recalled collapse

Maya received a signal from outside of the world.

What waited them was predestinied from the start. The pieces finally fell into place, and so they fell into ruin.

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

There is a vast world out there. So, why don't you go explore it for me?

Go, break your limits. I have carved the path for you, so spread your own wings.

Away, from this imperfect world.

——————————————————————————————————————————

This should work. This should work—

Perched on one of the library's chairs, Maya parsed through the stack of books on the desk to pull out one she sneakily stole from one of Insight's shelves inside her little hideaway. With a pen in her hand, she scribbled pieces of information to the paper.

Insight has been absent for a few weeks— no, days now. In this period, she has been holed up with her little secret research.

If this succeeds, it might be the key to her escape, and she finally could know how to sneak out occasionally to find some joys in being all alone again. As long as SHE doesn't find out…

Not that she was planning to leave Insight. She might've practically abducted her, but she certainly tried. For as long as she's getting used to this routine, she concludes Insight is just too… extreme with her ways to get what she wants, to the point of tampering with Arcaea itself, that Maya considers a whole world. That crazy woman is truly obsessed.

The idea of doing whatever she wants without caring for others’ wellbeing. It disgusts her. 

Besides, Maya doesn't think she deserves eternal freedom, after all that she did. That was enough for her to finally be content with herself, after making several amends with herself.

She jotted down the strange coordinates she found inside the strange books. The obscurity of the hints made her almost chuckle out loud like a highschool girl finding her crush’s secret.

“Ehehe… cute…”

Maya found that how Insight even tried to hide this was very endearing. 

She doesn’t know what to do with the coordinates, but she guesses… it has some sort of connection to Arcaea. She had checked off the possibility of Lephon, due to the lead not having the characteristics or mannerism unique to it. Or what she’d known about it.

Flipping to the next page, she found a cute doodle of her and Insight, slipped into this inconspicuous section.

Any sane person would find it creepy, but it evoked a sense of adore inside her. She didn’t expect Insight would draw them inside a serious looking book.

So human of her.

After mulling over the doodle, she finally moved to read the context of the page.

“...while Arcaea cannot just be found and entered easily, there are some sort of workarounds with it…”

Workarounds…? It never rejects her, though, in every attempt she does. Does it have anything to do with her being a ‘child’ of Arcaea?

Maya tilts her head further onto the palm of her hand, never taking her eyes off the rows of words.

“This is more of a universal solution. While it could possibly work, there is possibly a kind of repercussions alongside it. Traces of origin can establish a connection with the object’s place of origin if given enough ‘adhesive’ between them.”

She scribbles down a summary in her own journal. Insight has done a great job at simplifying it, Maya should admit. What in the world is the ‘adhesive’, though?

“I was able to gain a sample of a goblet from an unnamed realm. After contact with a small amount of my ability, I could see the lead to its place of origin. And I tore the connection to form a little gateway just for me. Sadly, the world was already desolate and dead,”

She continues to write down the information—

“Typically, a world can repel and retaliate hard in very vast ways. So, this method should only be performed with sufficient discretion and protection,”

Maya held her head in thought. All these thinkpieces are making her very fidgety and bored.

How was she supposed to know the vague ‘small amount of her ability’ wasn't just a watered down statement?

So it's unachievable without Insight's ability? 

No. She's sure it's not an exclusive thing to her ability. Maya's thoughts slowly became more and more noisy with her own questions…

“Maybe I should clear her head for a bit,” she said, closing the book and putting her pen back on the ink.

With a screech of the chair, she stood up. Unguarded and with her eyes closed, Maya clutched her head and stumbled across the library without any care for her surroundings. Unfortunately for her…

Thud!

“Ah—!” 

It was a lapse in her own judgement.

Her body brushed against one of the towering bookshelves. It shook, before the entire rows of books tucked on the shelf collapsed— oh no, oh no!

Maya didn't have a chance to dash away, only able to shield herself with her arms. She was hit by the impact of several books landing on her. They kept tumbling down, until there was a flood of books almost burying her in only a moment.

