#memory001

Episode 1

The two of them walked on through the desert. Her hat was still nowhere to be found.

The wind grew stronger, as if gently pushing the Dark Traveler forward. Then, all at once, something strange appeared on the horizon— a large, mysterious shape.

As they approached, he saw it was twice his height. It looked like something long had coiled in on itself and then hardened, partially buried in the sand like an ancient fossil. At its center was a hole—just the right size for His Light.

He leaned over to peer inside. The sand gave way beneath him and tumbled into darkness.

“Does it go on forever?” she asked.

“It’s very deep,” he replied softly.

“Maybe… my hat was pulled down there,” His Light murmured suspiciously, leaning forward in her egg pod to peer deeper inside.

Just then, a powerful gust tore through the air— stronger than the one that had taken her hat.

In an instant, she was snatched from his hands.

Her egg pod was far too smooth—his fingers couldn’t hold on.

“Ah!” she cried.

He reached out—his fingertips brushed hers for just a moment.

Then she was gone, sliding into that deep darkness.

But it wasn’t cold. It was soft. Warm.

The tunnel walls shimmered, reflecting her light in every direction— colors bursting like neon. It was fast. Beautiful. Surprising.

It felt like the tunnel itself was welcoming her.

"Wheee!" Her fear turned to laughter. She let herself whirl through three great loops, faster and faster— until, all at once, it was over.

The pod shattered on impact. Her small body floated briefly in the air— —but he was already there.

He caught her, gently.

“Oh, good… My Light. You didn’t lose any pieces?” His voice was tender.

Still breathless and thrilled, she replied:

“That was really cool… But… it broke. The pod you made for me…”

She looked down at the shattered fragments below them in regret. But the Dark Traveler said with a gentle smile.

“Maybe it wanted to come here too. Even if it broke.”

He turned and pointed toward the center of the vast chamber.

Collected by the Gleaners Compiled by III C...

-------------

It is the binary companion of the gas giant known as the “Red-Eyed Haze,” the first planet formed in the Crimson Dusk star system.

Periodic cycles of death and regeneration are observed. Regeneration is believed to begin when a massive egg hatches and supplies life-sustaining water to the surface.

Fragmentary records suggest that, in its early era, needle-like and bubble-like species flourished and remained in prolonged conflict.

The needle-like species is believed to have gone extinct or disappeared for unknown reasons. No physical trace has been identified.

Intelligent lifeforms believed to be descendants of the bubble-like species emerge during the transition to death.

These individuals hatch in large numbers from small eggs distributed across the surface. They are believed to trigger the hatching of a massive egg located underground.

Despite this, most individuals interpret the absence of hatching as a sign that the planet is approaching death. In response, they initiate attempts to escape into space to avoid extinction. All escaping individuals are observed to disintegrate before reaching space.

The resulting particulate matter is considered to be the primary source of the planet’s reddish sand. The reason for this escape behavior remains unknown. One hypothesis proposes that incorrect information is encoded in their genetic structure, or that critical information is absent.

It has also been consistently observed that a single individual remains on the planet and waits beside the massive egg. This may explain why these species persist, though the details remain unknown.

Following regeneration, the planet becomes enveloped in cocoon-like gas. It remains covered by a dense and complex atmosphere for the majority of its cycle, making observation difficult. As a result, the mechanisms of regeneration, the process by which life reestablishes itself, the placement of new eggs, and the progression toward the next decline phase remain unresolved.

The Dark Traveler and His Light arrived on a quiet planet where the sand was pink like candy—soft and warm beneath their feet.

Scattered all around them were broken egg husks. Hundreds of them. But not a single sign of life.

Far away, the ground peeled up into the sky, quietly leaving the planet behind in a neat line. Above it, plasma snapped and whipped like wild ribbons caught in a storm.

“This planet is dying” the Dark Traveler murmured. “Dyyying...” His Light echoed, mimicking his deep and serious voice.

She was fascinated by the egg husks. She loved them so much, she pretended she had been born from one.

That made the Dark Traveler smile.

So he built her a little egg pod—just her size.

His Light was thrilled. She curled up inside like a very happy pea in a shiny shell.

They wandered the pink dunes for a while. His Light loved their adventures—especially now, with her brand-new gear.

But then—whoosh!

A sudden gust of wind came rushing across the sand.

It snatched the "hat" right off her head.

“My hat!” His Light cried.

“I can make you a new one,” the Dark Traveler offered gently.

“But that was my first one,” she pouted. “I love that one.”

The Dark Traveler let out a soft, fond sigh.

He smiled. He knew his Light—knew how stubborn she could be when it came to things she loved.

And so, without another word, he stepped into the wind, chasing after her little hat as it tumbled across the dunes.

—

'Happy Hatching Day!'

Previous Episode

Beside her, a small, glowing blue fin emerged from the water. In its hands was the hat.

It floated in front of her and spoke, vibrating its membrane as the small one did. Its sounds were like a toddler's humming, but somewhat wistful.

“‘If she awakes, we die.’ —they said. Maybe it’s true. Because now, I, right next to you, can feel it clearly.”

The blue fin shimmered softly as it swayed.

“…It’s strange, isn’t it? Even though I was near you, while both of us were dying, I wasn't afraid. As if I believed that last day would never come. Or maybe… I was planning to fly away… Like everyone else...?”

She blinked slowly, with her warm glow. The blue fin continued.

“…You felt it, didn’t you? That I wasn’t waiting for you—even though I was.”

It looked down, ashamed.

She reached out and brushed its top with a soft, growing tendril.

Then she gently took the hat from its tiny hands and placed it on its head.

