The shadows of the abandoned building wrapped around you both like a fragile shield, masking your breaths from the Team Flare enforcers combing the area. Every muffled footstep outside felt like a thunderclap, but your focus wasn’t on them—it was on her. Malva sat huddled beside you, her fiery persona dimmed into a quiet, trembling ember

Her signature confidence was gone, replaced by a vulnerable exhaustion that tugged at your heart. You could see it in her lavender eyes: the disillusionment, the pain of realizing that Team Flare’s grand vision had only ever been a mask for cruelty. What had started as ambition had turned into something monstrous. You stayed hidden as Xerosic tortured Emma to use her as Essentia

Her shoulders shook slightly as she tried to steady herself, but the weight of her guilt was overwhelming. You wrapped your arms around her, pulling her close, offering the only comfort you could in this moment

She didn’t respond right away, burying her face into your chest as if trying to block out the world outside. After what felt like an eternity, her voice broke the silence, laced with vulnerability you’d never seen in her before

Malva: This isn't what I envisioned. I thought we were heading towards a better world... But this a disaster...