Pushing the books away from her figure, Maya groaned in pain. “Ugh– ugh— ow… how did they topple this easily…?” she hissed, then her brows lifted slightly, noticing something was wrong. “That's…” she confusedly whined.

It was as if the bookshelf fell in an unnatural manner— there's no way it was this delicate before, just from the slightest contact against her.

There were also no strong gusts of wind (if one with very strong current enough to push it exists here) or anything that could've caused it to basically crash down. So what was the culprit?

Supporting herself with her hands, she stood up again, dusting off her clothes back in place while mumbling about how Insight should learn how to make sturdier bookshelves.

But then, a strange force pulling her back made her land on the ground again. Albeit she couldn't pinpoint which items were doing exactly that. It's like she was glued to the floor, but she's not.

Whatever. She can't move!

Maya gazed around at the mess of books, as if that'll somehow help her. Her gaze lingered on each book, trying to find anything that could potentially be a saver.

Then she saw it.

An inexplicable sense of connection overcame her mind immediately, making her clutch her head in a sudden migraine. The restraint immediately dissolved with it.

A book is causing that. Definitely. THAT eye catching book she used to open the gate of Insight’s hideaway. But, it's off in a way. As in, normally, it wouldn't do that. After all, she just broke inside that room not long ago.

“Weird,” Maya reached out to take a hold of it, easily as if it was compelling her to it like a vortex for her attention. “Let me take a look,”

She was hoping for something to happen. And it did.

The text on the book lit up, revealing: “Hello. Can you see this?”

Then it settled patiently, engraved on the paper as if waiting for Maya's response.

A two-way communication?

This can't be real…

She was bewildered. “I wasn't aware you can do two-way communication with a book…”

Curious, she hurriedly brought it over to her desk, not wanting the other to wait long for a reply back.

A careful part of her was begging her to not trust the unknown other, making her hesitate to write. But eventually, she wrote a reply back, albeit with slightly tearful eyes.

Maya can't believe she could finally interact with the outer world. Even if she was not sure who was reaching out to her.

She settled on a simple:

“Hello. Yes, I can,”

Before she thought and added—

“Who are you?”

There was a short pause, before another line appeared.

“You can refer to me as Lagrange.

You're not really who I was expecting, to be frank.”

Something clicked in Maya's head. Lagrange… wasn’t she in Arcaea? The author of the clearly-stolen book she read that contained honest observation, outside the biased lens of Insight…

Who knows how she would turn out without her? Maya's chest loosened up in relief.

“I’m really glad I get to interact with another person now. Especially one from Arcaea,”

She almost let out a sob from how ecstatic she was, but she kept writing.

“I am Maya, from Arcaea,

At least before she appeared one day, and took me with her.”

Her pen faltered decisively. She thinks Lagrange should already know much about this realm, so she skipped the explanation.

“But I am not sure if I will be able to reach you, too. She closed off the only gateway to Arcaea last time I ran away,”

“I see. Maya, I'll keep that in mind. I will make sure your safety is ensured in the meanwhile.

With the limitations we have, we can’t afford to waste any more time.

Please follow my instructions carefully. I will write it down below.”

A series of instructions, clearly rushed and messy, was laid out on the paper—

Before eventually, the last word was almost reduced to a squiggly line.

…

Oh, she couldn't reconnect again.

Maya read through the instructions. Something was odd. She couldn't rule out the underlying undertones of Lagrange. Her intentions and motivations…

But there was something blooming inside her from how connected she felt with another ‘child of Arcaea’. It was enough for her to remain secure, so she did not delve into it further. She should at least try, she guesses.

“Uhm, I should gather something untampered with, originating from Arcaea,”

Maya averted her gaze to the large window forming a dome above while she thought about what of Arcaea they had here. There really wasn't that much— the architecture, decorations, or even trinkets were all foreign. The skies were unusually dark today…

She laid out the candidates first.

There was the book— but it had been tampered with in the first place by Insight, like all the books inside this library are.

