The next morning, Tsuki awoke refreshed. Her arms were outstretched above her head, and a yawn escaped her lips. For a moment, she sat rubbing her eyes.
"Oh shit—I have to meet Maro and the others!" she blurted, scrambling out of her roll-up fur bed.
Her tent was clean, newly pitched. She quickly dressed and made her way to the central circle, where Maro and an unfamiliar man with brown and green eyes awaited her. His taller frame towered over the Memento leader.
"Morning, Tsuki. How'd you sleep?" Maro asked.
"Great. Fur beds feel like heaven after days on stone."
Maro smiled. "Agreed. Anyway, this is Danzo—my second-in-command. Very trusted. And, more importantly, a former Stalker. Just like you."
The man offered Tsuki a warm smile.
"Hey. Nice to meet you," he said, nodding. "I'm Danzo."
"A former Stalker?" Tsuki echoed.
Danzo nodded. "Yeah. I served in a Stalker unit for years. Graduated from the academy, same as you. Years of training—molding us into obedient soldiers with no room for questioning."
Tsuki's eyes widened. She listened closely.
"And just like you, I don't remember anything before the academy," Danzo continued. "No childhood memories. Nothing. Like I was born a teenager into a corrupt organization."
That stunned her. She had wondered about her past before—but never deeply. Normal people could recall their childhoods. Their joys. Their families. Why couldn't she?
"Exactly," she whispered. "I thought I was the only one. Half of my life just… doesn't exist. I never brought it up with anyone. We weren't supposed to be friends in the APC. My squad and I were close—for APC standards—but we never talked about our pasts."
Danzo looked to Maro, concern flickering in his eyes.
Maro spoke next. "We don't fight alone here. Unless you're the Gho—"
He caught himself and stopped.
Danzo stepped in quickly. "Right. We fight together here. Squadmates are family. Brothers and sisters. No exceptions."
Maro cleared his throat. "Tsuki, you may face some adversity in Memento—assuming you pass the Trial of the Phoenix."
"Yeah, Tona mentioned that last night," she said. "What is it, exactly?"
"It's a rite of passage," Maro said. "Deep in southern Persetta lie the Persetta Cliffs. Below them, a vast blue sea. The fall is fatal to the average person. But if you survive the trek—and the jump—you earn the right to become one of us. Following the trial, you'll burn something important to you. Its ashes become your Memento. Everyone has their reasons for fighting. This is how we honor them."
"A fall that high? And people survive that?" Tsuki asked. "Seriously?"
"That's the trial," Danzo said. "And once you've passed, you'll get to design your own mask. It represents your individuality, even in uniform. It's how we recognize each other. Our enemies, meanwhile, remain clueless on identities."
Tsuki recalled the masked members from the prison—the knuckles, the crescent, the katana…
"What would mine be?" she wondered aloud. "What defines me?"
Danzo cleared his throat again. "Some use their ability to determine their symbol. Others choose something from their past. Correna, for example, chose a feather—not because of her ability, but because her mother once gave her one. It came from a rare bird, a Galgrow. Some say it symbolizes luck. Others say it symbolizes love. It was her last gift before the war took her mother."
Tsuki's eyes softened.
Love… Have I ever felt that? The APC didn't need love. Only obedience. What is love even for?
"She came to Memento to follow her mother's path," Maro added. "We've done our best to be there for her—just like we will for you."
Tsuki nodded slowly. "I respect that. It's… kind."
Danzo clapped Maro on the back. "That's right. Atta boy."
Maro grunted. "Enough. Tsuki, your mission is the Persetta Cliffs. Complete it and return here. If you fail… well, I don't need to explain."
"Got it. I'll get going."
"Oh, and hey—" Danzo called after her. "Good luck, kiddo."
Tsuki smiled faintly and set off. The cliffs loomed ahead, a jagged crown of forest spread before the cliffs. Pines and pink-oaks lined the trail, and the rocks gleamed in the morning light. The distant crashes of waves brought a mix of calm and unease.
Let's do this, she thought, steadying her breath.
The forest at the edge of Persetta was darker than she expected — not just shaded, but almost swallowed by the towering cliffs that loomed above her like watchful sentinels. Sunlight struggled to pierce the canopy, leaving shafts of pale light scattered across the ground like broken glass. The air was damp, carrying the sharp scent of moss and wet bark, and every step made the earth sigh beneath her boots.
Tsuki crouched for a moment, letting her fingers graze the soil. It was cool and soft, clinging slightly to her gloves. Perfect. Shadows pooled thick around her, stretching long like ink across the uneven forest floor.
