***

While it Lasted

***

A group of three ran through a riddle of thick tree trunks, patched bushes, and uprooted undergrowth that covered the forest in a foliage that was no less than an obstacle course in difficulty. However, not even acknowledging these, the three speedily made their way without much effort. They expertly found their footing, casually chatting like a group of friends would over a cup of tea. It was a mood that seemingly mocked the forest's effort in providing a natural training spot for daring adventurers.

"If that is the case, then it had all been a battle of attrition. Does that mean other skills were useless? No, no, no, I am getting ahead of myself..." One of the three talked to herself, lost in her own world. This was Lanna, the battle freak princess that always found time in her busy royal studies to fight me even though she never won.

"Please, hurry!" Another was irritated, impatience at her companions' slack attitude was evident in her tone. Ra'in was the caring mother type who looked after me and Lanna. Lineage-wise, she belonged to an ancient nobility that would not lose in prestige against royalties.

"What can I do? I'm blind, you know." While I leisurely chatted back, purposely annoying her. This was one of the few entertainments I enjoy. Seventeen meant being rebellious after all.

The three of us were on our way back to the school after a hearty exercise deep inside a forest clearing where teachers would not care over the destruction caused our surroundings. It was a good fight, too good, perhaps. We ended up taking our time and forgot the gathering supposedly held an hour before. Well, either way, we were late no matter how fast we ran, so I might as well take my time. We would get scolded, but... whatever. What would happen would happen. I really don't want to stress over something I cannot help.

By now, the Western skies were probably dyed with an orange glow over the setting sun. I could feel heat in that side while coldness of the night slowly crept from the East. The forest itself was transforming to new life, an ecosystem exclusive without light. As the night dwellers began to stir, docile creatures of the day began the daily retreat to their homes before predations fully prowled. The relaxed and leisurely rhythm of the day slowly vanished in place of tense and mysterious mood of the night. This transition was always amusing to observe.

Books can say that forest at night was different than a forest at day, but experiencing it myself, I would not call it 'difference'. It was a cycle. Everything was part of something, trying to separate that something would result to losing a piece in the process. As someone who keeps breaking and rebuilding myself over and over, every piece was indescribably important, or else, I would have nothing left to begin again before I knew it... These melancholic thoughts circled in my head as I continued annoying my companions.

-

It had been a decade since the destruction of the city of Manara and the whole southern nations after, and it had been a decade since I was living the dream of normality.

My life went on.

At first, it had not been easy. My background as an orphan coupled with my blindness, I was far from being useful much less leading a satisfying life. If even walking down the street without bumping against anyone was next to impossible, who would hire the invalid me? Just when I was at another dead end, Pina helped me out, again. She made me her sister, something her parents grudgingly accepted only because that was the condition she set to agree marrying the son of powerful family in a province further in the cold north. I was furious. I burdened her enough, just the fact that she was not freaking out around me after knowing the horror I was capable of was a sympathy I felt deeply grateful for. She was the only person who accepted me for who I was, and yet, my debt on her only grew.

On the day she had to leave for a wedding I was forbidden to attend, Pina made me promise. She wanted me to go school, make that my stepping stone so in the next time we meet, I would no longer be the helpless girl that always clung to her for guidance.

I obliged. There really was not much I could do because, after all, I was nobody. I could only assure Pina that I would be fine. I would make her proud. So, I spent the next months diligently adapting to society, something so simple but harder than I thought it would be.

First, I started filling the void left by not having my sight, a void that was fast becoming a black hole that kept swallowing its surrounding to make a bigger hole. It was scary not seeing the world move. Trapped in that darkness without anything to rely onto, I was filled with regret for sacrificing my eyes, like I betrayed my most trusted friend even with our innumerable hardships together over greed of the bribe that was freedom. For what? There was only darkness. These grave thoughts caused more frustrations, clouding my judgement with paranoia born from my restless imaginings. It was not helping to sleep through it and only to wake up with nothing but black or previous nightmares to distract my mind from my desperation.

