Chapter 57: Lost Ones

Vyran

Sarudai sighed as soon as we stepped out of the prison cell. I could sense the turmoil beneath her stoic exterior, the way her shoulders tensed, the slight furrow in her brow.

"You okay?" I asked, though the answer seemed to hang in the air between us, as tangible as the cold stone of the dungeon walls.

She turned away, a curtain of orange hair obscuring her face. "Yeah," she said in a low voice, barely above a whisper.

It didn't sound like it, but I knew better than to press her about it.

As we walked, I couldn't help but stare at her. She reminded me of a childhood friend of mine...

---

[Eight years ago]

I swung in my swing, smiling as I went higher and higher, pushing against the limits of the sky. The chains of the swing creaked in protest.

Below me, the world was a blur, a mix of green grass and the brown earth of the playground. But above, there was only the endless expanse, a promise of freedom and adventure.

"Higher, Vyran! Higher!" The voice came from below, a cheer that fueled my ascent.

I glanced down, my heart soaring as I saw her—my childhood friend, her hands cupped around her mouth as she shouted encouragements.

"Come on, Sarai! Join me!" I called, beckoning her to the empty swing beside mine.

She hesitated, a flicker of fear in her eyes, but then, with a determined nod, she took a seat. Together, we swung, reaching for the clouds, our laughter mingling with the wind.

"Sarai," a voice called out, interrupting our fun time together.

I turned and saw a handsome man with reddish-brown hair. He wore a white lab coat. It was Obemu, Sarai's father. Despite being a dad, he looked super young for his age.

Sarai smiled and jumped out of her swing.

Her father rushed to catch her. He sighed as soon as he did. "Sarai, what do you think you're doing? If I weren't here, you could've broken something! Even the nanobots in your body might not have been able to fix you up."

She snuggled him. "Sorry, Daddy."

Obemu's sigh was one of relief mixed with the mild frustration only a parent could know. He held Sarai close, his eyes softening despite his stern words. "You know you have to be more careful," he chided gently.

Sarai's eyes were downcast, her adventurous spirit momentarily subdued. "I know, Daddy. I just wanted to fly like Vyran."

I watched from my swing, still swaying gently. Obemu was a renowned scientist, known for his work with nanotechnology. It was rumored that he had even integrated some of his groundbreaking tech into his own daughter to ensure her well-being.

Obemu looked up at me, eyes cold. "Vyran, you are going to get hurt one day if you keep swinging like that."

I frowned. All I wanted was to feel the wind against my face.

I nodded, understanding the weight of his words. "I'll remember that, sir."

He smiled, a warm, inviting expression that spoke of a deep fondness for both of us. "Come on, you two. Let's get some ice cream. Just promise me no more aerial acrobatics for today."

Sarai's face lit up, her earlier guilt forgotten. "Promise!" she exclaimed, grabbing his hand.

I jumped off and ran after the two.

Sadly, that would be one of our last days together. The experimental nanobots Obemu installed into his oldest daughter to safe guard her life soon proved too much for her young body.

Soon after our day at the park, Sarai fell ill. Her vibrant energy was replaced by a constant lethargy, her cheeks lost their rosy hue, and her laughter, once lively and infectious, became rare and weak. 

Doctors were baffled by her condition. They couldn't find anything physically wrong with her, yet her health continued to deteriorate. It wasn't until Obemu, stricken with worry and desperation, confessed to his experimental nanobot integration. They were meant to extend her life, to protect her from a rare disease instead, they were slowly poisoning her.

The nanobots weren't compatible with her young body. They were too powerful, too efficient. They were not only repairing damaged cells but also healthy ones, causing her body to work overtime and exhaust itself. It was like her body was constantly running a marathon with no finish line in sight.

Obemu was devastated. He had wanted to protect his daughter, to give her the best possible chance in life, but his actions had done the exact opposite. He worked day and night to find a solution, to reverse the damage he had done, but it was too late. The nanobots were too integrated into her system, removing them would be as fatal as leaving them in. 