Her ears caught the first low growl before she saw anything. The sound rolled through the trees like distant thunder. Heart steady, she rose and scanned the undergrowth. A pair of glowing amber eyes blinked from behind a bramble patch — a Hearty Tiger. Not far behind, the slinking silhouette of a Throatchop Panther stalked in from the opposite side, its tail flicking lazily.
They didn't pounce right away. They circled her, muscles coiled, predatory patience testing her resolve. For a heartbeat, Tsuki let herself stand still, her own breathing syncing with the slow rhythm of the forest. She wasn't afraid — but she wasn't careless either.
She took a step back, letting the deeper shade of an oak tree fall over her shoulders like a cloak. The ground's shadow welcomed her. She smiled faintly, feeling Solena stir within her veins.
The first tiger lunged.
Tsuki slipped into the shadow beneath her feet and reappeared behind the beast before its claws met the ground. Her blade hissed as it cut the air, striking true. The creature collapsed before it could even roar.
The panther snarled, startled but furious, and leapt from a low branch with claws bared. Tsuki spun, sliding into another patch of darkness at her feet. The panther's claws scraped empty ground as she rose from the shadow behind it, striking with precision.
Both predators lay still moments later, the forest once again quiet except for the distant call of birds. Tsuki exhaled slowly and wiped her dirty hands on a fallen leaf. She paused once the forest went still again, planting her hands on her knees as she caught her breath. Sweat clung to her hairline, and her pulse throbbed in her ears. She straightened slowly, rolling out her shoulders with a quiet groan.
"Okay," she muttered. "Two oversized cats down. Whoever organizes trials here needs therapy."
The forest around her offered no argument—only a soft breeze and the distant rustle of leaves.
She caught her breath and wandered to a nearby fallen log, brushing away moss before sitting down. The bark was damp and cool beneath her palms, grounding her more than she expected. For the first time since entering the forest, she finally exhaled.
Shadows, still restless from battle, swirled lazily around her boots like loyal dogs refusing to settle. Her gaze drifted upward.
Thin shafts of light pierced the canopy, catching strands of dust and pollen that floated like tiny glowing motes. For all the danger lurking in this trial, the forest still held a strange, quiet beauty.
She leaned back slightly, closing her eyes for a few seconds. Her thoughts drifted.
Gatch would've teased me for getting winded.
Jianka would've told me to toughen up.
The APC would've sent me through this trial with four squads backing me up… if they even gave a damn.
They never did.
Tsuki sighed through her nose, tapping her fingers against her thigh.
"I left that behind for a reason," she reminded herself quietly. "So quit acting like you miss it."
Still… the voice in her chest wasn't fully convinced. Not yet.
She opened her eyes again. The forest looked different now. Calmer. Almost welcoming, despite its dangers.
"Alright," she said, pushing herself to her feet with a grunt. "Break's over. Let's see what other bullshit Maro threw into this test."
She took a few careful steps forward, stretching her legs, letting her Solena settle. A small cluster of Persetta Roses glowed faintly near a boulder—light blue petals shimmering with healing energy.
She plucked one, tucking it behind her ear.
"Could use the luck."
Tsuki's trek continued uphill. The deeper forest provided less light but far more shadows. The darker setting gave Tsuki less vision, but it also gave her an advantage. Continuing on, a weary Tsuki grew restless, eagerly awaiting whatever dared to show itself next. She wouldn't wait long, however.
She began counting her steps out of boredom, almost forgetting the mission. However, something caught her eye in a moment of hesitation.
A strange blue light flickered from beyond some pines. It stuck out like a sore thumb within the darkness. Tsuki readied her hands, and felt the Solena move through her body as she crept toward the light. She inched up to a thick pink-oak, its base covering her body and shielding her from whatever was behind. She gathered herself, then peeked around the trunk.
There lay a massive phoenix, glowing dark blue with piercing orange eyes, in stark contrast against the pink-oak trees. Tsuki couldn't believe it. Since when were phoenixes real?
"Shit... Maybe I can sneak pa—"
Snap!
Tsuki's foot hit a branch. The crack echoed through the forest.
The phoenix turned its head toward the sound. It stretched its wings, and the air around the creature seemed to distort in the heat. It screeched and launched a baiting fireball, seemingly to lure Tsuki out. Tsuki reacted quickly, summoning shadow hands to block it, but the impact sent shockwaves that pushed her backwards. A second blast followed, which she narrowly dodged.
She darted between trees, thoughts racing.
"Got it. Get ready for this, you stupid-ass bird."
She sprinted behind a massive boulder. Another fireball struck it and fizzled. From her cover, she launched her counterattack.
