episode 3

Chapter 3: Flicker of the Forgotten

The moment Tannie released her power to protect the village, a gentle but brilliant light exploded from her palms, forming a shimmering barrier around everyone. The villagers gasped in awe, but the effort drained her completely.

Her knees buckled.

“Tannie!” Kane rushed forward, catching her just before she hit the ground. Her breathing was shallow, her skin cold. Kane held her close, worry etched into his face.

The Protector—tall, mysterious, always watching—stepped forward. “You shouldn’t carry her,” he said sharply, his voice tight. “She needs rest, not coddling.”

Kane glared at him. “And you think letting her fall alone is better?”

Tannie’s head rested against Kane’s chest, her lips moving faintly. “Stop… fighting…”

As Kane carried her into the forest where it was safer, Tannie slipped in and out of consciousness. Memories surged—harsh voices, a dark room, tears… abandonment. She whimpered.

“No… don’t leave me…”

A tear rolled down her cheek.

Kane paused, stunned. He gently brushed the tear away, whispering, “You’re safe now, Tannie. I’m here…”

But behind them, the Protector’s fists clenched. His eyes were full of something Kane had never seen in him before—jealousy.

As Kane settled her near the riverbank, he sat beside her, his hand resting gently on hers. “Why do I care this much?” he murmured.

Suddenly, Tannie stirred. Her eyes fluttered open—and met Kane’s. For a moment, neither spoke. The tension between them was thick, almost electric.

But before either could speak, she remembered the past again. Her eyes filled with tears, and she whispered, “I’m… broken…”

Then everything went black again—she had fainted once more.

And from the shadows, the Protector watched with a storm in his gaze.

Shinrai no Hikari – Chapter 4: “The Protector’s Mask”

The soft glow of morning light slipped through the trees, casting dancing patterns on the ground. Tannie lay still, her chest rising and falling steadily as the warmth of the sun kissed her pale skin.

Kane sat beside her, eyes heavy from staying awake all night. He hadn’t moved—his fingers still loosely held hers.

“She hasn’t woken up,” he muttered.

A rustle in the leaves.

“You care too much,” the Protector said, stepping into view. His tone was even, but there was an edge to it. “She’s not yours to protect.”

Kane stood. “And she’s not yours to command. What is your problem with me?”

The Protector didn’t answer. Instead, he walked to Tannie’s side and knelt, gently placing a hand on her forehead. His touch was careful, almost reverent.

“She’s carrying a weight she doesn’t understand,” he whispered. “And she’s unlocking powers too fast. If she keeps going like this... she might shatter.”

Kane frowned. “Then tell her the truth. About the powers. About her past.”

The Protector’s jaw clenched. “It’s not time.”

Suddenly, Tannie stirred. A low sound escaped her lips—like a whimper. She was dreaming again.

---

In her mind...

She stood alone in a long hallway. Shadows whispered around her. The same cold voice echoed:

"You are not enough."

A door opened. Inside, a small girl curled up in the corner of a dark room—her younger self.

Tannie stepped forward. “You don’t have to be afraid anymore.”

The younger girl looked up with wide eyes. “But they left me… they all left…”

Tannie knelt and held her. “I won’t leave you.”

And for the first time, the hallway began to glow.

---

Back in the real world...

Her eyes snapped open, glowing faintly with light. Kane and the Protector froze.

Tannie sat up slowly, confused. “Where…?”

“You’re safe,” Kane said softly.

But she didn’t look at him. Her eyes locked with the Protector’s.

“I saw something. A memory. Of someone... leaving me.”

The Protector’s face changed. For a second, his cold mask cracked. “You remembered...?”

Tannie stood, shakily. “You knew, didn’t you? About what happened to me.”

He said nothing.

Kane stepped in, protective. “Say something!”

The Protector turned away. “It’s time to go. There are places that may have the answers.”

As he walked off, Tannie looked between the two boys—her heart pulling in two directions.

And so, the journey truly began.

Chapter 5: Echoes in the Wind

The trio walked in silence.

The woods thinned as they approached the edge of a valley. A cold wind danced through the trees, carrying with it the scent of rain and something else—nostalgia.

Tannie tightened her cloak around her. The Protector walked ahead, silent as ever, his posture tense. Kane stayed close to her, eyes scanning the path.

After what felt like hours, they reached a cliffside temple, half-ruined and covered in ivy. It pulsed faintly with magic.

“This is where it began,” the Protector said. “Where your power was first sealed.”

Tannie blinked. “I’ve… been here before.”

Her legs moved on their own, memories rising—laughter, and then screaming. A woman’s voice calling her name.

She stepped inside.

---

Inside the Temple

Ancient murals lined the walls. One showed a girl with glowing hands. Another—dark figures surrounding her, reaching.

Suddenly, a whisper filled the air. “Shinrai…”

Tannie turned. A ghostly figure emerged from the wall—a woman in flowing robes, her eyes full of sorrow.

“You’ve returned… Tannie.”

Kane stepped in front of her, protective. “Who are you?”

“I am Ayame… her guardian once. The one who sealed the darkness away.”

Tannie stepped forward, trembling. “You knew me?”

Ayame nodded. “You were just a child when the power awakened. Too strong. Too kind. Too dangerous. So, we sealed part of your soul… and wiped the pain.”

Tannie’s voice broke. “Why?”

“Because the ones you trusted most… betrayed you.”

The temple shuddered.

Kane grabbed her hand. “Let’s get out of here!”

But the Protector stepped between them. “No. She needs to remember. Only then will she control the Light.”

Ayame raised a hand. “Then let me show her.”

---

Vision Flash

Tannie saw herself as a small child—laughing in the garden of a noble house. A boy with black hair gave her a flower. But later… that same boy stood beside cloaked figures. Her screams echoed as they took her away.

When the vision ended, Tannie collapsed to her knees.

“That boy…” she whispered. “He betrayed me…”

Kane knelt beside her. “Tannie… who was he?”

She looked up, tears falling.

Her eyes met the Protector’s.

And in that moment—she knew.

“It was you.”

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