I remember visiting Sarai during those last few days. She was frail, a shadow of the vibrant girl I had known, but her spirit remained unbroken. She still managed to smile, to laugh at my terrible jokes, to comfort me when it should have been the other way around.

"Sarai," I remember whispering to her one night, holding her weak hand in mine. "You need to fight, okay? You need to stay with us."

She gave me a weak smile, her green eyes filled with a sadness that was too heavy for a girl her age to bear. "I'm trying, Vyran," she whispered back. "But it's so hard."

I patted her head and smiled. "Don't worry, you aren't alone."

Sarai nodded and gave me a weak smile.

She passed away a few days later. Her body had finally given in to the relentless strain of the nanobots. All of us were devastated, but none more so than Obemu. The guilt of his actions weighed heavily on him, a constant reminder of the daughter he had lost due to his hubris.

The memory of Sarai, her laughter, her spirit, her courage in the face of her illness, has stayed with me all these years.

---

[Present]

I came to a stop, tears falling down my face. 

"Vyran?" Sarudei said, looking over her shoulder. "You okay?"

In her face, I saw Sarai.

I ran over and hugged her like how she had hugged me outside.

"Sarai," I mumbled, even through I knew it wasn't her. My friend, the girl I had a crush on was long gone.

She patted the back of my head. "I assume this Sarai is the me from your universe?"

I nodded.

"I see. Based on your tears, I assume she had a sad fate, didn't she?"

I sniffled. "She died, she was so young."

Sarudei wrapped her arms around me in a comforting embrace. "I'm sorry," she murmured, her voice soft and understanding.

I could only nod, my throat too tight to form any words. The pain of losing Sarai was still fresh, even after all these years. It was a wound that had never truly healed, only scarred over.

We stood there in silence, the only sound was the soft echo of our breathing. It was a moment of understanding, of shared grief. Despite coming from different universes, we both understood the pain of loss. It was a universal experience, one that transcended the boundaries of worlds.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I pulled away, wiping the tears from my eyes. "I'm sorry," I said, my voice hoarse. "I didn't mean to break down like that."

Sarudei shook her head. "Don't apologize," she said, her voice gentle. "Grief is a part of life. It's okay to feel it. It's okay to let it out."

Her words, so similar to what Sarai would have said, brought a sad smile to my face. "Thank you, Sarudei."

She nodded, giving me a small smile in return. "Anytime, Vyran."

As we resumed our walk, I felt a sense of peace settle over me. The pain was still there, but it was bearable now. I knew I wasn't alone in my grief. And for now, that was enough. 

"You know, you remind me of a friend I lost too. Except, I lost him more recently. His name was Syran."

"That's what you called me."

She nodded. "He was a shy boy when we were kids, but grew up to be a somewhat reckless warrior. He... perished against Titanos two years ago." She stopped. "He tried to save my mom who had gotten captured, but ended up dying too."

No...

The revelation hit me like a punch to the gut. "No," I whispered, the word barely escaping my lips. The parallels between our lives, between Sarai and Syran, were too much to bear. It was as if fate had woven our stories together with a thread of sorrow and loss.

Sarudei's eyes were distant, lost in the past. "He was brave, you know? He didn't hesitate, not even for a second. He charged into the fray, his only thought to save my mother." Her voice cracked, and she took a deep breath, steadying herself. "But Titanos... they were too strong."

I felt a surge of anger, a burning desire for vengeance. Titanos had taken too much from others.

"We'll make them pay," I said, my voice hard with resolve. "For Syran, for your mom. For all those you've lost."

Sarudei smiled and held my hand. "Thanks, Vyran."

I blushed as I saw Sarai's image overlapping hers.

"Y-you don't have to," I said, turning away.

She giggled like Sarai would.

I smiled and we continued walking.