Saigo No Yami!

"Mitsuki, a young man with a dark past, receives an offer from Allivy: to join the Prodigies, a group of people with extraordinary abilities, in exchange for a great reward. As he searches for answers about his origins and his lost sister, he must face his destiny and make decisions that will change his life forever."

A luxurious hotel is shown, made of heavenly materials that reflect the soft morning light. Its glass and marble façade seems to merge with the sky, projecting a feeling of grandeur and tranquility. The building stands imposingly in the city, with several floors that seem to touch the clouds, while the modern and minimalist structure blends perfectly with the urban environment. The luxury of its design is not ostentatious, but elegant, as if every detail was thought out to offer a unique and discreet experience.

Inside, the atmosphere changes. The hotel's café on the first floor has a warmer, more welcoming atmosphere. Dark wood tables, comfortable chairs and soft light coming through the large windows create a haven where guests feel at peace. The murmurs of people chatting mix with the sound of the coffee machine and the soft ambient music, completing the scene.

At one of those tables, Mitsuki sits, looking out the window, but his gaze is blurry, as if his mind is still trapped in the dream. Even though he knows he is in the hotel, tiredness prevents him from fully processing the situation. His body is there, in the chair, but his mind is still somewhere else. The coffee in front of him, almost untouched, reflects the little energy he has. The ambient noise blurs, and the feeling of being in a deep sleep envelops him.

Suddenly, a loud clap! resounds in front of his face, jolting him awake. Mitsuki opens his eyes quickly, startled, as he tries to focus his vision.

"Are you listening to me?" Allivy's voice shakes him out of confusion, and when his eyes finally adjust, he sees her standing in front of him, one eyebrow raised and a smirk on her face.

Mitsuki blinks several times, still disoriented. "What…? Where are we?" His mind tries to fit the pieces together.

"In the hotel cafeteria, of course," Allivy replies, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "You were falling asleep at the table."

Mitsuki rubs his eyes, trying to clear them. "Sorry... I'm just... I'm not used to waking up this early," he mumbles, still struggling to emerge from the haze of sleep.

Allivy looks at him strangely. "So early? Mitsuki, it's 9 in the morning."

Mitsuki is silent for a moment, processing the information. "9 o'clock?" he repeats, as if he can hardly believe it. "Does that seem late to you?"

Allivy laughs. "It's the normal time people start their day. You should be used to this time, right?"

Mitsuki settles into his chair, trying to clear his head completely. "I don't know, I usually sleep in later..." he replies and sighs, half embarrassed.

Allivy smiles with an expression that is somewhere between mocking and amused. "Then maybe you should start changing those habits."

Mitsuki can't stand the daylight, feeling the fatigue still weighing on him, but at least now the confusion is starting to clear. He looks around, noticing that the hotel, while luxurious, has a relaxed energy that doesn't match his own state of agitation.

"What do we do now?" Mitsuki asks, looking to change the subject to clear his mind.

But before Allivy can answer, Mitsuki stops dead in his tracks, his face lighting up with a sense of panic. "Wait, what hotel?" he wonders out loud to himself, looking around with wide eyes. "And Aura? Where is she?"

Allivy can't help but laugh, surprised by how disconnected Mitsuki was. "Aura? The little girl who was with us last night?" she asks, giggling.

Mitsuki frowns, confused, not being able to quite remember what happened last night. "Yeah, where is she? Did we lose her?"

Allivy laughs a little more, shaking her head. "Mitsuki, it seems you've been offline for quite a while. Aura's fine, Alaska took care of finding her a new home."

Mitsuki blinks a few times, trying to take in what he's hearing. "I understand, now, remind me what this place is?"

Allivy looks at him with an amused smile and, in a playful tone, replies, "You don't remember either?" Mitsuki looks at her, completely lost, and she takes the opportunity to make a little joke. "Well, we did say that you would live here now. It's close to my palace. Which, by the way, you will soon get to know if you accept a proposal I have for you... but let's not get ahead of ourselves."

Mitsuki, confused, raises an eyebrow and, almost jokingly, asks: "Proposal? Do you want to marry me or something? Because, from what I saw in the painting last night, you looked a lot older than me."

Allivy instantly blushes, surprised by Mitsuki's quip. Then, with a mischievous smile, she quickly replies, "Marry you?! What are you talking about!?"

Just then, a waitress approaches the table and places two cups of coffee in front of them. Allivy greets her with a smile. "Thank you very much, Hitomi."

