.Hack//Epitaph of Twilight Volume2 Episode6

Episode 6//lost

The Little Witch’s group went to Tartarga to ask about the Twilight Dragon. However, Tartarga lived on the other side of an underground lake filled with lava, known as the Hearth of Dakk. They had no way of knowing when the waves might catch up with them, so they had no time to dither about.

With help from one of the Ancient spirits, the Little Witch’s group decided to cross the lava while carrying Gendor. As if the lava had a mind of its own, it struck out at the group as they tried to fly to the other side of the lake.

The Little Witch was unable to do anything herself while carrying Gendor, but Fili, Bith, and Lilith each fought to push back the spewing lava as they all flew around her.

The lava relentlessly shot up at the Little Witch while she was unable to defend herself. And although she managed to avoid dropping Gendor, there was a limit to how quickly she could move with the flurry of lava and rocks flying at her.

However, thanks to the resourcefulness of the Little Witch, they somehow made it safely to the other side of the lake. Even Fili was impressed, despite already knowing how knowledgeable she was.

And waiting there for their group was the spirit named Tartarga, who was said to be like a living encyclopedia of the world.

“I was wondering how you would get across― well done.” Without even waiting for the Little Witch’s group to catch their breath, Tartarga addressed them with a wry smile. “I would like to say you should stop and rest first…… but unfortunately, you don’t seem to have time for that.”

While keeping an eye out behind him, Tartarga watched the Little Witch’s group.

Behind Tartarga, there was large cave tunnel. And from there, a thick, bushy tail nearly ten meters long could be seen, which must have belonged to the guard dog said to protect Tartarga. And the tail swung wildly side-to-side as if it were flailing.

“So, regarding the Twilight Dragon’s domain―”

“We’ve already been told the general location.” Bith interrupted Tartarga. “We were told you would have the specifics for us, old man. So tell us everything you know.”

“I see you haven’t changed at all, Bith. But fret not, you have no need to panic.” Tartarga said, stroking his stubbled chin. “In the Land of the Beginning of Beginnings, if you can unlock the seal at the Great Falls of Arche Koeln, you can gain access to its temple. This temple will lead you on to the Land at the End of Land. And from there, if you pass through the Dragonbein Mountains, you will reach the place known as the Wavering Peninsula, where you can meet the Twilight Dragon. There will be no landmarks to follow once you reach that point, but if you go there, you will find them.”

“And what is this seal?”

“In a moment; I’m getting to that…… honestly.” Glaring at Bith for a moment, Tartarga sighed heavily before continuing. “To break the seal, you will need a key. This key lies with the residents of Eld Sleika, deep within the Forest of Everlasting Darkness― Garm!”

Tartarga seemed like he was about to say more, but he suddenly reacted to something and turned around. But it was pointless for Tartarga to try and reprimand his guard dog. Garm pounced on the Ancient spirit who had been closest to his cave. There was no time to run. The sound of chewing bone echoed through the cave, and black blood dripped from Garm’s mouth. And as he chewed, he looked up at the Little Witch with bloodshot eyes as if sizing up his next prey.

“Tch,” Bith clicked his tongue and tugged on the Little Witch’s arm, whose face had gone ghostly pale. “Let’s go!”

Fili ran ahead, trying to protect Gendor, and Lilith followed, quick on their heels. Yet despite seeing the others head out, the Little Witch was unable to move herself.

And then, there was a sound of something falling. Even with Bith pulling on her arm so hard it hurt, the Little Witch couldn’t help but look towards the sound.

Something had fallen at Garm’s feet. “……” Even though she should have already known what it would be, the Little Witch had to look at the fallen object to confirm it.

And it was indeed the arm of the Ancient spirit.

Stands of sinew stretched from the torn end of the arm, reaching up to Garm’s mouth; and once she saw that, the Little Witch turned on her heels and fled into the tunnels of the Underworld along with everyone else.



Beneath a pitch-black sky that didn’t allow even a single ray of light to pass through it― huge, almost primordial plants grew in such abundance that it formed a sprawling forest. It was known as the Forest of Everlasting Darkness, and it had once been the place where Lilith had lived.

