Twelve Years Ago | Tokyo — Rainbow Bridge Pedestrian Pillar
A dusk breeze ripples across Tokyo Bay as Ruin stands atop one of the Rainbow Bridge's support pillars. Black jogging pants, a white T-shirt, silver cardigan, and worn sneakers do little to hide the fury burning in her eyes.
Just a few meters away, on the opposite pillar, sits a boy who looks no older than twelve. Legs crossed, crimson-red eyes half-lidded, he wears a loose scarlet cardigan over black cargo pants— apparently bored by everything around him.
Ruin's gaze sharpens.
"RyūretsunoTenbatsu!"
White chains materialize and whip around the boy's chest. He yawns, snaps his fingers once— a cracking noise. The chains crumble into dust.
Ruin tries again, her voice harsher.
"RyūretsunoTenbatsu!"
Nothing. Not even a spark.
Desperate, she shouts a third time.
"RyūretsunoTenbatsu!"
Still nothing.
"What did you do?" she yells.
The boy finally looks over. "Oh— hey."
"I'll kill you for my clan!" Ruin barks.
He tilts his head. "So you're from the White… fungi? Hard to remember these silly clan names." He shrugs. "Anyway, you tried to kill me, so I'll take you seriously."
He slips a hand into his coat, plucks a single petal, and blows it toward her. Ruin blinks, confused.
"Blossom, into roseswitch" he murmurs.
The petal unfurls midair into a perfect rose that hovers towards her. In the next instant he vanishes—
—then appears behind her, the rose stem grazing her throat.
"So you want to kill me." he says quietly. "Mind telling me why?"
"The Red Dragons slaughter us." Ruin growls. "You're Lazarea, the prodigy— aren't you?"
He twirls the rose between his fingers. "My name's Lucil, actually. Those chains— lunar-magic infused. Who taught you something so far advanced?"
"As if I'd tell you." she snaps, wiping away the tears she refuses to show.
Lucil sighs, tucking the blossom back into his coat. "Silver always did like arrogant, hot-headed girls."
"You know him?" she blurts.
"Best friend." a half-smile ghosting his lips.
Ruin's eyes widen. "So you're that rose maniac…"
"Easy." His tone stays light but the air tightens. "Be grateful I spared your life."
Ruin's shoulders tense. Even in his teasing, she hears the warning— and knows he means every word.
"So you play with lives?" she screams accusingly.
"What I hate more than arrogance." Lucil replies softly, "is hypocrisy. If you're willing to kill, be willing to die. The simplest rule to follow."
The anger on Ruin's face wavers; she pouts, tears finally slipping free. "Silver's my brother…"
Lucil blinks, realization dawning on him slowly. "You're just a kid. You spoke so grown-up, I completely missed it. My little sister's way sassier— I'm really sorry!"
"You're mean!" Ruin huffs.
"Absolutely." he agrees. "But make sure to remember you touch the people I love and someone will die. Silver knows that too. That's my only rule."
"Then here's my rule!" Ruin stamps a foot. "I'll try to kill only you!"
Lucil chuckles— thin and all-aware. "Fair. I'll just keep disarming you. Need tips on how to finish me? Ask Silver."
She scrunches her nose. "Why are you even here?"
Lucil scratches the back of his head. "Last time I stood on this spot, the bridge didn't exist yet. Just wanted to see what changed."
"You were born here— you know it was built more than a decade ago, dumbass!"
"True enough." He straightens, coat flaring in the breeze. "Oh— and, Ruin? Ditch the hybrid chains. Pure lunar magic suits you better."
He snaps his fingers. "Rose Switch."
Petals swirl— and he's gone, leaving only the fading scent of roses.
Ruin clenches her fists. "I'll train— and I'll kill you next time, Lucil!"
Wind whips her hair as the city lights bloom against the gathering night.
Eight Years Ago | Silver's Personal Domain
Silver's private training ground floats between a violet night sky and a silver sea— a moonlit plain woven from his own mana. A younger Silver waits at its center, dressed in a neat black suit, hands clasped behind his back. Opposite him stands Ruin, sweat-damp hair clinging to her cheeks.
She thrusts both palms forward.
"LunationThree— ShacklesofNight!"
Black-and-white chains coil from thin air, hissing toward Silver. He exhales and snaps his fingers.
"LunationThree—Breakthrough."
The chains explode into glittering dust.
Ruin scowls. "That was Lucil's trick!"
Silver chuckles. "I borrowed it."
"I still plan to kill him one day."
"Then you'll need more training." he teases.
Ruin plants her feet. "Fine. I'll master the moon— and snap his roses in half."
They spar until dusk bleeds into deeper night. At last Ruin doubles over, panting. "Mana… gone."
"Then use a gun." Silver mutters half-seriously. "Or extend your reserve with a catalyst."
"Our clan forbids catalysts." she exclaims.
"They don't forbid dragon bracelets. Which are catalysts." He touches the silver-runed moon necklace at his throat, unclasps it and presses it into her hand. "Take it, big sister. You'll cast longer with this."
She traces the runes, eyes softening. "Lucil drains mana insanely fast. He doesn't use catalysts— why?"
Silver shrugs. "His mana cycle's strange. Roses he plants become fuel. If he lands even a scratch with his special spell, the damage— and the petals— refill him almost endlessly."
Ruin's lips curl. "So I'll rot the roses first."
Silver laughs. "Try. He always has another surprise."
They sink into the grass. Ruin wipes her brow. "Thanks for the catalyst, brother. I'll treasure it— and I won't disappoint you. Oh—"
She grins, teasing. "Homura wants to see you again."
"Ohh cool, but I don't expect anything more from her." Silver says, then grows thoughtful. "But back to the topic at hand— do you still plan to kill the Red Dragons?"
Ruin shakes her head. "War's ugly. I hate losing more than I hate them. Lucil humiliated me without getting a sweat."
Silver snorts. "Must be in our blood to resent him."
"Then why are you friends?"
Silver grins wearily. "Fate. And he knows me better than anyone."
Ruin yawns, shoulders drooping. "Mother and Father want me married off."
"Who's the unlucky guy?"
"Je-la." She rolls her eyes. "I'm too young."
Silver ruffles her hair. "Then act your age sometimes— quit talking like a sixty-year-old council mage."
Ruin sticks her tongue out— childish, for once— and they both laugh beneath Silver's eternal moon in the domain.
A gust of wind ripples the dream-plain as Ruin squares her shoulders, eyes flashing.
"Huh!" she huffs slowly beginning to blush.
Silver folds his arms. "If our clan keeps this war with the Red Dragons, it won't exist much longer."
"You mean—" Ruin starts.
"A pointless war." he says, calm as moonlight. "They barely have any forces left."
Ruin scowls. "That's a lie. I've seen their army."
Silver lifts a brow. "Right— forgot. You still can't break that illusion."
"What illusion?"
"Next lesson." he says, tapping her forehead. "Illusion breaking— I'll teach you."
Ruin opens her mouth but he cuts her off.
"And if everyone dies except the few who want peace? Je-La goes down too— no forced marriage needed for you. He and his ideals will get him killed in no time. Trust me sis."
Ruin smiles, stands up and walks over to Silver, lying beside him.
"Why do you act older than me?" she mutters.
Silver pats her head, smile crooked. "Maybe I am older— and you just don't know my secret.."