Three Years Ago

  Downtown

  Karsurik Mall

  Two Hours After the Collapse

  In the blink of an eye, I returned to the past, finding myself among the ruins, near one of the most heavily buried sections of the Karsurik Mall.

  Victoria, at seven years old, was trying to move one of the many stones resting on Téo's legs—he was also seven at that time.

  [Téo – Tired Voice & Slightly Wheezing] Victoria, to try to help me... please try to find a way out for yourself! [Dry Cough] -

  [Victoria – Trembling Voice & Slightly Wheezing] I can't leave you like this! You're my best friend, Téo! [Dry Cough] -

  As Victoria managed to shift one of the stones by a few centimeters, she inadvertently triggered a new collapse of the structure above them, without noticing the chain reaction.

  [(Téo – Whispering, Unresponsive & Incredulous) No, no... (Ragged, Motivated Breathing)]

  The simple movement of that small stone caused a tremor too subtle for Victoria to notice, but Téo—most of his body pinned to the ground—felt it immediately.

  [(Téo – Whispering, Unresponsive & Incredulous) Anything but this... (Ragged, Motivated Breathing)]

  In an instant, to Téo's eyes, the moment seemed to slow down, revealing Victoria's expression shifting into terror as she screamed his name.

  [(Téo – Whispering, Incredulous & Frightened) I... I... (Ragged, Motivated Breathing)]

  Victoria did not run to save herself—she ran to try, despite the surreal chaos unfolding around them.

  [(Téo – Whispering, Incredulous & Frightened) No... not anymore... (Ragged, Motivated Breathing)]

  With all the instinctive force in her small body, she wanted to save Téo's life, even if it meant facing the risk of being crushed by the newly collapsing debris above them.

  [(Téo – Whispering, Incredulous & Frightened) ...I won't lose anyone I love again, right before my eyes!!!!!! (Ragged, Motivated Breathing)]

  In the slowed world, Téo screamed with rage and hatred, offering everything he had for Victoria's safety.

  [Téo – Extremely Motivated & Intense Scream]

  At that precise moment, Téo saw nothing less than his best friend, Victoria, only a few meters away from reaching him—right beneath the pieces of ceiling that were about to crush her before his eyes.

  [Téo – Extremely Desperate Scream] PLEASE, INFINITE ABYSS! HEAR MY LAST REQUEST—EVEN IF I HAVE TO DISAPPEAR FOR IT TO HAPPEN!!!!!! -

  [Unknown Echoing Voice – Serene & Neutral] ...Interesting, this essence of yours—so malleable, and at the same time so intense within your heart. -

  The world seemed, for a single second, to turn completely negative in its color tones—shifting from normal to inverted—at the expansion of a wave imperceptible to human eyes.

  [Unknown Echoing Voice – Serene & Neutral] You are quite an intriguing Oculi, young boy. You are so different internally compared to your Albi and Nigri counterparts. -

  Yet this wave seemed to expand, in less than a second, across almost the entire city surrounding the ruined Karsurik Mall.

  And in its rapid expansion and immediate return to Téo's body, it unintentionally caused a faint ripple through every environment it passed.

  [Unknown Echoing Voice – Serene & Neutral] The true awakening—even if momentary—of an Oculi's real potential will grant you the strength needed to save Victoria from death, but... [Soft, Playful, Almost Imperceptible Laugh] -

  The world remained entirely slowed at that moment, with the falling debris frozen in midair.

  Téo did not appear slow as he opened the eyes he had squeezed shut with such force, begging for more strength to save Victoria in front of him.

  [Unknown Echoing Voice – Serene & Neutral] ...But what will it matter if she is saved from death by your desperate hands, young boy? -

  It became clear that his previously normal eyes had turned completely white—his first full activation of his Oculi Albi abilities without any limiter, driven by his fragile emotional state.

