*Layla's POV

In the winter when I was ten years old, there was a place I desperately wanted to go.

It was only a twenty-minute walk away. Quite close to where we ran around stealing food. An amusement park with a lot of giant rides. That night, the colorful lights looked so beautiful. More beautiful than any jewelry we had ever stolen.

The problem was we didn't have any money to get in. Besides, the security didn't allow children to wander around without a mature. So, I sulked. I lost my appetite and couldn't think of anything but get into there.

San said he would take me to a place that was a hundred times more amazing. But what could be more beautiful than a theme park? Was he going to take me to a mountain or the sea? But there were no rides or glittering lights there. Would he take me to a cave full of glowing crystals? That might be nice, but still, no rides.

Then San told me to close my eyes. He held my hand tightly and told me to never release it, no matter what happened.

***

Everything felt blurry. The sounds, the cold night air, the pain from every wound, even everything that had happened. It all felt so fast.

Even with the violent shaking on the roof, followed by a loud thud from inside the building, I still thought it wasn't real. Except for one thing: the warm sensation from San's hand on my forehead. And the other hand cradling my shoulder gently.

Something seemed to pull my body as if trying to separate each part into random fragments. Then all the noises suddenly vanished. My feet were no longer on solid ground. My body felt weightless. Slowly, I heard the sound of the wind. The cold gusts hit my body from all directions, pushing me abstractly. San's body seemed to drift away, but I still felt his hand.

I knew this feeling.

Blood was still flowing from my wounds. Before it all got swept away by the wind, I used it to activate magic. Restoring my sight and hearing temporarily.

When I opened my eyes, I saw hundreds of stars. Scattered randomly on a giant black canvas. The moon was only half visible in the distance, partly covered by thin clouds. It was too early to reach its full form.

"Layla!" San shouted from his spot. "The building exploded. I don't know where-"

You don't need to say anything, idiot. I pulled San's hand. Wrapping both my arms around his neck. Hugging him tightly so there was no space left.

Our bodies spun in the air. Falling like a comet in the northern sky. Hundreds of feet before our bodies crashed into the ground, but I wasn't worried at all. I knew San wouldn't let that happen.

"Remember this well," I whispered in San's ear. "This place is millions of times more beautiful than anything."

Just like six years ago. When you first took me to the sky. We always did this every night. I don't even remember how many times.

But unlike six years ago, even if this is the end, I won't let you go alone.

As our bodies continued to spin, I saw the facility now just a plume of smoke. Flames were still visible, remnants of the previous explosion. I didn't think the impact would be this bad. Mala really did her job. If the woman ended up there, I hope Marumbi didn't make it out alive either.

Soon, a pillar of light formed from the smoke. Rising quite high though not reaching us. Its green light illuminated part of the area that was dim before due to the explosion.

I know what it is. A portal has opened. I knew the destination based on its color.

They received my message. "We have to go back, San! That's the portal to Calmora."

San immediately understood the situation. Just a few dozen meters before we hit the ground. He hugged me tighter while trying to stop the spin in the air. "Close your eyes!"

That pulling sensation came again. Followed by the disappearance of the wind's roar as if sucked by something. My feet slowly felt something solid, and my body weight returned. I immediately fell and rolled several times after San suddenly pushed me away. Not a smooth landing, but that didn't matter.

Despite all this pain, oddly, I felt amused.

"What's funny?" asked San, who was already crouching beside me.

We had just nearly died. But I laughed like I had just fallen into a mud puddle.

Like six years ago. The first time we did this. I was too excited, so San couldn't land properly. I sprained my ankle then, but I kept insisting San to do it again.

I looked into San's eyes. Familiar black eyes. Even though he forgot everything, he never became someone else. San reached out his hand, helping me to stand. What remained in the area now were just ruins and smoke. The portal was not far from us. At such a close distance, I could hear a faint hum from the energy inside the portal. Still not fully open. Maybe about five more minutes.

"What has happened?" asked San.

I thought of Mala. She does this far because she believes in the future I promised. Should I feel guilty about that?

No. It was her own choice.

"In Solaris, you'll meet two different people," I said. "Those who hate God's fate and those who hope for God don't add more punishment."

After all, how many lives pass away in one day? It's none of my duty to think about it.

San's face showed no expression. His eyes scanned far toward the portal's location. "So they all died."

