The boy hesitated for a moment, then asked cautiously, "Do all the citizens know about this? About the power source, the Reflecters, and... everything?"
The girl's expression darkened. She lowered her head slightly, her voice quiet and tinged with guilt. "No," she admitted. "They don't know. And it's not just because we choose to keep it from them—it's because we can't tell them."
Her words lingered in the air, heavy with unspoken meaning. The boy's eyes narrowed as he pressed further. "Why? What's stopping you from telling them the truth?"
The boy shifted uncomfortably, feeling the weight of the conversation pressing down on him. Trying to lighten the mood, he awkwardly scratched the back of his head and said, "Uh, by the way... I just realized I haven't even introduced myself yet. Hi, I'm Yoru Sato."
The girl blinked, momentarily surprised by the sudden change in tone. Then, as if relieved by the break in tension, she offered a small smile. "Petra Tanaka," she said. "Nice to officially meet you, Yoru."
Petra's smile faded slightly as she straightened her posture. "Look, Yoru," she said, her tone firm but not unkind, "I know you still have a lot of questions, and I wish I could answer all of them for you. But some things are... beyond me."
Yoru tilted his head, his confusion growing. "What do you mean? Aren't you the one who's supposed to explain everything?"
Petra shook her head gently. "No. For the rest of your answers, you'll need to speak with the Stellar Priest. He's the one who can tell you everything."
Yoru frowned but nodded reluctantly. "Alright," he said. "But I hope he doesn't dodge my questions like you've been doing."
Petra chuckled softly at his bluntness. "Trust me," she said, "the priest doesn't dodge questions. He'll give you the answers... whether you're ready to hear them or not."
Yoru nodded, a faint smile forming on his lips as he tried to push aside the unease brewing in his chest. Together, he and Petra walked the length of the vast hallway, their footsteps echoing in the emptiness.
Finally, they arrived in front of an ornate door, its surface engraved with intricate patterns that seemed to shimmer faintly in the dim light. Yoru stopped and stared at the door for a moment, his fingers hesitating on the handle.
"This is it," Petra said quietly, standing a step behind him.
Taking a deep breath, Yoru pushed the door open. As it creaked on its heavy hinges, his eyes adjusted to the dimly lit chamber beyond. His gaze swept across the room, taking in its strange and ancient beauty—towering shelves filled with scrolls, glowing runes etched into the stone floor, and a figure standing in the center.
His breath caught. The figure turned slightly, and for a moment, Yoru was struck with a jolt of recognition. The person standing there felt... familiar, like a memory he couldn't quite grasp.
Yoru stared at the figure, his voice low but steady as he murmured, "So it's you... PeaceXan."
At the sound of his name, PeaceXan slowly turned his head, his gaze meeting Yoru's with that same lazy charm that somehow felt both indifferent and enigmatic.
Petra blinked in surprise and glanced between the two. "Wait... you know him?" she asked, her voice laced with curiosity.
Yoru nodded slightly, though his expression remained cautious. "Mmhmm, not too much," he admitted, "but when I was unconscious and... whatever possessed me, his presence alone was enough to pull me back."
He tightened his fists unconsciously, still unsettled by the memory. Something about PeaceXan made him wary, as though the young man held far more power than he let on.
Before Petra could say another word, a sudden gust of wind surged through the room, howling like a storm. Yoru instinctively raised an arm to shield his face from the onslaught, his hair whipping in every direction. From within the swirling gusts, a presence emerged, heavy and commanding.
When the wind finally died down, Yoru lowered his arm, his eyes narrowing as he saw the Stellar Priest standing before him, his robes flowing despite the now-still air.
"So," Yoru said cautiously, his voice firm, "it's you."
The Stellar Priest's gaze pierced through him, unreadable and calm as he replied, "So you are awake now."
Yoru felt the weight of those words settle on his shoulders, though he wasn't sure why. Before he could respond, he noticed PeaceXan, who had been silent throughout, quietly turning away. Without a word, he walked toward the exit, his footsteps soft but deliberate.
Yoru watched him leave, a strange unease lingering in his chest. Why does he always feel so... untouchable?
The door closed softly behind PeaceXan, leaving only Yoru, Petra, and the Stellar Priest in the silent chamber.