In a situation where I had no reprieve, I could only grind my teeth and force myself on focusing over other things.

Books.

I drowned myself in them.

I never knew how to read, neither the Orphanage nor Wuen taught me how. Instead, the books, or any written material for this matter, talked to me. Not verbally, but through flashes of images that I had to decipher. It was an inborn ability that I did not appreciate because of its severe drawbacks.

My way of 'reading' was like an old school animation. Every page was useless by itself, but stacking the drawings that was slightly different than the last then flipping all these in rapid succession creates the illusion of a moving picture.

This idea was similar to how I 'read', except two major difference. First, each flash was not an still picture, but a short clip of breathtakingly detailed video. It would stay in my head for a couple of seconds before disappearing completely. One video clip per page.

Second, unlike an animation that flow with consistency, the flashes per page I saw varied in content. This irregularity made it hard to understand the context . For example, the books I stole from Moran back in the Orphanage were history books. At one page, it was an aerial view of a landscape that made mountains seem small. However, the next page could be totally unrelated scene like fancy people talking over a long table. When I went back to the first page, the aerial view was gone and I end up seeing the same landscape but on a worm's perspective where the said mountains appeared gigantic.

Experiments told me that what the short flash of videos I see were randomed like lotteries. In every touch, the flash of image would be different than the first, second, or third attempt. Sometimes there would be similar clips, but that rarely happened.

In summation, my way of 'reading' was like that game that gave you four images and make you guess what one word would describe all of them(1). My case, however, forces me to make a reasonable story out of an infinite video clips...

More clips might mean more clue, but swallowing that much information was too much to digest.

I had to flip back and forth a hundred just to understand that the first scene was simply telling the setting and the next page was about the people involved. Considering that there were at least couple hundreds of pages in a book, it was needless to say, understanding a whole content took me countless nights suffering from nausea and migraines.

And that was just simple history book for casual record keeping.

This was the main reason I did not learn a thing from a mad scientist's hideout. I wasn't really encouraged to read the ridiculously complicated books in Wuen's laboratory. Those gave me horrible nosebleeds, literally, until I just gave up trying. My head could not take anymore of those torturously detailed explanations. My 'reading' technique was simply too painful to bear, so I hadn't tried 'reading' again after I swore to not nosebleed ever again.

However, I couldn't be such a spoiled girl forever. Becoming blind forced me to endure this experience to compensate my sight. For the sake of my promise to Pina, I had to become a successful student which meant 'reading' even if I teetered to insanity.

In a way, this ability was a blessing for the blind. I didn't have to live a life with nothing but monotonous darkness.

Pain in exchange for more than black, it was a bittersweet relief.

After coming to terms with my blindness, the second thing I dealt with was how to walk without toppling in an even ground. Finding my way in a throng of crowd, it was actually easy after I stopped being frustrated for being blind.

I did not lose everything by becoming blind. My ears and nose had always been excellent, but I never really learned to use them properly because I had been too reliant on my eyes.

I thought of ways to combat my handicapped. One idea resulted. Be a copy cat. There was that article about blind people in my previous life, human echolocation. By clicking the tongue or tapping of a cane to the ground, the projected sound would hit objects and would reflect back as an echo carrying information like what and where objects. Of course, this was not an amateur's work. However, I had confidence that my hearing would not lose to anyone's and therefore make the attempt easier. Thinking this, I smiled, and silently promised another thing in my heart besides 'reading' even when my nose bleeds. It was, to become a batwoman in action.

After a few months of practice, I moved better with eyes closed and headaches from 'reading' became less severe. By no means did my migraines became lighter, my mental fortitude simply got tougher.

There might still be a lot to learn, but what I had was enough to stand toe to toe with my future classmates.

And so, I, seven year old Vitaly la Areintol started going to school.

