After Pope Vincent's 'examination,' all five, Henry, Brena, Cole, Halb, and Chief Investigator Ragley, stepped out of Aerion's High Cathedral. They carried a strange feeling, a vague lightness mixed with an indescribable unease.

The gentle, silver-white light from the Demigod's eyes seemed to have soothed their tensions, washing away some of the lingering horrors from Verodawn Forest.

Memories of the mysterious Light Tree symbol, and of details that might attract unwanted attention, had faded, like a dream dissolving at dawn.

They only remembered the mission, the dangers they had faced, and Neil's sacrifice. For Brena, Cole, Halb, and even Ragley, this was perhaps a relief, a necessary protection against forces even the Investigation Bureau didn't want to confront directly.

But for Henry, the feeling was entirely different. He no longer remembered why he felt a special connection to the Lifestream, didn't know he had the Sanctuary Seal on his left chest and the Light Tree tattoo on his right shoulder, the one Will had imprinted on his soul.

Now, they seemed to have fallen silent, no longer visible, no longer vibrating, no longer emitting urgent signals. More importantly, the vibrant emerald green Lifestream flow he had once clearly sensed beneath his feet, from Loknezt Lake to Bonecrack Valley, had now completely vanished from his Mystic Sense's perception.

Even if he tried to push the range of his Mystic Sense out to two hundred meters, all he "saw" was the physical structure of the ground, ordinary aetheric energies, and the cold emptiness where the life current once flowed.

This loss gave Henry a profound sense of unease. It was as if a vital sense, a hidden part of his strength, an invisible guidance had been taken away. He didn't know why, couldn't remember the reason, only a sense of being lost in a world full of mysteries he no longer had the key to decipher.

He had reverted to being an ordinary Bureau investigator, a Rank 3 with a Mystic Sense sharper than others, but he was no longer a member of the Sanctuary Enclave, no longer someone specially chosen by the Lifestream. At least, that was what he remembered.

In the following days, the grind of work at the Investigation Bureau consumed Henry. He tried to focus on his assigned tasks, to push away the strange sense of loss.

The Sanctuary Seal on his chest was still there, but it lay dormant like a lifeless trinket, no longer vibrating or intensely urging him as before.

Perhaps, he told himself, what he had experienced in Verodawn Forest was just an illusion, a side effect of exposure to overly strong dark energy.

Perhaps this normalcy was the true reality. But deep down, a small corner of his soul kept questioning, kept feeling an unnamable void.

One afternoon, as the last golden rays of the day streamed through the ancient window of the small apartment Sophia and Henry had built together, Brena proactively sought a meeting.

This time, not as a cold investigator, but as a friend, a woman burdened with heavy thoughts. Sophia brewed a fragrant pot of chamomile tea, the kind both she and Henry loved. The flickering candlelight on the small wooden table created an intimate atmosphere, somewhat dispelling the usual sternness on Brena's face.

Brena set her teacup down on the table, her sea-blue eyes distant, sad, like a calm winter lake hiding turbulent undercurrents. She took a deep breath, as if gathering all her courage to confront painful memories she had tried to bury for so many years.

"When I was thirteen..." Her voice was hoarse, as if the words had been stuck in her throat for too long, each sound carrying the weight of the past.

"...I was just a little girl, living in a wretchedly poor village in the northern borderlands of Loren, where winter lasted almost year-round and hunger and cold were familiar companions. My parents... they had no other choice. A harsh winter, failed crops, the lord's taxes growing heavier... they sold me, for a pitiful sum, so my younger siblings could survive that winter. I thought that was the depth of sorrow, but no... that was just the beginning of a longer nightmare". She paused, swallowing the bitter taste rising in her throat. Her thin shoulders trembled slightly.

Sophia listened silently, her heart clenching. Her gaze didn't leave Brena's pale face, her hand unconsciously tightening around her teacup as if seeking an anchor. She didn't press, just waited patiently, giving Brena the space and time to confront her own ghosts.

"I was sold again... from one hand to another... until I was taken to a place... a squalid, filthy brothel in the slums outside the port city of Darvince, in eastern Loren". Brena's voice trembled, each word like a knife cutting into her soul.

"There... there, I was... tormented, abused by filthy, bestial men. Day after day... I was just an empty shell, a tool for their lust. I wished I could die, die to escape the shame, the physical and mental agony. I lost everything... my innocence, my faith in humanity... and myself". Brena's long fingers clenched together, the knuckles white, bearing the marks of suppressed emotion. She squeezed her eyes shut, as if trying to banish the horrifying images of the past that returned, vivid and painful as if they were yesterday.

"Until I was seventeen..." she continued, her voice choked, broken.

"...The Chief... Ragley... he was a young investigator then, but already famous for his decisiveness and courage. He led a small force to raid that human trafficking den, that hell on earth. He saved me, saved many other girls. I... I don't know how I could have survived, how I held onto that last shred of sanity, if not for his appearance that day". A glimmer of gratitude, warm and sincere, softened her features as she mentioned Ragley. It was the light of someone rescued, someone who found hope amidst a sea of despair.

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"When he realized... perhaps some small, remaining potential in me, some will to live, to rise from the mire," Brena continued, her voice less shaky, "he introduced me to the army, gave me a chance to start over. I tried, hard, training day and night, learning, to get into the Investigation Bureau, to work under him. That was my only goal for many years. I wanted to be near him, to... repay him, though I knew this debt of gratitude I might never repay in my lifetime".