And Maya is terribly unlucky. Since the last incident where she was caught snooping around Arcaea, that place, being a guaranteed gateway, had been shut. That means, the garden, too, where she could gather pure forms of Arcaea shards was inaccessible. Since then, Maya was reduced to being handfed those by Insight to sustain her form every few days. Really embarrassing… Maya fiddles with the silky texture of her clothes.

Besides them, Maya doesn't know what else would Insight keep untouched and pure— She only keeps everything Maya related out of her way—

Something pieced inside Maya's mind.

Oh—! That's right. That shrine of her she stares at every time she goes to sleep in the bedroom, where Insight would lock away her stuff regularly… yikes, Maya's face wrinkled in painful embarrassment.

But it would surely be locked by Insight, right…

Maya stood up, only to pause before the large entrance. Her heart stirred with the sense of unrighteousness, but ultimately, she chose to push it gently.

“—!”

Maya froze. It was a strange sight. Strange but beautiful spider lilies decorated the patch of grass beside the halls, infesting the entire manor with nothing but patches of lilies. Red butterflies added to the scenery, hovering around as if protecting the chateau.

A normal person would've found this deeply unsettling as well. But to Maya, that knew this place too well…

A shiver ran across Maya's body. Her heart raced with uncertainty. She took a shallow breath.

Insight just loves to tweak the scenery often. Maya tried to rationalize.

Right?

Taking a moment to stabilize, she rushed through the halls, until she was in front of the ornately designed side of the bedroom that was dedicated to just… Maya.

It was a little bit creepy seeing Insight’s every last dedication. With no time to waste, she knocked on the glass cover of the shrine to see if she could break through it. 

It felt hard, almost like it's indestructible. No thanks. With her dedication, she also poured every single of her thoughts into its safeness— but it wasn't built to reject Maya, so there was a very welcoming keyhole in its front, just perfect for restricting access only for both her and Maya.

The problem is, Maya doesn't know where Insight would store the keys.

Maya checked the bedside table, wardrobe, beside the window, and even under the bed— there was nothing, like she expected.

How annoying… It's never that easy with Insight. She took another glance at the lock.

After some looking around, eventually Maya exited the room in pursuit to that little hideout in the library. She faced another problem. How would she open that door again, if the shelf's contents were already scattered on the ground?

“Oh, well…” Maya tried to put only the book triggering it back to its initial place, even without any support, and taking it back. It was just a little tryst, as of course that'd not work. After all, the book's content was already altered.

Of course…

Begrudgingly, she must admit she was holding onto bits and threads here. She knows how the gate worked, but she doesn't have the key to it.

A part of her wished Insight was here—

No. No, she doesn't. She doesn't want Insight here. What was she thinking, again?

Insight… Maya's head spun every time she spelled out her name in her own thoughts. It made her feel akin to a prey…

Her feet acted before she did, bringing her to a room where she knew she'd find useful tools there. The room was dusty and uncared for, but it carried all sorts of anyone-knows-what tools there— name it, and it's there. Maya scrunched her itchy nose.

Gazing at the room’s contents, she figured she'd try something unorthodox this time. Impatient and hasty, Maya made a quite unwise choice. If she wasn't allowed, she'd try to break in. Scratch all that.

Dropping all propriety, she stole a tool from the room and ran away with it.

The tool made quite a contrast with her short stature. It made every step she took heavy, but she felt it was worth it as she stood in front of the closed entrance again. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead from the sheer strength it took to keep lifting it. Her hands fumbled with the handle of the heavy equipment, her body leaning forward a bit to make the equipment buzz to life.

Maya inched closer to the right bookshelf. With all her might, she used the heavy chainsaw to form a little entrance—

Bzz— Crash!

The remains of the cut large piece of wood flopped forward to the ground with a loud thud, making the ground shake momentarily. Sawdust decorated the nearby scene, but nothing she couldn't fix later.

She panted, turning it off and finally putting down the weight to rest. Her arms brushed away her sweat off her forehead.

Maya wasn't used to all this heavy lifting, so it was fairly taxing for her.

“Great… now I just need to push…” Maya breathed out, dusting her hands off.

But, she took another look and realized it's more than enough for her to sneak her body in. “Nevermind. I don't need to.”