-

Yenoa Academy was an all girls prestigious academy that only welcomes the children of nobilities. Given my background, I was barely passable. In exchange, I received discrimination. Most of them were cute pranks that I couldn't be bothered with, but the faculties' condemn was quite a pain. They would try embarrass me in every opportunity, double my responsibilities, and purposely give me work that heavily relies on vision. Of course, I pulled through, laughing with them over dumb remarks against me, and the doubled responsibility was a breeze compared to what I endured in Wuen's lab. As for the books I had to sort in a library that was obviously shuffled, it was a miracle I didn't go insane. Sorting it was like repeatedly watching pirated movies of crappy quality without audio, somehow summarize it into sensibility, figure out the title, finally sort them alphabetically and by category, and multiply all these by a thousand every single day. As if that was not enough, I always got grilled with insults after.

That was until my patience just became zero.

-Flashback-

"It is such a simple task, but as expected of filthy blood, your simple head could not handle it. However, the Areintols had done so much for the Academy, the least we could is to tolerate the charity they imposed upon themselves." She spoke condescendingly about five meters away from me. This was the general attitude of faculties towards the charity which was mne, though there were exceptions which were rarer than diamonds, but I was sick of being belittled by these spoon fed aristocrats.

I responded with mockingly sad voice. "Yes, yes, it cannot be helped. What, with a stupid academy and all~"

"...What did you say?" Her voice excitingly dropped an octave.

"I said Yenoa Academy is a stupid academy. Lady Zaratix, why can't you understand something so simple? Ah~ as expected of noble blood, was my words too vulgar to understand? But those were common language... Oh, I know! Nobles would never understand something they lacked, in this case, it is common sense for common language, isn't it? So nobles got no common sense, good to know! As expected of a prestigious academy, I am learning something so early in the morning." I rattled refreshingly. It was like sipping a cup of coffee in a snowy day, so warm and relaxing, I could do this forever.

As for the lady silenced to dumbness, I just happily imagined the veins popping in her head. She took shaky steps toward me, then pinched my ears and twisted it hard with her sharp nails. Blood immediately bleeded out and dripped down to the hardwood of the library. "You dirty... it seems you have forgotten your place." She did not let go and dragged me out the doors looking like that.

It was actually noon outside, not as early as I sarcastically remarked. With that said, there were many students milling about as they enjoyed the free time I never got. My entrance made them gasp in horror, their appetite ruined. Meanwhile, my head was too hazy from 'reading' too many books to care over their disgust or the bleeding pain on my ear. I only had to think about my recent outburst and my smirk easily erased the sensation of blood dripping down my neck. A few drop was a bargain if that meant pissing this stupid teacher off.

I was dragged until the courtyard, a total of five hundred meters. By this time, my blood dripped down the cobblestone spilling enough to make me more dizzy. I barely got to eat anything that day, added with the stress and insomnia, my situation was fast becoming dangerous. Zaratrix let go and distanced herself, five meters away from me. "Beg. Grovel to the ground and beg forgiveness." Threat heavily laced her words.

I did that once, and I would never do it twice. I was no longer a slave, never would I be so low again. "I refuse."

"... You have three seconds."

And I waited three seconds.

I think that made her snap. Mana gathered around her and she began to chant. But wow, she was slow. This was actually the first time someone casted a spell in front of me besides Wuen, and I must say that this instructor really sucked in comparison. "«O Khrys napno cay gracia, Napunas lan amin so ermenya acbibiten-»(2)"

"What is this!" Someone with a booming voice entered. It was the Headmistress, Lady Fatima.

Zaratrix got distracted and chanted wrong. The spell backfired, electrocuting her. So it was a lightning spell. The Headmistress sighed and headed to her with a healing spell at ready.

While this took place, I remained standing unconcerned. I don't have the energy to do much else. I wanted to sleep. And eat. Soon, I hope.

