The beach glowed with the unnatural collision of silver moonlight and golden sunfire.
Rin, Nahara, and Rokuro stood poised as Sereth and the Solari warriors descended.
But among them was one boy who did not glow as brightly.
His eyes were amber instead of gold, and his runes flickered inconsistently.
He stared at Rin with a mixture of fear, awe… and curiosity.
Sereth: "Elion. Step forward. Witness what becomes of those who cling to shadow."
Elion: "Yes… Master Sereth."
But his voice shook.
Rokuro leaned on his staff.
Rokuro: "He's young… too young for this war."
Rin couldn't help but stare at the boy.
He recognized something—loneliness.
He had seen it in himself.
Nahara Steps Forward.
The tide began swirling around Nahara's feet.
Her voice was calm, but her eyes were sharp.
Nahara: "If it's a fight you want, then let the sea answer."
A vortex of glowing water formed around her — her Sōryun birthright awakening under pressure
The Battle That Changed A Boy
During the stand-off, Elion's eyes kept drifting from Rin to Nahara.
Sereth noticed.
Sereth: "Do not hesitate, boy. They are moon-touched scum."
That was the spark.
Nahara's eyes went cold.
Nahara: "Say that again."
Sereth attacked first.
Elion watched in horror as the battle exploded…
Moonlight twisted.
Sunfire roared.
Water spiraled.
Reflections shattered.
Rin fought Sereth.
Nahara held off three Solari warriors.
Rokuro created a dome to shield Elion from stray attacks.
Inside it, Elion trembled.
Elion: "Why are you protecting me? I'm your enemy."
Rokuro: "Because you're still a child. And children deserve truth, not chains."
The dome flickered as the battle grew harsh.
And then… Elion made a choice.
He stepped out.
Sol Requiem
This is a forbidden Solari ability — one Sereth never taught him.
It's the inverse of Rin's darkness — a cleansing, not a judgment.
As Rin's Moonheart started spiraling, Elion stepped in…
When Elion's gentle sunlight touched Rin, memories cracked open.
(Rin As A Child)
Digging through rubble for food.
Watching his mother fade away from sickness.
Hearing men in the slums whisper, "That kid's cursed — his eyes glow on moonless nights."
Being beaten for having powers he didn't understand.
Sleeping alone under a broken moon, terrified that his own reflection stared back angrily at him.
Rin dropped to his knees, breath shaking.
Rin: "Stop!… I don't want to see this—"
Elion knelt beside him.
Elion: "I know.
My light doesn't show lies… only wounds ready to heal."
Suddenly Nahara dropped to her knees.
The Sol Requiem touched her next.
She froze.
(Nahara At Age 8)
Her village underwater during a Sōryun storm.
Cries echoing through the current.
Her mother pulling her to safety while being swept away herself.
The tribe blaming young Nahara for "awakening the tide too soon."
Being exiled to the coast, alone.
Rin squeezed her hand.
Rin: "You never deserved that."
Nahara: "Neither did you."
Then the ability backfired…
and Elion's own memories spilled into the open.
(Elion As A Child)
Watching Solari elders burn books that spoke of the Moon.
Being punished for crying: "Emotion is impurity."
Seeing his sister consumed by a solar fever — too much light in the veins.
Hearing Sereth say: "Your empathy is a defect. You will be the first to be cleansed."
Elion's voice cracked.
Elion: "…I didn't want to hurt anyone. I just didn't want to be alone."
Rin recognized the loneliness instantly.
And so the three stood together — wounded souls bound by moonlight, tides, and dawn.
Sereth attacked again, furious.
Sereth: "Sentimental trash! All of you will burn!"
But Rin, Nahara, and Elion stood united.
Moonlight swirled with ocean water.
Gentle sunlight wove through the air.
Three flows combined.
Rokuro smiled.
Rokuro: "A river of three currents…
This is how worlds begin."
Sereth retreated, vowing vengeance.
And in his absence…
a new group was formed.
Not by blood.
Not by power.
But by shared pain
and shared hope.