That wasn't a question. I still couldn't figure out what he thought about death. Considering that he was brought here after killing 40 people, I thought this wasn't new for him.

"There's someone," said San, pointing towards the portal.

Behind the smoke, I saw the silhouette of someone walking towards us. It was strange, I thought it should still be a few minutes until the portal fully opened. And that solely meant one thing.

The person wasn't from Calmora. Maybe one of the Weavers who survived the explosion. Worst case, if that person was Marumbi.

I stood in front of San. Pressing the wound on my palm to summon more blood. Until an uncomfortable feeling suddenly pressed on me. A pressure so strong and suffocating. Like I felt when Marumbi attacked Mala, but hundreds of times stronger. My legs felt heavy. I recognized this feeling. Something evil and dangerous.

Something related to Enigma.

I turned and looked at San. His face also looked pale. He clutched his chest tightly as if the swelter I felt was more weighing on him.

That person appeared from smoke. Standing five steps from us. His tall body was fully covered in a black cloak. His black hair fluttered in the night wind. His eyes, like San's eyes, looked at me coldly and bored. His skin was as pale as a corpse, but the pressure he gave felt so piercing.

There was only one person who could give such a feeling. The only reason protective magic was finally enforced in every kingdom. A man who continued what the previous Enigma bearer started. The worst factor I hadn't even thought of.

Altair's right-hand man, Orion.

I turned and looked at San. Gathering the remnants of my sanity that were almost completely drained solely to say one word.

Run—

My voice hadn't been heard when an energy struck my body, throwing and slamming me into the ruins. My body lay prone. The pain overtook me again. All my nerves seemed to scream. But now that pressure suddenly disappeared. Maybe not strong enough compared to all the pain from torn muscles and tendons. I could breathe normally now, but I no longer had the energy to even move my finger.

In the place where I previously stood, Orion stepped again. Approaching San, who was still standing frozen.

I could still do something. There was still blood left. I focused my gaze on Orion. Feeling the resonance of Atma intertwined between my blood and the surrounding Atma.

[Thorns]

Orion's steps abruptly stopped when his lower body suddenly dissolved into black smoke. Then he leaped back. Avoiding the giant transparent blue thorn I created with magic. Three thorns hit his body, but it was fruitless. Only a few seconds before his body slowly reformed. Orion looked at me and swung his hand. A blackthorn appeared and pierced my stomach.

My vision blurred again. My hearing grew faint. I glimpsed when Orion created a massive black sheath that covered him and San. Then everything happened quickly.

Think! Why is he here? What does he want?

Maybe everything is indeed connected. This facility, the Council's interference, Enigma....

I remembered Mala saying something about the Council's plan to separate Weavers from Atma. They were looking for a way to turn Weavers into ordinary humans. Even so, it was a ridiculous gamble because no one knew the limits of Enigma's power. But one factor could change it all. If there was a person who understood enough about Enigma, maybe he could show the way. And that only meant one thing.

Orion was behind all of this.

What could I do? What would he do to San?

My consciousness was fading. I kept turning the blood flowing from the wound in my stomach into healing magic. Restoring my body, even if only temporarily. I no longer thought of limits. Anything, I only didn't want to die.

The black sheath Orion created slowly vanished. In the distance, with blurred vision, I saw San lying down. Orion looked at me, paused for a moment, then disappeared. He appeared in front of me, squatting and looking at me with a pitying expression.

"I guess I don't need to do anything more to you, witch girl," he said, "but I'll give you a choice."

"Do you feel it, Orion?" Orion's expression changed. Maybe he wasn't pleased that I interrupted him. Perhaps he was thinking of something else from my words.

"The Enigma fragments," I continued, "does he have it?"

Now Orion looked surprised. "You've seen far ahead, it seems." Orion waved his hand, disappearing the blackthorn that pierced my stomach. Then he touched my back. Giving a hot sensation that seemed to tear my stomach apart.

I groaned. Biting my lip as hard as I could to keep from screaming. But I also felt the hole in my body slowly close.

"I was going to give you the choice to die quickly or let yourself disintegrate. I guess I'll listen to you first, Sibyl."

This was the chance. The only way I could stay alive. "You haven't answered me."

Orion was silent for a moment. "Do you think you're in a position to negotiate?"

I stared back at him. Mustering all the courage I had left. "I know how Orion," I replied, smiling. "How to resurrect Altair."[]