"Shadow manipulation."
Shadowy hands erupted from beneath the phoenix, coiling around its wings, legs, and finally its neck. However, the phoenix retaliated, temporarily overcoming the shadows around its wings with brute force. The freed wings began to whirl, crafting a gust to push back the remaining shadows.
Tsuki was caught in the crossfire and launched backwards into a tree trunk.
She landed on a single knee, and the pain was instant. There was no time for sitting, however, as the phoenix kept the offensive. Its wings swept outward, and fire spiraled around its body, forming a blazing vortex that forced Tsuki to shield her face. Heat pulsed with every wingbeat. Each swing brought more heat than the last, and Tsuki knew she'd have to end this quick.
She rushed forward, dodging countless fireballs as she darted towards the phoenix. She summoned a pit below her, and dove within her shadow realm. She moved within the dark, unseen by the phoenix for the moment. Yet, in the shadow realm, she could see everything.
She emerged from a dark spot, ordering her shadows to restrain the phoenix. They shot forward, grabbing hold of the bird's feathers. Another grabbed the beak, and finally, the clawed feet. Without a word, the shadows began to drag the phoenix downward, into its own shadow.
"I'm not stupid enough to kill a phoenix. I can, however, make sure you never see the daylight again," Tsuki said.
With a final screech, the phoenix had vanished beneath the earth. Silence returned.
Tsuki wiped her brow with a tired sigh. "Gotta keep moving. I'm probably close."
She continued climbing with gritty determination. The air thinned, and trees grew sparse near the summit. Only clusters of Persetta Roses remained—white and baby blue flowers known for their healing properties. They offered a surprising touch of beauty amidst the harsh terrain.
Finally, Tsuki reached the cliff's edge. She passed the only remaining pink-oaks, each engraved with symbols of the past. Memento's previous cadets had seemingly marked their names on the trunks. She looked over every single one. Names of people she recognized, and thousands of those she didn't. First, Azumi, then Geo. On another tree were Correna and Knoxx. She grabbed a nearby rock, a sharp one, and made her way to a third tree. One closer to the edge of the seemingly endless cliff. On the tree were Tona, Hatori, Maro, and Danzo's names. In a hesitant moment, she shook her head. Gathering herself, she marked her name on the oak. It wasn't neat, but it did the job. She read it a few times, before making her way to the very edge. The infamous drop was even steeper than she imagined. Below, the sea shimmered under the setting sun. The waves were vicious against the rocks, calling her into an inevitable doom.
I don't know if I can do this... How the hell does anyone survive this?
She picked up a rock and hurled it over. Twenty seconds passed before it hit the water.
"Yeah, not a chance," she said.
She turned to leave. Her steps crunched against the rocks beneath her. Her heart was racing, and her thoughts were jumbled.
A jump that far is suicide... and for a cause I don't even know I support? For people I just met? I must be crazy for even considering this.
The moment stuck with her for a short while. She stood only ten steps from the edge. The wind was calm, swaying the leaves of the oaks. She looked back at the trunk she signed. Her name, her unspoken oath.
These people, though strangers, had done more, had supported her more than she ever got in the APC. If she was going to risk her life, she wanted it to be for something she chose — not something she was ordered to be.
"You didn't come all this way to turn back," she told herself.
She hesitated—then turned her body to the cliff's edge once again. The moment held, before she gathered her breath, and charged forward. Every step was one closer to uncertainty, one closer to her foreseeable death. Yet, she reached the end and leapt with a purpose.
Wind tore past her ears. Her heart pounded. In an instant, regret kicked in her mind. Insults echoed in her head — Jianka's teasing, Gatch's barking — and she fully expected she'd just seen her last moments in Solen. However, the falling sensation quickly stopped.
"What...?"
She opened her eyes. The sea raged below her. It wasn't getting closer.
Two massive, fiery wings extended from her back. Their blue tone unmistakably similar to the phoenix she had just battled.
"HUH??"
A brief moment of pure confusion and shock, before a laugh from the heart escaped her lips. She soared through the golden sky, relishing the feeling. She had now realized how the members of Memento had passed the trial in the times before her.
Eventually, the wings began to fade as she closed in on lower land. She landed gently in a pink-oak tree, then tumbled from a branch to the ground.
She rubbed her head with a quiet, "Ow..."
Back at the campfire, Memento members gathered.
"The Ghost again," Geo muttered. "Another APC elite taken down. His mask is becoming infamous."
"Think he's one of us?" Knoxx asked. "He hasn't attacked any Memento squads."
"Probably just a mercenary," Geo added.
