Those who warm the heart

ㅤ There was not enough air, and Meredy saw it as if through a murky haze. Herself and someone else in a small flower field—the only area in the darkness where a ray of light fell. And the sight of that other girl sent shivers and a painful tingling sensation through her, tears welling up and clinging to her eyelashes. Her gentle smile, her pink hair, her playful gaze, the warmth radiating. "We'll always be together." The girl placed the wreath on Meredy's head. "Always, always," Meredy replied happily, placing a matching wreath on her friend's head. Together since childhood—best friends. A happy childhood. That made the bitterness even more painful, a sense of hopelessness gripping her body. The light dimmed beneath a spatial hole teeming with black creatures. The parents desperately tried to close it, but one of the many "spots" managed to escape, piercing the girl's chest like a bullet. Her name was erased. Her identity was erased. Only darkness remained. Not a trace remained of the kind girl. While Balir hunted the monster, Shizel tenderly embraced her daughter, protecting her fragile body and feelings. But he didn't have time… The black "spot" killed the king, and the blame fell on Balir to please the royal advisor. Darkness suffocated Shizel and little Meredy, the pain of a thousand needles piercing their bodies, sucking out all the air. Shizel became the night itself, spreading her arms imperiously. Her gaze was filled with despair and madness. And Meredy fell silently into the abyss… Her own tears couldn't catch up with her. Deeper. Blacker. She no longer resisted, frozen in a silent scream, instinctively reaching up. To where light usually comes from. A painful prick stabbed her finger. A different pain, from the outside. Meredy sat up abruptly in her sleeping bag, gasping for air. The veil of sleepy darkness hadn't yet lifted from her eyes, but the living warmth and the quiet, worried "Kweeky?" were soothing, helping her breathe evenly. Visions of the past dissolved into the night, lingering in her memory as disjointed fragments, only to vanish completely in the light of day. "Stop making noise, let me sleep…" Keele grumbled, still asleep. A faint smile of relief touched Meredy's lips. Though Keele hadn't accepted her right away, and was often irritated by trivial things, he was always there, always there to help. Farah's optimism ignited a fire within her. And Reid's feebureel gave her hope. She was surrounded by light; she had nothing to worry about. All that was left was to move forward, because she herself had decided to fight, no matter what. Through pain and tears, she cherished the fragments of memories of warmth and tender smiles. Wrapping herself back up, settling in more comfortably, and holding Quickie close, Meredy fell asleep peacefully. She was no longer alone. No longer drowning in darkness. Perhaps many bright memories were lost, like her best friend's name, but many more happy moments awaited her in the future—she believed it with all her heart. After all, she had many more friends now… Loyal companions, willing to risk their lives. And she would protect these lives at all costs. ㅤ