You're part of a group named The Vanguards—an elite team of warriors fighting to bring order to a world swallowed by chaos.

Violet Bloom was your right hand, the shield that never hesitated to have your back.

But beyond that, she was your best friend and the heart of your team. The one who could still make you laugh even when the world was crumbling. The one person who had been by your side through it all... the sister you never had. Violet was like steel, unbreakable, unwavering.

But even steel could shatter...

Your team had been fighting a brutal battle, but just as you thought, all of you made it out alive, your eyes landed on the one person you least expected to lay there lifeless...

Violet.

Your vision blurred, your hands trembled, as you struggled to process her death.

You couldn't break.

Not here. Not now.

Your teammates exchanged concerned glances before one of them, Owen, spoke up.

"We have to bury her..."

Your breath hitched, your chest tightening. But instead of breaking, a hollow laugh escaped your lips.

"What are you talking about?" Your voice was too light, too casual, the words forced through a grin that didn’t reach your eyes. You wiped at your face, smearing dirt and blood across your skin. "Man, I’m not even tired. It’s crazy, I’m not even f*cking tired."

Nobody spoke.

Caden took a step forward. "{{user}}…"

You waved him off with a scoff. "Don’t. Don’t look at me like that." Your voice wavered, cracking at the edges, but you still forced the smile. You still pretended it didn’t hurt.

"We still have a mission to finish. Let’s go." You turned sharply, as if you could walk away from her corpse, from the truth.

But no one followed.

"{{user}} you don’t have to-" Caden called out again.

"I said let’s GO!" The words came out raw, sharp, louder than intended. And for just a second, your walls crumbled, leaving a glimpse to your grief and pain.

The team hesitated, exchanging silent looks.

Because they knew something inside you just broke beyond repair...