> "True friendship is born not when you see someone as a rival, a brother, or just an acquaintance,
but when you let them change you into the best version of yourself." – R.T.
---
5 Months Earlier
"Hey Riven… Riven!"
Kairo's voice tried to reach him, but no response.
He snapped his fingers twice in front of his face.
"Earth to the annoying sarcastic guy."
"Huh?" Riven flinched, like waking from a trance.
"You've been staring at that tree for ten minutes. What's up with you?"
Riven sighed, looking around.
They had just finished training in a park near Kairo's house.
The spring wind carried petals of various flowers on its back.
Children were chasing each other, laughing, while the mothers gossiped or complained about their husbands.
The scent of fresh grass mixed with the sweat from their training.
"Kairo, I wanted to ask you something," Riven said with a sigh.
"No, Lyra isn't dating anyone—if that's what you wanted to ask," Kairo replied with a smug grin.
There was a long pause.
Five seconds.
Of pure silence.
"WHAAAT!? N-NO! THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEANT!" Riven blurted out, blushing.
"Ahaha, look at you turning red," Kairo teased.
"STUPID IDIOT!" Riven shouted, even redder.
Kairo laughed like a kid.
"Anyway, go on—what's your question, oh proud one who won't admit his feelings?" Kairo smiled while sipping his drink.
Riven sighed again.
"Why did you forgive me?"
Kairo stopped. As if time itself paused, waiting for the answer.
Riven continued,
"I bullied you for three months before we got close. I even pushed Aenna when she tried to defend you. We fought, so why?"
Kairo took another sip.
The wind brushed the blades of grass, impatient for his reply.
"At first, I hated you. I won't lie. You know how I feel about pointless violence."
His gaze drifted toward the park, where two kids were now fighting over something trivial—
a stick.
"But over those three months, I kept asking myself…
How can a guy so smug, so sarcastic…"
He looked Riven in the eyes, suddenly serious.
"…so physically strong and seemingly having everything…"
He clenched his fists.
"…be suffering that much?"
Riven gritted his teeth.
Kairo's eyes pierced into him.
"I'd always see you with that empty look. Carrying everything inside while no one noticed."
Riven kept listening.
"That's when I realized—even strong people have worlds collapsing inside them. So, I decided to talk to you. And well… we beat each other up."
Kairo chuckled.
Even Riven cracked a small laugh.
"Yeah… who would've thought you were even stronger than me?"
"Cut it out, Riven. You're way better than me in martial arts," Kairo objected.
"No, you cut it out. That day, you dodged, blocked every punch and kick I threw. No one's ever done that."
"Too bad my punch didn't do anything to you, ahaha."
"I only won because you didn't go all out with that stupid stick. If you had, I might've been in trouble. Anyway, remember why we train—
You teach me some swordplay, and I teach you some street fighting. Deal?"
Kairo sighed as if saying, "Yeah yeah, I know," and lay on the fresh grass, hands behind his head.
"Riven, you're strong. Stronger than me.
One day, I might not be around, so please…"
He smiled with that signature intensity.
"Protect Aenna and Lyra with everything you've got."
Riven froze.
He slowly turned toward his friend.
"Cut the melodrama. If you die before I beat you at kendo, I'll drag you out of the underworld, Kaiaba."
Kairo laughed as he stood up. "Then I'll hide real well."
They exchanged looks, laughed, and Riven gave him a friendly smack on the shoulder.
---
Present – Harajuku, Now
— CRACK
A sharp sound.
Like glass shattering under pressure.
The ice barrier exploded into a thousand glimmering shards.
Riven, breathing hard and with trembling hands, stepped forward.
"I won't leave you alone… not again."
Aenna's figure was still there. Motionless.
But her eyes…
weren't hers.
Not yet.
His blow to her neck had landed, but since he held back, she wasn't hurt.
"You're disappointing me," Aenna raised her head, eyes locked on his. "Riven."
—Strink
A spike of ice shot from the ground, piercing his shoulder.
"RIVEN!!!" Gremit's voice roared as he materialized in front of him, deflecting two more icy lances with his scaled arm.
Aenna eyed the creature curiously.
She scanned him from head to toe with those cobalt-purple eyes.
"Damn… I was careless. I manifested without hiding my presence," Gremit thought, tense.
"You're a Major Spirit… What's a conscious Remembrance doing with a kid?" she asked in a voice doubled, cold and eerie.
Then she turned to Riven.
"So that's the source you were tapping into… The one you imbued your staff with earlier."
The air grew colder with every word.
Beneath her feet, tiny shimmering crystals stirred like soldiers awaiting command.
