Days had passed since the catastrophe, and Luna had been recovered and healed by the loyal attendants of the Kingdom. Even as the reconstruction continued, it appeared as if everyone else didn’t even bother to acknowledge it. Emotionless as a statue, Luna stared at the casket for countless hours, even after the funeral had long since ended.

Her mother’s frame, the only other company in the room, greeted her with a smile as if she were proud that she had become queen. Her eyes were as dull as dried blood, cracked by overwhelming guilt and regret. She stood there in her royal attire, decked with luxurious designs and accessories, for another few hours, still, unwavering.

Then finally, she blinked and came back to life. She smacked her lips. Starving, thirsty, mentally and physically. Walking towards the door, she gestured towards the casket to wait for her return.

And so she did, returning with two plates of exotic ice cream, a frozen fruit salad, and two glasses of berry juice. “So I know it's been a while since we ate together, and I know ice cream really isn’t food, but what’s a little rule-breaking going to do?”

After she toasts the two glasses on her own, she picks up the mess, yet leaves her mother’s breakfast as is. She bows before the casket, closing her eyes, and takes a deep breath.

“I see that you’ve grown a liking toward your birthday present. I must say I worked really hard to make it possible.” A lady giggled from above, her voice identical to hers but assertive and cheerful. She took out a fan and began cooling herself down as she examined the place.

To her surprise, she was greeted with a strange laugh. It only grew more consistent and louder, Luna’s hands clawing on the gold floor.

“What’s this I see? Aren’t you going to give me thanks?” She scoffed, shutting her fan as she repositioned her legs for comfort. To her amusement, she noticed that Luna managed to tear through the golden tiles like a stick of butter. "You do know that's real gold, right?"

“Oh, Facalor. You don’t know how excited I am to finally meet you.” Luna whispered hauntingly, a terrifying insanity shining through her eyes.

"How are you sure it's me? What if I were the one who attacked the–" Facalor raised her eyebrow slightly.

"No, he has nothing to do with it. You tried to trick me into believing that he was you." Still hiding her face, her voice grew grimmer by the second.

“So you do know who I am? Oh, how nice it is to be known, since I thought I’d be lost in history.” She shook her head, showcasing her silver hair as it flew across like gentle feathers, and placed her fan into the other hand. "See, I thought you'd confuse me with the gullible assassin I sent after your mother the other day–"

“Tearing you from limb to limb will be my life’s greatest honor!” Luna interrupted with maniacal joy, lifting her head and facing her in a flash. Her grin reached from corner to corner. "The masked man can wait another day." 

Her eyes were filled with bloodlust for vengeance, piercing into Facalor’s soul.

“Is that so?” She reopened her fan, resting her lower half face behind it.

“Even if it takes my last breath. I won’t die until I have your head.” She stood up and looked right into her eyes, reducing her grin to a smirk. 

A sudden silence and a black pitch, taking a moment to discard its glow.

And once it vanished, like snow under a harsh sun.

Neoma and Luna had opened their eyes again. The dark room and its dull ceilings have not changed, and the soft silence returned, slithering around the room.

"May I ask why you wanted to relive our life again?" Luna gazed into Neoma's eyes, intrigued by her sudden request.

Momentarily, a peaceful wave gently placed its warmth over the two. 

Luna removed her hand from Neoma and leaned back on her bed, taking a sigh of relief. 

"My memories have begun to vanish faster recently." Resting her hands on her knees, Neoma sighed in exhaustion.

"I see, then, if no further report, you are dismissed," Luna raised her hand from out of her hair's mess and rubbed her eyes.

"I thank you for the permission. I will take my leave now," Neoma stood up formally and patiently, bowing once more once she got all the way up. She took a deep breath, exhausted from the prior bowing, as distant volume began to scare off the silence.

"Now that I reviewed my memories as well, I must say I agree with your prioritization of recovering the capsules faster. My power in the wrong hands risks not only the kingdom but the entirety of Japan." Resting her eyes shut, she began to fall asleep, dozing off more by the second. 

Thin ice began to form around not only her but the entirety of the room, a signal that her slumber was approaching and that her divination was blocked.

"Don't worry! Leave this to me, and I'll assure you everything will return to normal." Neoma smiled, glancing once more at her before turning towards the door. "Maybe we can also get someone to help." 

Hearing the faint snores begin to escape Luna, she smirked even more, grabbing hold of the knob and turning it slowly.

"That would be much appreciated. Thank you," She faintly whispered, falling asleep a few seconds after. 

Quietly closing the door to the room, Neoma tiptoed the first few steps away from Luna's bedroom and returned to a formal pace once further away.

Oh, Luna. I finally created an opening in your plan, and I'm going to seize it. She thought happily, skipping along the hallway with a brimming light. Prepare yourself, your majesty!

A few minutes passed by, and Neoma finally reached the castle's outskirts, satisfied that her secretaries had already requested help from the neighboring city.

She rested against a nearby wall, facing the distant city and its faint ruckus, and took a sigh of relief. 

"Allowing those humans to escape was the right choice." She whispered to herself before noticing a faint ray of violet light rise into the far clouds, right near the heart of Yokohama.

Neoma's plan was set into motion.

She held her hand by her hip and smiled, chuckling lightly. 

Now, I leave the rest to the future.