Promises Under the Stars

Leaving the Sanctuary of Echoes left us with a strange silence. It wasn’t the calm after the storm, but a heavy feeling, as if the Oracle’s words were still vibrating inside us. Each of us harbored our own whirlwind of thoughts.
Nara walked with her hands behind her head, pretending to be carefree, but her furrowed brow betrayed her. Rei, on the other hand, kept his gaze fixed on the ground, as if trying to process the vision of his mother that still haunted him. Lysbeth kept checking her sword over and over, as if looking for some answer in the metal that the gods had refused to give.
Aria stayed by my side, holding my hand. Since the Oracle revealed the truth about her and Kiseki, she hadn’t let go for a second. I could feel the slight tremor in her fingers, the fear she tried to hide behind a facade of firmness.
No one spoke until we camped that night, halfway back to the castle. The fire illuminated our tired faces. The crackling of the wood was the only sound for long minutes.
It was Nara who broke the silence, throwing a stick into the fire. —“Alright, is anyone going to talk about what we’re all thinking, or are we just going to pretend nothing happened?”
Lysbeth looked up. —“What the Oracle said is not a game. Now we know that Kiseki and Aria are linked. If one falls, the other will too.”
Aria lowered her head. —“I know. And that’s why… I don’t want anyone else to suffer because of me.”
“Don’t say that!” —I exclaimed, gripping her hand tightly. —“This is not your fault. If anyone has to bear the responsibility, it’s me. I was the one who released that shadow in the first place.”
The echo inside me laughed softly, delighting in my words. “Correct. It all began with you. And it will end with you… as it should.”
I ignored the voice, focusing on Aria. —“I swear I won’t let you disappear. We’ll find a way to save both of you.”
Rei leaned forward, his expression hardened. —“And if there’s no way? What will you do then, Kaoru? Would you be willing to sacrifice Kiseki to save Aria?”
The words hit like a blow. I looked at Rei, unable to answer immediately.
Aria looked at me with pleading eyes. —“Kaoru…”
I felt the lump in my throat, but I responded firmly. —“I won’t choose. I’ll save both, no matter the cost.”
Nara scoffed. —“That’s the kind of suicidal answer that usually ends badly. But… —she smirked— I have to admit, if anyone could try it, it would be you.”
Lysbeth placed her hand on my shoulder. —“Then that will be our path. But you must prepare yourself, Kaoru. If the shadow inside you grows, even Aria won’t be able to stop you.”
I nodded, even though I knew deep down that I wasn’t ready.


The journey back to the castle took several days. When we finally crossed the walls, Cicilia greeted us at the entrance, surrounded by knights. Her eyes lit up upon seeing us, though her expression changed when she noticed the exhaustion on our faces.
—“You’ve returned… and with answers, I suppose.” —Her gaze landed on Aria, who avoided meeting her eyes.
In the throne room, we recounted what had happened: the trials, the visions, the Oracle’s words. When we reached the part about the bond between Aria and Kiseki, Cicilia paled.
—“So it’s true…” —she murmured. —“I always suspected there was more in the resemblance between the two. But I never imagined they were fragments of the same soul.”
—“It doesn’t matter what the gods or oracles say,” —Aria replied determinedly—. “I am Aria. And I will fight so that Kiseki doesn’t fall further into darkness.”
Cicilia watched her in silence, then nodded. —“Then we must prepare. Kiseki will not stay still. Now that she knows who you are, she will come for you.”
Rei crossed his arms. —“And what do you propose?”
The princess took a deep breath. —“An army won’t be enough against her. We need knowledge. In the ancient archives, there are texts about the Veilbearer. Perhaps we’ll find something that gives us an advantage.”
Nara rolled her eyes. —“Great, another trip to the dusty library.”
—“Every clue counts,” —Lysbeth said firmly—. “We can’t waste time.”


That night, I couldn’t sleep. I walked to the castle gardens, seeking fresh air. The sky was full of stars, shining indifferently to our struggles.
Aria found me there, in silence. —“I knew you’d sneak out,” —she said with a faint smile.
—“I couldn’t stay in that bed,” —I replied—. “My mind won’t leave me alone.”
She approached and sat beside me. —“Mine neither.”
I looked at her, and for a long moment, neither of us spoke. Only the wind in the leaves accompanied our fragile calm. Finally, I dared. —“Aria… when the Oracle spoke of you and Kiseki, I saw the fear in your eyes. But I want you to know something. No matter what the gods reveal, you will always be you to me. The one who gave me faith when I was lost. The one who makes me believe that fighting is still worth it.”
She blushed, lowering her gaze. —“Kaoru… I always feared I wasn’t enough. That someday you’d leave me for someone who shone brighter than me. But now I understand that all I want is to be by your side, no matter what comes.”
I held her face in my hands and kissed her. It was a brief kiss, but full of promises. When we separated, she rested her forehead against mine.
—“If I fall, promise me you’ll bring me back,” —she whispered.
—“I won’t promise that,” —I said firmly—. “I promise I won’t let you fall.”
She smiled, tears in her eyes, and hugged me tightly.


Meanwhile, somewhere far away, Kiseki watched the sky from a dark throne. Her lips curved into a bitter smile.
—“So now they know…” —she murmured—. “Soon, dear sister, we’ll see which of us deserves to exist.”
The shadow of the chained god stirred behind her, its chains creaking as if celebrating the impending storm.
The war was far from over. It had only just begun.