In the deepest part of this forest, there was a castle – known as Eld Sleika – that belonged to the giants. The castle acted as a gate that led to a place that belonged neither to the Lands of Light, the Lands of Darkness, nor to the humans.

At the entrance to the castle, statues of dragons were placed facing each other with mouths opened menacingly. And joining the statues, one real dragon came to perch between them. If it didn’t move, it would simply appear as if it were a third statue.

The dragon shook its pale orange body as it landed. And at that moment― the dragon transformed to take on a humanoid form, and the large-bodied Mocaine giant passed quickly in front of the stone statues.

To the residents of Eld Sleika who walked these lands, this vast forest was like a garden, and though few in number, they were still highly respected in this world. And that was due to the role which they performed.

Passing by the stone statues, the Mocaine giant moved at a brisk pace to reach the castle entrance. And there in the royal chambers of Eld Sleika, the Mocaine’s King appeared to be waiting absent-mindedly for something. He noticed the other giant walk by the stone statues and enter his room, so the King turned to face him.

“Welcome back.”

“I’m sorry I’m late.”

“Let us dispense with the formalities. Tell me, how is it?” The Mocaine’s King urged him to make his report quickly.

“Half the world has already been swallowed up and reduced to nothing. There is no time to lose. We must guide the shadow-bearers as soon as possible.” Receiving the report, the king sat silently on his throne. He appeared to be deep in thought. “Also, there was movement in the Lands of Light……”

“What?”

“It seems that they are raising an army.”

“I see. In the end, I suppose the alliance was little more than a formality.”

“You mean it is the same for the Lands of Darkness?”

The king nodded with a sigh. “Even with them so nearby……” He muttered, then continued in a louder voice, “It cannot be helped. If both countries are moving, then we indeed have no time to waste. Please go and meet with them.”

At his king’s order, the Mocaine – who had only come to report – was puzzled.

Their role was to provide information and directions only when the shadow-bearers seeking the Twilight Dragon came to them. This was well known to all who lived at the castle. It was an immutable role that they had understood ever since they were born.

But if half the world had already been swallowed up, then it would be foolish to wait much longer― that seemed to be the thought process behind the king’s decision.

“They should be in the Forest of Everlasting Darkness. Before Lazeth can, find them and bring them here.”

With that command, the king returned to his contemplation. And accepting his new orders, the Mocaine left the king’s chambers without another word.



The sound of striking iron and clattering machines echoed all around. This was the palace armory of the Lands of Light. Called in with Papi’s butterfly familiars, hundreds of spirits worked tirelessly to create weapons and armor.

And to the side, Apeiron observed their diligence with satisfaction. “King Apeiron,” Then at the sound of his name, Apeiron turned to see Papi standing before him.

“What is it?” Papi held a large tome in her arms. Apeiron glanced at her for a moment, but then returned his attention to the progress of the blacksmiths. “Did you find out anything?”

“It’s about Cubia― there’s a certain passage that I’m worried about.” Papi told him, and Apeiron silently motioned for her to continue. “Here,” And she opened the volume to read from.



Among the shadow-bearers    The counterpart of Cubia    If they act    And should they merge    Cubia will appear.



The writings were scuffed, and the pages riddled with holes as though insects had chewed through them. If one hadn’t looked too closely, the passage could have been easily overlooked.

“The passage is curious, but― if that is all, it doesn’t tell us much. You needn’t come back to report every little thing.” Apeiron spat out, even though in truth he did want to look into the text. Still, Papi refused to leave his side. Seeing her remain there in the corner of his eye, Apeiron sighed and asked again. “What is it?”

“……I also spoke with those who had deciphered it, but if the Cubia which appeared in the swamp has a counterpart among the shadow-bearers, I worry that it will appear again to try and merge with them again.”

“And?”

“We don’t yet know why Cubia appeared, but if it were to merge with this counterpart and increase its strength, they might not be able to deal with it.”

Mulling over Papi’s words, Apeiron folded his arms. “In that case, we should try to isolate its counterpart…… or in the worst case, we would have to erase them entirely.”

