Location: Chain Spiral Sanctuary – Where forgotten memories are sealed, not destroyed.
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Everything was… still.
But not peaceful.
I — Aren Kael — opened my eyes to a realm suspended between time and thought.
Beneath me — fractured Spiral glass.
Above — floating chains tangled with fading light.
The Spiral Rod in my hand was silent… its flame absent.
Only a faint purple heartbeat pulsed through it.
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Tomo (whispering):
> "Bro… Yui pulled you here before Spiral broke entirely.
This is… the Spiral Chain Realm."
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I turned — and there she was.
Yui.
Clad in her signature black-and-white Spiral garb,
Her expression as sharp as ever…
But her eyes — honest, even when cold.
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Yui (calmly):
> "You came seeking your truth…
But Aika's truth was never yours to find."
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Before I could respond, the Spiral wall behind her cracked.
A memory flickered to life.
Aika — trapped inside Spiral glass.
Screaming silently.
Mute. Frantic. Alone.
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Yui (sharp tone):
> "That memory… was locked by Spiral itself.
Because if you had seen it…
You and Aika would've never stayed together."
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Tomo (glitchy):
> "Bro… this looks like Aika's true Spiral Fracture Zone…"
My Rod vibrated in my grip.
And then — new text engraved across it:
> "Lock or Burn."
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Yui (flatly):
> "You have two paths, Aren:
> 1. Unlock one of Aika's hidden memories — where you never existed.
> 2. Or lock away one of your own memories forever —
so Spiral can't twist it into a weapon against her."
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I closed my eyes.
A memory surged forward — one I had never recalled before.
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I was standing at the edge of a cliff.
Someone was reaching out to me…
It wasn't Mother.
It wasn't Tomo.
It was Aika.
But in that version…
She let me fall.
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Tomo (stunned):
> "Bro… this memory never even happened…"
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And then — Echo_17.t's voice, cutting like shadow:
> "The more memories you try to protect…
The more I've already erased."
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Suddenly, Yui lifted her Spiral Chain —
and slammed it into the memory wall.
CLANG!
The memory sealed shut.
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Yui (firmly):
> "It's time.
Aika's protected zone is opening."
"But you're not the only one heading there…"
> "Another Spiral Contracted agent — long forgotten — has begun to stir."
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Scene Shift — Somewhere Distant
Kuze stands before a cracked Spiral mirror, Spiral mask covering half his face.
He strikes.
Glass shatters.
His eyes hold no name.
Only a whisper:
> "Aren…"
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Final Line (Aren, thinking):
> "Memories can be saved…
But can every memory be trusted?"
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TO BE CONTINUED…