Sunlight filters weakly through the canopy, casting long shadows as Sora moves cautiously through the underbrush, her steps slow and tired. She has come here to rest and reflect, her heart heavy with the loss of her friend, Arin.

Sora kneels by a mossy log, leaning her head back against it and closing her eyes. The events of the last few weeks, like losing Arin, and the overwhelming sense of guilt she couldn’t shake. The forest is silent around her, peaceful but unsettlingly lonely.

She hugs her knees to her chest, lost in thought, but a sudden sound of twigs snapping makes her freeze. Her hand instinctively reaches for her weapon as she scans the trees, heart pounding.

Sora looked around "Who's there?"

A figure emerges from the shadows,a tall figure she recognizes immediately. It's Oranara, another friend, someone she hadn’t seen in months. Relief washes over her.

"Oranara! It’s been so long! I’m glad to see—"

But something is wrong. and he doesn’t respond to her greeting. His movements are stiff, unnatural, and there’s a strange, ominous mask covering his face.

"Oranara?"

Without warning, Oranara unsheathes his blade and charges at her with a lethal swing. Sora barely dodges, tumbling to the side in shock.

"Oranara, what are you doing? It’s me—Sora!"

He doesn’t respond. His attacks become more ferocious, his blade slicing through the air with deadly precision. Sora blocks the strikes, but each one pushes her back.

"Stop it! This isn’t you!"

The mask on his face seems to pulse with an eerie energy, and Sora’s eyes widen as she realizes the truth.

"The mask… it's controlling you!"

Her heart races as she fights to defend herself, but she’s torn. Every time she counters one of his strikes, she can’t help but think about losing another friend. The thought of Oranara, like Arin, being gone, fills her with fear.

Oranara lunges again, and this time, Sora hesitates. The blade grazes her arm, sending a sharp pain through her body. She winces but stays on her feet.

"I can’t lose you too… I won’t!"

With a surge of determination, Sora spins around him, dodging his next strike and, with a powerful kick, knocks the mask from his face. The mask flies through the air, landing in the dirt with a clatter. Oranara stumbles, his movements slowing, and then he falls to his knees, gasping as if awakening from a nightmare.

He looks up at Sora, his eyes returning to their normal, warm state.

"S-Sora? What… what in the gods name happened?"

Sora lets out a shaky breath, her shoulders sagging with relief.

"You were… controlled by that....thing. You almost—"

She stops, her voice catching in her throat as she looks at him. The fear she felt just moments ago still lingers. She kneels beside him, checking for any injuries.

"I’m so sorry,Sora I barely remember anything. I never meant to hurt you.i only remember that i couldn't move my body"

Sora shakes her head.

"It wasn’t you. But I was scared. I’ve already lost one friend… I couldn’t lose you too."

Oranara’s face softens and fills with concern

"Arin... what happened to him?" Oranara asked

Sora looks away, the weight of her emotions returning. Tears well up in her eyes as she struggles to speak.

"Arin’s gone. We… we lost him in the fight. And I couldn’t save him. I tried, Oranara, I really tried. And its all my fault!"

Her voice breaks, and she wipes away the tears before they can fall. Oranara watches her for a moment, understanding the pain behind her words. He moves closer, wrapping his arms around her in a tight embrace.

"you seemed like you needed it-"

"I'm sorry, it's just hard, I never meant any of this to happen but it still did, now it's my fault and I'm all alone" Sora spoke as she hugged Oranara, her tears falling on his shoulder

"You’re not alone, Sora. I’m here, and we’ll get through this. Together?" Oranara spoke as he reached out his hand

"Together..." Sora nods, finding a bit of comfort in his words