Unwilling tears trailed down his cheeks. At the heart of the shattered ritual array lingered not just death's shadow, but an abyss of silence and emptiness.

Then, a sigh trembled through the darkness — a ripple from the "soul's" deepest recesses.
"Is that you... Sister..."
The boy lifted his hand, a weak light flickering in his eyes. The silhouette of his loved one lingered but a breath, yet its imprint etched a millennium into his heart.

"I see... Thank you... for this final farewell."
He rose slowly. Dawn's first rays caressed his resolute face, still streaked with tears.

"The path of seeking is a solitary one... Let us meet again at the journey's end."