Hatori stared at the ground. His silence spoke words, yet nobody paid attention.
"Whoever he is," Azumi said, "he's making our job easier. Fewer Stalkers to deal with."
"Still way too many left," Geo noted. "We're outnumbered by far."
Correna chimed in, easing the topic. "I wonder how Tsuki's doing. Her trial was today."
"She seemed strong," Geo said. "I'm not too worried."
Just then, Azumi looked toward the trail. "Hey! Speak of the devil!"
Tsuki appeared, limping slightly. Leaves stuck in her hair. Bruises on her arms.
"Ouch, girl. You got the worst of it," Correna said.
"Nobody told me there was a phoenix up there. That thing almost killed me."
The group exchanged confused glances.
"Phoenix?" Knoxx asked.
"The one near the peak," Tsuki said. "Didn't you see it during your trials?"
"Nope," Azumi said. "That's a new one."
"Ah, what the hell..."
"What color was it?" Knoxx asked.
"Blue, with orange eyes. Pretty combo, but tough."
Hatori and Knoxx exchanged a look.
"Interesting," Hatori murmured.
Tsuki grinned. "Anyway—I passed! I'm official!"
Cheers broke out among the squad. Correna ran in for a hug, while the rest gave their own congratulations. Knoxx gave a prideful shout, likely waking anyone in a mile radius.
Maro and Danzo exited the main tent and joined them in the ruckus.
"Tsuki! Heard you passed!" Danzo said.
"Thanks! How'd you know?"
"I overheard the chaos. I'm proud of you."
A warmth climbed up from her chest to her throat, tight and unfamiliar. For once, she didn't feel like someone waiting to be judged—she felt… chosen.
Maro stepped forward. "Congratulations. You're officially a member of Memento." Maro's smile grew large. "Just one more thing to finish. Now you must burn something important to you. To finish the oath and prove your loyalty to the cause."
Burn something... I forgot about that part.
A few seconds passed as she thought.
But what?
An idea quickly arose. Tsuki removed her APC headband. Her hair fell loose at her sides. A quick hesitation, a callback to her APC squad; Jianka and Gatch, followed by a violent shake of the head. She threw the headband into the campfire. The flames flared upwards, no longer starved.
"It is done," Maro said. "Welcome, Tsuki."
He grabbed her hand in a firm hold, before shaking it. A warm welcome from the leader himself.
"From now on, you're not just responsible for yourself. You fight for everyone beside you. We don't do selfish. We fight as one. Remember that, and you'll rise quickly."
The group applauded.
"You'll join Judgment Squad," Maro continued. "That means Azumi, Knoxx, Geo, and Hatori. You four will show her the ropes."
"Yes sir!" they replied.
"Good. It's official."
Knoxx stepped up and put an arm around Tsuki's shoulders in a playful way.
"She's one of us now," joked Geo. "God help us all."
Danzo, who had been quietly watching from the side, stepped forward and brushed a bit of dust from his sleeve. "Hey Tsuki, can we talk privately?"
The excited grin she wore turned into a puzzled look in a moment. Tsuki studied his face, trying to read the intent behind it.
"Sure. About what?"
Danzo didn't answer right away. He simply nodded and walked behind a tent, and she followed, leaving the others in celebration without them. He stopped once they were out of sight, exhaling softly before speaking.
"Truth is," he said, "you got lucky with your squad. Not everyone will be so open. Your history... it takes time to earn trust. I went through the same."
He glanced down briefly, thumb brushing a scar on his knuckles—a tell he didn't seem aware of. "If you ever need anything, anything at all, let me know."
"Thank you, Danzo. I appreciate it."
He eased into a warm smile, genuine and unforced. "Don't mention it."
She gave him an accepting nod as he turned away. Tsuki was only one day into life with Memento, and yet...
She had finally known the feeling of acceptance.
A little while later, Maro sat back at his polished desk. The tent covered him from the kicked-up howl of the wind. Danzo reappeared from the flap of the tent. Maro spoke, piercing the wind's hum.
"We got a good one, Danzo. She'll make a good fit here."
Danzo smirked, slicking his hair back as he replied. "Could've told you that was the case. I wasn't expecting you to test her with a phoenix though. That could've gone south real quick."
"I figured she could handle it. Wanted to gauge her power. I set it up to disintegrate if it sensed it had gone too far."
Danzo stared at the leader of Memento. His lips formed a soft smile.
"You're something else, Maro."
Maro grinned and cracked his knuckles as he spoke. "Always have been. Will continue to be."
Both men chuckled. A brief moment of peace brought a sense of harmony.