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Chapter 14 - Chapter 14: Before Everything Changed

Kay stood inside the Core.

Lira's name was still in his mind.

Barely.

"Lira…" he repeated.

He was afraid to forget it.

The system around him stayed still.

Waiting.

"Memory instability increasing."

Kay closed his eyes.

"I need to see… just one more time." "Access requires memory cost."

Kay didn't hesitate this time.

"Take it."

A short pause.

"Memory exchange accepted."

The Core shifted.

The space changed.

Kay opened his eyes again.

He was no longer inside the system.

He was in a real place.

A small room.

Warm light.

Simple.

And she was there.

Lira.

Clear.

Alive.

Kay didn't move.

"You're late," she said.

Her voice was calm, but familiar.

Kay looked at her.

This time, there was no distance.

"I… didn't know I was coming here," he said.

She smiled slightly.

"You always say that."

Kay frowned.

"What do you mean?"

She walked closer.

"You always get lost in your work," she said.

"Then you come back like nothing happened."

Kay looked around the room.

"Where is this?"

"Our place," she answered.

Kay stayed silent.

Trying to understand.

Lira watched him carefully.

"You don't remember… do you?"

Kay didn't lie.

"No."

She nodded slowly.

Like she expected that.

"It's okay," she said.

But her eyes said something else.

Kay stepped closer.

"I know your name," he said.

"Lira."

She froze for a second.

"Then that's something," she said quietly.

Kay looked at her.

"I feel like… you're important."

She gave a small smile.

"I hope so."

They stood there for a moment.

Not awkward.

Just real.

Then Kay asked:

"What was I doing?"

Lira looked away.

"You were building something," she said.

Kay already knew the answer.

"The system."

She nodded.

"You said it would fix everything," she continued.

"Make the world stable."

Kay felt uneasy.

"And you?" he asked.

Lira looked at him again.

"I said it would take everything away."

Kay stayed quiet.

"Did we fight?" he asked.

"Not at first," she said.

She stepped closer.

"I tried to understand you," she continued.

"And you tried to convince me."

Kay looked down.

"And in the end?"

Lira hesitated.

"You chose the system," she said.

Kay felt that.

Deep.

"But…" she added.

Kay looked up.

"You came back later," she said.

"Different."

Kay frowned.

"Different how?"

She looked straight into his eyes.

"You were scared."

Kay's chest tightened.

"You told me you made a mistake," she said.

"You said the system was changing people too much."

Kay whispered:

"And you?"

"I told you to stop it," she replied.

A pause.

"Did I?" Kay asked.

Lira didn't answer immediately.

Instead, she said:

"You asked me a question."

Kay waited.

"You asked me," she said softly,

"If I had to choose… would I keep my memories… or you?"

Kay felt something break inside him again.

"What did you say?" he asked.

Lira looked down.

"I didn't answer," she said.

Silence.

Then she looked at him again.

"And that's when you made your choice."

Kay's voice was low.

"I removed you."

She nodded.

"To protect you from the system," she said.

Kay closed his eyes.

"So I didn't forget by accident…"

"No," she said.

"You chose it."

The room started fading.

"Memory cost completed."

Lira's image started breaking.

Kay stepped forward.

"Wait—"

She looked at him one last time.

"Find the truth," she said.

Then she disappeared.

Kay stood alone again.

Back inside the Core.

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