"This- This is her fault!" Zaratrix came to and immediately pushed the blame to me.

The headmistress looked at me, then shockingly healed my ears. It was so unexpected, I staggered back. "We will talk about this in my office." She said firmly.

"Headmistress, she insulted the school!"

"I did." I seconded. "I mean, why does such a prestigious rely on a blind girl to sort their library? Then, if I don't get it right, you get mad? What were you expecting? If this is not stupid, I gladly would like hear how you define it. I have high expectations, Lady Zaratrix." I spat my words without care.

"What did you say?" The Headmistress sounded surprised.

It was my chance blabber. "Lady Zaratrix made me sort the library everyday, when I woke up, during lunch, and after school until the library closes. This started since a month ago..." An I continued tattling.

In every word the Headmistress became stiffer, while Zaratrix struggled to retort back which I easily countered.

My tattling went out on, until she had enough of my testimony that dripped with insults. "You are lying!" She became hysterical and leaped, brandishing her nails like a mad woman.

"«Barrier»" A single word from me, and my mana spilled out and lumped to a shield. Just like how the book showed. This was actually my first time casting, but the ugly lump was really embarrassing. I dissolved it and made a new one, "«Barrier»" This time, I pictured a simple round shield, and was shocked how easy it was. Controlling mana was like playing with playdoughs, it was fun. I made various shapes, a flower, a rabbit, and a wolf and made them all chase Zaratrix. She was screaming as she ran, scared of walking flower and baby bunny. Though I could watched her like that forever, my anemia kicked in and made me fall asleep.

-End of Flashback-

"What are you smirking about?" Ra'in pulled me back to the present.

"Hmm, just thinking what to eat for dinner." I replied with a shrug.

It seems we already arrived at school. Now we just needed to enter the Great Hall inconspicuously. It was where the gathering was held, as well as where dinner were served.

"Dear princess, can you please stop talking to yourself? Illusion or not, if you keep muttering like a mad woman then we might as well walk in grandly instead of sneaking in hopelessly." I said to the girl behind me, whose mumbling would not just end.

"I understand..."

"Finally." Ra'in murmured.

The three of us stuck close together and casted spells. Ra'in with noise-cancelling magic, Lanna with light-dispersing magic, and me with space magic.

"«Mapalpal nay dagem catecep toy linac, oras lay mareen(3). Silence»"

"«O Malinac na labi ya manuwab ed agew, iingas tay bendita to sicamin amin(4). Hide.»"

"«Warp»"

I teleported us until beyond the door, that was the maximum distance I could manage with my depleted mana. The earlier fight really exhausted me.

What laid beyond was the extravagant Great Hall. Two columns of ten long tables, assembled in rows, were divided by a straight aisle of red carpet leading to an elevated platform where instructors sat and observed the Hall. This was a prestigious school, and as expected to what that implied, nothing in this luxurious big space was cheap. Be it food or chairs, the blind me somehow could very well picture the sparkle of everything in it because of the elegant echo of spoons.

However, the Hall right now was weird. Contrary to the refined silence during meals we expected, the Hall was bustling with startling festivity. Girls openly chatted, giggling about something. This was weird. This elite school strictly enforced etiquette which include the grace during meals. We were not even allowed to grind knives against plates, so talking while eating was absolutely out of the option. And yet, everyone was noisy.

"What happened?" Ra'in spoke up, her voice nearly drowned by the buzz around us.

"We need to sit down first." Lanna supplied.

"Sure, but don't break the spell for now." I quipped in.

They agreed with nods, and we gingerly made our way to our usual seat, first column front row, among the oldest students.

In this school's system, it was a total of ten years of education. Starting from level 1s, or first years, all the way to level 10s, which the three of us belong to. We sat at the front row, with fellow level 10s. This arrangement was done purposely, something like seniors were expected to act as role models for our juniors so we were placed there, in the pedestal of attention. No one really minded the added visibility, in fact, most were gleeful about it, happy of flaunting their seniority. I was reminded of Vinegar (from Chapter I) with their attitude. I swore to never copy it.

