Darkness.
That was the first thing I felt, before thought, before sensation, before even breath. An endless void with no sound, no weight, no shape. Just me, drifting.
I floated through the nothingness, suspended in silence. My body—or whatever part of me still had shape—didn't move. It couldn't. It was like I didn't even have a body anymore, just… awareness.
And then, a crack.
It wasn't sound. It wasn't even light, really. But I saw it—or felt it—split open below me. A long jagged rift, barely wide enough for anything to slip through, yet it called to me with a pull stronger than gravity.
Before I could resist—or even think to—I was falling.
The rift swallowed me whole.
What came next was chaos.
I plummeted through an endless pit, walls of swirling colors and crystalline shards flashing around me in every direction. Some shimmered in deep reds and cold violets, others in warm golds and pale blues. They weren't still, they twisted, shifted, flowed like water and light merged into one.
Each shard reflected something different—images I couldn't focus on. Faces. Places. Voices.
"Kin, don't go too far!"
"I'll always have your back."
"We're the children of the Tenfold!"
"Let's keep our promise, Kinny."
That last voice struck deeper than the others. It was soft. Familiar. A child's voice. A girl's.
I tried to turn, to look, to see who it belonged to, but I kept falling. Faster. The wind wasn't real, but it howled in my ears like a hurricane, pushing past me, through me. The shards began to pull apart now, as if peeling away from some structure. I caught glimpses of places I didn't recognize—battles I'd never fought, towers I'd never climbed, people I'd never met.
But somehow… I knew all of it. Somewhere deep inside me, I recognized every image, every flash of light and memory, as if it had always been there.
And then, I turned.
My body—if it still was one—twisted slowly in the void, my gaze shifting back to where I'd fallen from. The rift had sealed now, only a faint glow lingering in the air. But in its place—
A single eye stared back at me.
Silver. Bright. Unblinking.
There was no face, no body—just that eye, floating in the vastness. Watching. Waiting.
It wasn't threatening, but it wasn't kind either. It simply existed. A presence beyond reason, beyond understanding. Something old.
Something that knew me.
The moment our eyes locked, pain shot through me. Not physical, but like my soul had been pierced. Memories I didn't own clawed at my mind. A name, echoing in my mind.
Then—
"Kin."
A voice, this time real. My body jerked.
"Kin! Hey! Wake up!"
My eyes shot open.
I was met with sunlight filtering through the train window, the soft hum of wheels grinding against tracks, and the concerned face of Aiken leaning over me.
She had both hands on my shoulders, her brows furrowed. "You okay? You were sweating like crazy."
I blinked, chest rising and falling as I sat up straighter. My back was damp with cold sweat, and my breath felt uneven.
The dream… or whatever that had been—it was already slipping away, the way dreams do. But that silver eye—it burned in the back of my mind like a brand.
I wiped my forehead and nodded weakly. "Y-Yeah. I'm fine. Just… a weird dream."
Aiken studied me a second longer, then eased back into her seat. "Well, lucky for you, you're just in time."
I followed her gaze out the window.
Far off in the distance, golden lights glimmered beneath the fading moonlight. The towering walls and spires of Central Rivenden rose like a crown above the land, cloaked in early dawn mist.
We were here.
**
The whistle of the train echoed once more before the wheels slowed to a gentle stop, the platform of Central Rivenden Station stretching out before us in all its early morning splendor. The air here felt different—lighter, filled with the scent of baked bread, crisp parchment, and distant magic that lingered just under the surface. Even after all these years, it felt familiar. Not completely, but enough to stir something inside me.
Aiken stepped off first, her boots clicking against the polished stone as she pulled her cloak tighter around herself. Xaviar followed, silent as ever. I hesitated for a second, standing in the doorway of the train, taking in the grand marble archways and towering spires that framed the entrance into the city. The banners of Rivenden hung proudly, painted in deep navy and gold, fluttering slightly in the morning breeze.
As I stepped down onto the platform, the city's hum wrapped around me. Distant voices, vendors setting up carts, the sound of hooves clattering down the road beyond. It was all so familiar, yet far away—like a memory half-forgotten and buried beneath layers of dust.
My eyes scanned the station. The last time I stood here, I had to have been around nine, clutching Kensei's hand while Mom was being comforted by some of the Tenfold members.
Just as I began to drift deeper into those old memories, a loud voice broke through the noise.
