I woke up in a sterile, white room, the quiet hum of machines filling the air. My head throbbed, and my body felt like it was made of lead. I tried to sit up but was quickly met with dizziness, so I laid back down, my mind a blur.
Where am I?
The last thing I remembered was the explosion. The light, the pain, the loss.
And my mother.
Tears threatened to spill again, but I blinked them away, my chest tight with grief. I didn't want to break down again. Not now.
Before I could even gather my thoughts, the door to the room opened, and a figure stepped in.
It was Sora Cloud.
He moved silently, his tall frame standing in the doorway like a shadow. His yellow eyes glimmered with something unreadable as he approached the bed.
"You're awake," he said, his voice deep and steady. He seemed almost relieved.
I didn't speak. I couldn't. I just stared at him, unsure of what to say. The last time we had met, I had exploded my family's house. I had destroyed everything.
Is he here to punish me?
He must have sensed the thoughts swirling in my head because he spoke again, his tone soft but firm. "Akari, your mother..." He paused, as if weighing his words carefully. "She is gone. But she wasn't alone when she passed. I was there. I promise you, I'll take care of you from now on."
I blinked, unsure of what he meant by "take care." What was he going to do with me? Was I going to stay with him now?
Sora sighed, walking over to a chair and sitting down beside my bed. "I know this is a lot to process. But you're not alone in this. I want you to understand that." His eyes softened as he looked at me. "Your mother... she was like a sister to me. She was a bright light in this world, and she was one of the few people I trusted completely."
I felt a lump rise in my throat, but I remained silent, not trusting my voice. I was barely holding it together.
Sora leaned forward slightly, his expression growing more serious. "I have a son about your age. His name is Xavier. He... he'll be here soon, and I want you to meet him. He'll be a good friend to you, I promise."
I stared at him, not quite processing his words. He had a son? Another person my age who would be in my life?
"You're not going to be alone, Akari," Sora said, his voice growing softer, reassuring. "Xavier's been through his own struggles, and he understands what it means to lose people. I think you'll get along with him."
As he spoke, a flicker of hope stirred in me, a small, faint spark that felt far too fragile to hold on to, but I did anyway. Maybe—just maybe—things wouldn't be so bad.
But how could I even think of meeting someone else, when I had lost everything?
Sora didn't seem to be expecting an immediate response. He simply stood up, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder.
"I'm going to make sure you're well taken care of here," he said. "You're in good hands, Akari. You will learn how to control your powers, and you will grow stronger. But it's going to take time."
I nodded, still unsure of what to make of everything, but feeling the weight of his words settle around me. He wasn't just a stranger. He was someone who cared. Someone who would guide me. And for the first time in a long while, I didn't feel quite as lost.
Sora turned to leave, but before he exited, he looked back at me with a faint smile.
"I'll be here when you're ready," he said quietly. "And so will Xavier."
The door clicked shut, and I was left alone again in the quiet of the room. But this time, I didn't feel so completely abandoned.
Maybe I had lost my mother. But I hadn't lost everything.
---
Hours later, a soft knock at the door interrupted my thoughts, and I looked up to see a tall figure standing there. His face was familiar from the photos Sora had shown me, and his resemblance to his father was striking.
Xavier.
He stepped into the room slowly, his black hair a little messy, his Yellow eyes studying me with curiosity, and maybe a hint of concern. He looked... nervous.
"Hey," he said, his voice soft but warm. "I'm Xavier."
I couldn't help but notice how similar he looked to his father, yet there was a gentleness in his expression that made me feel like he could understand, like maybe he wasn't just the son of the Chief of Elites, but someone who had been through things that had shaped him.
"Hi," I replied quietly, still unsure of how to act.
Xavier smiled a little, as though he knew how awkward this moment was. "I know this is weird," he began. "But I wanted to let you know that I'm here. You can talk to me, and we can figure this out together. I know we don't know each other yet, but I'll be here. For whatever you need."
I looked at him, his eyes not filled with pity, but understanding. Could this be what my mother meant when she said I wasn't alone?
"Thanks," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I... I think I need a friend."
Xavier nodded, stepping further into the room. He sat down beside me on the bed and offered me a kind smile, like he had already decided to be the friend I so desperately needed.
And in that moment, for the first time since the explosion, I felt like maybe I could find a way forward.
It wouldn't be easy. But I didn't have to face it alone.
---
As Sora had said, this was just the beginning. And with Xavier by my side, maybe it wouldn't be as hard as I feared.