[11:22 A.M. – The Scorched Battlefield, Outside the Mansion]
—"She didn't die a hero. She died selfish."
The scent of ash still lingered.
Mia's body had turned to dust in Riah's white phoenix flame. Only scorched earth remained, a patch of blackened grass in the shape of wings.
Silence stretched like a wound. No one moved.
Kazimir and Riah were gone. Just like that.
Gendai stared at the ground, unmoving. Her fists trembled.
Felicia knelt beside the ashes, lips pressed shut, red streaks under her eyes.
Lihanna stood behind them, quiet. Watching. Guarding.
Then—
Laughter.
Snickering, low and biting, broke the silence.
Kamaki.
"She really thought she was gonna be the villain of our story," he chuckled. "Talk about drama queen. She got what was coming."
Tyrone shook his head, smirking. "Killed a teammate, lost her mind, then begged to die. That ain't tragic—that's pathetic."
Raijin looks at his dagger, scoffing. "She went full tantrum because her boyfriend died. She was unstable from day one."
Kamaki smirked. "Guess Solaris don't accept crybabies."
CRACK.
A shockwave of green psychic energy exploded outward.
Gendai was already in motion—silver hair whipping behind her, green eyes glowing with fury. She grabbed Kamaki by the collar and slammed him against a tree, bark splintering behind his skull.
"Say. That. Again."
"Whoa—Gendai—!"
"Shut your mouth!" she screamed, aura shaking the air. "You watched her die. You LAUGHED. What the hell is wrong with you!?"
Felicia stood slowly. No tears now—only rage.
"You think you're funny?" she whispered. "She was your comrade. She bled for this team. She cracked because she had no one left. And you mock her ashes?"
"She KILLED someone—" Raijin started.
"AND SHE PAID FOR IT!" Felicia roared, wind bursting from her voice. "Kazimir left her to die. Riah burned her down. And all you can do is laugh!?"
Kamaki shoved at Gendai's grip. "She was a danger—"
"She was a PERSON!" Gendai screamed, throwing him down. "She was more real than any of you plastic bastards!"
Tyrone raised a hand. "C'mon now, no need to start another fight—"
Felicia walked straight up to him, eyes burning.
"If you didn't cry for her, fine. But you don't get to desecrate her name. If she's rotting in hell, then maybe you belong lower."
Raijin muttered, "Drama—"
SLAP.
Felicia's hand left a red mark across his face. "Shut. Up."
[11:38 A.M. – Beneath the Memorial Tree]
The ashes had been gently moved. A single sapphire earring lay at the base of the tree, untouched by the flame.
Gendai placed a black ribbon beside it. Her hands still shook.
"I hated how she changed," she whispered. "But I never stopped hoping she'd come back."
Felicia stood beside her. "We don't get many second chances. But she should've had one."
Lihanna finally spoke. "She was broken. But she died fighting the part of her that wanted to break us. That means something."
They stood together.
In silence.
As the blood moon began to fade from the sky.
[ 11:46 A.M.– Cliffside Behind the Mansion]
Kazimir stood alone, gazing at the horizon.
Riah stepped beside him.
"You didn't say a word when she died," she said.
He didn't look at her. "I said all I needed to when she lived."
"Do you regret not stopping her?"
"…No."
He closed his eyes.
"She chose the flame. And she burned."