However, Papi frowned at the use of the word ‘erase’. “Either way, I can’t help but worry. We should pass this information on to Fili. He will have to decide what to do from there.”

“That……” Apeiron held a strong distaste for Papi’s indecisive attitude. “If you have more to say, say it quickly.”

“Yes, sir. If we go by this passage, it could be interpreted that Cubia’s counterpart is a companion to the shadow-bearers. In which case, I have a strong idea of who that individual is……”

“Who?”

At the direct question, Papi hesitated only a moment before speaking her answer. “The black cat Vesper, who travels with the Little Witch.”

(So hot.)

I swallowed those words before they could come out of my mouth. We were flying over the lava that filled an underground lake in the Hearth of Dakk, and were quickly approaching the other side of it as we kept a careful watch on our surroundings.

The Ancient spirit whom we’d met near the edge of the lake – having the ability to change their shape – offered to help us by shaping themselves into a basket to carry Gendor in. And thanks to that, the rest of our group was able to concentrate on protecting us.

It was a struggle to fly with Gendor hanging from the basket that the Ancient became. And I couldn’t make the excuse that I wasn’t used to flying either. If I messed up now, that would be the end of us.

Was it my nerves, or was it just the heat making my throat feel so parched? My hands were uncomfortably sweaty from holding the broom handle, and I had to frequently wipe them on my cloak. Every time I did, the broom lost stability and wobbled a little bit, but I was worried about my grip slipping if I didn’t keep them dry, so I kept doing it. But in doing so, it seemed like some of the basket’s threads may have been loosened over time.

How long had we been flying already?

I couldn’t see either side of the lake from where we were now, and I was starting to worry if I would be able to reach the other side to where Tartarga was.

“Saya, are you oaky?” Clinging to my shoulder, Vesper watched my face with a look of concern on his face.

“They’re heavy…… but I’m okay. It hasn’t been that hard.”

“Well, if you’re sure……” Vesper said, but he still looked worried.

And when continuing to fly in silence got to be too much for me, I asked about it. “What’s wrong?”

“The lava’s been quiet for a while now, don’t you think?”

“Hmm?”

It felt like he was trying to change the subject, but I looked down below my feet at the question. As he said― the surface of the lava was no longer churning. It had stilled, looking instead like molten glass instead of boiling lava.

“It certainly is strange.” Then flying up beside me, Fili watched the lava with a look of suspicion. He held up his spell staff and cast a pale golden film of light to protect me and Gendor.

It was some kind of barrier that could knock back a few attacks. However, while he was casting it, Fili would be defenseless.

At the same time, Lilith and Bith carefully held out their own spell wands while flying ahead of us. “Here it comes.” Bith called out, and a moment later, the lava below us swelled up again.

The rising lava expanded out to form a dome as if trying to force us up against the ceiling of the cave. Then Lilith emitted a pale, sparkling light from her spell wand that caused the dome of lava to shrivel up as if in fear.

“Now!”

On Bith’s mark, I shot forward at full speed with the basket shaking below me. Vesper’s claws dug painfully into my shoulder, but I couldn’t afford to let that distract me.

Then I heard another eruption behind me. The blast rattled me, and in the basket, Gendor screamed in fright. Responding, Fili repositioned his spell staff, making sure to stay at my side. When he did, the golden light surrounding me disappeared.

“You push on ahead.” Fili said, then turned on his heel and moved back behind me.

(I will absolutely reach the other side of this lake safely.)

That was all I could think about right now. But then, a shout from Vesper cut through those thoughts. “Saya, below you!”

While I was focused on flying forward, I had neglected to pay attention to what I was flying over. So by the time I heard Vesper’s warning, it was already too late. A pillar of fire shot up, aimed directly at me, trying to swallow me up as if it had been waiting for Fili’s barrier to disappear.

I tightened my grip around the handle of my broom in a desperate attempt to escape.

(I have to fly as far as I can……)

For the first time, I felt ashamed of my inability to fight back. If the real Saya were here― she surely would have been strong enough and smart enough to overcome this trial.

