Anne narrowed her eyes, sensing something strange—a strand of light, a piece of warmth drifting away into the forest's suffocating fog. She could not place it, but it felt alive, moving with purpose. Nearby, Lily watched the roots beneath her begin to dry, their once vibrant glow fading into brittle husks. A faint warmth lingered in them, brushing against her skin like a final farewell.
She was still unsettled by how the roots had dropped her so abruptly, leaving her shaken and alone. But her thoughts were consumed by Brittany. Worry gnawed at her, and she knew she had no choice but to find a way to help.
At first, Lily thought of tearing the roots away completely. But the moment her fingers brushed against their rough surface, her body convulsed.
Her eyes turned white, her breath caught, and she rose slowly from the ground, levitating as if pulled by unseen strings. The world around her dissolved into silence, and she drifted upward into a place beyond the forest.
She found herself in a realm of pale mist, where shadows whispered and fragments of forgotten voices lingered. There, she saw a girl—white-haired, with enormous blue eyes that shimmered with sorrow.
The girl's body trembled, her face streaked with tears, her posture broken as though the weight of grief had crushed her. Lily approached cautiously, her heart aching at the sight.
"Why are you crying?" Lily asked softly.
The girl turned, her voice fractured. "I couldn't save her."
"Who?" Lily pressed, but the girl only mourned, her words swallowed by despair.
This was the Trance, the place where uncontracted yokai and wandering spirits resided. It was a realm of unfinished bonds, where mortals who touched spiritual beings risked forming contracts that could bind them forever.
Still, Lily did not hesitate. She sat beside the girl, her presence gentle, her voice steady. "I know what it feels like," she whispered. "I couldn't save my…" She faltered, her throat tightening. Then, with courage, she finished: "My sister. Brittany."
The word lingered in the air, heavy and true.
"But I have to go back now," Lily continued, her voice trembling but resolute. "You shouldn't cry. Tears don't bring back the beloved. Hope does."
The girl's blue eyes widened. She looked at Lily with sudden intensity, and then—without warning—she reached out and grabbed Lily's hand.
The world shattered into brilliance.
Everything became white.
To be continued…