MEMORIES

A huge holographic screen appeared overhead, displaying both teams.

The air inside the transformed gym felt heavy, almost too real. Dust drifted through the cracks of crumbled walls, and the sharp smell of smoke burned the back of my throat. Buildings leaned against one another, threatening to collapse at the slightest push. From deep within the ruins, faint cries for help echoed, pulling at the nerves of everyone present.

Cloud Nine froze, their eyes wide as the destruction stretched endlessly before them.

"This… feels too real," Mikasa whispered, clutching her skirt tightly. Her spirit eyes flickered faintly, as if she wasn't sure whether to use them or not.

Fuji flared his wings wide, sending a gust of dust spiraling into the air. "No time to stand around! Let's move!" His booming voice carried across the ruins, loud enough to send the fake crows nesting on a shattered rooftop scattering in alarm.

"Do you want the entire disaster zone to hear us?" Talia snapped, flames sparking nervously at her fingertips.

Already, cracks in their teamwork were showing. But hesitation would only waste precious time. The cries grew fainter, and the unstable ground beneath their feet promised nothing but danger.

Mikasa shut her eyes, trembling, as she activated her spirit eyes. A soft glow lit her pupils. She gasped. "I see someone! Two blocks ahead, pinned under rubble."

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!" Fuji roared, charging forward without hesitation.

But before they could reach the spot, a deep groan echoed from above. One of the leaning skyscrapers shifted, its broken frame screeching like nails on stone. A massive shadow fell over Cloud Nine.

A broken pillar snapped loose.

It was plummeting straight for them.

Mikasa froze, her spirit eyes flickering in terror.

Talia's flames sputtered in and out.

Even Fuji stiffened.

They had seconds to act.

"I can't let it happen again… I just can't!" Talia screamed.

"First step—Dance of Hell!"

Fuji drew his red sword. He spun it so fast it blurred like fire itself. With a single leap, he slashed upward, slicing the falling pillar into countless harmless pieces. Shards rained down around them, but none touched Mikasa or Talia.

Only a few people in the arena could follow that movement—it was pure instinct, honed by something in Fuji's past.

"What… what did he just do?" Sakura asked, her voice tight with shock.

"I'll explain later," I murmured, eyes fixed on him. "Just watch."

The look in Fuji's eyes told me everything. He had seen this kind of scene before.

From that moment on, the entire dome seemed to hold its breath.

I can't let them get hurt, Fuji thought, his heart hammering so fast it made him dizzy.

"...Thanks for that," Mikasa whispered, still gasping for air.

But Talia didn't respond. She stood trembling, eyes wide, muttering under her breath.

"No… no, no, no, no…"

"Talia? What's wrong?" Mikasa asked, panicked.

"No, no, no, no, no!"

Fuji grabbed her shoulders, shaking her hard. "Snap out of it!"

Talia jolted, her breath catching. "I… I'm sorry," she stammered, still trembling all over.

But her mind was no longer in the ruins.

It had already been dragged back—to a night in Russia, eight years ago.

She had only one real friend. Anya Morozova.

Her laughter, her warmth, her courage—she was the only one who ever truly understood Talia. They were as close as sisters, inseparable in every way.

On Talia's ninth birthday—Halloween night—Anya had grinned and said, "Let's visit a haunted house! If any monster jumps out, I'll protect you."

Talia had laughed. "No, I'll protect you!"

Anya had hugged her tight. "Then we'll protect each other."

But they never made it to the real haunted house.

Instead, they stumbled into a decaying hotel, its sign broken, its wood rotting. Two men lurked in the shadows, cruel smiles tugging at their lips.

"Some kids wandered in," one muttered.

The other smirked, smoke curling from his mouth. "Then let's make this a haunted house."

He summoned four monstrous hounds, formed from writhing black aura.

The girls froze.

"Are you the owners?" Anya asked, her voice trembling but defiant.

"I suppose we are," the man said.

Anya lifted her chin. "Then this isn't scary at all."

The man grinned. "Let's fix that."

The hounds lunged.

Talia grabbed Anya's hand, and they ran. The beasts were fast—too fast. On the stairs, Anya stumbled and fell. The building groaned, and a massive plank broke loose overhead.

"Anya, get up!" Talia screamed.

"I can't! My ankle—!"

The plank dropped.

Talia tried to burn it, but her flames only made it worse.

Anya shoved her aside—

—and the burning beam crashed down, trapping her.

Blood dripped from Anya's trembling fingers.

"No… Anya… no, no, no!" Talia screamed, frozen in terror.

The hounds pounced on her. The men tied her up and cut her until she wanted to die. Later, when her body was at its weakest, they dumped her in the snow.

An exorcist found her. She lived—but her voice, her trust, her laughter, all shattered.

The men were never found.

And Anya… Anya never came home.

That night, Talia made a vow. I will never fail again. I will protect everyone. No matter what.

She trained. She fought. She tried to master her flames, even though the very sight of them still frightened her.

"Talia!" Fuji's voice dragged her back to the present.

She gasped, her eyes clearing. "I… I'm sorry," she whispered. Her flames steadied, finally under her control.

The trial wasn't just a test anymore. For her, it was redemption.

On the other side of the ruins, Iron Vow carried a survivor to safety.

"Iron Vow has saved one civilian!" Miss Clarissa's voice boomed over the speakers.

Just then, a scream was heard up ahead.

Author’s Note

Hikaru:

“Tch. These trials aren’t just about saving people, it’s about digging into the scars people carry. Watching Talia break like that… yeah, I get it. Sometimes the past hits harder than any punch. But if she can push through, then maybe there’s hope for the rest of us too.”

Sakura:

“That was… intense. Seeing Fuji’s blade dance like fire, and Talia’s pain spill out like that… it hurt to watch. But it also showed me something important: strength isn’t just about fighting. It’s about protecting, no matter how broken you feel inside. I’ll do my best to keep up too!”

Mikio (written in glowing embers):

‘Pain shapes us. But bonds heal us. Talia’s fire hasn’t gone out, it’s just been waiting for the right moment to shine again. I believe she’ll rise stronger… and I’ll fight beside her, always.’