Erylin's hair veiled her face. Only after a long while did she speak.
“Ain.”
“Mm?”
“I'm sorry.”
Erylin quickly drew the wand from her waist and pressed it directly against Ain's chest.
“Glacio!”
Bone-chilling frost abruptly erupted from Ain. Several trails of ice quickly spread like vines, freezing his body and the wooden desk in front of him solid.
Erylin rushed toward the laboratory door. But the instant her front foot crossed the threshold, a fireball accompanied by a fierce wind slammed hard into the doorframe. Shattered stones collapsed with a loud crash, cutting off her path forward.
“It's fine.”
The freezing ice on the surface of Ain's body quickly melted away, turning into a dense mist that swirled and rose. He calmly stepped out of the remaining ice, his expression still cold.
“I'm willing to listen.”
Erylin pointed the tip of her wand at Ain, her right hand trembling uncontrollably.
“Don't come any closer!”
“This time, just this once. Just once is enough!”
The moment Ain took a step, an icicle materialized from the wand in Erylin's hand.
“Don't you...”
Before she could finish her sentence, Ain took a second step.
The sound of rushing wind erupted as the icicle shot like lightning toward Ain's feet, instantly embedding itself deep into the floor.
But Ain paid no heed to it.
“You came here with Violet, but you actually had another motive, didn't you?”
Ain took another step forward.
“Glacio!”
This time, five icicles materialized!
“Were you afraid she would actually make the antidote?”
“...”
Erylin pursed her lips tightly and remained silent, her gaze pinned onto Ain like nails.
“Are you afraid that if those frenzied magical beasts are gone, Lil—”
The five icicles whistled forward, carrying a bone-chilling killing intent. Ain stood his ground. Sharp icy blades mercilessly plowed across his thighs, arms, and waist, leaving several bloody gashes behind.
In the next second, seven icicles materialized around Erylin once again.
“Want to know how I figured it out?”
“The Erylin I know wouldn't put on that kind of face at a time like this.”
Ain looked at her expressionlessly and walked toward the girl once more.
“Just now... you actually wanted to destroy that potion, didn't you?”
“I...”
Erylin murmured. She bit her lower lip, seemingly admitting to Ain's words by default.
Ain moved forward step by step. Just as he was about to reach Erylin, the seven icicles shot straight toward his heart.
However, at the very instant the icicles were about to pierce his body, the seven cold glints came to a sudden halt, hovering just a few centimeters away from him.
Ain didn't dodge or evade. He stepped forward anyway, letting the icicles press into his chest.
“This way, no one will be able to get close to Lillian, right?”
Seeing blood seep from Ain's chest, Erylin waved her hand, and the seven icicles dissolved into specks of frost, dispersing into the air.
The girl sprinted toward Ain recklessly, using her momentum to throw herself at him. The two of them crashed heavily onto the cold floor.
Her silver-white hair cascaded down like a waterfall, and hot tears dripped along the strands, splashing onto Ain's cheeks.
Everything Ain said was right.
She wanted to destroy that potion to let the magical beasts continue "protecting" Lillian.
“It's strange, isn't it... It's really strange, isn't it?!”
Erylin spoke, her voice thick with tears.
“Why did it have to be at a time like this?! And why hasn't the Dean done anything when such a major incident has occurred?!”
“If those magical beasts really return to normal, won't what awaits Lillian be a crusade?!”
Ever since Erylin woke from her slumber, all the emotions and attitudes she had shown were nothing but a facade.
Recalling everything that happened in Persephone, the girl could no longer suppress her inner thoughts.
She wouldn't allow anyone to hurt Lillian.
But the chaos caused by the other girl had already plunged the entire academy into an unprecedented crisis.
Many students had fallen into panic, and it had even caused immense trouble for the teachers and students of Persephone and Hermetica.
Yet, she had sworn an oath the moment she joined the Typhon Chain—to rid the academy of all threats and create a wonderful environment for all the students.
But was she really going to make a move against Lillian?
On one side was her friend, and on the other was her duty.
“Ain, I really... don't know...”
“I really don't know!”
Erylin was already crying a river. She didn't know how to choose. She had clearly promised Lillian that she would never point her blade at her.
But when this day actually arrived, Erylin found herself unable to give an answer.
“In truth, I'm just an accomplice, aren't I?!”
“The academy's instructors are still dealing with the frenzied magical beasts, yet I was actually thinking of destroying their hope of success!”
“Even though this chaos could end, I actually wanted it to continue!”
“This is completely wrong, isn't it?!”
Erylin understood the panicked students, she understood the instructors, and she understood those who wanted Lillian dead.
She understood everyone, but who could understand her?
“That's why I've already decided the answer for you,”
Ain said softly, pointing outside the classroom.
“You didn't destroy that potion.”
“I...”
Ain was right.
She had already made her choice.
But was this really what she wanted?
“Ain, I neither protected Lillian nor fulfilled my duty...”
“I'm simply... nothing at all...”
Erylin wailed, her head resting completely against Ain's chest.
Ain had already made the choice for her.
She wouldn't hate anyone.
But did the ending really have to be like this?
Ain smiled slightly. The script of fate had not deviated. Just as the original plot dictated, the Erylin of Act Two ultimately failed to provide any answer.
She didn't want to hurt anyone, yet she was forced to make a choice.
But no matter which side she chose, it would bring her immense suffering.
Unlike in the game, however, besides options A and B, Ain now had an option C.
“Erylin, do you remember what you told me before?”
As he spoke, Ain reached out to support the girl's shoulders, gently lifting her up before standing straight himself.
“Back then, we were also outside the Echo Forest.”
“What...”
Erylin slumped on the floor in a daze, her eyes losing focus as she looked up at Ain in a trance.
Ain flashed a confident smile. A small scale materialized in his left hand, and he extended his right hand toward Erylin.
“I won't leave you behind!”
“So, this time, I'll help you!”
“And completely rewrite the ending of this story!”
Rate on N.U.