  [Unknown Echoing Voice – Serene & Neutral] Not even the Begeneri twins—superior Oculi—ever considered using all their strength, nor risking their own existence, to save a single life beyond their own. -

  [Téo – Echoing, Angry & Pained Voice] I would risk anything to see my one and only best friend, Victoria, smiling happily outside this damned place! [Extremely Heavy, Labored Breathing] -

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  In his completely white eyes, the absence of pupils or irises was visible, and there was no glimmer or reflection on their surface. His gaze, entirely focused and determined, was fixed on saving the life of his best friend, Victoria.

  [Unknown Echoing Voice – Calm & Neutral] Emotions and feelings so bubbling, channeled through your desperate willpower, will affect you and everyone who ever knew you in your life from now on. They won't even remember that you ever existed in this world, do you understand that, young Teo? –

  [Teo – Echoing Voice, Angry & Painful] Let the world forget my existence if necessary... Let this be the greatest sacrifice made solely by me and no one else!!! [Heavy, Gasping Breath] –

  In a single movement, even while feeling immense pain, his body trembling in the image reflected before his frightened eyes,

  Teo moved faster than a microsecond, screaming with all his strength, a faint trickle of black liquid escaping from his nose, the result of the overwhelming force and pressure coursing through his body as he embraced the choice he had already made.

  [Unknown Echoing Voice – Calm & Neutral] You will not drift into the "void" after this; you could spend your entire eternity in that "strange" place and never return to the physical world. Do you really want to continue with this, for a single human life? –

  [Teo – Echoing Voice, Angry & Painful] I don't care where I go, but... [Heavy, Gasping Breath] –

  Teo stretched his hand toward Victoria, who appeared frozen in time before his eyes, as he moved faster than a microsecond.

  Every molecule of his body seemed to burn and simultaneously surge with surreal energy, causing him so much pain that he agonized repeatedly.

  [Teo – Echoing Voice, Angry & Painful] ...If there is even the tiniest chance of returning to the arms of the one I truly want to be beside, I will not give up... NEVER!! [Heavy, Gasping Breath] –

  Teo formed a joyful smile on his lips as black tears streamed from his entirely white eyes, his heart overwhelmed by the feeling of seeing Victoria in numerous happy moments from his memories, flashing before him like snapshots.

  And then, after fully committing himself to the act, he finally succeeded.

  [Victoria (6 years old) – Echoing Whisper from a Happy & Cheerful Past] Teo, my mommy once told me that when we get lost, our hearts lead us to the ones we love, even if we are far away. [Gentle, Hopeful Laugh] –

  [Echoing Finger Snap & Teo's Intense Scream]

  The scene unfolded with a wave, resembling a pulse, emanating from Teo's outstretched hand toward Victoria.

  She ran desperately, fearing the possibility of losing Teo amid the collapsing structure. Time seemed slower for Teo than for Victoria.

  The wave, invisible yet strangely malleable in its appearance, swept through the environment, solidifying the structures and restoring them to the ceiling.

  The entire structure above Victoria, as well as the buried parts of Karsurik Mall, was preserved against the collapse.

  Teo carried out this desperate act and immediately envisioned, in his mind, all the people he had known in life, smiling joyfully at him before turning into colorless dust.

  [Unknown Echoing Voice – Calm & Neutral] You are very intelligent, even at such a young age, Teo. However, you did not use your entire existence in this desperate act. Faced with fear, you chose to leave a minimal part of your existence alive within Victoria's heart... [Gentle, Imperceptible Laugh] –

  Teo, enveloped by a strange feeling consuming his heart, felt the enormous weight of the fact that, from that moment onward, no one would remember him.

  His name and memories were erased. Images or videos of Teo were deleted simultaneously, and all audio left in total silence.

  [Unknown Echoing Voice – Calm & Neutral] You will make Victoria carry the weight of your existence until the day you can return, if you manage to, amidst a sea of uncertainties and doubts... [Gentle, Imperceptible Laugh] –

  [Unknown Echoing Voice – Imperceptible & Calm] Victoria, from this day forward, will suffer and cry so much, being the only one to live, fondly remembering you in her mind so vividly... [Gentle, Imperceptible Laugh] –

  The memories in which Téo was present are being altered, rendering his presence completely imperceptible.