(I……)

Without asking Vesper for help, I couldn’t do anything. I didn’t have even the faintest idea what I could do here. But, even if I did know, could I really……

“?!”

I caught the faint scent of something burning.

(Oh no!)

When I looked down, I saw that the Ancient was screaming while holding their shape as the basket. It looked like the pillar of fire had grazed and burned them. Still, Gendor sat within their basket and tried not to move as I reached for the spell wand in my pocket, wanting to try and heal them. But I had to concentrate on flying― so I couldn’t. I wouldn’t be able to handle flying at full speed if I tried to hold the broom with only one hand.

(What do I do……?)

I grew indecisive, and as I hesitated, my broom started to wobble under me.

“Just focus on flying!” Vesper yelled at me, but I felt so guilty leaving the Ancient to suffer their burns.

“But……” I felt so ashamed of being unable to treat their injuries while I was focused on flying. My vision grew blurry as tears started to stream down my cheeks.

“Saya!”

In front of me, several pillars of fire rose up with no space to slip between then, and no time to change my flight course.

In that moment, my mind went blank.

Despite my best efforts, I was about to fly straight into a pillar of fire.

(Not like this!)

I shut my eyes on reflex, and all sound around me disappeared. Everything suddenly felt like it was moving in slow-motion.

Strangely…… as I realized that I was about to be consumed in a pillar of fire, I found myself feeling suddenly detached from the situation. As if this whole mess was someone else’s problem instead of mine.

That’s right…… from that moment onward, I was gradually beginning to act differently from the Saya in the Epitaph of Twilight. Though at the time, I’d had no idea what that meant or how it would impact the story.

“PhaRue Zot!”

I heard Bith’s voice, and I was immediately enveloped in a freezing wind.

Startled, I opened my eyes― and found the pillars of fire frozen over, but melting fast.

“You idiot! Get out of the way!” I looked back towards Bith’s voice.

And saw him barreling towards me like a bat out of hell. Behind him, Fili and Lilith flew my way as well.

“Are you okay?” Fili asked as he placed a barrier around me again, and I nodded quietly. “This way.”

With Fili’s guidance, I proceeded to bypass the pillars of fire. And to the side, Lilith gave Bith a look and stuck close by me as we flew forward.

“You’re not in as much danger as it might seem, you know.”

“Sorry……”

I didn’t feel any relief in having been saved. I was too stunned to feel anything.

“Pull yourself together! You have two lives in your hands, you know?”

“Right……”

In the end, we managed to reach the opposite shore thanks to the protection of our three reliable spellcasters. And as soon as we touched down, all three of them slumped to the ground, releasing the tension from constantly bracing themselves to deal with the pillars of fire.

I’d almost died, and in the face of that reality, I felt mentally exhausted. And knowing I had given up without even trying, I was starting to loathe myself. Still, I somehow managed to muster up the energy to begin treatment for the Ancient spirit.

(In that moment― if I hadn’t given up, maybe I could have still done something.)

Vesper noticed my distress, and commented on it. “What’s done is done; you shouldn’t worry about it. Just be more careful next time.”

Those words probably didn’t seem like much to him, but they touched my heart all the same, and I started to cry like a child.

“I was wondering how you would get across. I didn’t expect the Ancient spirits on the other side of the lake to cooperate with you.” I heard a hoarse voice speak, and quickly wiped away my tears to look in the direction it came from. The owner of the voice – who only came up to my waist – had deep wrinkles carved into his pale green face. He had thin, short hair that was hard to see without getting close, as well as the long, pointed ears of a spirit.

“Are you…… Tartarga?”

“That’s right.” Tartarga stroked his stubbled chin as he answered my question. “I would like to say you should stop and rest first…… but unfortunately, you don’t seem to have time for that.”

Saying that, Tartarga constantly shifted his attention between us sitting on the ground before him and something else behind him. Following his gaze, I saw a large cave behind him, and from the entrance, a thick, bushy tail was visible that seemed at least ten meters long. That must have been the guard dog that protected Tartarga.

The tail was swinging wildly from side-to-side, as if it were writhing in pain.

“Are the three of you okay?”

