The battle with Princess Nagaria had finally ended, and a profound silence descended beneath the ocean's surface. Amidst the crumbling ruins and dissipating Chaos, a pair of radiant golden earrings floated in the still water, glowing faintly with an enigmatic aura.
"These earrings… there's definitely something hidden within them," Mirelle murmured as she cautiously swam closer, her eyes reflecting a mixture of curiosity and suspicion.
"Objects like these usually come with conditions," Draco added, his gaze wary as he scrutinized the earrings. "Stuff like this never comes easy."
"I'll try," Mirelle declared, her voice steady yet tinged with determination. She reached out toward the earrings, her hand trembling slightly with uncertainty.
"Are you sure, Mirelle?" Yue asked softly, her tone laced with concern.
Taking a deep breath, Mirelle nodded. "If this can help us move forward, I'm willing to take the risk."
As she carefully put on the earrings, their gentle golden light darkened into a shadowy hue. Mirelle's body jerked, her hands clutching her head as she collapsed to her knees.
A chorus of whispers began to surround her—soft at first, but growing louder, until they became an overwhelming cacophony of voices. The words pierced her mind like needles.
"You'll never be good enough! You've always envied others!"
"You have no worth! Your team doesn't see you as important!"
The voices grew louder, their overlapping shouts turning into a chaotic storm of accusations. It became impossible to distinguish one from another, but their essence was clear: envy.
"No… stop!" Mirelle screamed, clutching her head tighter as she tried to block out the voices.
"You're jealous! You're jealous!" The voices chanted relentlessly, as if trying to burrow deep into her very soul.
Akira and Yue watched in shock. Yue gasped, her voice frantic. "Akira! This is just like when Draco tried on that armor!"
"Yes…" Akira replied, his tone grim. He drew his twin swords, the white blade glowing faintly as he swam toward Mirelle. "Yue, I need your light magic. Help me!"
Yue nodded quickly and began chanting, her hands radiating a soothing white light. The glow enveloped Mirelle, pushing back the shadows that clung to her.
"Don't listen to them, Mirelle! You know the truth in your heart!" Akira shouted as he channeled holy energy through his white blade, unleashing a wave of purifying light.
The voices gradually began to fade, their intensity waning under the warmth of the combined light. Mirelle's trembling subsided, her breath shaky but steady. She clutched the earrings still attached to her ears and whispered with a wavering voice, "I… I'm not jealous… I've never envied you!"
Suddenly, the Armor of Serenity Akira wore began to emit a soft, calming glow. Its power extended outward, creating an aura of peace that interacted with the earrings. The earrings loosened their grip on Mirelle and finally detached, floating into Yue's waiting hands.
Mirelle collapsed onto the ground, gasping for air. Yue rushed to her side, helping her sit up. "Mirelle! Are you okay?" Yue asked, her voice trembling with concern.
Mirelle nodded weakly. "I… I'm fine… but it was… more intense than I expected."
Akira examined the earrings, his expression cautious. He studied them in silence for a moment before speaking. "These earrings… they seem to test the envy within the heart. Anyone who fails to resist those feelings will face unbearable torment."
Draco crossed his arms, his expression thoughtful. "Sounds like they're telling us only someone truly worthy can use them."
Akira looked down at the earrings in his hand, his gaze contemplative. "Maybe… I should be the one to try."
"Are you sure?" Mirelle asked, her voice tinged with exhaustion but also concern.
"If these earrings can reveal something important—something we need to know—I'm willing to face it," Akira replied, his voice resolute.
Yue gave him a small, encouraging smile. "If anyone can handle this, it's you, Brother."
Taking a deep breath, Akira reached out to touch the earrings. The moment his fingers made contact, the golden light flared brilliantly, and his body vanished into a dimension of memories.
Akira opened his eyes to find himself standing in an unfamiliar place. The air was cold and filled with an eerie stillness. Around him, a dim moonlight illuminated a small, rustic room. The furniture was simple but meticulously arranged, though the atmosphere carried an oppressive weight.
In the center of the room stood a man clad in black armor, his face etched with tension and resolve. His sharp eyes were fixed on a young woman standing before him—a woman with striking blue eyes and an aura of unwavering determination.
"Gael… I need your help," the woman said, her voice trembling with urgency as she extended a small piece of parchment toward the man.
Gael Varden took the paper and read its contents, his eyes scanning the words with a grave expression.
"They've taken my mentor… accused him of treason without any evidence!" the woman exclaimed, her voice filled with both anger and desperation. "I'm sure they've set him up… I have to do something to save him!"
Gael folded the paper and met her gaze, his own filled with a mix of worry and affection. "Are you certain there's a conspiracy? Confronting them could put you in grave danger."
"I have no choice," the woman replied firmly. "The truth must come to light, no matter the cost."
Gael sighed heavily, his shoulders slumping slightly as he nodded. "Then I'll help you."
The scene shifted. The pair now traveled under the cover of darkness, the pale moonlight casting long shadows over their path. Their destination was a hidden chamber detailed in the parchment, said to hold the evidence they sought.
Upon reaching the location, they pushed open an old wooden door, revealing a concealed room filled with scrolls, ledgers, and strange artifacts.
"This… this is it," the woman murmured as she scanned the room. Her hands trembled as she picked up a scroll.
"What does it say?" Gael asked, standing guard by the door.
"It's all here—proof of their experiments with Chaos Dungeon Seeds and their plans to manipulate the Twelve Constellations!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling with disbelief.
The memory unfolded rapidly, showing their discovery, their flight, and Gael's ultimate sacrifice to ensure the woman could escape. Akira watched as the scene played out, feeling the weight of Gael's unwavering resolve and the woman's desperation.
When Akira finally returned to reality, his team was waiting, their expressions filled with anticipation and concern.
"What did you see?" Mirelle asked softly.
Akira took a deep breath, his voice steady but somber. "I saw people fighting for the truth. They bore incredible pain and made great sacrifices to protect what mattered most—even when the world turned against them."
Draco frowned. "And what does that have to do with us?"
"I'm not sure yet," Akira admitted, his brow furrowed in thought. "But those people… it felt like they were trying to tell us something. There's a truth hidden behind all of this—a truth we need to uncover."
Mirelle glanced at the earrings still glowing faintly in Akira's hand. "Perhaps these earrings are a key… a piece of the puzzle leading us to the answers we're searching for."
"Or maybe they're a warning," Yue murmured, clutching Mirelle's arm. "Mirelle… are you really okay?"
Mirelle smiled faintly despite her exhaustion. "I'll be fine. But Akira… I think you're the only one who can fully unlock their secret."
Akira gazed at the earrings once more, sensing the enigmatic power flowing through them. They were no ordinary relic; they were a fragment of a far greater mystery—a mystery that would shape the path ahead.
His team watched in silence, knowing that whatever lay ahead, the journey would only grow more perilous. The earrings were more than a simple artifact; they were a harbinger of the trials to come and the truths yet to be revealed.