  Téo feels as if a lightning bolt courses through every atom of his body, resulting in the sensation of being erased from the physical world.

  [Unknown Echoing Voice – Serena & Neutral] All of this will be the result of your interesting, yet highly questionable act, of remaining connected to the physical world through her. [Soft, Cheerful & Imperceptible Laughter] –

  [Unknown Echoing Voice – Serena & Neutral] For, even so confident, you cannot be strong enough to erase yourself from Victoria's mind, knowing that your chance of returning is so slim while being tethered to her once again. [Soft, Cheerful & Imperceptible Laughter] –

  Immediately, Teo sees everything before his eyes turn into negative tones for a few moments, while multiple flashes of light cause so much pain that he screams intensely, feeling his skin disintegrate.

  [Teo – Echoing Whisper, Happy & Confident] Forgive me for not being able to erase myself from your mind, Victoria... I promise you I will return to your arms as soon as possible. [Slightly Deepened Breath] –

  Before his eyes, Victoria screams, trying to reach him. Her outstretched hand fragments layer by layer, while gentle breezes are expelled from her body in all directions.

  [Teo Echoing – Echoing Whisper, Happy & Confident] Even if I am thrown into the darkness and become lost within it, I... [Slightly Deepened Breath] –

  As Teo faces the imminence of extreme pain, he keeps a smile on his lips, content with the certainty that Victoria will survive.

  A second snap of fingers echoes through the space, where everything seems to slow down before gradually returning to the normal flow of time.

  [Teo – Heavy & Painful Echoing Voice] VICTORIA!! –

  Observing Victoria gradually and strangely losing consciousness, Teo's eyes widened, filled with both fear and concern for her.

  At the same time, a third figure appeared before his eyes, forming itself from fragments that resembled colored glass, darker and more negative in hue.

  The figure quickly moved to catch Victoria in its arms as she fell unconscious, gently placing her onto the ground.

  [Unknown Echoing Voice – Hopeful & Serene] Young Teo, should you truly manage to leave the place you will go after performing such a unique act in my eyes... [Slightly Deep Breath] –

  The mysterious figure before Teo revealed itself as a physical, humanoid representation of the Infinite Abyss. It looked at Teo, speaking in a serene and hopeful tone:

  - I will visit you again once you finally return to the physical world, so we may talk about this day and other matters of your complete interest... [Slightly Deep Breath] –

  Having succeeded in its action, the figure, now revealed as the Infinite Abyss, calmly stood upright.

  Its form was humanoid yet genderless, composed of dense black smoke, featureless, with no eyes or mouth.

  [Infinite Abyss – Distant Echoing Voice, Hopeful & Serene] Young Teo, if you truly care for Victoria, do not let her suffer much longer in your absence, and... [Slightly Deep Breath] –

  Teo felt his body grow lighter; his heartbeat slowed more and more, and the corners of his vision began to whiten, gradually advancing toward the center of his sight until he was completely blind.

  Watching the Infinite Abyss gaze at the ceiling of that place, he noticed the surrounding space become malleable for a brief moment.

  [Infinite Abyss – Distant Echoing Voice, Hopeful & Serene] ...Never give up on reaching with your hands the intense light shining above the darkness over your head. [Slightly Deep Breath] –

  And then, in the complete silence of that place, Teo's last deep breath echoed. Upon returning to the temporal flow, Victoria still lay on the ground among the debris, alone in that place.

  Even unconscious in that moment, Victoria seemed to feel in her heart the pain of the fading bond that had once connected her heart to Teo's.

  Unconsciously, she began to cry and whisper Teo's name, while in the place where Teo should have been beneath the debris, neither he nor his clothing were visible.