As Mira walked alone beneath the moonlit sky, the book wrapped in cloth at her side, a cold wind blew past her.
Shadows gathered around her feet.
A voice echoed in her head — ancient, cold, yet patient.
"Mira."
She didn't flinch.
"Yes… I'm listening."
"The boy carries my curse's echo.
Arkhamis claws against his cage."
She tightened her grip.
"Tell me what I have to do."
"Use the book…
against itself."
Mira narrowed her eyes.
"So it's true. The book feeds Arkhamis."
"Yes."
Death's voice trembled the air.
"But it can also consume him."
She nodded.
"What about the children?"
"Protect them.
Especially the cursed one."
Mira stopped.
"What happens if I fail?"
Death's answer was ice:
"Hell will open.
And the worlds will burn."
Mira exhaled.
"Then I won't fail."
Death faded.
The sky grew still.
Mira continued forward…
Toward King Sable's palace.
The Palace Entrance
Two guards stepped forward.
"Halt—"
Mira didn't stop.
She didn't blink.
She raised her hands—
Holding both guards' heads.
She tossed them aside casually.
"They were in my way."
The palace doors swung open.
Sable and the Dreaded Knight — Already Wounded
Sable and the Dreaded Knight stood inside the throne room.
Bruised.
Cut.
Still recovering from Ren's blast.
Sable raised an eyebrow.
"Mira… you're as dramatic as ever."
Mira smirked.
"Oh look.
My useless little brother finally speaks."
Sable's jaw tightened.
"Don't start."
But Mira pushed past him.
The Dreaded Knight Revealed
Mira circled the Dreaded Knight slowly.
"My, my…
Look at you."
She grabbed his helmet—
Sable stepped forward.
"Mira—don't—!"
She ripped the helmet off.
A skull stared back.
Glowing blue eyes flickered in the sockets.
Mira tapped the skull with her finger.
"Not even skin left.
Not even flesh."
She turned to Sable.
"And you…
Look at YOU."
She shoved his chest lightly.
"You lost ALL your magic.
Every spell.
Every gift.
Burned out.
Gone."
Sable looked away.
Mira's voice dropped.
"All because of HIM."
She pointed at the Dreaded Knight — Sable's brother.
Nova, Satoro, or Haruto weren't here — this was history no child should hear.
"You were the FIRST, weren't you?" she said to the skeletal knight.
"The first one Arkhamis possessed."
The Dreaded Knight looked down, ashamed.
"You killed your entire family that night.
Your mother.
Your father.
Everyone in the palace."
She stared into the empty eye sockets.
"You turned into the monster you dread to remember.
The Dreaded Knight."
Sable clenched his fists.
"And you—" Mira turned to Sable.
"You sacrificed EVERYTHING.
Your magic.
Your gifts.
Your power.
Trying to SAVE everyone he was killing."
Sable didn't deny it.
Mira stepped closer.
"So don't pretend I wouldn't do the same for these kids."
The Bargain
Sable inhaled sharply.
"The cycle is repeating."
"Yes," Mira said softly.
"Either hell breaks loose…
or we kill the boy."
Mira held up the book.
"No.
There's a third path."
Sable looked at her warily.
"…Death spoke to you, didn't he?"
Mira nodded.
"And he told me how to end this.
Permanently."
Sable waited.
Mira continued:
"We can destroy the book—
and destroy Arkhamis with it."
Sable's expression darkened.
"That will take too long."
"How long?" Mira asked.
Sable stared at the floor.
"…Five years.
We have five years before Arkhamis fully awakens."
Mira stepped forward and pressed a hand to Sable's chest.
"Then five years is all it will take."
Sable looked into her eyes.
"You can't protect them forever."
"I can try," she said.
"And maybe the boy can make his own bargain with Death…
like I did."
The room fell silent.
Then Sable nodded once.
"…Five years, Mira.
No more."
Mira bowed deeply — not out of submission, but respect.
"In five years…
if I fail…
you may kill the boy."
Sable closed his eyes.
"Then go."
Mira Leaves
Mira turned and walked toward the palace doors.
The Dreaded Knight spoke for the first time, voice rattling like bone on stone.
"…Mira."
She stopped.
He lowered his skull.
"…I am sorry."
Mira didn't look back.
"I know."
She walked out into the night.
Carrying the book.
Carrying Death's message.
Carrying the weight of five years.
And the fate of every child she swore to protect.