"IS THAT YOU, XAVIAR!?"
The sudden shout turned half the station's heads—including mine. Xaviar turned calmly, a smile already forming.
A towering man pushed through the small crowd, his booming laughter following him like a storm. Hisashi Strife. Broad-shouldered and dressed in a sleeveless cloak with the symbol of the Tenfold etched into the side of his belt, he looked like someone who'd never aged a day. His short beard was clean, and his long brown hair was tied back with a band of leather.
Xaviar opened his arms slightly. "Hisashi. Still loud, I see."
"And you still dress like an old librarian," Hisashi shot back, wrapping Xaviar in a bear hug that nearly lifted him off the ground.
I blinked. It had been a long time… but I remembered him. Hisashi was one of the Tenfold, and someone who'd been around my family since before I could walk. He and my mom, Aiko, had grown up together, and he'd always been an uncle figure to me.
Back when we lived in Central Rivenden, he'd sometimes stop by to train Kensei or share drinks and stories with Dad. I remembered his loud voice echoing through our old home, his jokes, the way he'd ruffle my hair like I was some scrappy little pup.
Seeing him now, still just as big and full of life, felt like a piece of my old world had stepped right back into view.
Hisashi turned toward me and Aiken with a grin, but before he said anything, I noticed the three figures trailing just behind him.
The first was a boy my age—light brown skin, sharp jawline, and golden-brown hair parted down the middle. His brown eyes lit up when they landed on me.
"Kin?" he called.
My breath hitched. I knew that voice.
"Slade?" I muttered.
And then he was moving. I barely had time to react before he crashed into me, wrapping me in a tight hug.
"I knew it was you! You look exactly the same—but taller! Way taller!" Slade said, laughing.
I grinned despite myself, pulling back to really look at him. He was older, sure, but the same cocky smile was there, the same energy.
Slade Kyosho, my childhood best friend and the eldest son of King Kyosho. He'd always had this fearless charm to him, the kind of charisma that could either get you into trouble or get you out of it.
Growing up, we were inseparable, constantly racing through the castle grounds or sneaking away from guards to explore the edges of the city. Even with all the time that had passed, something about him still made me feel like a kid again.
"Still got a big mouth," I said.
"And you still got that ugly stare," he shot back, nudging my shoulder.
A few steps behind him stood two girls who looked identical.
The first, standing close to Slade's side, had wavy brown hair tied up into a short ponytail and piercing blue eyes that looked right into me.
"Ski..." I said before she even spoke. She was Hisashi's daughter, and like Slade, one of my closest friends when we were kids. But even back then, she was always more attached to Slade than anyone else, hovering close to him with that short temper and sharp tongue.
She gave a smirk, nudging Slade's arm. "So you did remember me. Guess your brain isn't entirely mush."
"Barely," I admitted.
"And look at you now," she added with a teasing tone, crossing her arms. "Still look like someone dropped you on your head, but I guess you cleaned up alright."
The other girl stood a few steps away, hands clasped in front of her, eyes a deep, burning red that were almost too intense to stare at directly. Her hair was darker than her sister's, and her posture was straighter, more distant.
When our eyes met, the world seemed to fall away.
My mind blanked, and for a moment, it was like my brain short-circuited—thousands of words and emotions rushing in all at once, flooding my thoughts so fast I couldn't grab onto a single one. I didn't move. Couldn't move.
Her eyes didn't waver.
A hand slapped against my back.
"Still can't talk to girls, huh?" Slade teased.
I blinked, snapping out of it.
"Tifa?" I asked.
She gave a small nod. No words. No smile. But her gaze didn't leave mine.
"My memories are still messy, so I don't fully remember you." I said, forcing a smile.
She didn't react much, but I thought I saw the corner of her lip twitch.
Hisashi clapped a heavy hand on my shoulder. "Still got your mother's eyes, boy. And your father's stance. You've grown."
I gave a small smirk. "You always know how to flatter someone."
He chuckled. "Just calling it like I see it. You really are turning into a young man."
Aiken stepped beside me and smiled at him, "It's good to see you again, Hisashi."
Hisashi squinted at her, pointing a thick finger. "Don't tell me you still want your money back?"
Aiken crossed her arms and gave a dramatic scowl. "Damn right I do. You promised, old man."
He let out a booming laugh that made a few heads turn. "I'll pay you back once I'm in the grave!"
