Having reached the Event's ending, I figured that I could probably return to Earth, but...
I decided to stay inside the Kingdom, watching over Mia as she slept in one of the house's rooms.
It would also help me collect my thoughts and... think of the best way to tell her about Melissa.
I sat beside the bed she rested on, and in the blink of an eye, a few hours had passed.
Her ears started to twitch, her eyelids tensing.
After a long yawn, she turned her head from side to side, stretching her neck before opening her eyes.
Mia: "... Did you do something to me while I was sleeping?"
She didn't turn to me, her eyes fixed on the room's ceiling.
Her expression was surprisingly calm. Almost solemn.
Miwen: "Yep."
She furrowed her eyebrows, her eyes looking sharper than ever.
I could tell my life was in danger, yet I smiled gently.
Miwen: "...I princess-carried you to the bed, and then... I covered you with a blanket."
I took my time creating a mystery.
I wanted her to react.
I wanted her to be herself...
Even if only for a little while.
Mia: "...Is that all you've done?"
Miwen: "Sorry to disappoint, that was all."
Mia: "Who's disappointed, dumbass!"
She threw a pillow at me, and then another.
They were useful.
I could hide my expression behind them, and hopefully, she wouldn't notice-
Mia: "...I'm gonna ask just in case, but... where is my mother, Miwen?"
It was no use.
It was a dumb idea to begin with.
She deserved better, so I lowered the pillow and faced her properly.
Miwen: "Melissa... she... went back. She decided to fight to the last. I'm sorry, Mia."
Her eyes widened.
She clenched her fists and started getting up.
Mia: "I told you she wouldn't give up. And neither will I."
She got one foot out of the bed.
Mia: "Thanks for taking care of me, but will you let me go back? You've done enough, so you better-"
I extended a hand, stopping her.
Miwen: "My role is over, Mia. I did what I could."
Mia: "Yeah, that's fine. It's not really your fault. We'll deal with it ourselves. So just let me-"
I shook my head, facing the floor.
After a deep sigh...
Miwen: "I can't let you go back, Mia."
She tilted her head, a slightly amused smirk showing on her face.
Of course, I had no way of physically stopping her, but...
I didn't need to.
Miwen: "The war is over. I've lost access to your world."
For a brief second, we broke eye contact.
Though I couldn't tell which one of us faced away first.
Miwen: "...Before going back, I promised your mother I'd take care of you. She wanted you to live. So... Even if I could send you back, I wouldn't-"
She brushed my arm away.
Jumping out of the bed, Mia grabbed me by the collar of my shirt, bringing my face close to hers.
Lifting me from the floor, she forced me to stare into her eyes...
Mia: "W-What do you mean?"
She shook her head, furrowing her brows.
Mia: "Then I'm stuck in here? What about Mom? How can I meet her again?"
I lowered my gaze.
She wouldn't understand. Or she couldn't accept it.
Shit, Melissa.
Mia: "...You're scaring me, idiot. Stop that."
Instead of brushing her arms away, I only raised a hand to hold hers.
Miwen: "The war ended with the death of the Snow White Wolves' Chieftainess. Melissa is dead... I'm sorry, Mia."
Her eyes became watery, her breath uneven.
I had run this conversation inside my head so many times, and yet, this was the best I could do.
I couldn't think of something more infuriating.
Miwen: "... It's possible that she killed Prince Normyu."
Mia's arms lost their strength, letting my feet reach the floor.
She averted her gaze, but I caught a tear streak running down her cheek.
Miwen: "Knowing her, she might've even done in the Seven Rainbow Miracles girl."
I forced a smile, but...
It didn't feel right.
Nothing felt right.
However, there was one thing I could.
Or, at least, try doing...
Miwen: "You know..."
The chances were low.
Infinitesimally low.
Yet...
It was the closest to hope I could offer her.
As long as it gave her a reason to continue living, even if it was so close to a lie...
I had to.
Miwen: "My Gift can do many things. Licia and Claire, for example, were brought back to life thanks to it."
She was rubbing her eyes, trying incessantly to stop the tears.
I had my hands free, but...
I couldn't even bring myself to hug her.
Miwen: "The chances are ridiculously low but... I might be able to bring Melissa back..."
One over... everyone who had ever lived, in however many worlds there were...
To think that was all I could offer her...
I hated it so much that I bit my own lips, a drop of blood leaving them.
Mia: "...You can do necromancy without access to her body?"
She asked me with tears in her eyes.
I didn't even mind being called a necromancer anymore.
I just...
Whatever.
I'd accept any sin if it meant giving her a speck of relief.
Even I wanted to fool myself into thinking it'd be a nice payback to Melissa.
I'd laugh so hard when I dragged her back and forced her to fulfill that promise herself, just as she should have from the very beginning.
After all of her scheming, that would've been a perfect ending.
Miwen: "Yes..."
Mia: "...I see."
She took a hesitant step forward, her voice faintly replying to mine.
And I got the courage to hold her trembling hands.
Miwen: "…I can summon more people as I get stronger. With your help, I could safely summon three companions tomorrow."
Mia: "Why three?"
The tears were still falling as she rested her head on my chest.
I couldn't see her face, but given the sniffing, I imagined it was a mess.
Miwen: "...I plan on getting them to my level, so I need their numbers to be fewer than the people I can currently count on. Just in case they try anything funny."
A few seconds passed without her replying.
Then, she pushed me aside, turning her back as she crawled back to the bed.
Mia: "I don't mind helping you."
Her voice was just above a whisper.
She sounded tired.
Defeated...
Mia: "But I feel like being alone now. So... Please... If you don't mind..."
She was never polite.
I didn't want her to be.
But I understood.
Miwen: "I... I'll bring you dinner later. I'll knock on the door, but... If you don't feel like joining us, I'll leave it by the doorstep, alright?"
Mia: "Mnm. Thanks..."
She kept facing the wall.
And I...
I was back at it again.
Offering clothes, food, shelter, and company...
It didn't need to be this way.
There was nothing I could've done about Licia and Claire, but...
I could've prevented this.
I could've saved Melissa.
If only I were stronger...
Mia wouldn't be hurt.
She wouldn't be asking to be alone.
She wouldn't be alone.
Miwen: "...If you need anything, please ask me. Please. I'll... I'll do anything. I'm sorry."
She didn't reply.
I stepped away and closed the door.
Standing in the hallway by her door, I heard her sobbing and shouting.
My knees failed, and I fell to the ground.
I couldn't tell how much time had passed.
But once her cries stopped, I steeled myself to meet the girls.
I checked on her through the keyhole one last time before returning home.
The room was a mess, but...
She was resting.