I stepped closer to Tylant, who was still stiffly frozen. Just getting near made my skin prickle with a chill. At the center of that coldness stood Tylant, still wearing a bright smile.
Thud – I heard footsteps approaching. I quickly blocked my senses and gripped my great sword tight.
I steadied my racing breath. With trembling hands, I raised the great sword.
[I’m sorry for leaving you with a difficult request, Noah.]
Even in the piercing cold, warm beads of sweat oozed from the hilt of the sword. My heightened body temperature made my breath fog against the chill.
[I hope that when we meet again someday… it won’t be in the cold winter, but in the warm spring.]
Clank – The tip of the sword rested before Tylant’s chest. I raised my left hand to support the base, trying to control the trembling. Thump-thump – I could feel Tylant’s heartbeat. Against it, my own heartbeat and ragged breaths echoed back.
[A spring where Noah can smile. Hehe.]
My legs trembled as I hesitated to move forward. My hands shook. My arms quivered. Whether it was from the cold or despair, I couldn’t tell, but the shivers traveled up to my chin, making my lips quiver.
Crunch – I bit my lip. Tylant’s voice faded from my mind.
After a while, I heard Tylant’s laughter, this time not in my head but by my ear.
[Hmm. I suppose this might be better. Thank you, human.]
At the same time.
“Noah.”
Crack –
“If it’s too hard, ask your friend for help. That Ser will help you whenever you need.”
I opened my senses at the sound coming from right beside me.
“Even if it’s something very difficult, I will surely help.”
“…Ser?”
I saw Ser holding an ice spear.
Tylant was depicted pierced through the chest by the ice spear.
“Why do you look that way? Are you unhappy that I killed them? Don’t harbor dissatisfaction. Don’t even think about killing the friend you have left with your hands.”
“B-but…”
“What do you mean but? In the end, Tylant also said thank you to me. Are you really thinking Noah killed Sirin? Sirin… ended their own life. It was merely releasing the soul they had been forcibly holding. Think about Sirin’s wounds. Yes, I’m talented and brilliant, but the wounds created by your full power cannot be healed so quickly. And… didn’t you also put away your sword in the end?”
Clang –
“So, there’s no need to despair over the guilt of killing a friend. This time is the same. Just… yes. Think of it as a wicked, evil wizard killing your friend, and smile. Wasn’t that what Tylant wanted?”
With Ser’s scoffing laugh, the ice spear shattered into nothingness. Then, grabbing my still trembling hands, they gave me a thwap on the head.
“Now, I will help.”
Ser’s cold hand wrapped around my wrist and brought it to Tylant’s chest.
The chilling cold dug into my bones.
Maybe that’s why Ser’s hand, which had felt only cold before, started to feel warm.
“Hurry.”
Nodding my heavy head, I found Tylant’s soul. It was a soul lonely and desolate like winter. However, within it, there was a weak seed and light that could bloom into spring.
I reached out toward that soul.
At the same time.
Whisp –
The coldness on my palm scattered, and the breath I had been holding finally burst forth.
“Well done.”
Ser slowly loosened their grip on my wrist.
Then, they turned to Laila.
“Come now. It’s your turn.”
[…Ser. You can’t mean—]
“Laila.”
Ser’s stiff voice cut through Laila’s words.
“The ice is melting. Please hurry.”
Though their voice was the same as usual, it had a slightly different tone.
The eyebrow twitched. The lips were tightly closed.
Seeing Ser’s somewhat awkward demeanor, an unknown sense of unease swelled in my heart.
“Ser…?”
“Yes.”
Ser’s gaze locked onto me.
Their eyes were serene. More than ever.
Had they been listening to the conversation between Laila and me?
That couldn’t be. No matter what, Ser wouldn’t be able to hear the whispers in my mind.
Then… what is this unease?
“…You’re not having any strange thoughts, right?”
“What do you mean?”
“No, it’s just…”
Ser, who smiled lightly, shook their head.
“Just? Is Noah unable to trust their friends?”
“Ah, no… it’s not that…”
“I’m not the kind of fool that Noah is to think strange thoughts. Even if I did, I wouldn’t harm you. So please, do what you need to do.”
Ser’s gaze, which had been looking down at me, turned back to Laila.
Receiving that gaze, Laila slowly moved toward us as if she had no other choice.
“Do we absorb Laila’s soul and then Sirin’s soul to finish?”
[That’s right.]
“Understood. I’ll take you to the sky, so Laila, please hand over your soul quietly.”
“Se-Ser!”
“Why do you keep calling me?”
“D-don’t say that.”
