Aftermath

Not long ago, not far from the battlefield, the armor spirits flashed a peace sign at Eladia.

Then, their figures began to fade, dispersing into particles of golden light.

Before completely vanishing, one of the armor spirits even thrust its hand, still making the peace sign, closer to Eladia's face, as if to make sure she had seen it.

A dull rumble echoed in the distance.

Eladia did not know exactly what had happened over there, but she recognized that gesture.

It meant victory.

She gathered the hem of her robe from her hiding spot and ran back.

The holy light was heavily suppressed by the Abyss, making her body feel much heavier than usual as she ran, but she still moved quickly.

She wanted to see Esper as soon as possible.

She arrived.

The clearing was still the same clearing, but she could not see Kaylar. She only saw Esper.

Esper sat in the gravel not far from the center of the clearing, her back turned to Eladia.

Her legs were sprawled out haphazardly, and her hands hung limply on the ground.

The light of the distant sunset filtered through the gaps in the canopy, casting her profile in a blurry silhouette, her expression unreadable.

The Holy Sword lay beside her hand. The light on its blade had grown so dim it was almost transparent, as if trying to offer a silent comfort.

Esper stared blankly in one direction.

Eladia followed her gaze, but there was nothing there.

Only a few hairline cracks in the ground stretching outward.

Eladia’s breath caught for a moment.

She had guessed what happened.

Because of this, her approach slowed.

Eladia had seen Esper think of tactics in the heat of battle, and she had seen her pout in a corner after suffering a setback, but she had never seen her like this.

She was completely motionless, just sitting there like a stone statue forgotten in the ruins. The absolute quietness filled Eladia with an indescribable unease.

The Saintess held her breath and hesitated for a moment, feeling the thin holy light within her that had been suppressed by the Abyss.

“...”

Eladia approached Esper step by step. After confirming that Esper showed no reaction to her presence, she gently pulled her into her embrace.

Esper did not speak.

She turned her head, her eyes meeting Eladia's.

Those crimson eyes were already brimming with tears.

Then, warm liquid fell from Esper's face.

One drop, then another. They fell onto her pale skin, wetting her clothes, feeling somewhat cold.

Esper’s body still did not move.

Eladia did not speak either.

She only tightened her arms a little more, gently patting her back.

It was a very childish, soothing gesture. She had never done this to anyone before, but acted purely on an instinctive feeling that she should do so now.

Esper clutched Eladia’s collar.

She finally made another movement, her entire hand trembling.

“...Ela.”

“Esper...”

“...Yeah.”

“I'm here...”

“...Ela.”

Her voice was extremely low.

Her throat had been healed, but the pain remained. Every syllable ground against the wound in her throat, hurting so much that she could not help but bite her lip until it bled.

But she still forced out every single word.

“Kaylar... was taken away...”

She said.

“The Pope she mentioned came... I couldn't do anything...”

Tears began to pour out again.

She pressed her face against Eladia’s collar. The tears soaked through the crumpled fabric, staining the sleeve a dark color. The dampness seeped through the sleeve onto Eladia's arm.

“...Yeah.”

“I... I couldn't beat her... I couldn't even... say a final word to her...”

“...I see.”

Eladia gently patted her back, over and over.

“She... she didn't want to leave like that... she didn't want it to end like this...”

Esper trembled uncontrollably. The pain in her throat could no longer stop her from pouring out her grief to the girl before her.

“I did... absolutely nothing for her!”

“Yes... Esper...”

Eladia said softly.

“It's not your fault...”

Esper’s body stiffened violently for a fraction of a second.

The grip of her hand tightened even more.

As if she were clutching onto something she absolutely refused to let go of.

“If you want to cry... or if there is anything you want to say... just say it...”

Was she offering pity? Was she feeling sad?

“I will... listen to all of it...”

Esper did not know, nor did she want to know.

She simply let go of the collar and tightly embraced the girl in front of her.

Fina, her sister, Ade, Renn, Kaylar.

Those who had departed because of her, those she had abandoned, those she might meet again in the future, and those she would never have the chance to see again.

Those with whom she had crossed paths, those with whom she had forged what were called bonds, those she could still change, and those she could no longer save.

No matter who they were.

“Please... don't leave me anymore...”