I don’t even remember how I moved to where I am.
Thud thud In a daze, she just ran without thinking.
The destination? The dormitory of the Epiris Academy.
Out of breath and trembling, all she could think was she had to get there.
To confirm the truth.
The truth that was completely unbelievable… No, it shouldn’t be believed.
Even while running, the undeniable fact kept crashing down on her.
The second floor of the dormitory.
It was her first time there, but she instantly recognized whose room it was by the door in front of her.
“Lemme gooooo━!!!”
Shriek! A girl’s voice screamed, tearing through the gap of the men blocking the door.
A girl with blue hair was proving the unbelievable story.
“Ken…!! Ugh, Keeeenn━!! Let go! I said let go…!!”
The men were blocking the entrance to the room.
A girl was struggling to reach someone precious beyond that wall.
And behind her, a girl with red hair stared vacantly, her eyes dead as she watched the scene unfold.
At that nightmare of a sight, Emily’s legs gave way, and she slumped to the ground.
“Emily!”
Despite the voice of her worried friend, she could only stare blankly at the reality before her.
No.
…No.
This is a dream.
Because she had gotten tired of the cruel nightmares.
This is just one of them.
She whispered to herself.
But the girl’s constant screams continued to pierce through, awakening her to reality.
“Ken, Ken….”
Tears welled up as Emily struggled to rise from the ground.
“Ken, …Ken.”
Calling out the name of the boy she desperately searched for.
Hoping for an answer, she stumbled forward, slowly approaching the cruel reality.
“Move ittt━!! Ugh, I told you to send me to Ken━!!”
Craaash!
And then, unable to hold back any longer, sharp icy fangs erupted around Mary, threatening the men.
Those fangs weren’t just for show; they were filled with the will to truly kill those who were blocking her.
“…━Keeeenn!!”
Shoving aside the obstacles, the blue-haired girl finally rushed toward the boy she wanted to reach.
And Emily, watching from behind.
She was hit with the undeniable reality through the gaps in the men blocking the way.
“……Ke, …n.”
Emily watched in a daze.
Her eyes were dying, and only lost tears streamed endlessly down her face.
Reflected in her eyes was the sight of Mary, sobbing and clinging desperately to the cold boy.
‘……No.’
The single voice echoed continuously in her heart as she stared blankly.
No.
No.
…No.
She kept denying it inside her heart.
But the mind-blowing reality before her was digging into Emily’s chest.
“It’s not true.”
At that moment, another girl’s voice called out from behind Emily.
As she slowly turned her head, there stood the red-haired girl looking at her.
With eyes as dead as her own.
“Ken isn’t dead. Emily.”
She smiled with her lightless eyes and said so.
“…Raphne.”
“So there’s no need to be sad. …Ken is not dead.”
The girl gently took her hand.
But Emily had to face the brutal reality.
“…Stop it, Raphne.”
“Why? It’s true, Ken isn’t dead. I’m telling you he’s not dead!”
“…Please, ugh, just stop it.”
She understood better than anyone how that girl felt, the one who loved him and relied on him for salvation.
Because she, too, was unable to accept this reality.
With tears, Emily embraced her.
“Ugh, …uhh, hic.”
And she couldn’t stop crying.
If she turned away from this heart-wrenching reality, she would feel ashamed to face him, the one who had died.
So she embraced the girl in front of her.
She held her close against the sadness they both faced together.
“…What’s wrong?”
Then the cheerful voice dimmed.
“…Ugh, if Emily keeps doing this, …it’ll really feel like Ken is actually dead…”
Her emotions finally burst free.
“Hwaaaah…!”
Emily gently stroked the head of the girl who sobbed in her arms, now unable to comfort the boy.
Days passed since Ken’s death.
The funeral hadn’t been held yet.
His body was kept in the academy’s shrine as many began investigating the circumstances of his death.
Only those he had been close to visited his coffin to share their sorrow.
And the man who had been his teacher looked hopelessly at the coffin.
“…I… I couldn’t keep our promise.”
In the past, when Ken had helped him toward his goal.
He had vowed in front of the sword Ken made, a pledge to protect him and his loved ones with that sword, no matter the circumstances.
“Why did it have to be you… Ken?”
“…Siegfried.”
Holding the hand of Elise resting on his shoulder, Siegfried bowed his head, shaking.
Elise stood quietly behind him, unsure how to comfort him.