This school was actually new, so new that my batch was the first one occupying these highlighted sitting arrangement. Our batch would be the first batch of alumnus.

Yenoa Academy was hastily established, though teachers kept saying that it was for the growing need to educate children early, it was obviously built because of war efforts. They need more soldiers, badly enough that they would teach girls, who were mostly considered as housekeepers and therefore useless in combat, to participate. Even noble families could not say no in sending their girls in. This just say how desperate the League was, sparing no money to get a quantity of quality students.

The League, or what was officially known as League of Nations, was an alliance of multiple nations from across the continent to combat aggression from the South, or what we now termed as the Southern Regime.

In the year that followed my freedom from slavery, the Southern Regime suddenly initiated an offense, conquering villages and cities adjacent to the dark thunderclouds that marks the land theirs. The League was formed to combat their increasing aggregation of territory. With the combined efforts of allied nations, the Southern Regime's invasion was slowed and contained, but not without casualty on both sides. Then on, the bordering nations between the two great powers became a place of ruthless violence under maelstrom.

The League of Nations, LoN, foresaw that the bloodbath would stretch for years, hence, the establishment of schools, or training ground as I saw it.

LoN was correct. The war soon escalated to a degree that even outskirt countries in the far north, whose doors were closed for no one knew how long, and neighboring continent in the East, Dyggrul, had made their own move.

The Southern Regime was not giving in either. It unveiled its troops that was once shrouded in memory-tampering magic. The result was, the reconnaissance army that LoN first sent. The Southern Regime had been using LoN's power against its own all these time. Going MIA for months then returning with the enemies' flag in tow, the discovery dealt heavy blow on LoN's troops' morale.

Additionally, most of the first reconnaissance troops were conscripted farmers or other members of the lower class. After finding out they were alive, their families immediately sought for their pardon, reasoning that there must be a mistake, that the conscripted troops would never betray their home country. These families wanted their loved ones back, but when the government cast evading eyes, dire consequences followed. Sense of betrayal aroused people into action. The families full of strong longing had spread riots to garner their government's attention. Their frenzied mentality triggered the rest of the populace's built up tension from the constant danger posed of the south. One thing led to another, and riots soon turned unstoppable chaos. It was needless to say that an unrest swept the allied nations into disarray. The alliance was crumbling.

This was the Southern Regime's aim, to exploit the League's glaring weakness. LoN was too young for such a big power. Barely two years since its creation, the chains of command had not been fully established yet. The fact that this alliance had not fallen despite wars in the south was a feat on its own. In a picture, the League of Nations would be similar to hatchling dragon. It has a formidable future, but as young as it was, its limbs have not grown enough to support its own body. Similarly, when problems simultaneously arose in and out of their controlled boundaries, the League suffered great damages that brought it on the brink of collapse.

Just when I thought that this alliance was over, they revealed something that stunned the people into their senses. Riots stopped, and any rebellious thought effectively ceased. To prevent its own end, the league took a bold step. Quenching people's anger using fear, they revealed a truth that paralyzed the populace in terror.

The League captured hundreds of men from that first reconnaissance army.

And hanged them all in city plazas.

It was not the promise cruelty that drenched people in terror. Nor was the fact that fathers and brothers, family or friends, were hanging dreadfully high in a pole. It was the one glaring similarity in all these corpses that made people forget their animosity. In all corpses, each shared the same shade of eyes. Golden like a sun's.

LoN calmed the unrest, but was faced with the other edge of their blade.

-

"Vi-ta-ly!"

"Eh?"

"I thought you were hungry, so why are you ignoring your favorite meatloaf?" Ra'in peered under my face, which I ignored and focused with my sense of smell.