The interior wasn't anything new. What was made known is the absence of life inside the room. The room was clean and well kept, as if it weren't left out for more than a few days.

This is the first time Maya had been in this room after Insight was gone. Usually, she'd find tea on the table. That woman must've cleaned out the room beforehand.

It also made Maya quite… sad. Maya would've never admitted this, but there's an unreachable inch of her that missed Insight. She doesn't even know where Insight went.

The uncertainty was kind of putting her off. Maybe she was occupied with Arcaea…? Before this, without any fail, Insight would somehow manage to check on her daily. It made her feel somewhat of a domestic pet, which Maya would scoff at the mere prospect of.

On the ceiling, a handful of keys were dangled from a hook rack. All of them showed marks of wear, each one intended for a different lock. Maya doesn't know which were for opening the shrine, so she stole all of them altogether.

With the keys in her hand, she rushed back to the bedroom.

At first, she tried a key— then another, another, another, another…

Click!

Maya's eyes snapped back to attention. Pulling open the glass door, she was met with the awkward sight of her belongings, staring back at her. Even after years, it still felt weird to Maya of how Insight treasures what seems to be her trash…

One man's trash is another’s treasure, she supposed. Maya's rationalizing skills seem to have come a long way, over the years.

Careful to not knock over or touch anything else, she spotted an odd shard, clearly belonging to Arcaea?

The shard reflected her own reflection back in a pristine state, kept like it was never held by anyone before. Maya feels this is familiar, somehow. The maintenance is pristine, Maya has to give Insight that.

But what is this shard?

It was inside the shrine, so it must be related to her. But she couldn't recall the time this unknown shard was taken from her…

In fact, she DOESN'T remember when she ever possessed that piece of shard. That… the last time she'd interacted with anything Arcaea was whenever Insight fed her it, complete with chocolate.

The day left her with an unforgettable memory. She still remembers how it tastes… the taste of Arcaea mixing with sweetness and a little bit of bitterness. The softness of that woman’s lips… Just imagining it again made her heart skip faster. She bit her lips, trying to think of anything else that doesn't remind her of that woman.

She shook her head. As opposed to ridding them, instead more and more memories of Insight flooded her mind—

…of Her, meeting her gaze and her voice for the first time…

…of Her, reciting a vow for her teary eyed lover in a veil…

Maya gazed at her own eyes that were reflected by the smooth surface of the glass. Then she held it a bit tighter. Her lashes fluttered, her sight almost shut. It was almost difficult to breathe.

…of Her, plucking a part of her face, every touch sending sensation across her crumbling, numb body—

…of Her unmasked and most vulnerable love as she gave Maya that box of chocolate.

“Insight—” she gasped out. 

Enough. That shard… is hers. Right.

Maya— she couldn't really get rid of Insight, ever. That woman had planted roots far enough inside her, to the point it was impossible to pluck out. Though it felt like a comfortable embrace for Maya, not one of a dread-filled one.

It gave her a sort of resolve to face forward and continue this. And maybe she could find her later. It was almost like… yearning.

On her way back, the corridors were shrouded by the darkened sky, dark like it’s seconds away from a storm. A far cry from the usual, where the weather is warm, bright and ambient. In her heart, a deep unease settled.

Most importantly, she has never seen the realm be this unstable since she first came here.

What was truly happening with Insight…?

She arrived back at the messy library with the shard in her hand. Careful not to trip over any of the scattered books, she walked across to the book again, ducking her eyes to read over the lines.

‘Imbue the ‘glue’’. She gets it now.

Arcaea… listen to your child’s wish. 

Arcaea, let the will of the unknown pierce through you.

Her eyes glimmered wistfully, as the piece of clear ruby on her finger reacted to her intentions. Feeling the sudden rush of pure, unknown surge of power, Maya’s breath hitched. Then, she gently gave the shard a little touch—

Blue bursted. Her head crumbled like mush. Then, it was like her brain was being pulled to a direction— Her breath quickened, trying to hold onto something. But she couldn't. Her eyes and attention were all in that blinding light inside the shard. Like a mirror reflecting sheer chaoticism.