Then she caught sight of a girl.
A girl sitting with her knees hugged, guarding the coffin’s side.
“…Mary.”
“……Elise, …senpai.”
Responding weakly to her call, she lifted her head.
Her eyes were dull, as if her soul were gone.
It was unimaginable how shocking Ken’s death was for her.
“Are you okay? Have you eaten?”
“…….”
Wanting to say something comforting, but seeing her state left Elise speechless.
She worried that Mary might damage her health, so she asked.
Mary lowered her head and buried her face in her knees.
“……No.”
A short reply.
There was no way food could go down her throat in that state.
She still couldn’t believe it.
The person she loved was dead.
Just like that, overnight.
With no sign at all.
The same guy she had shared laughter and conversation with just the day before.
“…Why did it have to be Ken?”
“……Mary.”
“Why, …ugh, of all people, …why did it have to be Ken….”
She voiced a mix of resentment, not knowing who to direct it at.
With her voice choked, tears flowing from her dulled eyes.
“…I still, haven’t even properly thanked Ken….”
And she finally buried her face in her knees.
As if she couldn’t bear to face this cruel reality any longer.
Hoping that it was all just a dream that she could wake from soon.
“…Hey, Mary. …You know.”
Seeing her like that made Elise pick her words thoughtfully.
“I have something to say….”
Hoping her words could help Mary, she decided to speak.
Emily sat in her dorm room.
Sitting on the corner floor, not even on her bed, she cradled a pillow.
Days had passed without eating properly, staring blankly at the floor.
Then, when she could hold on no longer, she would faint, only to awaken again and find the same unchanged reality, leaving her in despair as she clutched the pillow.
She couldn’t accept it.
His death was just too sudden.
“…Hic, ugh.”
Even now, she missed him so much, but whenever she realized she could no longer see him, tears would flow again.
Even when she thought she might run out of tears after crying so much.
Eventually, tears would still stream down.
“…I still …haven’t even apologized properly.”
To the wrongs she had done to him.
The days she had tortured him just to hide her foolish and childish feelings.
The day he died had been the day she planned to invite him for a meal as an apology.
Her last conversation with him came to mind.
“I…ugh, if I knew it would be like this… I shouldn’t have said such things….”
Harsh words she blurted out in shock and embarrassment after being rejected.
And she despised herself for not speaking to him for two days after that.
What was the point of her pride, anyway?
How could she have turned away from someone so precious?
If she had known he would leave like this.
At least in the end.
She wished she could have smiled and said goodbye.
If only that had happened, the pain wouldn’t be this overwhelming.
“Ken… Ugh, Keeen… Hicc, Ken….”
Calling out his name endlessly, but he couldn’t hear her.
The words she wanted to say, the apologies, the love, the gratitude.
Now she couldn’t reach him.
As Emily wallowed in self-blame, burying her face into the pillow, the sound of someone knocking on the door echoed.
Knock knock.
“….”
She stared blankly at the door.
Waiting for an answer, none came.
Dazed, she stood up and approached the door.
Her hand reached for the doorknob.
In her heart, she knew it was impossible, but the thought of ‘what if’ blossomed.
If she opened this door, might the one she longs for be standing there?
So she slowly…
Turned the doorknob and opened the door.
“…Emily.”
“……Ah.”
“…I’m sorry for coming by so suddenly.”
Contrary to her expectations, standing on the other side of the door was Mary.
“What’s… the matter? At this time? Are you okay?”
“Is it odd that I’m asking if you’re okay? How about you, Emily? Are you alright?”
“……Uh-huh.”
Neither of them was in a good state.
They hadn’t eaten properly or slept well for days.
So both looked pitiful in each other’s eyes.
“More importantly, Emily. I came to ask you something.”
“…What is it?”
Although her eyes were lifeless when they last met, now Mary, meeting Emily’s gaze, had a different vibe, as if she had made a resolve.
She opened her mouth as if preparing to say something heavy.
“……Do you know about the Child of Prophecy?”
“…Child of Prophecy?”
At that word, Emily shuddered.
Though it referred to her, not long ago she had endured the pain of cutting herself just because of that name.
“Why do you ask about the Child of Prophecy?”
When she asked back, Mary fell momentarily silent.
As if preparing something difficult to bring up.
And when she finally spoke, a glint of something dangerous was in her eyes.
“That Child of Prophecy… is said to be the one who killed Ken.”
