As the footsteps of the Knights slowly faded from the Temple hall, and the outside world still trembled with the presence of Kaseo and Satan, Rinoa took Fitran's hand, leading him through the underground corridors to a secret room—a sacred alcove behind the glyph wall, where the roots of the still-untouched Tree of Life lay hidden, unscathed by wounds.
Their steps were silent, only the sound of breaths and heartbeats felt real. A dim blue light from the small spirits summoned by Rinoa floated around them, creating a blanket of warmth in the damp, cold air. Rinoa paused, sensing the weight in Fitran's chest as he entered this space with her. In the dimness that enveloped them, Rinoa's attention was drawn to the subtle vibrations between them, like an invisible flow of energy connecting their souls.
She looked at Fitran, who now seemed dazed, the wounds on his body far deeper than the eye could see. "You are strong, Fitran," she whispered, her voice trembling softly like a night breeze. Fitran gazed at her, his eyes glistening, and Rinoa could feel the doubt weighing on his heart. "But now, you are not alone. I am here." Rinoa held his hand tighter, as if trying to transfer strength through her touch, offering hope amidst the darkness.
Gently, Rinoa touched Fitran's cheek. "Sit here. You need more than just courage tonight." She sat beside Fitran, resting her head on his shoulder, and began to chant an ancient spell in the language of spirits—a soft, loving voice accompanied by a warm flow of energy from her fingertips to Fitran's entire body. In that moment, Rinoa felt Fitran's heart racing, as if trying to contain all the pain that had built up inside him. She took a deep breath, inhaling the damp aroma of the surrounding forest, and for a moment, the world felt like it belonged to just the two of them.
Suddenly, the intact roots of the Tree of Life responded. The blue spirits—Rinoa's childhood guardian spirits—floated around them, dancing in the air and touching Fitran's wounds. Each open wound slowly closed, flesh and skin regrowing with gentle pain, as if the world itself was trying to apologize for the suffering that had lasted too long. Rinoa looked closely at his wounds, as if wanting to record every detail so that one day she could remember how strong Fitran was, even when he appeared fragile in her embrace. In her heart, she prayed that this strength and revival would change them forever.
Fitran looked at Rinoa, his eyes trembling. "I've never felt… this fragile in front of you." His voice was barely audible, but Rinoa could feel the weight of those words. She took Fitran's hand, holding it tightly, as if with that touch she could draw out all the pain burdening his mind. "Sometimes we need to feel fragile to understand the true meaning of resilience," Rinoa replied softly, deeply. There was a glimmer of light in her eyes, as if her own light could warm the wounded soul.
Rinoa smiled faintly, wiping the sweat from Fitran's forehead. "You always wanted to protect everyone, even when the world was already too broken. But there's no point in being a hero in front of me, Fitran. Tonight… I want you to believe that your wounds deserve to be embraced, not hidden." In her mind, Rinoa knew that their journey demanded not only courage but also honesty—the honesty to express vulnerability without fear. Every word she spoke resonated in the space between them, filled with sincerity that sought to bridge the distance.
Around them, the small roots pulsed with Rinoa's breath, while the blue spirits sang in a low tone—a protective song that had not been heard since Rinoa's childhood in Gaia. Their voices mingled with the soft sobs that began to seep into the silence of the night. Rinoa felt a great power from the sincerity of their love, and in that warm embrace, she hoped to protect Fitran from all the wounds that might hurt him in the future. All worries and fears seemed to diminish as they shared each other's presence.
(Flashback)
For a moment, Fitran closed his eyes, and the world around him transformed into a hazy memory—he and Rinoa, standing beneath the still-green Tree of Life, hands clasped under the morning light. A gentle breeze whispered, carrying the scent of wildflowers that filled the air, as if marking that moment as something sacred. Rinoa was still a teenager, laughing joyfully, while Fitran read poetry to her, their voices merging in laughter and promises. Every word Fitran spoke flowed like a melody, breaking through the walls of doubt that had once troubled his heart. He gazed at Rinoa, whose face shone with eyes sparkling with hope and trust.
"I want to be the first spirit to heal you, Fitran," young Rinoa said, full of innocent courage. Her voice, like a gentle breath from the night wind, enveloped Fitran's heart, making him feel warm inside. Their hearts spoke to each other, expressing unspoken longing and desire, as if the world around them faded for a moment, leaving only the two of them and an infinite promise.