With no resistance, it entered her soul as easily as a gust of wind swaying a lone leaf. Then it spread, spread, shifting and steadily altering her perceived surroundings to that of a cold tundra and a broken realm…

It felt so alluring— the feeling of rushing into a territory that she both thought she knew well and unknown.

Maya swore she felt soft gusts of wind that was almost coaxing her to fall completely into it— gracefully accepting and embracing her vulnerable soul.

Ah… as light as a bird… surely it won't hurt if Maya closed her eyes—

A loud and powerful burst of colors suddenly resonated, making the ground thrum just from its force!

In contrast to the display of power, a weak voice shouted with a hiss.

“Maya—!” 

In just under a moment, the explosion immediately dispersed all of the swirling blue. The person pinned the girl to the ground by the shoulder as harshly as they could, pulling her soul back to reality. The motion was reserved so as to conserve energy.

As desperate as a person using their last strengths.

“Ma—” Insight stuttered, trying to suck a deep breath, “Maya…” she tried again with a more gentle but shaky tone, shaking her shoulders urgently. In a sorry state, her body enveloped Maya’s.

Disoriented, Maya hardly couldn't open her eyes. “Ugh,” she grunted, her eyelids fluttering, unaware of what was waiting for her once she opened those eyes.

“Insight…?” 

Blood was steadily soaking through the white fabric of Maya's clothes, turning it into a beautiful but tragic crimson.

Just as she saw Insight's state, Maya's eyes snapped too wide. She could only watch with frozen body, letting out a horrified gasp.

How…

Insight was in a severe state— her usually pristine robe was nowhere near appropriate. A puddle of red pooled down on the ground as drops of blood poured out of her corrupt wounds?

But her senses picked: It smelled metallic. Death.

Both of her eyes almost lost their glimmer, still holding them only for Maya as her eyes met with her two-colored eyes. Wistful, but holding a sense of knowingness and… almost resignation. She's never seen Insight with that look before.

It was jarring to see the untouchable… Insight fall to such a disrepairable state. 

“Insight!” Maya tackled Insight to the ground by her shoulders.

Even from the impact, Insight still grasped Maya like her life depended on it. Maya's heart suddenly twisted, resting Insight’s head on her lap.

Maya grasped the side of Insight’s face. “This is not funny,” her expression tightened, “You know you can recover your own form, right?”

She dreaded the answer. Very much so.

“I may be able to recover my form, but not the psyche,” 

“...right?” she forcefully tightened her grip.

“Maya dearest…” Insight laid her hand on Maya's hand, “I can barely sustain myself now,” she said with a low tone. Too different from her usual, prideful one.

Insight’s battered, torn up form played again and again in her mind like a painful memory, yet she couldn't tear her gaze away. “How… utterly pathetic…” she laughed bitterly.

“...I apologize that you had to see me in this state, Maya,” Insight replied again, though more consciously. A tad bit more sincere and vulnerable.

“...” she tried not to let any single drop of tears drop, gathering the fabric of Insight’s robe on her fist.

Insight’s eyes closed. She merely huffed, even on the edge of death, albeit weakly. “I severely miscalculated, darling Maya. Arcaea’s capabilities… the laws of that world had undergone a tumultuous turn,” she choked out blood with her cough, “I tried to take it under control, but it was too late,”

Maya’s expression soured even more, her eyes watery with tears. “But you're supposed to be—” her eyes and hand frantically tried to check all of her wounds, but when she realized she could fix nothing, her hands retracted into fists— “All mighty! All-knowing, untouched… I don't know! Do something! You're Insight, for goodness’ sake! You should've known…” A tear slipped out of her, then a steady stream eventually ran on her cheeks.

Now, Insight couldn't resist that look on her beloved’s face. If she still had an ounce of consciousness right now, she would've kissed every single drop of Maya's sweet tears. Since she wasn't, she just remained entirely in Maya's mercy.

“Even gods are not entirely invisible, Maya.”

