[Gwen POV]
Gwen heard the spell and summoned Memory and runes:
Memory Name:Moonlight Shard
Memory Rank: Ascended.
Memory Tier: I.
Memory Type: Weapon.
Memory Description: [When the stars were extinguished and fell, a lonely moon remained in the empty sky. With no sun to shine upon it, the moon grew dim, withered, and died. As the last remnants of moonlight were devoured by darkness, one small shard was forged into this subtle blade.]
wen summoned the Memory. A graceful dagger appeared in her hand, possessing a long, slender blade that tapered to a needle-like point. It featured a simple cross-guard and a handle carved from glossy black wood that felt cool to the touch. The blade itself seemed forged from clear, misty glass—translucent and ghostly. In the dim light of the Forbidden Shore, the stiletto was nearly invisible, a phantom weapon for a phantom killer.
'What a beautiful, simple, and useful memory,' Gwen thought, her fingers tracing the glass-like edge. 'Can I truly have it?'
She looked toward the others. Her teammates were scattered across the ashen ground, broken and bleeding. She hurried to Fors and displayed the runes of the Memory.
Fors glanced at the Ascended weapon and nodded. "It suits you. But first... can you heal the others?"
Gwen nodded vigorously. Her hands began to glow with a soft, golden radiance as she moved between the fallen. Klaus and Artemis were in a bad state, their armor cracked and bodies bruised, but Alista was in a far worse condition—his body was a map of lacerations, and his breathing was shallow. Only Fors and herself had escaped the worst of the carnage.
As Gwen channeled her [Healing Field], a wave of panic threatened to overwhelm her. 'I won't lose anyone,' she vowed, her heart hammering against her ribs. 'I've already lost everything—my talent, my voice, my friends who were slaughtered in the Catacombs. Just don't die on me, guys. Please.'
She hated this feeling. The feeling of being powerless as life slipped through her fingers. She had lost so much already; she refused to let the Nightmare Spell take anyone else today.
Eventually, the golden light did its work. Wounds closed, and the gray pallor left Alista's face. He sat up slowly, his voice hoarse. "We will return to the Outer Settlements. We need to rest and hunt minor creatures to regain our strength before the next main hunt. Meanwhile..."
He turned his gaze to Gwen, noticing the glass dagger in her hand. "You delivered the final blow. You keep the Memory. Any objections?"
Silence followed, but it was a silence of agreement. None of them could deny that without her final, desperate charge, they would all be corpses.
The group ascended the Slayer Statue once more to find safety from the rising Dark Sea. While Alista, Klaus, and Artemis huddled together to discuss their next move, Fors lay down on the cold stone near Gwen.
"Gwen," Fors whispered, looking up at the gray sky. "What were you thinking while you were healing us? You seemed to be panicking."
Gwen's fingers moved rapidly, signaling in the hand-talk she had been teaching the archer: [Just the past.]
She turned away, closing her eyes. As the sound of the wind howling through the headless statue faded, her mind drifted back to the world she had lost.
The auditorium in the North Quad-Settle Center (NQSC) was packed to the rafters. A sea of people surged inside, many wearing elaborate, glittering costumes purchased specifically for the night.
"Finally!" a young man exclaimed, waving his digital ticket. "We're actually going to witness the Queen of Music's concert!"
The girl beside him sighed. "Still, I was reserving my credits for a Nightingale concert. I'm going to miss Kai this time."
The crowd nearby turned to glare at her instantly.
"Margaret!" her friend Richie hissed. "You know Nightingale and the Queen of Music are rivals. Their fanbases have been at war for years. Don't mention Kai here unless you want to start a riot!"
Margaret nodded quickly, looking sheepish. "Got it. Anyway, is she performing a new song?"
"Word is we're going to witness a cover of an old hit from the pre-Spell era," Richie replied, his eyes gleaming. "Something called 'Beat It.'"
Margaret looked confused. "'Beat It'? What does that even mean?"
Suddenly, the lights cut out. A spectacular holographic light show erupted across the stage, and from a hidden lift, a girl with brilliant blonde hair and striking red eyes emerged. She wore a crisp white shirt under a black jacket adorned with silver glitters, matching black pants, and a signature black hat tilted over one eye.
The girl—the younger, vibrant Gwen—stepped to the center of the stage. When she spoke, her voice was the most melodic and soothing sound in the world.
"Welcome, folks!" she cried out, her voice amplified to every corner of the auditorium. "Before we begin, let us pay respect to the legendary King of Pop. In his honor, I will sing his songs!"
The crowd erupted into a deafening roar as the Queen of Music began to sing and dance, her voice soaring through the air like a bird untethered.
Later that night, Gwen sat in her private dressing room, basking in the lingering glow of the performance. She was happy. Ever since her parents had discovered her singing talent, they had poured everything into supporting her. Now, she was an icon, a star whose light rivaled even the great Kai.
"Now, let's plan the next world tour," Gwen murmured to herself.
A soft knock came at the door. Her assistant entered, looking hesitant. "Lady Gwen, there is a person who insists on meeting you."
Gwen leaned back in her chair. "If it's a fan, tell them I'm resting. I'll do a signing session later."
"No," the assistant replied. "He doesn't seem like a fan."
Gwen paused, curiosity piqued. "Let him in."
The man who entered was shrouded in a heavy black coat. Gwen couldn't identify him; his face was obscured by a mask and he leaned on a simple wooden stick.
"It is nice to meet you, Gwen," the man said, his voice raspy and strange.
"Who are you?" Gwen asked, her professional guard rising. "How can I help you?"
"I require nothing," the man said. "Just remember these words. When the time comes to meet them, you will understand."
He handed her a small, folded note. Gwen opened it, frowning at the cryptic scrawl inside. She couldn't make sense of the words. "What is this supposed to mean?"
"Time will provide the answers, lady," the man whispered, his form beginning to blur. "It truly will... Hope's Maiden."
And then, he vanished into thin air. Gwen blinked, rubbing her eyes, but the room was empty. A cold shiver ran down her spine, leaving her both terrified and confused.
In the present, Gwen's eyes snapped open. The fragment of her past had resurfaced with the vividness of a wound.
Tears flowed down her cheeks, hot and bitter. She wanted to sing; she wanted to speak, to scream, to tell her friends how much she cared for them. But her Flaw—the price of her power—had ensured her silence. She had to live through this, to find a new purpose in a world made of nightmares.
But the memory of that note haunted her. In her mind's eye, she could still see the strange script the man in black had left her.
It had said: [Save or Kill Rain.]
Gwen stared at the dark sky above the Slayer Statue, her mind racing. 'How can I save or kill a Weather?' she wondered.