Ange g frowned, clutg the steering wheel as she pulled up in front of Vox Memorial Park.

  It was a sunny day, and the te afternoon light cast a radiance over the lush green grass and brightly colored flowers. The statue loomed in the distance, bright and majestic.

  She smiled sadly, stepping out of the car and walking up the hill. It had been a long time since she'd visited Kaleidoscope City, and she'd always avoided this partidmark.

  But today, she was determio pay her respects.

  It wasn't like anyone would reize her, after all. It had been years since she'd done anything of note and packed away her System food. At this point, there was no way anyone would know who she had once been anyway.

  Her family had lived here once when she was just a young girl, and she also attended Kaleidoscope Academy for her sedary education attending the same program as her sister.

  But Ange had never been anything special, just a little girl with a love for baking. She had good grades and was good with a ledger and some spreadsheets, sure. She'd also tried her hand at most of the same things as her sister, but she was typically 'above average' but nothing exceptional. In spite of all that, she'd like to think she was a det mother entering her middle ages. But she was never extraordinary.

  Not like her sister.

  Jennifer had always been the special one, and Ange had never resented her for it. Even as a young child, little Jin Hua had a charisma and energy that just shined. She was smart and capable, always getting the grades and earning top honors, while breaking records in trad field. She still remembered guiding her sister through the halls, her eyes sparkling and curious at every wonder. But iably, she found herself uo keep up. Even before her sister had graduated.

  Not only that... Jenny was beautiful. Exceptionally beautiful, and her heart seemed virtually incapable of wiess, jealousy, and malice.

  As the younger sister, Jenny always looked up to her sibling and even said she wao be just like her. Even when her brilliaually eclipsed her and everyone else's. But Ange had to admit that there art of her that was envious of her little sister's talent.

  Even if it was hard — no, impossible to hate that smile and a charm of hers that lit up a room.

  She shook her head, smiling sadly.

  Ange knew her sister had always wao open a snack for the y. She'd dreamed of doing it in Kaleidoscope City, perhaps eveiring and using her popurity as a Knight and as a celebrity in her ht to build it with her.

  But the world had other pns.

  Their dream had always been so close. A childhood passion that they had shared. But Jenny never had the ake it e to fruition.

  Her baby sister had always been a bit of a glutton, though. And Ange remembered her stantly takira servings of pie and cakes whehey were little.

  She couldn't help but smile at that thought.

  Ange shook her head, fighting back tears.

  She turhe er around a hedge, looking up at the statue t over the city.

  The statue represented Arcadia Vox in her prime. She was standing with her trademark grin and sideeace sign, her signature battle regalia and cape, a vision of strength and perseverance. Even to this day, flowers and dles sat at the base of the statue, a tribute to the fallen hero.

  It had always been a source of pride for the people of Kaleidoscope City.

  Arcadia Vox was dead now, of course. Fallen in battle fifteen years ago against the queror, tyrant, and self-procimed empress Mortifera Nox in a desperate bid to save the world. She had succeeded in killing the wicked overlord but at the cost of her own life.

  They'd found her remains in the rubble, singed and burned from the wicked overlord's final strike. And even ih, she had still been a symbol of hope and strength, her name on everyone's lips as.

  " you hear me, Jenny?" Ange whispered, approag the statue.

  "Still love sweet, sweet things, I bet."

  A soft, warm breeze blew through the park, and for a moment, she felt like Jenny was there with her. Whispering words of encement, tellihat she was here and she'd be okay.

  She closed her eyes ahe sun wash over her, feeling at pead overe with emotion.

  "David and I settled down ierstoer all that meandering, you knoound up starting that restaurant after all. It's ly as gmorous as your idea with the cats and bunnies, but it keeps us afloat and busy. So we made it happen, Jinny. Just like we promised we would."

  And in that respect, she was just like her little sister, always making do with what she had and w hard.

  "My baby turned out to be a boy, though. Pretty smart kid, actually. He got into the Academy on a schorship through his ow, so he's out there chasing his own dreams. We're really proud of him, actually. I wish you could've beeo see him. I'm sure you would have been proud of him, too."

  Ange sighed, wiping away a tear.

  "Maria's daughter is here with him, too. I holy think they would make a cute couple, but they never look at each other like that. It's a shame, holy. Maybe they just need a push, but I don't want to meddle in my son's life. After all, he deserves his own shot at happiness."

  She looked up at the sky, smiling sadly. "You and Elio would love them to death. Just like you would have loved mine. God, you would have been a hellish auntie for him with those cheeks of his. But thank goodness. You would've spoiled him rotten. Still, it's okay. Dave and I mao stay together in the end, and we made it work. Just like we did."

  Ange sighed.

  "Losing you and Elio was hard on Maria. She and I had a few long talks over the years, and we were there for each other during the funeral. I do try to look after her daughter where I , but Maria always felt unfortable letting me meddle. You always did say we'd be sisters one day, and you were right in a way. But in another, it was just you. And you were enough. Even after all this time, I still miss you. And I know I should have visited sooner. I just..."

