Emilia stood facing everyone, her insecurities and discomforts laid bare. Her eyes were red and swollen from crying, her shoulders trembling slightly. The weight of their dire situation was overwhelming her, and it was clear she didn't see her own worth amidst it all.
Sirius, Xander, and Aurelia stood awkwardly nearby, their minds racing to find something—anything—to say to lift the mood. But nothing came. After all, they were just kids. What advice could they possibly give about the complexities of life, about survival? They remained silent for a while, the only sound filling the space was Emilia's quiet sobbing.
Then, Sirius suddenly stepped forward. The others looked at him curiously, unsure of what he was planning to do. He walked over to Emilia, his steps light but deliberate. When he stopped in front of her, she looked up, meeting his eyes—those almost unnaturally iridescent purple eyes that shimmered like distant stars. His face, with its almost delicate, feminine features, made her blush slightly despite her grief.
"You're wrong," Sirius said, his voice steady and soft. "You're not useless."
Emilia sniffled, her breath catching. "What… what do you mean?" she asked in a shaky voice, wiping her eyes with her sleeve.
Sirius continued to look at her with an intensity that made her feel small but seen all at once. "You're not useless," he repeated. "Not even close."
She stared at him, confusion flickering across her tear-streaked face. "But… I haven't done anything. I'm not a Soul Weaver like you or Aurelia. I don't even have a soul weave… I can't fight monsters, I'm just a burden."
Sirius sighed, his expression turning somber. "When I was younger," he began, "my parents died due to a calamity gate's appearance. I was left to fend for myself. My clan—the Lycathorn Clan—was a prestigious one, filled with powerful Soul Weavers. But my soul weave wasn't like theirs. I didn't meet their standards."
Emilia blinked, surprised by this revelation. The others listened, equally taken aback.
"The moment my parents died," Sirius continued, his voice lowering, "I was cast out. The clan saw my soul weave as weak and… different. It didn't match their bloodline, and worst of all, it was connected to salt—one of the most mundane and, in their eyes, useless soul weaves in existence. They left me on the streets, expecting me to die."
A flicker of sadness crossed his face, but he pressed on. "If it hadn't been for my aunt—Xander's mother—I would be dead. Or worse, I'd be begging for scraps in the gutter. In my clan's eyes, I was useless…"
Sirius paused, his eyes now fixed on Emilia. His hand reached out, gently resting on her shoulder, his grip firm but careful. "But look at me now. I've survived in this cursed place for over a week. I've fought the monsters in the forest, crossed that river full of horrors, and escaped from an abomination that I scarred badly enough that it'll never forget me. And here I am, still standing."
Emilia's eyes widened as she absorbed his words.
"I'm not useless," Sirius declared. "Not anymore. And neither are you. You survived, just like the rest of us. We're still here, alive, when many soul weavers of higher ranks than us would have failed."
"But we haven't escaped yet," Emilia interjected quietly, her voice laced with doubt.
"We will," Sirius said, his conviction unshakeable. "We've come too far to die now. And don't forget—you've survived too. Without a soul weave, without any special power or weapon, you've survived. A normal human? No one normal could have made it this far. You're stronger than you think."
Emilia looked down, trying to hide her trembling hands. "But I haven't done anything…"
"That's not true," Sirius countered. "You've helped us. You came up with ideas, you supported us when we were struggling. And remember, you were part of the plan to kill Philo. If he hadn't advanced to a Tier 2 Soul Weaver at the last minute, it would have worked."
Xander, who had been standing quietly, now spoke up, "Yeah, and there are plenty of Soul Weavers who can't fight Shades directly. They support others in battle, and they're still highly valued in our community. Supporting the fight is just as important."
Aurelia nodded, stepping forward. "She's right. You're not useless, Emilia. If you were, none of us would have made it this far."
Sirius smiled warmly at Emilia, his earlier serious expression softening. "If you still think you're useless, then you're saying all of our efforts to keep you alive were for nothing. And that's not true. Friends don't abandon each other."
Emilia's heart swelled with an indescribable joy and relief. It was overwhelming, hearing everyone lift her up in this way. She felt a warmth growing inside her, something she hadn't felt in a long time. She looked up at their smiling faces, the people who had become her closest companions in this terrifying world.
She wiped the last of her tears away, her lips curling into a radiant smile. "Alright," she said softly, her voice regaining some of its strength. "I'll lean on you guys a little more, then."
"That's what friends are for," Xander replied, grinning.
"And we've got your back," Aurelia added.
Sirius extended his hand toward her. "You can count on us."
Emilia nodded and took his hand. Sirius pulled her gently, intending to lead her back to the group, but something strange happened—she didn't move. He turned back, confused, only to be caught completely off guard as her face closed in on his. Before he could react, her soft lips pressed against his.
Sirius froze, feeling the warmth of her lips on his, and time seemed to stretch out impossibly long. The kiss was short—no more than a peck—but it felt like an eternity to him. When they pulled apart, Emilia was blushing furiously, her cheeks flushed red.
"Let's… let's go, then," she stammered, clearly trying and failing to act as if nothing had happened.
From where they stood, Xander and Aurelia were wide-eyed, their mouths hanging open in disbelief. Neither had expected that. The silence that followed was thick with awkwardness.
But that silence was shattered a moment later when Philo's echo burst into action, sprinting toward Sirius and Emilia with terrifying speed. The echo's movements were almost unnatural, fueled by the immense power of its soul weave.
Sirius's heart pounded in his chest. Something was wrong. The echo's frantic approach sent a wave of dread through him. His instincts screamed at him to grab Emilia and jump away, but he was too late.
A bone cleaver shot through the air, impaling Emilia in one swift motion. Her body was lifted off the ground like she weighed nothing. Horror twisted Sirius's face as he watched the life drain from Emilia's expression, blood spilling from her mouth.
Behind her stood the mangled figure of the Abyssal Shade—its skeletal grin twisted with satisfaction. It shook its cleaver, tearing Emilia's body apart with brutal ease, her young life snuffed out in an instant.
"Emilia!" Sirius shouted, his voice breaking.
The shade's cruel eyes shifted to Sirius, and it swung its cleaver at him with lethal intent. Just before the blade could connect, Philo's echo threw itself between them, blocking the blow with its last remaining dagger.
The impact sent both the echo and Sirius flying backward like ragdolls. Sirius tumbled across the ground, dazed and battered. Through blurry vision, he saw the echo disintegrating, its strength fading rapidly after the intense clash.
Xander's enraged scream filled the air as he charged at the shade, but the creature swatted him aside like an insect. The force of the blow crushed his ribcage, sending him flying. He landed with a sickening thud, his condition uncertain.
Aurelia, the last one standing, scrambled to pick up the fallen gun. She opened fire, but the energy beams were useless against the shade's thick, armored hide. The creature stalked toward her, savoring the anticipation of another kill. It could smell her fear. It was... intoxicating.