Staring at her back made me forget about the corpse and the smell of blood I had seen earlier.
Just now.
The way she walked... how could she remain so calm after killing someone.
Could it be...
No, no.
Hmm.
I think we're almost there.
I just realized the air here is getting warmer.
It shouldn't be this warm.
The conditions on the upper deck must be very cold because of the night wind.
"Which way now, Tezza?" Obsidia asked after stopping her steps.
Tezza and Obsidia stood before a crossroads in the corridor, but straight ahead from their direction, the silhouette of a staircase swallowed by darkness could be seen.
Tezza stared deeply at that silhouette.
"Why is there no light over there?" Tezza muttered.
"Which direction?"
The voice, suddenly close to where she was looking, shattered Tezza's focus in panic.
"T-there, we just need to go straight and pass those stairs."
Immediately after Tezza answered without thinking, Obsidia walked straight ahead, followed by Tezza behind her while keeping some distance.
The combined sound of their footsteps was very faint.
As they reached the middle of the corridor, Tezza's wandering gaze slowly drifted toward Obsidia's black hair swaying gently. Something crossed her mind, and she could not hold it back. Her nails dug into her palm.
"A-a-a ahhh..."
Tezza's sudden voice made Obsidia slowly turn toward her. Their gazes met briefly before Tezza quickly looked away, causing Obsidia to turn her face back and focus on the corridor ahead.
"This corridor is a little long."
"...Don't you want to say something?"
Those words made Tezza quickly turn toward Obsidia. A rough crack protruded from the right temple arm of Obsidia's sunglasses, making them look bent and wobble slightly.
"Ehh... Hmm."
"It's not really important, and if it bothers you, please just forget it." Tezza's left hand began rubbing her right arm repeatedly.
"Ehh... Hmm, I'm curious about that." Obsidia replied without looking at Tezza.
Why did she answer like that?
Seriously.
I can't read what's going on inside her head.
This is scary...
"A-about that... How are you going to save me from here?" Tezza asked, her eyes staring straight ahead beside Obsidia.
Obsidia did not answer immediately, until the darkness ahead of them drew closer.
"...We'll just leave this ship, right?"
Tezza listened with a confused expression.
"If you want a clearer explanation... Simply put, by using magic."
The moment she heard those words, Tezza's eyes went blank without blinking for a moment.
Just leave?
Even if we turned this ship around until sunrise, we'd still be trapped in this vast and troublesome lake.
Especially if the people from the lawless island realize it and start searching for their ship.
With the ship's speed depending on the wind...
No, no, no...
The worst part would probably be swimming.
Or maybe she can fly.
I hope so...
That's my expectation...
Tezza's swinging hand went limp, and her head lowered.
"...Why do you want to save me anyway?"
Immediately after those words slipped out of Tezza's mouth without thinking, the sound of Obsidia's footsteps seemed deeper for a moment.
"Maybe..."
Obsidia's words paused briefly. Meanwhile, Tezza still listened with her head lowered.
"...I regret something and simply don't want that ending to repeat itself again." Obsidia's words entered Tezza's mind clearly.
"Hah?"
"W-what do you mean?"
The glowing stones illuminating the corridor behind them gradually disappeared as they left them behind.
"Looking back at the past... I don't really like it."
Their feet stepped onto the first stair and continued climbing upward.
"Just forget it." Obsidia pinched the side of her dress, lifting it slightly as she climbed. Her head tilted up a little as she looked straight ahead toward her destination.
Tezza, who had been following behind all this time, could not think clearly after hearing that. Countless questions mixed together and silenced her mouth.
"The effect of that gas that put this body to sleep is almost gone." While staring at her fingers moving like waves, Obsidia muttered softly.
The air around them felt increasingly warm, and sweat began appearing on Tezza's forehead.
"Maybe that's why I said something so unclear earlier."
After Obsidia finished speaking, they finally arrived at a room with a single door and several windows along the wall.
The sounds of splashing water echoed loudly from outside.
"Is it just me? It feels warmer and warmer," Tezza said while staring at the windows from afar. The endless darkness outside was all her eyes could make out.
Obsidia walked quickly, and Tezza, realizing it, followed while keeping her distance. They both started noticing something. The floor beneath them vibrated slightly. But Obsidia did not seem to care and hurriedly opened the wooden door before her.
The cabin door burst open and slammed against the wall. The sound mixed with the roaring water outside, which now sounded like a deafening rumble. Yet for some reason, everyone on the deck reflexively turned toward it.
Ascella's sharp gaze was the first to pierce toward the newly appeared Obsidia. A powerful gust of wind swept across the deck. Many people raised their hands to shield themselves from the forceful wind. Only the two who had been staring at each other all this time remained unmoved, even when droplets of water were carried by the wind and their clothes were blown up enough to block their vision.
