I suddenly regained consciousness, my heavy eyelids snapping open, and the crushing pressure on my neck returned. The monster was there, dominating my view, its overwhelming shadow looming over me.

Its invisible claws seemed to dig into my throat, choking every breath I tried to take. Its eyes, two bottomless pits, glowed with a malevolent light. Each heartbeat echoed in my chest like a countdown. I felt the end approaching, yet something within me refused to yield.

All my life, I had found myself in this same situation—trapped, imprisoned by the desires and expectations of others. My parents charted paths for me that they deemed safe, paths they claimed were paved with good intentions, but each decision took me further away from myself.

They controlled my choices like puppeteers pulling the strings of my existence, never leaving room for me to discover what I truly wanted. My heart had become a silent prison, stifled under the weight of this invisible pressure. I had learned to forget myself, to ignore that small voice whispering my deepest truths.

But at that moment, as the grip tightened, everything became clearer. A realization burst forth in my mind like lightning in the darkness. I understood that I could no longer run away, that the time had come to release everything I had buried, all the weight that had paralyzed me for so many years. I had to face this shadow that oppressed me.

Memories flooded in, sharper, more painful. Every moment when I had forced myself, when I had silenced my own desires to conform to what was expected of me. Like the times I had to smile while my heart wept, when I obeyed without complaint, even as a revolt stirred within me, an urge to scream. It was always the same story: bowing, conforming, forgetting myself.

Then something inside me shattered. I finally accepted everything, ready to admit it all. In a trembling whisper, the words escaped my lips, fragile yet powerful.

“I hate tying my hair back…” My voice was weak, trembling, but it carried immense weight. “I don’t like eating those bland cereals, those fibers imposed on me under the pretense of being healthy. I never wanted to pursue those boring studies… I hate the fake smiles I have to wear all the time.”

The words poured out, finally liberated. Each phrase brought tears, burning, threatening to overflow.

The more I spoke, the more the entity before me convulsed, screaming in a guttural howl. Its fingers tightened momentarily around my throat, desperately trying to silence me, to stifle my voice as it had so many times before, but its power was weakening. The dark mass surrounding it disintegrated, crumbling like ash in the wind. Beneath this oppressive layer of shadow, something else appeared—something more human, more vulnerable.

“I want to draw, I want to sing…” I continued, my voice steadier. “I want to discover the world through art, to explore, to create without fear or constraint. I want to eat what I like, go out with my friends, laugh and live as I wish!”

Tears now flowed freely down my cheeks, but with them, something else was released. Each word was a broken chain, each tear a liberation. The silhouette of the monster gradually disintegrated, finally revealing a crying child.

It was me. Me as a child, from the time when my heart still beat freely before fear and expectations froze it into silence. She cried, curled up on herself, her small arms trembling.

“I’m scared…” she murmured in a broken voice.

Slowly, with infinite tenderness, I raised my arms and held her close. We lay there together, torn between pain and comfort, our sobs mingling, uniting our sorrows and hopes.

“I’m scared too…” I whispered, my tears blurring my vision, “but I want to discover this world. I want to finally know who I am, what I love. I don’t want to be forced to follow a path that isn’t mine anymore. I want to live for myself, for my dreams. I want to live.”

My arms tightened around the child I had been, the child I had abandoned. And with each word I spoke, I felt my heart grow lighter, freed from the weight it had silently carried for so many years.

“Please… let me live!” I cried out in a desperate breath.

It was then that the darkness surrounding us began to dissipate. Light from the outside filtered through the shadows, bringing with it sounds, colors, life. The dark space faded, releasing us.

The child I had been began to disappear, slowly fading before my eyes, her face relaxing and her cries softening, like a memory finally set free. I felt her presence leave my arms, but not my heart.

“Yui!” Seiryu’s voice rang out, followed by Kumo’s. They ran toward me, worry etched on their faces.

“Yui, are you hurt?” Seiryu asked, quickly examining me, his voice betraying unusual anxiety.

“You did it, nya! That was meow-tastic!” Kumo exclaimed enthusiastically, his eyes shining with admiration.

“But what were you thinking, throwing yourself into the lion’s den like that?” Seiryu began, his tone wavering between reprimand and relief.

“I admit it was risky, but… everything is fine now. And besides… I’ve understood so much,” I replied, wiping away my tears.

“Even so—” he started again, still visibly shaken.

“Oh, stop bothering her about it now, nya! She’s fine, and that’s what matters! She totally nailed it, don’t you think?” Kumo interjected proudly.

“That’s true… Now let me tend to your injuries.”

“Wait… I still have one thing to do,” I declared.

With Seiryu’s help, I got up, my gaze fixed on the ancient tree. The Life Stone gleamed on the ground, silently calling to me. This was the final step, the last piece of the puzzle.

I walked toward the Life Stone, picking it up with newfound determination.

“Awaken your heart…” I murmured.

What I had felt, what I had understood while facing that entity, was what I had always needed to realize: my heart was my strength.

With confidence, I inserted the stone into the ancient tree. A brilliant light spread through the tree, descending to its roots and illuminating everything around it. The ground beneath our feet vibrated slightly as souls, once trapped, gently rose toward the sky in a peaceful dance. The village cats, witnesses to this scene, leaped for joy, tears in their eyes.