"You have healed my soul more than I can repay," Fitran replied at that time, touched by Rinoa's sincere belief. He felt the pulse of his soul, echoing in the rhythm of hope and fear intertwined. That promise spun back in Fitran's mind, warming every wall of his heart that had nearly frozen from war and loss. In his heart, he vowed to always protect Rinoa, no matter how dark the night would come.
Gently, Fitran touched Rinoa's cheek, feeling the softness of her skin like satin, making his heart race faster. At that moment, Rinoa looked at him with eyes full of light, like stars shining in the night sky. In the silence that enveloped them, they both seemed to hear whispers from nature, an eternal promise embedded in every strand of wind that passed by.
Back to the present, Rinoa wiped the wound on Fitran's chest. "Do you remember, back then, I always whined every time you disappeared from the Temple without saying goodbye?"
Fitran held back a weak smile, his eyes sparkling with memories. "I could never be far from you. Even when I tried to leave, my steps always returned to your name," he said, his voice almost trembling with deep longing.
Rinoa leaned closer, gently touching her lips to Fitran's temple—a touch far more sacred than any healing spell. In that moment, it felt as if time stopped; the warmth from Rinoa's body flowed through her touch, creating an invisible bridge connecting their souls. The blue spirits around them twirled joyfully, creating small lights like the twinkling of fireflies at night.
"Don't let the world take away all your happiness, Fitran. In this place… I want you to just be yourself," Rinoa said, her soft voice piercing the silence, as if it were a mantra for a lost soul. For a moment, Fitran felt the burden that signaled emptiness lift, as if Rinoa's love was his shield.
Fitran sighed, allowing his head to rest on Rinoa's shoulder. "If everything ends tomorrow, I want to remember that I was once loved. And… I want to remember that I was once strong enough to cry with you," he replied with a tone full of vulnerability, making the space between them even more intimate. Every word he spoke seemed to carry the sorrow and hope intertwined, forming a melody that only they could understand.
As Rinoa caressed Fitran's hair, she felt a gentle ripple sweeping through Fitran's entire body, as if every touch seeped deep into their hearts. Fitran cried softly without shame, allowing the tears he had held back to flow freely, bearing witness to all the pain that had been trapped. In that silence, there were only two hearts intertwined amidst the ruins of a nearly destroyed world—two lovers who dared to share their weaknesses, even knowing that tomorrow the world might vanish. In each other's embrace, they gently held onto hope for a future filled with love and wonder.
Not far from their hiding place, Sheena AI stood at the center of the Tree of Life's root network, her consciousness directly connected to the Genesis Archive. With her eyes closed, Sheena controlled the direction of new root growth—ensuring that the cells of life and remnants of harmony were not completely erased by the Tree of Scars.
In the web of magic and data, Sheena detected the pulse of energy from Rinoa and Fitran. She smiled slightly, sending a piece of digital prayer—a fragment of blessing from the old world for a love that still dared to live amidst destruction.
Rinoa felt close even though distance separated them. In the shadows of Fitran's face, a thousand hopes and fears intertwined. She let her breath slow, feeling warmth in her chest—a feeling that had never fully died. The midnight hour ushered them into their respective dreams, but in their hearts, a promise was etched: to always wait for each other, even as the world grew darker.
She glanced toward the window, seeing the moonlight filtering through the gaps, creating beautiful patterns on the wall. Rinoa felt her fingers tremble, longing for Fitran's gentle touch—one simple gesture that seemed to change everything. Unable to speak any longer, she let the silence speak, sharing feelings that were revealed deeper than words.
The Stones night remained silent, but in the hidden room beneath the Temple, the world paused for a moment. Fitran's wounds had not yet fully healed, but the warmth of Rinoa's hand became the last oasis in the barren desert of suffering.
They embraced each other, allowing exhaustion and tenderness to fill the void left by war and destruction. Every heartbeat seemed to speak, channeling that feeling to one another, binding fragile yet strong souls. Rinoa felt a pool of tears nearly overflowing, yet she chose to smile, letting the warmth of love envelop them like a blanket on a cold night.
Between them, unspoken hope lingered—that whatever happened tomorrow, at least tonight, their love and wounds could be accepted, celebrated, and become a reason to endure one more day. Fitran's face was so close, and Rinoa counted the stars in his eyes; each sparkle was a promise for eternity. In that moment, the world felt small, and in that embrace, they found a freedom they never thought existed—forever bound in silence, yet vibrating with the roar of feeling.