Neither of them broke eye contact until the fierce wind finally disappeared. For a brief moment, Ascella's eyes widened more than usual.
A woman?
This face...
The emotions inside Ascella's heart became tangled. Faint white particles began leaking from her entire body. The Anima Eugenes escaping from her seemed impossible to contain, like hot steam.
I remember clearly.
The drawing of that face on the paper and that day in the city streets.
Only... the thick bangs covering the eyes were gone.
And she was wearing black sunglasses now.
"No mistake!"
Ascella's voice rang out loudly enough that Sydeq and Yfek beside her reflexively turned.
"...You're the one who was with Sinhart back then, aren't you?" Ascella's face became serious again, just like moments ago.
The deck fell silent for a few moments.
Before the warm air began mixing with a heavy pressure that stabbed into everyone present. They all felt the pressure being emitted by Obsidia.
The deck beneath Obsidia's feet creaked softly. The air around her was pushed away slightly. Green particles resembling steam slowly emerged and gradually enveloped her body. Tezza, feeling the same sensation as before, stepped back three paces while holding her breath.
"What is with this woman?" Sydeq whispered.
"Another Anima sorcerer. I don't remember someone like her," Yfek muttered.
Sydeq slowly approached Ascella from behind despite enduring the pain of his injuries.
"Please tell me she's your acquaintance...," Sydeq whispered. Even though he wasn't very close, Ascella heard him.
Ascella, having lowered her finger moments ago, glanced slightly behind her. Behind that small movement was a faint tremor running through her body, something Sydeq noticed.
"No. But she's the reason I infiltrated this ship," Ascella answered clearly.
Then, without warning, she fixed her sharp gaze on Obsidia again.
"Tell me where Sinhart is!"
Obsidia slowly stepped forward toward Ascella. Closer and closer until only a few steps separated them. Sydeq felt no desire to get involved and retreated back beside Yfek.
"How very rude..."
Obsidia looked at Ascella while lowering her head slightly. Slowly, her hand moved and lowered her sunglasses enough to reveal her closed eyes.
"I hope Regina taught you manners when asking questions," Obsidia said softly when they finally stood face to face.
Ascella raised her head without hesitation and once again pointed directly at Obsidia.
"Grandmother taught me. But I cannot give my respect to someone who interferes with our family."
The two stood silently, staring at each other.
Even when the water dragon submerged once more and its waves shook the ship.
The moment ended when Obsidia raised her sunglasses back into place.
"Who are you? What's your relationship with—"
Ascella's words stopped before she could finish. She felt liquid running over her lips from her nose.
"Only noticing now? You've endured this long. Impressive."
Ascella touched her lips. Her fingers, which had been trembling all this time, became noticeably worse. Her eyes found red blood. Her breathing slowly became heavy and trapped inside her chest.
Blood?
My body is trembling too...
Why?
Am I scared? No.
Since when?
Was it back then?
This is bad. I can't feel my body.
Is my heart beating?
Her hand touched the left side of her chest. A rapid, incredibly rapid vibration could be felt inside.
This is bad. I don't even know if I'm still breathing.
Blood poured from Ascella's nose like an open faucet. It dripped heavily onto the floor. Her eyes closed and opened repeatedly as if fighting to keep them open. But gradually, her consciousness faded together with her body as she collapsed forward. Her blood soaked into her clothes where she fell.
"She's just as foolish," Obsidia said expressionlessly while looking at Ascella lying before her.
A worried expression appeared on Sydeq's face when he saw the sudden event. His feet moved forward without thinking.
"One step closer and I'll show you a pain far worse than that," said Obsidia after noticing Sydeq approaching.
Before he could complete his second step, Sydeq froze in place under the pressure that clearly warned him not to interfere.
Yfek, standing behind Sydeq, pulled out a paper packet of powder from the pouch attached to his trousers. He poured the powder and a small lead ball into the firearm in his hand. Then calmly aimed it at Obsidia.
Obsidia raised her elbow before her face as if annoyed by the firearm pointed at her.
"Could you lower that weapon? Too many people have shot at me today already. Most of them are dead now."
However, what Obsidia failed to notice was that Yfek shifted his aim downward.
Directly toward Ascella's collapsed body lying before them.
"Yfek, what are you doing? Stop." Sydeq was confused seeing his friend aiming at what seemed the wrong target.
The trigger clicked.
The explosion of gunpowder ignited by sparks launched the heated lead ball.
The gunshot was followed by a collision that shattered into fragments. The bullet aimed at Ascella struck the green Anima energy surrounding Obsidia. It shattered into several pieces before being flung away out of sight.