Riven panted, clutching his pierced shoulder.
His blood trickled down, but as it hit the ground, it turned into a crimson mirror.
"You've piqued my interest, human.
I'll grant you the honor of knowing my true name," she said.
"Shut up! I already know your name. You're Aenna—my friend. Kairo's best friend. That's all you are!"
Riven yanked the icy spike from his shoulder with a pained groan.
Gremit moved beside him.
Aenna (possessed) continued:
"You've got guts for a kid. The spirit of a warrior.
But still…"
She raised her hand toward Riven.
"…just a human."
The freezing air condensed into a curved shaft of crystalline ice.
Small shimmering decorations formed across it, and a thin, cold string appeared—
A bow of stunning, lethal beauty.
Her aura flared.
Frost coated the remaining buildings, cars, and asphalt.
The city turned pale and slick with ice.
Riven looked past her—
To Lyra's unconscious body behind her, now slowly covered in frost.
Without hesitation, he charged.
Aenna pulled back the bowstring.
A gust of wind formed an icy arrow.
Riven ran, gripping his bokken.
"Gremit!" he shouted.
"I know!" Gremit answered.
His bokken glowed crimson again.
Aenna fired.
The arrow clashed with the staff.
—Struck
The arrow hit Gremit's imbued bokken—
Then detonated, freezing half of it and sealing the crimson aura.
"What the—?!" Riven exclaimed but kept going, grabbing Lyra's freezing body.
She was cold… unmoving…
But she was still there.
He wouldn't let her vanish in this cursed winter.
"I see… Your priority is still that little human," Aenna said as she lowered the bow.
"A kind heart beneath all that arrogance. How touching."
She walked toward him, each step leaving ice crystals behind.
Her hair lightened from auburn to platinum blonde.
Her hoodie transformed as crystalline petals enveloped her.
It became a light blue corset.
Her pants turned into a matching skirt.
Her shoes, now snowy boots.
The pendant on her chest became a cobalt gemstone.
She stopped a few meters from Riven, who held Lyra protectively.
"My name is Skadi, the Frostborn."
A massive aura burst out—
A majestic white-violet eagle spirit roared to life above her.
Wings spread, crying out a declaration of war.
"And I must kill you…
for the Keeper of Oblivion, Riven Tetsuya."
Riven laid Lyra gently behind him.
He removed his hoodie, wrapping her carefully to protect her from the cold.
He turned.
His expression had changed.
The sarcastic, cocky Riven was gone.
He tightened his grip on his half-frozen bokken…
Then sighed and dropped it beside Lyra.
He looked at it.
"Sorry, Kai…
Looks like I'll have to become the ruthless bastard I once was."
He faced the possessed Aenna—Skadi.
Gremit appeared beside him.
"You can't fight her barehanded! What the hell are you thinking?"
Riven answered sharply.
"Gremit…" He took a martial stance, knees bent, hands up.
"I wasn't born a swordsman.
I was born a fighter."
He paused, eyes on Skadi.
"And if I have to bring her back with my fists—
Then that's what I'll do."
Gremit stared at him, then nodded.
"Then let me in, Riven.
Let me become one with you—so I can support you fully."
Riven hesitated—
Then nodded.
"Alright. I'll need all the help I can get."
Gremit touched his shoulder.
A flaming rune spiraled to life at the base of Riven's neck.
As he faded into Riven's body,
he grinned—
A grin full of jagged teeth.
Dark and unnerving.
"Finally… I did it.
Sooner or later…"
He stared at Riven one last time.
"…this vessel will be mine."
---
A new clash between Remembrance Bearers was about to begin,
in a Tokyo swallowed by chaos.
The dawn was still far away—
and the night had just begun.
---
Near Harajuku – Saito Corporation
The armored vehicle of the Saito Corporation sped down the road.
"Sir, we've detected a Remembrance," Igami said, showing the tablet to Orion.
"It's nearby," Orion murmured.
He knocked on the driver's cabin.
"We're making a detour. Harajuku."
"Finally, some action!" Tachibana grinned, clutching a strange case.
"Stay focused," Igami warned with a brotherly tone.
"We don't know what we're dealing with."
"Understood."
Orion looked at them all—
Then spoke with authority.
"Saito Corp, move out."
Everyone inside the jeep responded in unison.
"Yes, sir!"
---
> "True friendship is born when you let someone change you into your best self.
That's why…
thank you, Kairo."
– Riven Tetsuya
Riven looked at Skadi again.
He whispered:
"Let's go, Gremit."
A soft crimson light began to radiate from his body.
---
Subject: Aenna Yuki
Memory Drift – 60%
Oblivion Curse – In Progress