Besides meatloaf, there were other types of dishes that made my mouth water. Meat-smelling roast, meat-smelling fried, meat-smelling soup, meat-smelling grill. It was the meat-smelling heaven.

"Like I said, I'm considering what to eat." I lied smoothly. Ra'in obviously noticed, but didn't inquire further. I smiled. "Ra'in would make a good wife."

"Where did that come from?"

"Agreed." Lanna backed me up. As expected from a good friend.

We happily chatted and ate dinner at the same time. Lanna was quiet like always, but occasionally joined our conversations. She also enjoyed teasing the soulful Ra'in like me. Ra'in, in turn, teases Lanna about her addiction to combat. She never teases me, or more accurately, Ra'in always had her remarks backfire. I was best at reflecting someone else's sarcasm back at them. That was part of my hobby. We spent dinner like this. It really was best to eat while conversing. Meals should be about filling your stomach, not about displaying how well bred you were. Period.

"Uwaa, I am full." I said after burping while groping my bulging belly.

"Manners!" Ra'in scolded.

"Lanna, help."

She nodded. "Dear wife, let our little Vitaly enjoy her meal once in a while. You would not want her growing to an ungrateful woman in the future would you?" Lanna said in a tone of passionate seriousness that made Ra'in's jaw drop.

I laughed heartily as she tried, and failed to retort.

"Daddy spoke. Mommy, please stop being strict to Vitaly." I pouted childishly and tugged the sleeve of her robe.

"Do not call me Mommy!"

"Mmm, so calling you dear wife was fine." Lanna did the finishing blow, and made my day complete. There was nothing better than making fun of Ra'in.

The Great Hall was still buzzing with energy even after we ate. The table was cleaned by wisp-like servants who warped the dishes to wherever they clean it. These servants emitted sound similar to a running water. When a horde of them run around me, I always get an impression of wasted water from a faucet that an irresponsible someone forgot to turn off... I dismissed the thought away and focused peeping on the discussion around us, finding out what the commotion was all about.

"Hmm, got it." I declared after moments of 'overhearing' their conversations.

"So? What is this all about?" Ra'in asked. She no longer bothered reprimanding me for listening in other people's talk after years of doing so, and failing to make me repent. I can't help it.

"It's about the final test before we graduate."

"Did they finally announce the content?"

I shook my head. "Not completely, but they did say that multiple schools will be collaborating for it. But, something happened and cut their announcement."

"Like what?"

"Well, something important enough to need the whole faculty's attendance. That's why we are completely on our own as is with everyone being excited... Lanna, what's wrong?"

Lanna was deathly still. She completely stopped breathing and was staring into space. Hearing my voice, she slowly looked up. "Nothing. Sorry to worry you."

I frowned. "So? What happened?"

"Vitaly! You are being insensitive!" Ra'in scolded, but I don't get how that was being insensitive.

"I am?"

"Dear wife, it is fine." Lanna reassured Ra'in with her own sense of humor, but the latter was unconvinced.

"So? What happened?" I pestered.

"Vitaly!"

"It really is nothing. I just remembered something..." Lanna paused, and continued staring to space.

This behavior was really abnormal for the headstrong princess. Lanna usually don't beat around the bush and get to the root of the problem right away. "Someone? Is it your fiancé and something?" I teased, intending to lighten her mood.

Unintentionally, I was spot on. She flinched. "Of- of- c-course... not". She tried to cover up, but the attempt only made it more obvious. In the end, she gave up and spilled the beans.

Apparently, someone had been courting her to be his bride. Lanna did not even know the stranger, so she refused upfront. However, the lad viciously pestered her until Lanna declared she would never marry a nobody. Instead of being discouraged for being called incompetent, the boy smiled and gave a courteous bow. Before he left, he promised to capture a princess' heart through his knightly vocation. Lanna dismissed his oath and mostly forgot about it until she heard me saying about the final test, where multiple schools would be collaborating. That cheeky lad was level 10 too, meaning, he would have his chance in the upcoming collaboration.

