Sophia, Ace's childhood friend, was the beacon of light in his shadowed world. They had been inseparable since they were toddlers, their bond forged in the innocent days of chasing fireflies and sharing secrets under the moonlit sky. Where Ace's laughter had once filled the air, Sophia's had danced alongside it, a symphony of joy that seemed to banish the darkness.

As rumors swirled about Ace's transformation, Sophia remained steadfast in her friendship, refusing to believe the whispers that tainted his name. She knew the boy who had ventured into the abandoned mansion was still within him, waiting to break free from the grip of the unknown force.

In class A-1, Sophia sat just a few seats away from Ace, her presence a silent comfort amidst the wary glances of their classmates. While others whispered and cast suspicious looks, she offered a smile of understanding, a silent promise that she would stand by him, no matter the cost.

During breaks, Sophia would approach Ace, her voice soft and reassuring, offering glimpses of the outside world that seemed to fade from his grasp. She spoke of their adventures as children, of the laughter that once echoed through the streets, hoping to awaken the slumbering memories buried deep within him.

Despite his distant gaze, Ace found solace in Sophia's presence, a flicker of warmth amidst the cold emptiness that consumed him. In her eyes, he glimpsed fragments of the boy he once was, a reminder of the life he had left behind in the shadows of the abandoned mansion.

As days turned into weeks and weeks into months, Sophia remained unwavering in her devotion, a steadfast beacon of hope in Ace's world of darkness. Together, they navigated the halls of their school, their friendship a testament to the enduring power of light in the face of encroaching darkness.

And though the whispers of the town continued to haunt them, Sophia stood by Ace's side, her unwavering belief a shield against the shadows that threatened to engulf him. For in the bond they shared.