They remained silent for a few moments, especially Sydeq, who had even closed his eyes until the sound of the gunshot faded.
"Yfek, you're interesting... I like the way you did that," Obsidia said, already standing near Ascella's body.
Yfek swung the firearm in his hand.
Throwing the weapon he had just fired toward Obsidia. The easily readable trajectory was received effortlessly by Obsidia's hand.
"Hah?! Y-Yfek, what you just did—"
Before Sydeq could finish, Obsidia interrupted him.
"Can you be quiet?"
Seeing the firearm in Obsidia's hand being crushed until its shape was ruined, Sydeq immediately fell silent. Though his eyes still could not leave Ascella's body behind Obsidia.
"Tell me... everything, Yfek."
While staring at Yfek, the thin green Anima energy surrounding Obsidia returned into her body.
At the same time, the oppressive feeling began to fade.
"Well... you can start with what happened here."
A hard object hit the floor as the mangled firearm dropped from Obsidia's hand.
Yfek did not lower his gaze. He tried to keep his breathing as calm as possible.
Under the unobstructed moonlight, the sound of water splitting beneath the ship could be heard clearly. The ship's sails stretched tightly with the wind.
Yfek began speaking.
About how five of them had become four.
Why they were on this ship.
The battle against R'ogues.
And how Ascella had helped them.
About this ship and its destination.
Obsidia listened for quite a while before cutting Yfek off, even though he seemed far from finished.
"Are you sure you don't want to hear the rest?"
"I don't need it. Too much information that isn't important to me." Obsidia's dress swayed as she walked closer to Sydeq and Yfek.
"I've decided... Trash like you won't die here. Come closer. I'll move you using my magic."
"M-magic," Yfek said with a confused face.
"You don't want to?" Obsidia asked.
"...Hey, that's not important. What should be dealt with is that girl. Is she okay?!" Sydeq shouted, pointing toward Obsidia.
"Ascella is fine. You could say... I'm her guardian now."
"No, no. She's obviously not moving anymore."
"Calm down, Sydeq," Yfek said.
After saying that, Yfek extended his hand toward Obsidia to continue.
"Sorry, but I refuse your offer..."
One of Obsidia's eyebrows rose slightly.
"Oh? Interesting. Why?"
"From what I've seen, I can guess this ship no longer has a crew. Because of that, we'll change the ship's course and rescue some people just like us from here."
"Where to? And what will you do afterward?" Obsidia asked with the tone of someone forcing herself to care.
"That..."
Several strands of their hair fluttered in the wind.
"Do you know Vittorio Emanuele?"
Hearing that question, Yfek fell silent for a moment.
"Of course I know. Vittorio Emanuele is a member of the famous trade guild who created the steam train... r-right?" Sydeq answered confidently at first before growing uncertain.
"Why?"
The moonlight gently illuminated Obsidia's face.
The explanation that came from her mouth felt like a hot wind blowing against Sydeq's and Yfek's faces.
"Is it really okay for us to hear this?" Sydeq asked quietly.
"What exactly are you going to do? ...If I were to describe it, the two of you are like little purple ants trying to run away from a fight between tailless elephants."
Yfek and Sydeq fell silent for several moments.
Questions piled up in their minds, impossible to put into words.
"Well then, since you saved Ascella, I'll change the way I thank you."
Right after saying that, Obsidia placed both hands together, palms facing upward before her chest.
"No, we're the ones who were saved. I already explained that clearly."
"I know better than anyone who saved whom here."
Glowing lines appeared around the three of them, even emerging through the gaps in the wooden deck. They turned green and slowly drifted upward into Obsidia's palms.
Forming unfamiliar patterns.
"This magic...? It's not Anima energy."
"Grant him the gentle touch of the Goddess..."
Gradually the patterns became clearer and brighter in her hands.
"Reveal your noble jealousy as a sign of your affection."
Green spheres of energy began to form.
"Caresza curativa."
The moment those words were spoken, the green spheres scattered in different directions and attached themselves to the exposed skin of Sydeq and Yfek. The green light fused with them and sealed tightly. Their skin seemed to reconnect, glowing bright green.
Sydeq and Yfek could not stop examining their bodies, which felt warm and cold at the same time.
"What is this? The pain is disappearing."
As if unwilling to waste time, Obsidia quickly turned around.
Stepping toward Ascella's body.
Leaving Sydeq and Yfek still trying to understand what had just happened.
Both of Obsidia's arms slipped behind Ascella's body. Slowly she lifted the limp girl until she was standing again. Her knees bent slightly as she supported Ascella's body from collapsing once more. Her eyes looked toward the cabin room on the deck, searching for someone who should have been standing nearby.
Heavy...
Where is Tezza? This should have been her part.
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