Sanctum Aristeia, Second Hall
A few days after the Pact of Last Will
The world remained silent, ensnared by darkness. Black Sun enveloped the sky, swallowing every hope. Yet within Aristeia, a faint glimmer of hope flickered, gently piercing the darkness with warmth and promise.
Sheena stood on the highest balcony, surrounded by the biting cold of the valley. The breeze carried the fresh scent of foliage and magic from the Pact made below her, where Saint Maria and the other Saints trained the young warriors and remaining refugees.
But Sheena's thoughts were far away, ensnared in a labyrinth of memories and longing. Her mind was anchored to someone she could no longer reach.
"Fitran."
Saint Maria approached, her gown whispering softly against the radiant crystal floor. She looked at Sheena, who appeared lost in silence, her gaze distant, staring at the horizon tangled in the dark swirls of the Black Sun.
"You keep looking over there, to a past you can no longer grasp," Maria spoke gently, her voice touching the soul.
Sheena lowered her gaze, staring at the lattice pattern on the floor beneath her feet. "I know. But my heart..."
"Fitran Fate." Maria spoke that name with the wisdom of someone who has long held a secret, a fate intertwined with cosmic will.
Sheena closed her eyes, feeling her heart tremble. "But no longer intertwined with mine."
"I have seen your future, Sheena, through the Chronoglyph you carry unwittingly." Maria's voice shattered the thick silence. "Fitran is still alive. He is strong, and he truly loves your children."
But Maria paused for a moment, weighing each word carefully.
In the silence, Sheena felt her heartbeat muffled, trapped between dimensions of time. The whisper of leaves stirred by the wind brought back sweet memories that could never be repeated. Each second felt like a thorn scratching at her heart, a reminder of hopes that withered and vanished.
She gazed at the gray sky, heavy with dark hues; the shadow of Fitran floated in her mind—a figure whole yet out of reach. It was as if their fingertips could never grasp the glimmering light in the distance. How often a strong desire clashes with a path of destiny shrouded in mystery.
Sheena heard the soft hiss of Maria's voice, yet her words were drowned by the emotional noise within. The overwhelming thoughts, filled with unbearable loss and deep longing, created an emotional symphony that could only be understood by a broken heart, as if an invisible wall shielded her sorrowful face.
"However... her heart has chosen another."
"Rinoa."
Taking a deep breath, Sheena felt the warmth of tears streaming down her cheeks while her face remained stoic. In the stifling silence, she sensed an unbearable weight creeping into her soul, as if each heartbeat softly called her name. In that solitude, she missed Fitran's touch, his warm presence, as if this world meant nothing without his persistent spirit and hope.
"I already know."
"Even in my nostalgic times, I can feel it. He loves Rinoa in a way I cannot oppose, like waves crashing against a reef."
"And I... I am not angry."
"I simply cannot share my love with another woman."
"I love Fitran, and I want her to be happy, even if that happiness means being apart from me, like two stars shining in the sky, yet never meeting."
Maria gently touched his shoulder, as if to convey a deep sense of empathy. The atmosphere around them that day felt heavy, like rain slowly dripping, drenching the heart with profound sadness. In this moment of reflection, they contemplated how time can create unexpected distances between love and sacrifice, nurturing a longing deeply rooted in the soul, feelings that words cannot express.
"If you wish, I can attempt to reopen the path to your past. But remember, there are risks lurking behind every decision. You could lose your children along the way, or even your very existence could be erased, like a shadow disappearing in the light."
"Or..."
"You could stay here, becoming part of the past that shaped who we are now. Helping us break the Black Sun. Creating a bright future for your children, a world filled with hope, where they can be born and thrive, like flowers blooming in spring."
Sheena gazed at her belly with overwhelming hope, a gentle smile gracing her face. In an instant, visions of happiness flooded her mind, filling the space between reality and dreams. They represent the future—not just hers, but belongs to everyone who loves this world. Their presence embodies the essence of all love and hope, creating a vision of a better world, brimming with possibilities. Her face was painted with images of a long-lost togetherness, where dreams softly whispered in her heart, dancing and celebrating the life to come.
They are the future of this world.
"I... have made my decision."
"I will stay."
"I will protect this world, even if I can no longer be with Fitran."
"I will be a testament that love does not require possession; sometimes, it means letting go so those you care for can walk their own path."
With deep respect, Maria bowed her head, feeling the weight of a new responsibility.
"You have become more than just a time traveler. You are the Guardian of the Future."
"And this world will remember you."
That night, under a sky filled with twinkling stars, Maria and Sheena sat cross-legged, writing a Chrono Testament.
This important message would be hidden within the embrace of the Tree of Life, so that one day—perhaps thousands of years later—Fitran could find it, as if traversing the boundaries of time and space.
Amidst the dark strokes of ink, the scent of ancient paper and legendary ink filled the night air, deeply permeating their souls. Each letter was more than just words; it was an expression of their hearts intricately woven through time, like threads connecting their souls to an uncertain future. On that day, their hopes were nestled within the crevices of history, waiting for the right moment to be revealed like a secret hidden in darkness.
"For Fitran Fate,"
"I do not regret loving you. I do not regret letting you go."
"I choose to endure this moment so that our children can live and their world may still hold hope."
"If you are reading this, do not be sad. Keep moving forward. Continue to be the light amid the void."
"Live on."
With every stroke of the pen, Maria felt the weight of the legacy they carried. Loss and love intertwined, radiating a strength that transcended sadness and pain. In her heart, she prayed that these words could alter fate, if only to cast a sliver of light in a dark and challenging world.
Maria closed the crystal scroll with a firm and hopeful incantation.
"Saphrae-Tor Val Atrium."
"Open the door of will for those who understand."
The scroll was gently embedded in the deepest roots of the Tree of Life, in a sacred place protected by the forces of nature where even time dared not harm it.
This was the final offering for the beloved, flowing through the relentless passage of time. The rustling of leaves seemed to respond, singing the song of the earth's loyalty to their efforts and love. In that moment, Maria felt a power flowing from the tree's roots, as if the tree itself pledged to keep their secret forever, untouched by time.
Above, Black Sun trembles, emanating a haunting aura. The cracks in its light widen, signaling inevitable change, a sign that power chosen with awareness is more valuable than that forced by unseen hands.
A sign that the will chosen with conscious intent will always be stronger than imposed power.
The gentle wind whispers through, carrying echoes from the past that resonate in Sheena's heart. Each step she has taken flashes back, stirring memories she wishes to forget. Her choices are not solely hers; they are footprints left by departed souls, trapped in fate's unseen web, yearning for freedom yet to arrive.
The longing that envelops her heart feels profound, penetrating every heartbeat like a river that ceaselessly flows. "Fitran... even though I am not with you, my love will remain alive in the future," she murmurs softly, as a single tear rolls down her cheek and falls to the ground, marking the hope still lingering amidst the shadows of a life that has passed.
"I am Sheena Fate. The Bearer of Correction. The Guardian of the Past."