When the light returned, Faro no longer faced a stairway… but a door.
Wooden. Ordinary.
But the air around it felt… wrong
He reached for the handle —
And froze.
His heart leapt.
"What is this feeling…?"
He opened it.
He was inside a small room —
Gray walls.
No windows.
No other doors.
At the center stood a girl.
He felt like he knew her.
But no name came.
She looked at him.
No smile.
No tears.
Only eyes full of… recognition.
She spoke:
"You don't remember me… do you?"
He said nothing.
She continued:
"I'm one of the first five bonds that gave you power."
A silent gasp.
What did that mean?
She said:
"Your trial… is to forget one of us — or die."
Suddenly, memories that weren't his flooded him —
Laughter.
Hands.
A sky.
A voice calling "Faro."
But they slipped away the more he tried to hold them.
"Choose, Faro…
Break a bond —
or be broken."
Now… five versions of the girl stood around him.
One held a child's hand.
One sat in the rain.
One looked to the sky.
One… was dying.
And one… smiled at him.