  She smiled, closing her eyes as the wind picked up again.

  "It's funny, you know, I always thought you were just strictly into girls, but I guess it's plicated, huh? Love sure does seem to follow you in whatever you do. Whether it's Maria or Hinokawa. Mom or dad. But I'm not surprised. You were you, and you always drew people towards you. Like moths to a fme, I suppose. Like you were... still are."

  She stood up and paced around the statue, running her fingers across the stone.

  "It feels like a lifetime ago. The memories and the tears. But I'm not here to wallow in it. I'm here to celebrate you. And I hope you're somewhere smiling down on me. Knowing that we're here, still carrying the torch you built with your blood, sweat, and tears."

  She bit her lip, shaking her head.

  "I don't regret a single moment. And I don't bme you for sacrifig your life to save the world. You always said that helping others was what it meant to be a true hero. And I 't imagine you having it any other way. But I hope you're proud of us. Your friends and family. Even if we're scattered to the winds."

  Ange couldn't keep the tears from falling, and she wiped her eyes, trying tain her posure.

  She had never been able to stay in Kaleidoscope City long after Jenny's death. Too many memories as and things left unsaid. So she'd packed up her stuff, married David, and moved to Pewterstone, where they started their little restaurant and made their humble little mark on the world.

  She had always dreamed of returning to Kaleidoscope City to open a shop with Jenny, a dream and a promise they had held onthout their childhood. But that dream was over now, repced by a bittersweet memory and a legacy that was carried by others now.

  Ange sighed, pulling out a flower from her bag and pg it gently on the ground.

  It was all she could offer now. A moment of pead a little bit of healing.

  She didn't lihough, and turo leave the park, feeling at pead somewhat happy with herself.

  Jenny would have been proud of her. She khat much.

  But as she turned from the statue to go back to her car, she spotted a figure staring at her from the side.

  Her heart skipped a beat, and she blinked, her eyes widening.

  The figure was a navy peacoat with long bck hair and hazel eyes glistening with tears. She stood motionless, clutg a bouquet of flowers in her hand and staring sadly at Ange.

  Ange's eyes narrowed, and her jaw tightened.

  It couldn't be.

  Ahere she was.

  The girl she had shared a womb with, grown up with, and had dreamed of opening a feary with.

  Ange shook her head.

  The resembnce was uny, but it wasn't her. Jenny's eyes were dark brown, not hazel. Her hair color was also a slightly different shade.

  She chuckled sadly, tilting her head.

  "Hello there, young dy. Sorry, I thought you were someone else. Just admiring the statue and paying my respects, you know?"

  The girl nodded, a curious smile appearing on her face. "Yes. I didn't mean to interrupt. I just..."

  She pced the flowers at the base of the statue, bowing her head solemnly.

  Ange just looked at her in disbelief. There was no way it was her. Jenny was dead, and this was just some young girl. But she couldn't deny the feeling in her gut that there was something familiar in those eyes.

  She shook her head, f a smile. "Anyway, sorry about that. I just hope you don't mind."

  The girl smiled. "No, it's okay. Please do as you like. It's a park, after all. Enjoy yourself."

  Ange nodded, looking away and fighting back tears.

  Jenny had been so expressive, so vibrant, and so full of life.

  This girl was...

  But then Ange paused, her eyes widening with realization.

  She thought back to all the stories aails that Jenny had told her about when she'd found herself pregnant.

  Jenny had told her the child was stillborn, a casualty of her recklessness and adventure-lust.

  And now, years ter... a ghost had approached her. A mirror image of her mother, save for eyes that were guarded and cautious, but so agly familiar, sharp, and intelligent.

  Like the boy who would grow to be be a Paragon. The boy who once followed them around on all their adventures.

  There was no mistaking it.

  Elio Hinokawa had hazel eyes.

  Ange spun around, her heart hammering in her chest.

  But there was nobody there.

  The spot where the girl had stood was empty, only the bouquet of flowers at the base of the statue remaining.

  Ange colpsed to the ground, clutg her chest as she struggled to breathe.

  It was impossible. It couldn't be.

  She wao ugh, but tears were flowing freely now. It was too much. It was all just too much.

  She couldn't move, paralyzed by shod disbelief. Her mind raced with possibilities and probabilities, but none of them made sense.

  Finally, after what seemed like hours, she got up, wiping her eyes and colleg herself.

  She couldn't stay here any longer, not with all the memories and ghosts lurking around every er.

  She turned and fled, nearly stumbling as she made her way back to her car, uo think or even see clearly.

  It couldn't be. It wasn't possible. It was a ce.

  But if that was true, who was that girl, and why had she left so quickly?

  She couldn't ahose questions, and she didn't want to. It was just too much.

  Jenny had been her younger sister, the bright and shining star of their family.

  She had been gone from the world for fifteen years, and Ange had a duty to her.

  She had to front the possibility.

  That her sister's lost child was alive, and she was here in Kaleidoscope City.