Every syllable was decorated with Maya's cries and sobs, betraying her words, “I know all you do is lie, lie, and lie,” she punched Insight’s chest lightly, “You dumb… stupid woman…”

“I am being truthful… as truthful as I've been,” Insight took one of Maya's hands on hers, her tone as gentle ever, “In my life.”

Maya's form shook from repressed anger, disappointment and mourning? It's as if every part of her was refusing to move against her will. “I— I've never wanted… to punch someone so bad,” she let out in a wavery tone.

Moment by moment, grains of time could be counted as they fell. Time wasn't on their side, and Insight knew. Though, when was Maya a waste of time? She could feel her power dwindling, close to being snuffed out.

“I am well aware I'm indefensible… you can punch me all you want afterward. After all, I can't do anything when I'm already in this state.”

Ha… her sweet, kind-hearted Maya. It was painful to see how her face contorted in all of those negative emotions. Still, she loves Maya all the same. Perhaps, death was a suitable punishment for failing to keep her beloved as pure and untainted. It brought a blank smile to Insight's expression.

“You look so cute while crying. More and I’d thought you were mourning for me,” Cupping Maya's face gently, her fingertips gathered those drops of tears, pushing them aside. Then she brought them into her mouth, tasting the saltiness of Maya's sorrow and grief.

Ahh… something about this just feels poetic. Even when Maya halted from her sudden action. She expects Maya to give a repulsive response, but instead her sobs came more choked and her eyes… they poured much heavily.

Insight doesn't understand why Maya would go into such lengths for her, but holy, holy. It was a symphony to her ears.

“I just don't understand… and you're just— accepting it? Death…?”

Maya just wasn't ready to let her go. 

“You can't just leave me, I’ve…” she wailed, shaking Insight’s body once more. Her gaze diverted away from Insight’s steadily worsening form, “Already loved you—!”

Oh. Insight’s heart fluttered! Maya's declaration of love… it urged the disquietude inside her, enough to ease the fears she had about dying.

“Precisely because I love you too dearly, that I would at least repay you with my death,” Insight held a kind of assuring and too calm tone, like this wasn't her first time facing death, “Or so I hope.”

“What kind of repaying is that?!” Maya gazed straight at Insight's deep blue and empty eyes, her eyes holding uncovered contempt. She doesn't understand how Insight’s mind worked— that might be another of the woman's craziness. It's such a stupid way of thinking. “You’re so… selfish…”

Insight brushed her lips on the back of Maya's hand, giving it a devoted kiss for the last time. “I don't mind, as long as it's you,” she caressed Maya's hand. It slotted perfectly on hers, just the perfect size to hold as she met her demise.

“I— I don't even know what I will do without you…” Maya gazed down at Insight hopelessly, holding Insight’s hand tightly with a force almost enough to crush it. Hopelessness settled on the bottom of her soul, accompanied by a feeling of strange emptiness.

Insight was her whole life. There was no one other than her. Only her…

Which direction would she go without her? It was hard to imagine for Maya. She had her life taken by Insight once, then in return received sweet venom. It's as close as contentment. A deal she has taken, one filled with lies.

“But, dearest Maya, there is still a vast world out there, waiting for you. So, why don't you go explore it for me?”

Insight was… offering absolute freedom? One she found no purpose in demanding?

If it meant at the cost of Insight, she doesn't want it—

“...” shaking her head, Maya could only reply with silence, like she'd just lost everything; she was, is.

“Are you scared?”

“The prospect of it…” her words trailed off. Her voice was audibly shaken, “Yes.”

“What’s there to be scared of? That is what you desire, right?”

Patches of corruption have almost spread onto Insight’s hands, a minute away from completely disintegrating them.

Not good.

“Ah, looks like I don't have much time left,” she continued wistfully, “Maya, I have something to give you.”

It was then, Maya cradled Insight closer. The library was silent— except for the sound of Maya's hiccups, the fast thump of her heartbeat, and Insight’s weakening ones.

There, in Maya's safe arms, she called out inside her soul with a long forgotten command—

Something shifted perceptively. The change caused by transfer of absolute authority was palpable in the air.

And with this, Maya was granted a second name: 

The 8th. Insight.

