Eclipsed souls EP4:What was left behind

Genshi:w—who was that?

Raiko:it’s a long story and I rather not speak on it

Kairo:no we’re gonna talk about it who was that guy!?!?

Raiko:*sigh* fine

\*flashbacks\*

Raiko:

“All right. This is a recon mission, not a brawl. Stay in formation, don’t wander, and remember—we're not here to be heroes.”

Dazen: [grinning]

“No promises, Teach. If something big shows up, I’m not just gonna wave politely.”

Mirae: [laughs softly]

“Just don’t punch it before we know what it is, okay? Some spirits can be talked down, you know.”

Nael: [eagerly tightening his gloves]

“Do I get to lead the entry this time, Raiko-sensei?”

Raiko: [shaking his head]

“Aren’s in charge of scouting. You’ll follow his lead once we’re inside.”

Nael: [quietly disappointed]

“Right… understood.”

Aren: [without looking back, scanning the terrain]

“North quadrant looks unstable. Veil rift still flickering. Whatever came through… it didn’t go back.”

Raiko steps up beside him, nodding once.

Raiko:

“We move on your mark.”

Mirae:

“I hate places like this… the kind where memories feel trapped in the walls.”

Nael: [looking around, gripping his weapon]

“It’s not the walls. It's them—the ones who got left behind.”

Raiko:

“Eyes forward. Feel later.”

Echoform:GNAHH

Raiko: [shouting]

“DEFENSIVE FORMATION—Mirae, shield!”

Mirae: [throwing her arms out, a sonic barrier ringing out like chimes]

“Got it!”

Dazen:

“Hell yeah! Now this is my kind of mission!”

(He charges the Echoform, glowing fists slamming into it. It stumbles back—but more spirit tendrils erupt from the rift.)

Raiko: [eyes widen]

“That’s not a normal spirit—it’s a fractured nest. Nael, fall back! That thing isn’t stable!”

Nael:

“No—I can handle it!”

(He dashes forward before anyone can stop him. A tendril grabs him midair and pulls him into the rift.)

Mirae: [screaming]

“NAEL!!”

Dazen:

“NO!!”

(Raiko lunges forward, arm extended—but too late. The rift closes. Silence.)

Raiko: [frozen, breathing hard]

“…he’s gone.”

Aren: [expression unreadable]

“We need to go. That tear will collapse the sector if we stay.”

Mirae: [in tears]

“We can’t just leave him!”

Dazen: [punching the wall]

“This is your fault, Raiko! You should’ve trusted him—he just wanted to prove himself!”

Raiko: [quietly]

“And I failed him. Just like I failed all of you…”

\*Flashback fades\*

Raiko:yeah so that’s what happened

\*meanwhile\*

Nael:I’ll make him pay for leaving me to die—forgetting about me like I’m some nobody but I’ll show him I’ll kill him with the creature that so called “killed” me—HEHEHAHAHAH

Raiko:cmon let’s head back

\*after heading back\*

Raiko:*opens door* AAGH AYAME WHAT ARE YOU DOING JUST STANDING AT THE DOOR LIKE THAT!!

Ayama:well I was waiting for you idiots—and almost starved to death while waiting for you guys!!!

Raiko:sorry we had a few detours

Ayame:DETOURS!!! ITS NOT A DAMN DETOUR IF IT TOOK ABOUT HALF OF MY LIFETIME!!!

Genshi:well we were fighting spirits ok it took us a while but we did it so you better be lucky we didn’t die out there!

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