The waitress, visibly excited, replies: "You're welcome, Allivy! I'm glad you're here."

Allivy nods and, with a mischievous smile, asks, "Could you bring us two more, please? My little friend here can fall asleep in the middle of a conversation."

Mitsuki, somewhat embarrassed, tries to stay awake, but Allivy's relaxed attitude and the warm air of the place make him feel like he's trapped in a haze of tiredness.

Hitomi nods and quickly walks away to comply with the request. Mitsuki, for his part, can't help but laugh at the situation, although he still feels a little disconnected.

Mitsuki, still somewhat stunned, watches Hitomi leave with a smile. He then looks at Allivy and playfully comments, "People treat you like a celebrity, are you famous or something?"

Allivy laughs and replies, with a smile: "Well... let's just say some people recognize me."

Allivy, without another word, pulls out of nowhere a glowing, futuristic-looking sphere the size of a tennis ball. She holds it in front of Mitsuki and, with a knowing smile, says:

"Look, let's make the most of our time. This ball is an ability of mine. If you press this top part, it will allow me to project the memories you authorize me to. It's something that can be useful at times, but only if the person gives me their permission and chooses the memories."

The sphere begins to emit a faint glow as Allivy confidently displays it, waiting for Mitsuki's reaction.

Allivy holds the projection sphere in front of Mitsuki, who can't help but be amazed by what he's witnessing. His gaze turns to the artifact and then to Allivy, taking in the strange ability she's just shown him.

"That… is impressive," Mitsuki says, still in shock. "In my years of combat, I have never met someone with such a strange streak as yours." He brings a hand to his chin, scratching it lightly with his thumb as he thinks about what he just learned.

Allivy smiles at his surprise, enjoying Mitsuki's curiosity. Then, he, still bewildered, dares to ask:

—"What do you want to know about me and why?"

Allivy's expression changes to a more serious one, as if she is about to tell him something important. She lets the sphere levitate in her palm, still emitting a soft light, and answers bluntly:

—"As you well know, this isn't the first time I've seen you." She stares at Mitsuki before continuing. "To be blunt, I'm in contact with your sister, Elisa. Ever since you disappeared from your world, I promised her that I would find you one day. I didn't imagine it would be on last night's mission, but here we are."

Mitsuki, hearing Elisa's name, feels something inside him awaken. His eyes open wide, revealing a flash of recognition and surprise.

—"Elisa? My sister...?" he murmurs, now fully awake. The mention of his sister seems to be the breaking point, dispelling all the fog of confusion that surrounded him.

Allivy, noticing his change in attitude, nods slowly.

—"I know all this leaves you with more questions than answers, but... show me a little about where you come from and let's talk about it."

Mitsuki, now more alert, nods. Allivy's words have shocked him, but also piqued his interest.

—"Okay," he finally answers, his tone now firmer, "Show me that this sphere works."

The images projected by the sphere adjust, reflecting the world of Gloomoria as Mitsuki remembers it. At first, Mitsuki begins to speak, as if he were narrating a movie.

—"Gloomoria, my home... I don't know where it was located, but I was born there and lived there until I was nine years old."

A world with dark and purple hues was seen, with several black and purple kingdoms, exotic plants of unusual colors and people similar to humans, but with a peculiar detail: their hair was dark purple and their eyes, intensely purple. The inhabitants of Gloomoria, although human in structure, had those eyes that distilled a feeling of melancholy, as if they carried stories of past times in their pupils.

—"They all had eyes of that color... Like me, purple, like the mist of Gloomoria, which never dissipated. It was... the color of a world trapped between the eternal and the ephemeral."

The dial shows how the purple hue of the surroundings blends perfectly with the colour of their eyes, creating a sombre yet captivating atmosphere. The human figures, with their fair skin and eyes shining in the dim light, look like beings from another world.

Allivy looks at the images, and although Mitsuki doesn't know it, she already knew Gloomoria, having been there a few times. She clearly remembers the thick purple fog that covers the landscape and the figures moving in the darkness, their eyes shining like mirrors of lost souls.

—"Gloomoria..." Allivy murmured, her eyes narrowing, taking in every corner of the place. "I've been there. It's... strange, isn't it? A place so trapped in its darkness, and yet so full of life."

Mitsuki looked at her in surprise, not quite understanding.

—"Do you know Gloomoria?"

Allivy nodded slightly, but didn't pursue the subject further. She knew that this place brought back too many memories, not all of them pleasant.