“Consider it my last act of love for you, only.”

Without anything tethering her, the corruption began to eat away on both of her arms, then to her torso… a grotesque sight.

“With this… Go, break your limits. I have carved the path for you, so spread your own wings.”

Maya tried to get any other words out, but all she could think about was Insight's name. An endless barrage of knowledge overwhelmed Maya. Insight's thoughts. Her past. Her—

Maya's senses were being all overwhelmed with the newfound, foreign power bestowed upon her. Her head rang. It hurts… it hurts entirely too much.

“Insight—” Maya widened her eyes, trying not to scream from the way it pushed and crushed. But even in the midst of pain, she strived to clear her head, believing she could persevere.

It was as if every semblance of pretense and facade vanished between them, leaving their most vulnerable parts out. Searching for comfort in each other despite being in the midst of a critical moment.

Tragic.

Lacrymira’s condition was steadily deteriorating, leaving her voice to be a mere whisper. Every second she tries to maintain her condition, it gets even worse instead. But, she seemed even more reserved than before, that hint of insanity of obsession leaving her gaze.

The corruption, at this point, had almost reached her neck.

She cut Maya off, “Lacrymira. I want to hear my name in your voice before I...” it was getting harder to speak, “Leave.”

“Lacrymira…”

“Maya. Maya, Maya… let me recite and spell your name for the last time.”

Maya squeezed her eyes shut. “...”

“Maya… thank you for staying for all these times.”

“La–Lacrymira… I haven't forgiven you,”

Insight— Lacrymira just smiled. Her eyes gazed up at Maya with such passionate love, that her head was starting to spin and her heart twist. It was already difficult to distinguish if it was from affection, corruption, or something entirely different. This was the last time she'd be able to gaze upon her beloved—

Then her memories started to flood her mind. Nell… Maya…

“Rest… well,” a hand came to cover her eyes, then her bangs were brushed to the side to make way for a kiss.

Maya… again, in the front of her thoughts, as sleep beckoned her gently, just before she lost her vision. Her eyes finally shut in peace, and Lacrymira fell into her eternal darkness. She knew this was undeniably inevitable, and this wasn't salvation for her, a sinner. Her body disintegrated soon after, only leaving behind her clothes and accessories.

Maya picked up the ring adorned with ruby, then the stained robe as the ground shook and the scenery fell.

——————————————————————————————————————————

Crack—

“You're all I have...”

The border between life and death will not separate them any more. Maya vowed once more as she did.

She gripped the piece of clothing tight, the snow-covered realm being a piece of blanket protecting her, along with the void that was just a reach away. She was losing her mind. Obsessive thoughts began to gnaw on her mind, and all she could think about was—

What was she thinking what was she thinking what was she thinking??

Every inch of her was yearning for Lacrymira… oh, Lacrymira! Her thoughts were vociferously demanding and stretching her sanity thin moment by moment.

Her senses and logic were clashing at each other, so she could only sit there, at the snow, reeling from the joyful and wonderful sensation of mania coursing in her veins—

—!

Crash!

Shatter! Glass exploded into countless splinters, shimmering and sparkling across the ground until Maya's form was no more.

——————————————————————————————————————————

Soon after, in a fateful encounter, a flash of purple approached the unnatural pile of shards.

“Don't you think this is unusual, Charon?”

She wondered with her companion, unaware of the story it held. She knelt, gathering some of the big pieces to look at further.

“I can't seem to reach into Insight’s realm once more. Do you think Maya will be alright?”

Still, her companion only hovered quietly as ever, giving silence as its constant answer.

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A/N: this was made with like nameless passion and recalled collapse by psyqui and such. I just wanna see that woman die. Maybe a little bit of My First Phone too (yes that song on chunithm), lovesick (that one song on SPD GAR), and reminisce (from encore)

imagine having your fics be written by a megarex listener (worst thing ever)

listen to megarex!!!

oh if you're wondering. I'm never gonna open tumblr. let this project be a iykyk thing. but you're free to spread this website anywhere

huff..... almost 6k of absolute bullshit lore.

maya is so codependent :(