Ser’s eyes widened into circles as they pinched my nose.
“You’ve become quite bold, haven’t you?”
“Ugh…”
“Hm, thinking back on it… yes. I misspoke, just as Noah said. I apologize. I’m sorry, Laila.”
Bows – Ser bent their head toward Laila.
Seeing that, Laila’s eyes went round like Ser’s had a moment ago.
[…You’ve changed a lot.]
“As time passes, and you experience various incidents, whether big or small changes will occur, even for a genius like me. That’s an unavoidable truth.”
[Yes. That’s true. That’s an inevitability. You, me, this world, and nothing can escape that truth. Who knows who crafted it, but you’re a very clever kid.]
“Please don’t sprinkle such unpleasant words over this tearful farewell.”
[Haha, yes. Sorry about that.]
Laila, giggling lightly, reached out her hand towards me. I grasped that hand, and at the same time, Laila’s whispers flowed into my mind.
[Just like everything changes, I wish your choices would change as well. If possible… yes. In a way that ‘everyone’ can smile.]
I didn’t respond to Laila’s words.
I had no intention of reversing the choice I had already made.
[It seems you’ve already picked up on the gift I’ve prepared… so I won’t say what’s inside separately. Is that alright?]
This time, her voice was spoken, not whispered.
I nodded quietly with my head down.
[Alright. Then, please tell me my true name.]
Laila’s grip tightened.
Before I could even concentrate, Laila’s soul approached me.
That soul was vibrant with life. It took the form of lush green foliage. Spring, which blooms all things. It possessed warmth and brightness more radiant than that.
Life touched my soul.
[My true name is—]
At the same time.
Whooooosh—!
The wind blew in. Not the spirit’s wind, but the wind of nature. Riding on it, the fragrance of flowers overflowed, unable to be contained by this world.
“…Huh?”
I hadn’t broadened my senses. But every detail around me was vividly imprinted in my mind.
Flowers. Countless flowers unfurled before me.
In the midst of the cold of dead spirits, a beautiful garden bloomed.
And the colors appeared.
The colors of the flowers could be seen. Deep red flowers like blood. Light pink flowers seemingly filled with love. Yellow flowers that carried joy. Blue flowers that shone like the sky. Dark blue flowers, quiet like winter. Vibrant green flowers. Pure, almost pristine white flowers.
The scents of flowers with different aromas intertwined. Still, the fresh scents filled the end of the world, starting to manipulate my breath, my heart, my emotions to their will.
[Primavera.]
The meaning contained within.
[It’s spring, blooming new life.]
Once more, the wind blew through the blossoms.
The flowers that had bloomed beautifully swayed gently.
Petals sang. They danced and fluttered away. Riding the wind, they strolled between the spirits, reaching toward the sky.
[The wish is to revive the world, which has already lost its life.]
The light of spring touched the petals. The petals absorbed that light. Thus, they emitted a radiant glow.
The petals that couldn’t be obscured by the blue sky and those shimmering like a galaxy decorated the heavens.
Laila, the hand of Primavera was lifted. Following that hand, petals flowed like a galaxy. They twisted and overflowed.
[Please take good care of the new world we wished to bloom, a future where everyone can smile. Noah.]
Eventually.
Embracing her body.
[Manhwa (滿花).]
I nurtured a quiet life upon my hands.
Soon, a gentle wind blew. The wind, carrying the petals that scattered, erased the blooming garden and vanished beyond the sky.
The bleak winter landscape returned.
The figures of the dead spirits were drawn in my senses.
However, the fragrance that remained in the world.
The scent that Primavera blossomed was still deeply present.
I took the hand that had lost Primavera’s warmth.
On my palm, instead of her warmth, a small petal remained.
I closed my hand. A fragrance wafted through.
It smelled like Rubia.
Taking a breath, I turned away.
“Primavera. Just like her name, she left splendidly.”
Ser, who had been wearing a strange expression, approached me.
“…Now, it’s the last step.”
“Is that so?”
Ser’s gaze turned toward the sky.
Whether they were looking at Sirin or the false Paradise, I couldn’t tell, but the expression on her face was still unreadable.
After a moment, Ser lowered her gaze and waved her hand.
At the same time, the wind she conjured enveloped our bodies.
Woosh – Our bodies floated up toward the sky.
I widened my senses in sync.
In the stark landscape, the dawn light was shining upon the spirits.
“Let’s go.”
Ser reached out toward me.
I tucked the Primavera’s petal into my grasp and took Ser’s hand.
The usual stiff expression.
The familiar calm voice.
Yet, Ser’s hand was trembling slightly.
