Chapter 28: Ursa’s Secret Smile

Chapter 28: Chapter 28: Ursa’s Secret Smile ???? Previously: With Lyra’s cursed bond shattered, Jemil and his team ascend to Floor 3 of the Tower. Their emotional ties are now unbreakable—or so they think. But the Tower isn’t just testing them for pain. Now, it wants their joy. And Ursa, the cheerful bear girl, is hiding more than anyone suspects. ☁️ Welcome to Floor 3: The Memory Market The tower shifted again—this time not into a battlefield, but a village. Quiet. Quaint. Dreamlike. Market stalls lined the cobblestone streets. Beasts and tamers laughed. Children played. A calm so jarring it made Mira whisper, "Something’s wrong. It’s too perfect." Ursa blinked. "Wait. I know this place." Jemil glanced at her. "You do?" She smiled... but not her usual toothy grin. It was smaller. Sadder. "This is where I was raised. Before the mines. Before I was taken." [Floor 3 Challenge: Reclaim the Lost Smile] [Trial Target: Ursa] [Objective: Discover what was taken from her—and return it] ???? The Girl Before the Beast As the group walked deeper into the illusion, stalls around them began to display odd items: Toys with Ursa’s face carved into them. A massive clay jar labeled "Happy Memories – Do Not Touch." A mirror that refused to reflect Ursa at all. Jemil frowned. "Is this another one of those memory dungeons?" "No," said Aerialra. "This isn’t a memory. It’s a theft." "This place stole something from Ursa," Sylfa added, "and never gave it back." They followed Ursa through winding alleys until they reached a small cottage. She stopped at the threshold. "I used to live here," she whispered. "With my sister." ???? Flashback Fragment A younger Ursa. Brighter, even clumsier. Always laughing. And a small girl with sharp eyes and silver hair. "My sister," Ursa said quietly. "She was taken before I was." Mira put a hand on her shoulder. "You never mentioned her." "I don’t remember her face," Ursa said. "Not really. Just that she always told me to smile, no matter what. Even when it hurt." ???? System Alert [Emotional Discrepancy Detected: Ursa’s Core] [Fragmented Joy: Critical Trait Sealed] [Trial Objective Updated: Reforge the Smile She Forgot] Jemil walked forward and touched the locked jar labeled "Happy Memories." It pulsed. [You have triggered a sealed memory] [WARNING: Attempting to view stolen emotion] He braced himself. And the world shattered into white. ???? Inside the Memory Lock Jemil was now a child. So was Ursa. They were in the same village—only this time, everything was on fire. Screams echoed. Beast cages lined the walls. Ursa’s sister stood before her, shielding her body with trembling arms. "Run, Ursa!" "I won’t leave you!" "If you stay, they’ll take your smile. Don’t let them—" Crack. A shadowy summoner struck her sister with a glowing whip. Her scream echoed, then faded. Jemil could only watch as Ursa’s young body shook, her cheerful mask beginning to form even then. It wasn’t joy. It was defense. ???? Reforging the Smile Back in the present, Jemil emerged from the memory with tears in his eyes. Ursa hadn’t moved. She was staring at a wall with no expression. "She doesn’t know how to be happy," Nyx whispered. "She fakes it." "Not anymore," Jemil said. He knelt before her and took her hands. "You don’t need to smile for me. Or for anyone. Not unless it’s real." Her lip trembled. "But if I don’t smile, I’ll break." "Then break," he said softly. "And I’ll be here to hold the pieces." ???? System Trigger: Heart Unsealed [Ursa’s Emotional Core: Stabilized] [Trait Gained: Genuine Joy – Amplifies all positive party effects] [New Ability: Laughquake – AoE morale buff that also physically stuns enemies] [Fusion Skill: Bearhug – Temporarily renders Jemil or an ally immune to despair-based attacks] Ursa collapsed into his arms, laughing through tears. Not a loud belly laugh. Not a forced giggle. Just a tiny, real one. "I think... I finally found it again," she said. Her smile. The one that belonged only to her. ???? Floor Cleared [Trial Complete: Emotional Integrity Stabilized] [Tower Progression: 3/10 Floors Complete] [New Area Unlocked: The Garden of Forgotten Bonds] ✅ CTA – Smile Through the Pain Ursa’s joy wasn’t just cute—it was forged through trauma, lies, and loss. But now that she’s reclaimed it, she might be the emotional cornerstone that holds the harem together. ???? Which beast girl do you think is next to be tested by the Tower? Drop your thoughts and share Ursa some love! ???? Add to Library, drop a Power Stone, and ready your feels for... Next: Chapter 29 – "The Garden of Forgotten Bonds" ????