CHAPTER 12: OLD FRIENDS

Four pairs of eyes met, but no one spoke. They had much to share, yet struggled to begin. “Pardon my rudeness, keeping guests at the door,” Edward broke the silence. “If you don’t mind, please come in.” Muse pulled Snow to the creaky bed, Edward hobbling behind with his cane.

“Let me help,” Kira offered, supporting her old friend.

“You’ve softened since back then,” Edward said, grabbing a chair and easing into it. “You two wouldn’t believe it—my main job was dragging myself after Kira just to remake her clothes. She was so reckless,” he laughed heartily.

“No way,” Kira’s face flushed, nudging his shoulder. “Ed, where’ve you been hiding all this time? I thought you’d…”

“Not yet,” Edward replied. “Just not my time…”

An awkward silence fell. Snow cut through it, “How’d you two end up together? How’d you escape all the way here, Muse?”

“Humans say ‘the most dangerous place is the safest,’ right? Compared to your journey, our story’s not much. Snow, tell Edward from the start,” Muse said, brushing Snow’s hair.

Snow recounted meeting Kira on the battlefield, their clashes, and their alliance against 148 and to free Serah. Edward listened intently, Kira standing beside him, arms crossed in silence. Abruptly, Edward interrupted:

“Kira, be honest. Is a Philosopher’s Stone inside you?”

“…Yes,” Kira hesitated.

“Listen, I won’t ask how you got it, but tell me—how’d you defeat Branwen? A high-tier Beast like that shouldn’t fall easily,” Edward pressed.

“…I absorbed its Philosopher’s Stone.”

Silence reclaimed the room. Edward sighed, turning to Kira. “There’s something you need to know. Lately, more people are vanishing, and trials happen constantly. I fear…” He faltered.

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“Ed, we came to Elysium for Serah,” Kira said firmly. “If you still see me as a friend, don’t hide anything.”

Edward sighed again, asking Muse to fetch a notebook from the shelf. He handed it to Kira. She skimmed the pages, eyes widening in disbelief.

“I’ve secretly gathered this intel over time. If I’m right, the Elders are rushing to craft more Philosopher’s Stones for a final war with Midgard.”

“So the missing people might’ve…” Snow’s lips trembled.

“Yes,” Edward continued. “Those with strong mana, like the Chosen, become raw material for the Stones. Weaker ones are forced to supply mana, mostly for summoning low-tier Beasts.” He paused, then added, “We Homunculi are outdated against Midgard’s tech. The Elders realized only Beasts can secure Olympus’s victory…”

“…And the Stones embody that key,” Kira finished. Edward nodded faintly. She bowed her head, slamming a fist into the wall. She knew they were all war tools, yet couldn’t fathom why she felt such rage.

“One more thing—Poppy’s still alive,” Edward touched her shoulder.

“Poppy’s alive!? Where?” Kira spun around, her eyes softening.

“She’s hiding in an abandoned factory nearby. Her time’s running out,” Edward turned away, hiding sorrow in his gaze.

“I know that place. Snow, let’s go,” Kira hurried toward the door.

“Wait,” Muse blocked her. “Aren’t you two on the run? Snow got exposed earlier—going out now’s trouble. Snow, didn’t you want to hear our story?”

“True, but leaving Kira alone…” Snow hesitated.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be quick,” Kira reassured her. “You’ve got plenty to catch up on with Muse, right? I’m just meeting another old friend.” She smiled warmly, stepping out into the sewer.

Footsteps raced above, shouts of pursuit echoing. Kira shrank into a mouse, darting along the walls toward the abandoned factory.

Once a bread factory, it lay deserted after the Federation’s food control decree. A gaping hole pierced the ceiling, forgotten machines tangled with roots and thorns sprouting from the cracked floor. Poppy lay on a bed, eyes closed, brown hair fanning out like a sleeping princess. Kira approached gently, touching her to wake her, but Poppy didn’t stir. Sensing something wrong, Kira sat beside her, shaking her shoulders. A shrill voice hissed from the shadows:

“A long kiss, good night to you.”

The Gremlin reappeared, baring its grotesque teeth in glee. As Kira rose, Poppy’s eyes snapped open—pure white pupils—grabbing Kira and pinning her to the bed. Before she could react, roots coiled around her. Poppy’s body melded with the bed, sinking to make way for Kira. Two arms sprouted from the headboard, covering her eyes and mouth. She thrashed and screamed, but it was futile. The Reaper sank into a deep sleep.

Sleeping Beauty—Mythical Beast of Dreams and Vines—capable of slaying prey in slumber, a creature thought confined to human fairy tales.