—"Yes... I've been there a couple of times. It's a hard place to forget, although sometimes I wish it were. But, whatever... at least the people there still exist."

The place in the projection seemed to come to life in front of them, as if the images were connecting with Allivy's memories, making the air between them grow thicker, closer. Yet she remained calm, her tone gentle but serious, as if each word weighed a little more than the last.

Allivy, with a serious look, leaned slightly towards Mitsuki and said:

—"Okay, let me tell you something obvious, but I don't think you know: that place... is not Earth. It's not even part of the normal world, outer space or the stars."

Mitsuki fell silent, processing the revelation. Her eyes widened in surprise as her thoughts spun.

—"What? But... then? Why do those over there look so much like me? I thought... I thought I was a human..." he said, confused, as if his entire understanding of his own being was beginning to crumble.

Allivy smiled slightly, knowing that would be an expected reaction.

—"Exactly. Those over there are like you, but you are not a human, Mitsuki. You are not from that world. And although it may seem strange to you, you are more unique than you think."

With renewed excitement, Allivy lifted the sphere, now very close to her face.

—"Now that we know this, let's see what you're doing here," he said, in a playful tone, as if he were preparing to see something important.

At that moment, something strange happened. The sphere, which until now had projected images from the past, began to distort. Suddenly, for no apparent reason, it began to project a completely different image. Mitsuki saw the figures of himself, his younger brother, an unknown girl standing next to him, and the one who seemed to be his best friend. The image was clear, but it seemed like much more time had passed than they expected. The sphere unexpectedly broke apart in a burst of energy, leaving Allivy with a black stain on her head.

Mitsuki, watching the scene, couldn't understand anything. Everything had happened so fast. He tried to process what he had seen in the sphere, but the images and faces of those people, including the unknown girl and her friend, left him even more confused and upset.

—"Wha... what was that?" Mitsuki asked, still in shock, watching as the sphere completely disintegrated.

Allivy, though covered in a black cloak only on her head from the residual energy, seemed to be in perfect condition. She didn't look hurt. Just a little shocked. But nothing more.

Just then, Hitomi quickly appeared from the back of the cafe, carrying a cloth. Seeing Allivy's condition, she walked over and began to quickly wipe her face.

—"Oh no, Allivy, are you okay?!" Hitomi said worriedly, as she rubbed the black stain covering her face with the cloth.

Allivy, as she watched Hitomi clean her up, just let out a small laugh.

—"Yes, don't worry, nothing happened to me. Although this sphere has its flaws, it is definitely not infallible."

Mitsuki, still not fully understanding, slowly approached, continuing to observe the scene.

—"What... what was that? What does all this mean?" he asked, more to himself than to them.

Allivy, now more relaxed, looked at Mitsuki with a subtle smile.

—"All of this... is just the beginning, Mitsuki. The story we are about to uncover is much bigger than you can imagine."

Allivy, watching the sphere completely disintegrate, sighed and ran a hand through her hair, clearing a black stain that had been left on her face. She smiled somewhat nervously and said:

—"That's never happened to me with the sphere before, but I think I know why."

Mitsuki, still confused and worried about what had happened, looked at her carefully.

—"Why, what happened?" he asked, not fully understanding the situation.

Allivy looked him straight in the eyes, her expression serious and determined.

—"It's because you, young man, have a couple of traumas from your past. Your brain isn't even capable of remembering them because of the damage they did to you," he explained, his words laden with deep understanding. "And that, I promise you, I will fix."

Mitsuki, though not entirely surprised, remained silent. She knew what Allivy said was true. The pain of the past was something she had learned to hide, something her mind tried to forget, but it was still there, present. Her eyes darkened for a moment, as if an invisible weight fell on her shoulders.

Allivy, seeing his reaction, added softly:

—"I know this is going to be hard for you to understand, but there's more to you than you can imagine. And I'm here to help you discover it."

Mitsuki remained silent, his mind processing Allivy's words. He wasn't sure how far they would go in this conversation, but something inside him told him that he should listen.

Allivy smiled softly, looking at Mitsuki as she calmly explained:

—"There's no hurry for that. Look, let's have that as our goal, to clear your head. But now I'll explain to you the reasons why you're here with me."

Mitsuki looked at her curiously, not knowing what to expect next. Allivy leaned slightly towards him, as if she was about to reveal something important to him.

—"I know your sister, Elisa. And I know where she is," Allivy said, her expression serious, but also recognizing a hint of emotion in her voice. "She's involved in a mini organization I created... 'The Prodigies'."