She rolled her eyes but smiled. Hisashi then straightened and waved a hand toward her. "Actually, Aiken, you're needed at the academy grounds. Some setup for the entrance ceremony coming up."
She blinked. "Already?"
Aiken turned to me with a smile, brushing a hand through her hair. "Guess I'll see you later. Don't get lost, Kin."
With that, she took her leave, disappearing into the crowd with a wave.
Hisashi looked between all of us—me, Slade, Ski, and Tifa—and gave a nod that felt more solemn than playful.
**
We started walking through the city shortly after, Xaviar leading the way through cobbled streets lined with ivy-covered buildings and old stonework, Hisashi striding proudly up front with him. Slade and Ski walked just ahead of me, arguing about something dumb more than likely.
Tifa and I trailed behind. The air was cooler here, more refined than Wellwood's natural stillness, but it held a rhythm I couldn't quite place. We walked in silence for a while, just long enough for the noise of the city to fade into the background.
I kept sneaking glances her way. She hadn't changed much from what I can remember, still calm, composed. But there was something in her eyes now. Tired. Sharper.
Finally, I exhaled and worked up the nerve.
"So… how've you been?"
She looked at me, her expression unreadable.
"I've been alright," she said after a pause. "You look like you've been through more."
I chuckled softly, rubbing the back of my neck. "Yeah, you could say that."
She glanced forward again. "You always used to talk a lot more. When we were kids, I couldn't get you to shut up."
"Guess I burned it all out," I said with a faint grin.
"Or maybe you're just tired," she added, nudging my arm gently.
I shrugged. "Could be both."
She let her steps fall in line with mine, just a bit slower, letting the others drift further ahead.
"You really don't remember much, do you?" she asked after a beat.
I shook my head lightly. "No… not most things. Just flashes here and there. Feelings. Names I think I should know."
Her voice was quieter now. "But not me."
I turned to her, eyes meeting hers. "I remember you... I just don't remember how. Not fully. Not yet."
She was silent for a second. Then her smile came, soft and genuine. "That's okay. I remember enough for the both of us."
I felt my heart skip a beat, my face feeling hot. I turned my head away, pretending to look at something across the street. Her smile—so casual, so familiar—hit me harder than I expected.
We kept walking, the light of Central Rivenden spilling out around us like a city waking from a long sleep. After a bit of quiet, I turned slightly toward her.
"You taking the Trials this year?" I asked.
Tifa gave a small nod, her gaze still ahead. "Yeah. I kind of have to, being the daughter of a Tenfold. Expectations and all."
Her voice lacked any excitement, and the way her hands fidgeted with the hem of her sleeve told me more than her words did. She didn't want this—at least, not fully.
I looked down, kicking a loose pebble on the road. "I get that."
She tilted her head toward me. "What about you? Why are you doing the Trials?"
There wasn't any judgment in her tone, just genuine curiosity.
I hesitated for a second. "Because I have to live up to my dad. Because he was strong... and I need to be strong too."
Tifa stopped walking.
When I looked back at her, she was staring at me with a look I couldn't quite read—something between disbelief and sadness.
"Is that really why?" she asked quietly.
I opened my mouth but said nothing. Her eyes stayed locked on mine, and suddenly I felt like a kid again. Like she could see right through me. And maybe she could.
The others had walked ahead, unaware of our pause.
"Why are you really doing the Trials?" she asked.
I let out a slow breath, eyes falling to the stone path beneath our feet. "Because it's the only way I can make up for my mistakes," I said quietly. "And so I can finally look Kensei in the eyes."
She stared at me for a second, expression unreadable, almost like she was expecting something different. Then she nodded, slowly, and turned away, her footsteps light as she started walking again.
I stood there for a moment, watching her go, before jogging to catch up with the others
As we moved closer to the heart of the capital, the streets widened and the buildings grew taller, lined with brilliant stained glass and polished stone walkways. The closer we got, the more grand and ornate everything became, statues of past rulers standing tall in plazas, massive banners stretching down from towers embroidered with Rivenden's golden crest.
It was breathtaking, even if my memories of it were fuzzy. Every corner we turned sparked a faint sense of déjà vu, like I had been here before but couldn't quite remember when.
