Part 4 – The Last of the Four
At the heart of the universe, on an isolated planet far from any other form of life, lies a hostile world of endless oceans, arid deserts, and landscapes swept by snowstorms and sheets of ice.
No capital.
No cities.
No visible structures on the surface.
Only a massive sphere floats above a dark ocean.
A futuristic structure illuminating the surrounding darkness.
Its name: Vera.
Inside this sphere lies a city in complete contrast to the outside.
A futuristic metropolis drowned in neon lights.
Technology reigns supreme: colossal skyscrapers rise toward an artificial sky, transportation systems glide through open air, while shops, hotels, and restaurants appear as floating holograms wrapped in suffocating mist.
On a narrow street, inside a dimly lit bar, two people sit on stools.
They eat calmly, clearly waiting for others.
A tall, broad-shouldered man with a face marked by old scars…
And a young woman in her twenties, smiling, radiating vibrant energy.
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Somewhere on Atlas, Scarlet arrives at the location indicated in the letter.
Before her, an enormous mirror suddenly appears.
— I have to… go through it? That's the point?
Without hesitation, Scarlet steps through the mirror.
She arrives on Vera.
Born on Atlas, a modern world with a neutral appearance, Scarlet is struck by the sheer scale of this futuristic city. She feels tiny in this gigantic universe, overwhelmed by a mixture of admiration and vertigo.
— Where am I…?
This is so different from Atlas… I need to find a bar, right?
She asks passersby for directions.
— Excuse me… could you tell me where this bar is?
The person stops and looks at Scarlet.
Used to judgment since childhood, she already expects the worst.
But contrary to her fears—
— Hello! Your style is very unique, I really like it.
For the bar, head toward the metro.
Surprised, Scarlet thanks them and walks away.
— Wait… where exactly is the metro?
***
After asking for directions several more times, she finally reaches the metro.
That's when she notices someone different: a young man with a horn, apparently heading to the same place as her.
A few minutes later, they both find themselves standing in front of the bar.
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On Andora, after leaving her sister and her best friend, Ryota also heads to the location mentioned in his letter.
A mirror appears in front of him.
— It's huge…
Well, I guess I have to go in.
After a brief hesitation, thinking of Emi and Kaïs, Ryota walks through the mirror.
Vera is radically different from Andora.
Here, technology dominates everything.
His half-dragon appearance draws curious looks, but no rejection.
Having only ever known hybrids, he still can't help but wonder.
What are they going to think of me?
He pushes the thought away and approaches someone.
— Hello, I'm looking for this address, please.
A group of young people kindly points him in the right direction.
— Go that way, then take the metro.
As he walks off, one of them turns back.
— By the way… your horn is incredible! Have a great day!
Ryota smiles and continues on his way.
As he exits the metro, he notices a girl with a gothic style discreetly following him.
A chill runs down his spine, but he chooses not to pay it any attention.
In front of the bar, she is there as well.
***
Inside, the smiling young woman and the scarred man stop their conversation and gesture for them to come closer.
Ryota and Scarlet step forward.
A heavy silence settles.
The young woman observes them with a wide smile.
Scarlet remains slightly behind, wary.
Ryota finally breaks the silence.
— You're the one who sent the letter?
Raythem… that's you, right?
The man simply nods.
A few seconds pass… then a new presence arrives.
══ ✦ ══
Yuta, in turn, walks through a mirror and arrives on Vera.
The city strangely reminds him of the games, movies, and novels of Earth.
— It looks like a city straight out of a game… this is incredible.
Despite his amazement, he keeps a cool head.
Introverted, he avoids asking for help and tries to manage on his own.
But he eventually gets lost.
— Excuse me… do you need help?
— Yes, please… I tried to figure it out by myself, but apparently, that was a bad idea.
The person accompanies him to the metro.
Upon exiting, Yuta finally finds the bar.
A silhouette gestures for him to join them.
***
Yuta arrives in front of the group.
Ryota.
Scarlet.
The smiling young woman.
And the man whose face bears the marks of battle.
The man finally breaks the silence.
— Nice to meet you. My name is Raythem! But that… you already knew.