At that question, Fili rose to his feet. “We came here because we wish to learn more about the Twilight Dragon.”

“I know this.” Tartarga said, then took a deep breath to continued, “So, regarding the Twilight Dragon’s domain―”

“We’ve already been told the general location.” Bith interrupted Tartarga. “We were told you would have the specifics for us, old man. So tell us everything you know.”

“I see you haven’t changed at all, Bith. But fret not, you have no need to panic.” Tartarga said, stroking his stubbled chin. “In the Land of the Beginning of Beginnings, if you can unlock the seal at the Great Falls of Arche Koeln, you can gain access to its temple. This temple will lead you on to the Land at the End of Land. And from there, if you pass through the Dragonbein Mountains, you will reach the place known as the Wavering Peninsula, where you can meet the Twilight Dragon. There will be no landmarks to follow once you reach that point, but if you go there, you will find them.”

“And what is this seal?”

“In a moment; I’m getting to that…… honestly.” Glaring at Bith for a moment, Tartarga sighed heavily before continuing. “To break the seal, you will need a key. This key lies with the residents of Eld Sleika, deep within the Forest of Everlasting Darkness― Garm!”

Tartarga seemed like he was about to say more, but he suddenly reacted to something and turned around. But it was pointless for Tartarga to try and reprimand his guard dog. Whether he was an emissary of the waves who didn’t want the information getting leaked, or he just wanted to protect Tartarga and the information he held, we didn’t know. But without the ‘tear jar’, it had been a miracle that we could even speak with Tartarga at all.

Garm pounced on the Ancient spirit who had been standing closest to the cave. There was no time to run. The sound of chewing bone echoed through the cave, and black blood dripped from Garm’s mouth. And as he chewed, he looked at me with bloodshot eyes as if sizing up his next prey.

(!)

“Tch,” Bith clicked his tongue and tugged on my arm as the color drained from my face.

“Run!” Fili called, running ahead to protect Gendor with Lilith quick on their heels.

Yet despite seeing the others start to head out, I couldn’t move. I was too overwhelmed by Garm’s presence. And then I heard something clatter to the ground. Even with Bith pulling on my arm so hard it hurt, I couldn’t help but look towards what had made the sound.

Something black had fallen at Garm’s feet. “……” Even though it was obvious what it had been, I couldn’t help but check.

It was the arm of the Ancient spirit. Strands of sinew stretched from the torn end of the arm up to Garm’s mouth.

I was so scared, I couldn’t even speak. I wanted to scream, but my voice was getting caught in my throat.

Unconsciously, I held out my spell wand. Even though I would no longer be able to use it to help the Ancient spirit, the tip of my wand began to glow faintly. But when Bith noticed what I was doing, he slapped my cheek as hard as he could.

(!)

The sound of it echoed throughout the cave. I held a hand up to my stinging cheek, starting to come back to my senses, and met Bith’s eyes.

“Are you going to let his death be in vain?!” Bith yelled at me, and Garm reacted to it.

Shaking off the Ancient’s arm dangling from his mouth, Garm pounced at Bith.

Next to the cave where Garm slept, there was a smaller, narrower opening.

We had no time to grieve or say thank you, as just in the nick of time, we plunged into the hole― and tumbled into a cave that looked like an animal trail known as the Underworld Tunnel.

Silently, we trudged through a cave so narrow we could only proceed through it in a single file line. I felt incredibly nauseous― though whether that was just because of the heat and humidity from the lake of lava before, or because of witnessing the Ancient spirit’s death, I wasn’t sure. But either way, I wrapped my arms around myself as I trembled at the back of the line.

Not a single ray of light made its way into this tunnel― so with nothing but Bith’s flame to guide us, we groped our way through the cave. Fortunately though, the path only went straight forwards, so there was no fear of us getting lost here.

(Why am I here?)

I couldn’t do anything on my own, or even help these people who were helping me. I ended up in this world by chance, and since then, I had only ever done what I’d been told to do in order to achieve my own ends…… but if I couldn’t do anything to actually help, wasn’t I just being a burden on them?