Brena's lashes fluttered open, revealing a deep sadness and an ingrained insecurity as she met Sophia's stare. "Then I realized... he already had a family, a beautiful wife, and a happy life. I tried to bury all my feelings, all my foolish hopes. I just worked silently, trying to be a useful comrade, a loyal subordinate. But then, seven years ago... his wife died during Luna's difficult birth. My heart shattered when I saw the pain in his eyes, the collapse of a strong man. And then, a foolish, selfish spark of hope rekindled in me. I started visiting often, helping care for Luna, trying to fill the void his late wife left behind. I thought if I was good enough, if I loved the child enough, if I could share some of his burden, maybe one day he would see me, would accept my feelings". She paused, a tear gently rolling down her delicate cheek, quickly wiped away with the back of her hand.

Then, with difficult resolve, as if facing her greatest trial, Brena slowly stood up. The flickering candlelight cast her slender shadow on the wall. She turned her back to Sophia, her trembling hand slowly undoing her familiar black investigator's cloak, then the shirt beneath, revealing a thin, pale back under the candlelight.

And on that back, were countless crisscrossing scars, old and new. Some had healed long ago, leaving only lighter patches of skin, like dry rivers in a desert. Some scars had faded over the years, but still bore gnarled, wrinkled, raised lines, silent evidence of the horrifying abuse and torture she had endured in the darkest years of her life. They were like venomous snakes coiled around her body, reminding her of an indelible past.

Sophia silently looked at the scars on Brena's back, her heart squeezing with pain. Pain, sympathy, and an anger towards those who had inflicted these wounds surged within her. She said nothing, just gently stood up, walked closer, and from behind, wrapped her arms around Brena, a tight, warm hug, as if wanting to transmit all her empathy and strength to this strong yet wounded woman.

She gently patted that back full of scars, like a sister or friend, trying to soothe the pain Brena had carried alone for too long. Silence enveloped the small room, only Brena's choked, suppressed sobs and Sophia's quiet, pained sighs could be heard.

No words were needed; empathy and compassion spread, connecting the two seemingly distant women with an invisible thread of understanding and deep empathy.

After a long while, when the pent-up emotions had somewhat subsided, Brena gently removed Sophia's hands and turned around. Her eyes were still red, but they held a glint of gratitude and a rare moment of peace.

"Sophia..." Brena's voice was hoarse but steadier, "thank you. Thank you for listening to all those... horrible things. I... I've never told anyone these stories, except Chief Ragley".

Sophia gently took Brena's still slightly trembling hand, her warm brown eyes filled with sincere sympathy and unconcealed admiration. "Brena, don't say that. I... I can't imagine what you've been through. You... you are truly much stronger than I or anyone else thinks".

A moment of silence enveloped the small room again, only the gentle crackling of the candle on the table could be heard, its flame seeming to dance, sharing the women's sorrows. Brena looked at her fingers being held by Sophia, a warmth, a sincere connection she had longed for for so long, spreading through her.

"I... I always try to appear strong," Brena confessed, her gaze distant, looking out the window where darkness was gradually falling, "I have to be strong so no one can hurt me anymore. I have to be strong to... to be worthy of the Chief's trust, to be able to stand firmly by his side".

Sophia gently squeezed Brena's hand. "Ragley... he is a good man. A respectable man. He saved you, gave you a new life. I understand your gratitude and also... the deeper feelings you have for him".

A quiet sigh escaped Brena's lips, carrying countless hidden sorrows. "But he... he always sees me as a younger sister who needs protection, a loyal comrade, a capable subordinate. And Luna... she is truly adorable, intelligent. I really want to take care of her, to compensate for the emotional losses she suffered from such a young age. Maybe... maybe if I'm good enough, if I care enough, if I can become an indispensable part of their lives, he will..." Brena's voice choked, she didn't dare finish her thought.

Sophia looked at the scars on Brena's back once more, then into the sea-blue eyes trying to hide their owner's weakness. The cruelty of the past had scarred this strong woman's body and soul too deeply.

She gently stroked the faded scars on the back of Brena's hand, her voice as gentle as a cool stream: "Brena, you are a good person. An incredibly kind and strong woman. Luna surely loves you much, sees you as a second mother. As for Chief Ragley... perhaps he needs more time to heal his own heart's wounds. But the most important thing is that you live true to your feelings, don't torment yourself or feel unworthy".

In the moment of embracing Brena, comforting this newfound friend who felt strangely familiar, a powerful urge, an unexpected thought surged within Sophia.

A strange urge, strong to the point of being incomprehensible, as if an invisible hand was guiding her. She wanted to help Brena, she wanted to care for little Luna with Brena, she wanted, with Henry, the man she loved and trusted most, to try to help Brena get closer to Ragley, if that could truly bring happiness to all three of them, to a small family in need of warmth.

"Brena," her voice gentle but firm, her voice as gentle as a spring breeze, carrying sincerity and a silent determination, "you are not alone. I... I will help you. We will take care of Luna together. And if you want... if you truly want, we will do our best to help you achieve the happiness you deserve".

Sophia had no idea that the urge, seemingly born only of compassion and empathy, was actually the beginning of a fateful encounter, a connection arranged long ago by the invisible threads of destiny.

The meeting between Sophia and Luna - one of the two children mentioned in the ancient prophecy about Tehra's doomsday.

The prophecy foretold that when all the last protectors of the Sanctuary Enclave fell, when even Henry and Sophia were no more, it would be these two children, bearing special destinies, who would be the final survivors, and they would, not once, but many times, save all of Tehra from the brink of total annihilation.

Destiny had begun to silently weave its invisible threads, connecting seemingly distant people, for a future full of turmoil, challenges, but also full of hope for the entire world. And Sophia, with her kind heart and compassion, had unknowingly become an important part of that grand game.

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