presence was thunder itself—warrior's physique, eyes fierce as lightning.
He froze at the sight.
"What… what has happened here?" His voice trembled with grief and fear.
Marine spun around, startled. She shrank back at his sudden appearance.
Isaka, though weakened, stood to shield her sister. "Who are you? What are you doing here?" she growled like a lioness, though blood dripped from her wounds instead of wires.
The man staggered. "No… this can't be… He came here before me… No…" His words made no sense to Marine or Isaka. Who was he talking about?
"I asked you something, mister!" Isaka roared, her stance unshaken.
The man's eyes met hers—stern, haunted, terrified. He stepped forward.
Isaka faltered, her body weak. Marine held her up as the man advanced.
Then—
A flash of green light. A ball of magic exploded between them.
When the smoke cleared—
Rex and Gara stood protectively in front of Marine.