The chamber, once cloaked in spectral tension, now pulsed with a soft, restorative energy. The broken reflections had faded, and the path ahead shimmered—beckoning them forward. But Yuki raised a claw, halting the group.
"We rest here. Just for a bit."
Lumi flopped dramatically onto a patch of moss. "Finally! I was starting to forget what air that isn't laced with existential dread feels like."
Aeiris giggled softly, sitting beside her. "You always joke like that?"
"Oh, only when I'm stressed, tired, hungry, or mildly annoyed. So, always."
The girls chuckled, the mood beginning to soften.
Seiris leaned against the wall, arms crossed, but her eyes occasionally wandered toward Yuki. "We should still stay alert. That mirror trial was meant to weaken us."
Sylvaeria sat beside him, brushing wind-blown leaves from her hair. "And yet, we came out stronger."
Elira quietly conjured a small orb of moonlight, letting it float above their circle like a calming lamp. "I don't think those reflections were just illusions. They were parts of us—pieces we didn't want to see."
"Which makes kicking them in the face that much more satisfying," Lumi added with a grin.
Yuki smiled faintly as he observed the girls around him. Sylvaeria nestled at his side, her head resting briefly against his shoulder before she caught herself and looked away, blushing.
Aeiris inched closer, hesitant but curious. "Yuki… back then, in the forest… you saved me, didn't you?"
"I didn't do it alone," he replied. "You endured everything the forest threw at you. I just reminded you of the way out."
Her cheeks turned pink, and she gave him a grateful nod.
Seiris glanced at her sister, then at Yuki. "I owe you for that too. But I'm not the type to repay debts with words."
Yuki tilted his head. "Then how do you repay them?"
"…You'll see," she said, mysterious as ever.
Lumi leaned in between them, raising her brows. "Ooh, is this assassin talk for 'I'm falling for you, but I'll stab anyone who says it out loud'?"
Seiris blinked. "…Maybe."
Everyone froze for a beat—then burst into laughter, even Seiris allowing herself a slight smile.
Elira watched it all from beside Yuki, her expression warm but unreadable. "We're getting closer, aren't we? Not just to the boss… but to something else."
Yuki nodded. "This trial wasn't just about strength. It was about trust. About how far we've come… together."
Sylvaeria's voice was soft. "Then we'll face the final trial *as* one."
Lumi stood and stretched. "Right. So, do we get like, a fancy cutscene now? Magical upgrades? Surprise dragon blessings? I'm ready!"
Yuki actually laughed. "Not yet. But soon."
As the orb of moonlight dimmed and the girls began to gather their gear, there was a quiet understanding among them:
They weren't just allies.
They were bound—by fire, forest, magic, steel, and trust.
And they were ready for whatever came next.
---