With Sakura's sweet words lingering in the air, tears streamed down Adrian's face as he silently looked up, staring at the fading illusion crumbling around him.
Hundreds of memories flooded his mind in that one moment, each filled with repressed emotion, leaving a somber aura overcasting the new shard being found.
Watching the pained and emotional Adrian, Sakura wanted to reach out to hold and comfort him, only to once again realize she couldn't no matter how hard she tried.
Resenting his formless, touchless existence Sakura was left in an isolated void to wallow in her own misery.
A few minutes later, when Sanctuary finally returned to the wasteland, Adrian wiped his tears walking back to his small home… except this time there was only silence.
Silence… and thoughts
******
Adrian approached his house with a head consumed in thought for the first time not only facing but overcoming his actual nightmares.
Nightmares that had been buried deep unknowingly festering like an old wound left to rot.
Without any conversation, with Sakura deep in thought and the party unnervingly silent, and the sun hanging high above as if to mock him, Adrian decided to rest and continue his mission in the morning…
******
At the same time in a colorless void, Sakura's pale cherry-colored light sat in front of a large light panel showing Adrian sleeping.
As the light pulsated Sakura's thoughts ran rampant as she muttered to herself, ~Why do I have to feel…~
******
With such a profound question posed even more questions had to be asked even more so with the fact that Sakura was never supposed to have emotional capacity.
But, for some reason, the assistant that was originally from Nexus was replaced with a newly formed soul capable of even entering the Cycle without problem.
This soul would have all the memories of the assistant only it had the ability to grow, adapt, and interact with those it is around.
This soul would have feelings, learn, … love.
But, this soul was forever trapped alone, shapeless, and touchless.
In the beginning, not having a body was fine as it had never experienced the world, but soon that all would change.
This soul soon found an odd wisp appear in its home.
As the soul watched this bumbling wisp explore the void that had appeared in the soul became interested in this odd wisp.
Little did this little soul know that the wisp would be the one they would be bound to.
Soon the wisp had materialized becoming an eccentric man named Adrian.
Upon their meeting the little soul interacted as its memories had shown it, using an unfamiliar language.
Then the little soul was given a name that would shape their world and kick-start their emotions.
Its new name was Sakura, and with this name, it felt a close bond or mental link with Adrian.
Over the next year, Sakura tried to stay within her original directive, but as she spent more time with Adrian her emotions started to take over her orders.
When this event occurred Sakura couldn't remember, but thanks to this change in emotion Sakura started to learn and change quickly, from a near robot to an emotional girl.
As she continued to roam the mysterious island Sakura learned more about herself and the knowledge she had.
Each interaction with Adrian was engraved into her being slightly helping to form her personality.
The more they talked the more their bond deepened and the more Sakura understood her emotions.
After spending a year alongside Adrian a new feeling had emerged, a soft, warm feeling that at this point Sakura still couldn't understand.
It was only when Sakura saw Adrian's life and watched his regrets did she understand the name for such a warm feeling was love.
Yet, such a warm feeling quickly became a burden as it made her want to be closer to him, but without a body to live in, she could never act the way she wanted to.
Each time she wanted to comfort or hug or interact with him, she would always be brought back and realize she could never.
******
As Sakura thought about everything that led to this moment, small star-like lights dropped from her glow almost as if tears were falling from her face.
Alone in the darkness she could only mutter, ~Why… He's so, so close, yet so… so far… ~
*****
Startled Adrian woke up to the loud sound of laughing and music.
Quickly jumping to his feet Adrian grabbed his spear and rushed outside, only to find that the land around his house was covered in the chilling aura of death.
With a whimper, Adrian could hear Sakura being ripped apart as well as the party laughing in excitement at the spectacle.
Soon he felt his link with Sakura sever, with the heartbreaking feeling grasping around Adrian, he was forced to watch as a pale cherry-colored light evaporated from his body.
With his emotions failing and his body morphing being shaped through madness Adrian could catch glimpses of a spindly figure rushing away.
Even in his berserk state, Adrian rampaged following this disappearing figure losing sight of them in an ever-changing forest.
But, soon Adrian caught wind of their trail running frantically to their new location.
Forcing his way through branches Adrian burst forward greeted by an imposing hundred-story theater. Though in his maddened state he didn't even notice the oddities that plagued his surroundings.
With every step, golden lights rained down from the heavens blocking his path as he was taunted by the figure.
Weaving between each light Adrian rapidly approached the theater throwing himself at where the figure had just been, only to be teleported onto a stage spotlights cast on him and the figure.
Across from Adrian was a standing marionette covered in bright crimson blood with hollow, yet realistic eyes staring straight at Adrian's grotesque form.
Driven by pure insanity Adrian pounced on the marionette, but each time he fell short of touching even a thread on its body, angering him evermore.
After thrashing about for many minutes the madness in Adrian's eyes started to fade, changing into an overwhelming sadness and grief.
Slowly realizing that no matter what he did here Sakura wouldn't return, Adrian just gave up laying center stage with tears cascading down his face letting out screams of anguish.
Just as Adrian gave up, the marionette's uncanny voice rang out, "I… may… be… your… nightmare… but… she… was… your… hope…"
After hearing those hollow words ring in his ears the marionette raised its cloth foot revealing a tangled mesh of flesh before stomping down flattening Adrian's head.
******
Suddenly Adrian's eyes opened wide as he flipped out of bed terrified by his dream.
In a confused and lethargic state, Adrian worriedly called out, "Sakura! Sakura, can you hear me!"
Soon Sakura's voice responded in a dry hoarse tone, ~What's wrong Rain? What happened?~
Hearing Sakura's voice Adrian could tell she had been crying causing him to immediately ask back, "Are you ok? Did anything happen? Why were you crying?"
Only for Sakura to brush off the comment saying, ~I-... It's nothing. What's wrong?~
Skeptically, Adrian decided to tell her what happened in his dream in exchange for her telling him why she had been crying.
As such a long decision of feelings and trauma were exchanged…
******
After hearing her heart-wrenching story Adrian made up his mind then and there exclaiming, "We will make you a body even if I have to fight those so called gods to do it."
Touched Sakura said, ~And, as I've said a million times, I'll never leave you.~