[Edanian Journey] Sylvia

Chapter 4: In the Sanctuary's Blind Spot

Beyond the time Goyen had cast me into, Hakinza Sanctuary lay before me. His words echoed in my mind: retrieve the will of Ynix from my past self. The Black Spirit and I followed the familiar path inside, but before I could make sense of that request, an unbelievable sight stopped us in our tracks.

I saw myself fighting among my companions. Even the way I struck down the monsters and turned toward Orwen was familiar. I was not remembering the past. I was standing outside that memory, watching it unfold.

From a corner I had never noticed back then, one of the fallen monsters rose and took aim at my past self. Isobelle called out to me in alarm, and I knocked the incoming attack aside. Before anyone could turn to see who had done it, I slipped behind a wall. The Black Spirit warned that there was no telling what might happen if two versions of me met. Hiding from myself felt strangely unsettling.

Then I noticed a violet energy moving toward Orwen. Grey was releasing some strange power from somewhere out of sight. This time, I could not simply stay hidden and watch. I merged with the Black Spirit at once and, without even realizing it, used one of Goyen's techniques.

As Grey was driven back, the energy surrounding Mariam dispersed. I held my breath and watched the past continue to unfold. Only then did I separate from the Black Spirit and catch my breath.

I could feel my past self beginning to look this way again. Keeping out of sight, I followed Grey out of the Sanctuary. By the time I reached where he had disappeared, only a <b>violet echo</b> remained.

With no one left to catch and question, I stared at the echo in frustration. How long had Grey been watching us from the shadows?

I stopped wondering and reached out toward the violet echo.