Ash settled slow in the ruined Pomegranate Grove.
Charred husks of eternal trees sagged, branches twisted like broken fingers.
Burst fruits stained the ground deep red, thick and sticky under Joshua's oxfords.
Frozen asphodel shards crunched beneath each step, sharp glass in silence.
Steam still rose faint where his heat had clashed with the realm's cold essence.
Air reeked of sweet rot and scorched earth.
He stood in the center of it all, breath ragged.
Solar Ember flickered weak inside his chest, a dying spark.
The creature—his Phoenix—hovered close, robin-sized, feathers dim, quiet for once.
What have I done?
Guilt coiled heavy, colder than the mist.
He had felt the grove's importance in the visions, even if he hadn't understood.
Now it lay devastated because of him.
Again.
Joshua wiped sweat from his brow, fair cheeks flushed hot despite the chill.
His blazer hung heavy, sleeves smoldered faintly at the edges.
Gold buttons dulled in the twilight gloom.
He took a step—shards sliced palms.
Pain sharp, real.
Not a dream. I'm here. Alone.
Young man stood a few paces away, arms crossed tight.
Silver-white hair fell into pale eyes.
Posture rigid, jaw set.
Shadow rippled faint at his feet, white eyes watching.
He said nothing.
Just stared at the destruction like it was another weight to carry.
A rustle cut the quiet.
Swift. Deliberate.
Joshua turned fast, wavy brown hair falling into golden eyes.
A figure emerged from lingering steam and shadow.
Tall.
Dark blue winter coat lined thick white fur.
Orange scarf trailed behind like a lone flame streak.
Hair nearly black in the dim light, tied in two short, sharp spiky pigtails jutting outward.
Snow clung to the strands, as if she carried winter with her.
Icy blue eyes locked on him—focused, intense, ready.
Not a lost woman.
A survivor.
Something in her stance—poised, silent—sent a chill unrelated to the grove.
Joshua's heart still softened.
Not protectiveness like with Tim.
Something else.
Recognition.
She's been through hell too.
He stepped forward careful, hands open.
"Hey," he said soft, voice warm despite everything. "You okay? This place… it's dangerous."
No answer.
Her gaze flicked to his bag, then back to his face.
Expression unreadable.
Before he could speak again, steel flashed.
Blade moved faster than thought.
A blur of ice-like blade.
Precise arc.
Bag sliced clean open.
Fabric parted silent.
Contents spilled—notebook pages fluttered like dying birds, pencils clattered, Priya's stolen book thudded heavy, silver runes glinting cold.
Joshua stumbled back, shock freezing him.
"What—?"
Young man's eyes snapped to the book.
Interest flared sharp.
He uncrossed arms, stepped forward lean grace.
Shadow surged ahead—living tendril, white eyes blazing.
Coiled around the book, lifted it smooth to his gloved hand.
He turned pages quick.
Face paled.
Starlight flickered brief in his eyes.
Rift shimmered behind him sudden, silver-violet pull.
"I can't—" voice strained, cut off.
Gone.
Rifted away alone.
Shadow dissolved like smoke.
Joshua stared at empty space.
Chest tightened hollow.
He is… gone. Just like that.
The one person who understood the rifts, the madness.
Vanished.
No explanation.
Isolation crashed hard.
Why does everyone leave? Yumi. Now him. Am I that broken?
He turned to her.
"You did this," he said, voice cracking—not anger, hurt. "Why?"
She didn't speak.
Eyes flicked to the book on the ground—she'd let the shadow take it, but instinct screamed danger still.
Survival first.
She snatched it swift, tucked into coat.
Turned.
Bolted.
Silent Step—boots left no trace on ash or shards.
Joshua lunged.
"Wait—!"
Desperation raw.
Couldn't be alone here.
Not in this graveyard he'd made.
He scrambled after—over withered roots, slipping on sticky pomegranate pulp.
Hands bled fresh on frozen shards.
She moved like wind through ruins—leaped scorched trunk, vanished into mist beyond collapsed vines.
He reached—fingers grazed orange scarf trailing.
Missed.
Slumped against blackened tree trunk.
Breath gasped.
Tears stung hot.
Gone. Both of them.
Creature hovered close, golden eyes steady.
Silent comfort.
But not enough.
Grove quaked faint.
Shadows swirled center slow.
Coalesced.
Figure rose haunting beauty.
Persephone.
Skin pale marble, veined dark ivy pulsing like roots alive.
Midnight hair cascaded, interwoven wilted asphodel, poppies, thorns bleeding crimson slow.
Gown flowed shadows—embroidered blooming vines decaying to dust.
Eyes obsidian voids, reflecting his guilt endless.
Scent earth fresh and rot deep filled air.
She emerged not alone.
Lampades materialized—torch-bearing nymphs.
Ethereal forms armored twisting vines, blackened plate gleamed obsidian.
Thorny crowns dripped ichor.
Eyes glowed dying embers.
Torches flickered blue underworld flame—distorted shadows danced, whispered faint hallucinations of Yumi burning, Mum crying.
Axes heavy shadowed steel, runes weeping dark.
They moved synchronized grace.
One murmured rustling dead leaves, "Our lady is amused… such fragile sun-child."
Another chuckled low, "He trembles already. Roots will drink deep."
"You dare burn my grove, mortal?" Persephone's voice silk venom, wind through grave. "My heart—my binding fruits—reduced to ash by your reckless flame."
Joshua opened mouth.
"I didn't mean—"
"Silence."
Hand waved.
Shadows lashed—thorny vines erupted ruined ground.
Wrapped limbs tight.
Thorns pricked skin.
Pain sharp, burning.
He gasped.
Tendrils squeezed — breath stolen, ribs strained.
Persephone leaned close.
Breath winter grave.
Eyes locked mesmerizing.
"Look at you," she murmured. "Full of fire, yet so weak. You burn everything you touch. Yumi. Your mother. They suffer because you exist. Why fight the darkness?"
Words sank deep.
Guilt crushed heavier than vines.
Joshua's vision blurred.
Breath shallow.
Phoenix chirped frantic — golden eyes wide.
Wings flared ember bright.
Heat stirred faint in his chest.
Solar Ember roared awake sudden.
Uniform shimmered heat haze.
Sleeves smoldered.
Tie lifted thermal wind.
Hair danced golden flames.
Creature burst jacket — ember wings unfurled full.
Chirp fierce, synced heartbeat.
Fire surged uncontrolled.
Blazing aura exploded outward.
Vines withered instant.
Thorns blackened.
Lampades recoiled.
Persephone eyes widened.
"Impossible—"
Flame consumed everything.
Joshua screamed — pain, guilt, rage..
Fire swallowed him whole.
Ash erupted.
Darkness claimed the grove.
His undoing began.