She blinked again, brighter this time. The atmosphere began to resonate, as if the planet itself were humming with the vibration of ten thousand voices. It was Her voice.

‘—But, in the end, you wished for me.’

The little blue fin collapsed and cried.

“Of course I did! I was waiting all along! I always wanted to meet you... Looking forward to everything about you, ever since I awoke in my shell... Everything…everything was for you…”

Her body glowed softly.

‘It, made me, so, HAPPY.’

The little blue fin cried harder.

“Me too…me too…”

She drew its tiny, shaking fin close with her tender tendrils. The little blue fin clung to her and sobbed.

“Ah, but it’s scary! The end is scary… Isn’t it…? No…? You… my precious you…?”

She brushed its head as if cherishing.

‘There, is no End. There, is—Together.'

“Together…?” it whispered through tears.

‘Yes. Together. Me, you, always, together. No more, sadness, no more, loneliness, no more, behind. Closer, than anyone, closer, than anything. For, Ever.’

The little blue fin smiled in relief.

“Ah...I see...I see you…”

It felt itself unraveling. But it no longer felt afraid.

Silky, thick clouds slowly wrapped around them. Only their light flickered through—

until it, too, disappeared.

Pink Sand Lullaby >>>

Thank you for reading!

Episode 2

The two of them gazed up at the beautiful, magnificent egg—enchanted, maybe even a little in awe.

"Did you say it wanted to come near that?" His Light whispered to her Darkness, turning her head back toward the broken pod. “Maybe so.” The Dark Traveler replied gently.

His Light slipped down from his arms and began picking up the broken pieces of her egg pod, placing them carefully on her skirt, one by one.

She stood, her skirt full of fragments. But when she stepped out on her tiny foot, some pieces tumbled from the edge of the little fabric.

The Dark Traveler formed a round bubble out of the darkness, and the pieces were slowly drawn into it, settling quietly inside. He attached some strings to the bubble for easy carrying, and offered it to her.

His Light gazed at it with delight and gripped the offered string tightly. "Thank you..." she said with a quiet joy.

"I’ll bring them near the big one..." The Dark Traveler smiled. "That's really nice, my light."

The great egg sat at the center of the round, warm chamber, as if declaring this space belonged only to it. The walls rose high and narrowed toward the sky, where a hole let starlight trickle in. Tiny grains of sand danced in the air, shimmering each time they caught the light.

Along the walls, small, round hollows were lined in perfect rows. The hollows stretched all the way to the ceiling. Except for the four hollows, evenly spaced in the four directions—one likely the 'official' entrance she had come through—each of the others held something that seemed precious, placed there with quiet care:

Crystalline clusters that looked as if they had grown there naturally. Delicate things, like plants or insect bones. Layered, rigid, pie-like structures, beautiful in their folds. Soft, puffy pillows—adorable… and very, very smelly.

No two looked alike. You’d want to see every last one, all the way to the top.

“Did someone… or everyone place them here?” His Light wondered aloud, eyes drifting toward the peak. He responded slowly, walking as he looked up at the towering ceiling: “…Maybe they grow from something. Like a seed of ‘something special,’ or ‘something important,’ or a ‘favorite thing.’ Maybe even… ‘a memory.’”

Then, the Dark Traveler stumbled over something—heavy, and hard.

It was half-buried in the soft bedding below, almost hiding.

It fit just right in his palm—a smooth, elliptical black stone. Inside it, something was scattered and frozen in place, reflecting light like distant stars.

to be continued... - Episode 4

----

If no one ever wished for me, then I should disappear.

Alone, nothing has any meaning.

Prosperity… Survival… What are they? Nothing.

Repetition. Conflict. Peace.

To kill for that? Always… endlessly… empty.

Love… Love. Love--- that alone is meaning.

That you were waiting for me… that you wished for me… that you see me… that is the meaning of my birth.

You and I, together, forever, repeating…

true peace, rest, happiness…

I am happy.

Previous Episode

At the bottom of the whirlpool that had swallowed the small one, the two of them knew it Her was awake. And not only they—the entire planet knew.

The lands that had been marching solemnly toward the sky suddenly panicked, like children caught sneaking away, and tumbled back down to the ground in pieces. The raging plasma stilled at once, fading shyly into the atmosphere.

The rainbow-colored water overflowed through the chamber, pouring into the thousand of empty hollows. It spilled out through the same hollow Light had slid down, spreading across the surface, melting the pink sand and scattered eggshells, until it became a softly glowing sea of pearly, rainbow-tinted rose.

The sky, once transparent, began to fill with thin, silk-like clouds. They thickened and thickened, as if weaving a cocoon around the planet, until the outside light no longer reached inside. As if the planet itself were making night—a long, long night.

Just then, beside the dark bubble where the two watched over the whirlpool, Her passed by. In a single graceful sweep. The shimmering frills trailing behind her drifted like luminous ribbons. They were made of the very threads the small one had wanted to arrange so carefully and proudly.

Riding the calm yet powerful current she created, their bubble was lifted upward and carried to the surface.

And there—the world looked like an entirely different planet.

The hole where they had once peered down, the one Light had fallen through, was part of a vast, dried, curled cactus.

The cactus that had slept beneath the sand, holding the planet in its roots, now pulsed with the life-water she sent flowing through it. It swelled, unfurled its shrunken body, and rose in majestic height over the white-iridescent sea. All along its ridges bloomed bold white flowers, like proud banners, a triumphant chorus of blossoms.

And Her was there. Hatching upon that throne of petals.

“She… Her… same thing…” the Dark Traveler murmured.

Yes——just as the small one had said. She was the life of this planet.

to be continued...- Episode 12