Arielle stood by the fire, barefoot, glowing softly.
She wasn't a ghost.
She wasn't alive.
She was something in-between.
And she was looking at the girls like she already knew them.
One by one.
Her eyes landed first on Claire.
And she smiled—bittersweet, nostalgic, familiar.
---
"Serah?" she said gently.
Claire blinked.
"…What?"
Arielle stepped forward, eyes widening with emotion.
"You're not her. But you… look just like she did when we first found him."
Claire took a step back.
Velda's cup hit the ground.
Zara tensed.
Lucius didn't breathe.
---
> [System Alert: Reincarnation Echo Detected – Claire's soul holds a resonance to a person from Sovarion's forgotten past]
Identity Match: 79% – Serah
Status: Not confirmed. Possible soul imprint. Possible destiny reroute.
---
Claire's lips parted. "You think I'm… her?"
Arielle tilted her head. "No."
She stepped closer—reached out—and touched Claire's chest, softly.
"But he loved you back then too. He just never told you."
Claire gasped.
Tears fell.
And suddenly, she wasn't looking at Arielle.
She was looking at herself—
In another time.
Another world.
Another life.
Holding a blade.
Bleeding.
And still smiling.
---
> [Bond Acceleration Triggered – Claire's Flame Awakens]
New Trait: Echoed Love – If Claire is ever left behind again, her soul will split the world to reach him.
---
Claire fell to her knees.
"I'm not her. I'm not anyone."
Lucius stepped forward.
"You're you," he said. Quiet. Honest.
"And that's enough."
But Arielle turned to him.
"You've always said that."
She looked back at the others.
"But you always leave them behind when you remember me."
---
Silence.
Then she looked to Lilith.
"I remember you too."
Lilith froze.
"…How?"
Arielle smiled.
"I forgave you a long time ago."
Lilith broke.
Collapsed forward.
Velda caught her.
Even Zara looked away.
---
Lucius stood in the center of all of them.
One girl on her knees.
One crying in silence.
One shattered in guilt.
One pretending not to hurt.
And the one who died…
Still looking at him like he was hers.
---
> [Flame of the First Bond: Stability Fracturing]
Warning: Emotional overload among bonded targets may trigger Echo Collapse.
---
Arielle stepped back.
"I didn't mean to hurt them," she whispered.
Lucius nodded.
"But you did."
She looked down.
"And I still love you."
Lucius closed his eyes.
"So do they."