"And you can't just refuse him again?" I asked, though I roughly knew the answer.

"No, when I made that declaration, we were in a ball with many witnesses, and a princess cannot back down from her own words." Lanna answered sadly while silently chastising herself for her rash words at the time.

I sighed. "I guess we just have to sabotage him somehow- Wait- ouch!"

"This is not the time to jest!" Ra'in kicked my shin and I could feel extreme malice coming from her direction. She ignored me entirely and proceeded to console Lanna, who only sighed toward the heavens.

"Who ever said I was joking?"

They paused, and looked at me. I could feel the slight wind fanned by their eye lashes. Ra'in and Lanna kept blinking, trying to digest my meaning.

"Vitaly..." Ra'in sounded aghast, but her tone wasn't objecting. While the princess again stopped breathing, this time not of frustration, but the gears in her mind were considering my suggestion.

Then, with a slow nod, Lanna snickered ominously.

Ra'in and I dreadingly shivered.

Aside from inhuman talent, Lanna was a princess known for her unmatched grace and beauty. As a blind person, deceit from outer appearance was impossible to distract me; therefore, I see Lanna for what she really was. If I was sadistic in thought, then the princess put my words into bone-chilling action. Ra'in was no stranger in this nature of ours after spending years in our company. This might actually explain her worrywart personality because when Lanna get started from my instigaion, no persuasion would make her stop.

More importantly, there had only been three times this stoic princess ever snickered darkly.

One, when we first met. Lanna accused me of faking my blindness. She said it was impossible for me to know my way if that was the case. In response, I simply opened my eye lids to show that there was nothing underneath. I meant to scare the snot-nosed princess back then, but, Lanna proved to be an exception to the cliched nobles I was surrounded with.

She was worse in an aspect I didn't even consider.

The young seven year-old princess stared at my empty sockets then lifted her hands- and poked through the holes. She actually made the infamous scissor-hand attack and wiggled her little fingers inside. I was too shocked to act, even when her action hurt me far more than slight stings. After few moments of satisfying her curiosity, she backed off. And snickered. Muttering villainously about how interesting I was. Since then, I occasionally felt stares of insane curiosity that scared me more than any pain. I tried avoiding her since then, but the school system had it for the top students to group up and 'encourage' each other thereon. Lanna's curiosity soon died down for some reason, but memories those times still brought cold sweat on my back even years after.

Second and third incident increasingly got worse as she got older. The last one was when she was thirteen, but now that she was seventeen, I fear for the poor lad Lanna had her mad thoughts were locked onto. The scariest part was how she could pull this off while keeping her reputation clean, and indifferently ignore the deed after like her hands was completely clean.

"She would not kill him... right?" Ra'in whispered.

"Who knows? The last one nearly got buried alive after all." I mumbled back.

"Vitaly, take responsiblity."

"Are you kidding? No, I'm scared. I've got nothing to do with this."

"It is your idea."

"I'm blind. I don't see what I don't see."

"...Then I won't share my sweets with you."

"What does that had to do with anything!" I was enraged. Sweets in this world was in the pinnacle of luxury. I thought I would never get cavities ever again, until Ra'in showed up, with a heavenly bundle of sugary treats from her patisserie brother. It was a poisonous drug I could no longer live without.

"Those are my words! What does blindness have anything to do with this?!"

"Everything, of course!"

And so we bickered.

I felt like I was forgetting something very important like a poor lad's fate, but Ra'in's threat were enough to fully distract me from saving the clueless soul.

May the Goddesses bless him.

***

(1) I meant the 4 pic 1 word app kind of game

(2) Hail Khrys full of grace, That all the sorrows I heard are gone-

(3) Gentle is the wind mixed with peaceful, quiet hours

(4) O peaceful night that yawns in the day, breath your blessings to us all

***

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