The world I had nearly destroyed was finally reborn. Everything was returning to normal.

I stood there, watching this magnificent landscape unfold before my eyes. The golden rays of the sun softly caressed the earth, while the village cats bustled about, leaping with joy, their gratitude palpable in the air. Each thank-you warmed my heart, easing the anxiety that had weighed so heavily on me. At last, everything felt in its place.

Seiryu and Kumo joined me in this peaceful atmosphere, sharing this moment of calm after the storm.

“Everything is back to normal… finally,” I sighed in relief, my gaze lost in the shimmering hues of the landscape.

“I never doubted you for a second, nya!” Kumo exclaimed, puffing out his chest, proud as a king.

Seiryu, meanwhile, looked at me with sincere admiration.

“I have to admit, I’m impressed. I can never thank you enough for saving this world.”

I lowered my eyes, slightly embarrassed.

“Honestly, I might have been the one who caused this disaster… So it was only right for me to fix it.”

“What matters now is that everyone is safe,” he replied, his calm voice resonating like a gentle truth.

I nodded.

“That’s true…” I said, letting a moment of silence linger, as if preparing to say something important. “It’s time for me to leave now…” I felt a small pang of sadness rise within me.

Kumo reacted immediately, his tail twitching nervously.

“Nya, already?! Can’t you stay a little longer?”

“Impossible,” Seiryu interjected, his gaze dropping softly to my injured hands. “But before you go… let me heal you.”

I remembered that I had asked him to wait earlier. He had held back, respecting my wish to finish what I needed to accomplish before letting him tend to me.

“Ah… yes…” I replied timidly, averting my eyes.

He gently took my hands in his, his magical flames enveloping my wounds, healing them instantly. His fingers brushed against mine with unexpected tenderness, and I felt my cheeks grow warm. My heart beat faster, betraying the wave of emotions rising within me.

The silence that followed felt both awkward and meaningful. I was both shy and unsettled by this closeness. Why was I feeling this way? My thoughts became a blur.

Kumo, true to himself, didn’t take long to break the mood with a playful tone.

“Meow, Yui… don’t tell me you’ve got a crush on the Guardian, nya?” he teased with a mischievous grin.

I jumped, my face turning crimson.

“W-what? No way! What are you talking about?!” I stammered, desperately trying to defend myself.

“Then why are your cheeks on fire, nya?” Kumo insisted with feigned innocence.

“Well, it’s because of… his flames! I’m just too hot!” I tried clumsily.

Kumo couldn’t help but chuckle softly, continuing to tease me.

The Guardian looked away, pretending not to hear, but I couldn’t help noticing that his ears took on a rosy hue. This sight brought a smile to my face. He was truly adorable, despite his usual reserve.

Finally, the time for goodbyes approached. I took a deep breath before turning to Kumo, my thoughts drifting between gratitude and sadness.

“Thank you for everything, Kumo. Thanks to you, I discovered a part of myself I had forgotten. I experienced unforgettable adventures and felt emotions I thought I’d lost.”

He stepped closer, sniffling, tears in his eyes, and we embraced tenderly before he resumed with his characteristic humor.

“Nya, I had so much fun too! And you’d better not forget me, or else… you might find fur in your socks, nya!”

I laughed softly, touched by his sincere affection.

“Don’t worry, I’ll never forget you. And thank Madam Mizu for me too. Her cooking, by the way, is by far the best I’ve ever had.”

Before I could say anything more, the Guardian gently wrapped his powerful arms around me, lifting me by the waist, preparing to take off with me. I was surprised by the tenderness of this gesture, and my cheeks flushed again.

“It’s time,” he murmured softly.

Kumo, tears streaming down his face, watched us rise slowly into the sky.

“Take care of yourself, nya!” he cried out one last time.

“You too, Kumo…” I replied with a smile.

We ascended gently, as the cats below continued to cheer, their voices blending with the wind. It was a moment both joyful and heartbreaking.

A gentle silence settled between the Guardian and me until I finally broke it.

“I wanted to thank you too… Despite everything you’ve endured because of me, you’ve always been there to help me.”

“It was natural. I couldn’t allow anything to happen to you.”

The sky drew closer, and with it, the inevitable separation. A bittersweet melancholy filled me. I didn’t want this moment to end.

“I’ll miss you…” I murmured, my throat tight with emotion.

The Guardian looked at me intently before removing one of his earrings. He gently attached it to my ear, his gaze locked with mine.

“Then… wait for me.”

My cheeks flushed once more. How did he plan to reach me? A wave of uncertainty and unspoken promises lingered between us.

“In the meantime, take care of yourself and be happy, Yui.”

Without waiting for a reply, he gently pushed me toward the sky, which began to pull me in slowly. I watched him until the last moment, his eyes fixed on mine, and in one final burst, I shouted:

“I’ll wait for you, Seiryu… We will meet again!”

I saw his smile form, radiant like a silent promise, just before I was completely absorbed by the sky, carrying with me the memory of this unforgettable farewell.