A few days had passed since the incident.
Mao and Sasaki had been spending much more time together.
Kural and Nexus noticed.
Whenever the two were alone, they would conveniently leave them to their privacy.
Of course, they had no intention of letting things go too far.
They'd simply wait until the perfect moment to intervene.
Nexus stood alone in the throne room, beside the empty throne.
A moment later, Kural walked in.
"Hey, old man."
Nexus glanced at him.
"What do you want?"
"Don't you think those two have been getting a lot closer lately?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean Sasaki and Mao."
Kural scratched his head.
"They've been saying some weird stuff to each other. Some of it sounds like the stuff Cupid used to say to Mao."
He paused.
"That always pissed her off."
Nexus thought for a moment.
"I have noticed that those two have grown closer."
He looked toward the throne.
"But isn't that a good thing?"
"It's not a bad thing."
Kural shrugged.
"But romance in a place like this? I don't think it'll last."
"Perhaps Sasaki will change that."
Nexus smiled faintly.
"He's certainly unique."
Kural looked toward him.
"I wonder how the other Architects would react if they found out romance existed between fellow Architects."
Nexus chuckled.
"I suppose we'd find out eventually."
Kural turned around and began walking away.
"Well, see you later, old man."
Nexus watched him leave.
Sasaki sat in his office, drinking tea while reading the newspaper.
He casually turned the page.
Then—
His eyes widened.
The cup slipped from his hand.
Crash!
The newspaper fell to the floor.
And Sasaki disappeared.
Mao rushed into his office moments later.
"Sasaki?"
She looked around.
A broken cup.
A fallen newspaper.
No Sasaki.
"...Sasaki?"
A few months had passed.
Sasaki had vanished without a trace.
Kural and Nexus searched for anything that could explain his disappearance.
Mao helped for a while.
But eventually, the stress became too much.
She broke down.
Nexus stood beside the throne as usual.
He stared at it.
For just a moment, a figure appeared.
A familiar silhouette.
Then it disappeared.
Nexus closed his eyes.
"...Come back soon."
Kural searched through the universe, using his abilities to look for anything unusual.
Then—
A voice called out to him.
He stopped.
"...What?"
The voice came again.
Kural followed it.
It led him back to the throne room.
Nexus was standing beside the throne.
As usual.
Then the same deep voice spoke again.
This time, both of them heard it.
"Hello, young Architects."
Kural spun around.
His eyes widened.
"...It's you."
Standing before them was a figure with long blonde hair.
His eyes were unlike anything Kural had ever seen.
Perfect.
Almost unnatural.
Gold seemed to flow through them.
Sivarnte.
The Coalescence.
Kural immediately stepped forward.
"Where is Sasaki?"
Sivarnte calmly looked at him.
"He is resting."
"Resting?"
Kural's expression hardened.
"In what?"
"A deep slumber."
Kural's eyes narrowed.
"What does that mean?"
He clenched his fists.
"Is he dead?"
Sivarnte smiled.
"Goodness, no."
He paused.
"I wouldn't kill my own Incarnation."
Another pause.
"...Well, I suppose I would."
Kural stared at him.
"But I did not."
Nexus stepped forward.
He bowed his head.
"I greet the Great Truth."
Kural looked at him in confusion.
"What are you doing, old man?"
"Have you gone crazy?"
Nexus ignored him.
"I'm sorry for his ignorance."
He bowed again.
"Forgive him."
Sivarnte looked at Kural.
"Very well."
He turned his attention back to Nexus and Kural.
"I have come to deliver a message."
"A message?"
Kural's expression changed.
"From Sasaki?"
Sivarnte nodded.
"Ahem."
His voice changed slightly as he recited the message.
"Dear Architects."
"I will no longer be one of you."
Kural's eyes widened.
"But I will still be here."
"Just not physically."
Sivarnte continued.
"Unfortunately, I will lose my memories upon awakening."
He paused.
"But I ask you to remember me."
"And..."
His expression became more serious.
"Do not let Mao near my office or my room."
Kural stared at him.
"...What?"
"That's the message."
Silence filled the throne room.
"What could have possibly happened to him?"
Kural asked.
Nexus didn't answer.
He simply stared at Sivarnte with suspicion.
Sivarnte noticed.
"Fear not."
"He is safe."
"He will awaken perfectly fine."
"If anything..."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"He may awaken better than before."
Nexus sighed in relief.
"Poor Mao."
He looked toward the hallway.
"She's going to be devastated for a few mya."
Kural's eyes widened.
"Years?"
"No."
"Mya."
Kural stared at him.
"Mya!? Isn't that a bit much to mourn someone?"
Before Nexus could answer—
He heard something.
His head slowly turned toward the hallway.
His eyes widened.
"..."
Mao stood there.
She had heard everything.
Her face was pale.
Her voice trembled.
"W-What..."
She looked at Sivarnte.
"What happened to Sasaki?"
Years passed.
Kural continued his work as usual.
Nexus remained beside the throne.
Just as he always had.
And Mao...
Mao had locked herself inside her room.
"How long has it been since she locked herself in there?"
Kural asked.
Nexus looked toward Mao's room.
"...About nine years."
Kural's expression changed.
"Nine years?"
He scratched his head.
"Don't you think that's a bit much?"
"I did tell you she'd be like this."
"Yeah, but this is too much."
Kural sighed.
"She's not even taking the food I leave outside her door anymore."
Nexus looked upward.
Something seemed to click in his mind.
"...This happened to the Leader once."
Kural froze.
"What?"
"The Leader of the Architects?"
"Yes."
Nexus sighed.
"I miss the old days."
Kural rolled his eyes.
"When you were in your prime?"
"Yes."
"Yeah, whatever you say, old man."
Kural turned away.
"Keep missing the past."
Nexus stared into the distance.
Then—
He raised his hand.
A time rift opened beside him.
Kural's eyes widened.
"O-Old man!"
He rushed toward him.
"Stop that!"
"We still need you here in the present!"
Nexus stared into the rift.
For a moment, he seemed tempted.
Then—
He closed it.
Silence returned.
Nexus looked toward Mao's room.
Then toward the empty throne.
"...How are you doing, Ryu?"
His eyes slowly closed.
"Are you okay yet?"
Nexus remained there.
Standing beside the empty throne.
Just as he always had.