The others carried on in conversation ahead, but my eyes kept shifting toward Tifa as we walked. Her steps were graceful and measured, her posture always poised. When I finally matched pace with her again, I felt the heaviness in my chest lighten just a bit.
We didn't speak for a few more minutes, just quietly walking side by side as the capital slowly opened itself up to us like a story waiting to be remembered.
Slade glanced back at us and grinned. "You two always fall to the back. Romantic tension or just slow walkers?"
"You're funny," I muttered.
"Maybe Kin just likes staring at Tifa's ponytail," Ski called over her shoulder, smirking.
I groaned under my breath. "You haven't changed one bit."
"Compliment noted," she said smugly.
Slade stepped back beside me and gave my arm a light punch. "Seriously though, Kin. You seem… quieter. Almost like you're thinking before you speak now."
I gave him a sidelong look. "I'm gonna take that as a compliment."
"It is!" he said with a large smile. "You used to be a non-stop chatterbox."
"Maybe you're just remembering wrong."
"Oh, please. You once talked for fifteen minutes straight about which tree had the best climbing branches."
Tifa laughed softly at that, the sound light and almost nostalgic, making my cheeks heat up just a little more.
"Whatever, it must've been a cool tree if that's true." I said, smirking.
"Glad to know some things haven't changed," Slade said, grinning as he began to catch back up to Ski, "We've all grown up a little. Still feels like no time's passed at all."
I met his gaze and nodded.
As we turned a corner near one of the main avenues, a large ornate sign came into view—its gold-painted wood curling at the edges like flower petals, delicately framing a name carved in elegant lettering: Reyes Remedies & Tinctures.
The shop glistened under the midmorning light, its tall glass windows revealing a pristine interior with polished marble floors, towering shelves lined with neatly organized bottles, and rows of rare herbs hanging upside down above the counter. Even the doorframe seemed enchanted, trimmed in silver vines that shimmered faintly.
Hisashi slowed his stride, grinning as he nudged Slade. "Still the fanciest shop in the capital. You'd think they were selling immortality in there."
Slade chuckled. "With their prices, they might as well be."
Inside, a soft glow illuminated every corner, and the scent of fresh lavender mixed with mint hung in the air, drifting through the cracks of the door. Tifa came to a stop beside me, her gaze fixed on the storefront with a thoughtful look.
"Still remember this place?" she asked.
I nodded slowly. "Bits and pieces. Mostly the smell."
She smiled faintly, then stepped ahead with the others, her voice trailing behind her. But just as I took another step, a blur of movement rushed toward me.
In an instant, I was wrapped in a tight, almost suffocating hug, my face pressed awkwardly against something soft and warm.
"Oh my... it really is you Kin!" a familiar, enthusiastic voice rang in my ears. "You've grown so much! You're handsome like your father and beautiful like your mother, I could cry!"
I staggered slightly, caught completely off guard as I tried to peel myself away. When I finally managed to wriggle free, I looked up and immediately recognized the woman standing there, hands planted on her hips, beaming down at me with a mixture of pride and affection.
Irene Reyes.
She was tall, curvy, and radiated the same confident warmth I remembered from my childhood. Her deep violet robes were elegantly embroidered, matching the rich tones of her tied-up hair and the sparkle in her hazel eyes. Even now, she looked as radiant and composed as ever, though a bit more dramatic, as always.
Irene Reyes, one of the Tenfold and the owner of this beautiful shop. She used to babysit me and my siblings whenever Mom and Dad were out, she and Mom had been close friends since before I was born. In a way, she felt more like a favorite aunt than just some renowned medic.
"Irene," I said, still catching my breath. "You haven't changed at all."
She gave me a playful wink. "Of course not. I age like wine—fine and a little dangerous."
I couldn't help but laugh, and the tension I hadn't realized I was carrying in my shoulders started to ease.
Irene turned then, her playful energy shifting as she focused on Hisashi.
"Well, well. What do I owe the pleasure of your noisy arrival in my shop today, Hisashi?"
Hisashi cleared his throat, his playful grin replaced by something just a bit more serious. "Time for our annual meeting."
The light in Irene's eyes dimmed, just slightly. She crossed her arms beneath her chest, her expression growing thoughtful. "So that means... he'll be there too, won't he?"
Hisashi gave a firm nod. "Yeah."
The mood in the room shifted. Irene's gaze grew distant for a moment before she nodded once, firmly.
"Then let's not keep anyone waiting."