Mitsuki frowned, somewhat confused.

—"What?" he repeated, with a slight amused smile. "An organization? I have no idea what you're talking about. But, well, I'm glad you mention Elisa. I always thought about her, even though I haven't seen her in years..."

Allivy nodded, a slight smile showing understanding.

"You will see her again after nine years, Mitsuki," she said, looking into Mitsuki's eyes, as if conveying a certainty. "I'm sure life gave you this opportunity for a reason."

Mitsuki was silent for a moment, not knowing how to process what he had just heard. So many years had passed without hearing from Elisa that the thought of seeing her soon gave him a mix of excitement and anxiety.

—"And what is 'The Prodigies'? What does it have to do with all this?" Mitsuki asked, somewhat bewildered.

Allivy leaned forward and continued to explain enthusiastically:

—"The Prodigies are a group of people with special qualities, like yours. Like Elisa's. What you did last night when you saved the girl surprised me, Mitsuki. It showed me that you have something unique, something powerful. And even if you don't remember everything, I know you have potential."

Mitsuki, not quite understanding what Allivy meant, laughed a little and replied in a light tone:

—"I like the idea of ​​seeing Elisa, but I don't know if I'm ready to join some kind of club, huh? I'm not much of a member of those groups."

Allivy laughed, noticing his joke, but not losing the seriousness of the conversation.

—"It's not a club or anything like that, Mitsuki," he said with a laugh, lightening the situation. "It's much more than that. It's a purpose, a mission. And it's not about joining something just for the sake of joining. It's about using your skills in a way that can help others. And I trust you'll understand what that means soon."

Mitsuki, though still bewildered, couldn't help but smile at the thought of the possibility of reuniting with his sister after so long. Although there was a lot at stake and many unanswered questions, for the first time, something inside him seemed to be awakening.

Mitsuki, with a smirk, raises an eyebrow at what Allivy told him about prodigies. He wasn't convinced, but before he could say anything else, Allivy interrupts him with a direct question.

—"What if you were paid to help others face danger?" he asks, in a tone that mixes seriousness and a bit of mischief.

Mitsuki falls silent for a moment, turning the idea over in his head. He knew that helping people didn't cause him any problems, but doing it for money... that was something completely different. His thoughts waver between curiosity and distrust.

—"Pay me for helping? What, am I a mercenary now?" he says, half laughing, although a glint of interest appears in his eyes.

Allivy is unimpressed by Mitsuki's response. She smiles and leans back in her seat calmly.

—"No, you wouldn't be a mercenary. It would be more like... an arrangement where you help those in need, in exchange for a decent wage. You'd be surprised how much good it does to a world, and to people, to have someone like you protecting them."

Mitsuki thinks for a moment. The thought of having a clear purpose, of being able to use his abilities for something other than his own benefit, begins to settle in his mind.

Mitsuki crosses her arms, looking at Allivy with a mix of distrust and curiosity.

—"I don't know... I'm not one to be convinced so easily. What makes you think someone like me would agree to something like that? Helping people, yes, but I'm not a superhero or anything like that. I have my own issues and my own demons."

Allivy, without losing her calm, watches him with a soft smile, as if she was waiting for this reaction.

—"I understand, I know you're not one to follow any proposal out there. But imagine if you could actually do something good for the world... and, what's more, get paid for it. It's not just about saving people, but about helping this world not sink into chaos. Think of the opportunities."

Mitsuki remains silent, but the thought begins to swirl around in his mind. He knows he is not one to be left in inertia, but he also doesn't like the idea of ​​committing to something without knowing where it will lead him.

—"Maybe... Maybe if you pay me enough to cover my expenses at this hotel and a few more things... you could convince me. But I don't think I'm in the mood for a commitment or anything so formal, if that's what you're hoping for."

Allivy, unable to help herself, smiles widely.

—"Very well, Mitsuki. Okay, there will be no need to agree on anything... For now. But I can already see you as part of the prodigies."

Mitsuki snorts, still putting on a facade of indifference, but a slight glint of acceptance in his gaze.

—"Okay... I'll do it. But I don't want to hear that you're treating me like part of some 'club' or 'organization'. I only help when I want to."

Allivy, satisfied with the answer, nods and leans back in her chair.

—"Perfect. That's all I need to know."

And with that answer, the chapter comes to an end, with Mitsuki beginning to accept that perhaps, her destiny was about to change in ways she couldn't yet understand.

What will that test be? We will see soon!

- Astro Miry 12/29/2024