I didn’t feel like I was qualified to be here. Both Gendor and Lilith were at least part of this world with shadows and abilities (even if Gendor’s hadn’t blossomed yet). They had been born into this world, and had lived here their whole lives.

(But I……)

Behind this veil of the person called Saya, I was just an ordinary person who had nothing to do with this world. I didn’t know what I could do without Vesper telling me first, and even then, I wasn’t sure if I was using my abilities at 100% or not.

If there were any other conditions for the three shadow-bearers, or if they had to truly be a part of this world, then the Twilight Dragon definitely wouldn’t move for me.

Even though I knew that hesitating or second-guessing myself wouldn’t get me back to my original world, I couldn’t stop the tears from welling up in my eyes now.

“Saya……” Vesper spoke kindly in my ear. “Nothing is gained by giving in to despair, we have to look forward now.”

“……I know.” I responded with a firm tone despite my runny nose. “You know, there are some things you just can’t help, right? I don’t belong in this world. Every time something happens, I can’t handle it at all!”

“What is this about?” Vesper asked as I lashed out.

I knew I was just taking things out on myself, but I couldn’t help it. I couldn’t stop the outpouring of emotions that had been building up in me all this time.

“You’re thinking you would be better off if you were with the real Saya, aren’t you?”

“I don’t think that.”

“You’re lying! If I were the real Saya― she wouldn’t have almost run into that pillar of fire, and the Ancient spirit might have been saved.”

Vesper let out a deep sigh. I was sure my outburst was catching him completely off guard.

“Certainly― the pillar of fire could have been avoided, I think. More to the point, I think we could have fought back more.”

“See, you think I’m not strong enough, right?”

Vesper sighed again. “Saya― no, that’s not what I should call you right now. Lara,” He spoke, staring at me with his deep blue eyes. “Up to now, I have found it frustrating that you couldn’t do things like Saya. Even though I know you’re different people, I feel like you should be able to do these things.”

“……”

Hearing Vesper admit to it, my heart started to wilt further. It made me sad to know that even Vesper, who I thought was the one who understood me the most, saw me this way.

“But you know…… earlier, when you tried to heal that Ancient spirit. I respected that. Because Saya would never have tried something like that.” Vesper said with absolute authority in his voice, and I tilted my head at him. “There was no chance of healing them in that state. So Saya would surely have given up on them. But you didn’t Lara. Even in the face of that monster, you tried to heal them.”

“I wasn’t even thinking then. I was too scared to move, but somehow my arms just took over on their own―”

“Acting without thinking is fine. I’m still proud of you Lara, for not giving up.” Vesper’s words touched my heart. “I do miss Saya, but I think you are even more lonely and brokenhearted than she was, Lara. Although you may look the same, I can see the child inside you. But…… I still think you are doing the best you can, Lara.”

Doing the best I can.

For someone like me, who had always been too hard on myself, hearing those words made me very happy. It felt as if everything I was had finally been affirmed.

“So let’s just calm down and keep moving.”

“Yeah…… sorry for taking my anger out on you.”

“That’s alright, it’s no problem.”

After talking like that, we must have walked for hours― but eventually, grass started sprouting out of the muddy ground, and a pleasant breeze began wafting in from up ahead. Thinking those must be signs of an exit, our pace quickened almost instinctively.

Beyond the cave, we entered a forest thick with trees and grasses that were even taller than Gendor.

It was known as the Forest of Everlasting Darkness.

And in the dark sky― no clouds, moon, or stars could be seen. Though it felt strange that not even the moon was visible with the sky as clear as it was.

“This is……” I muttered as I looked around. Then, something like smoke zipped past us.

(Wh-what was that?)

I looked around restlessly, but there didn’t seem to be anything unusual nearby.

“What’s wrong?” Vesper asked while also starting to look around for something suspicious.

“I thought something just moved past us…… but maybe I just imagined it.”

“Maybe? Are you sure, though?” Vesper asked, then looked ahead at Bith to see him making a stern face while looking at a single bat in front of him.

“Let’s move.” Then seeing the bat disappear, Bith spoke with urgency and quickly made his way into the forest. Then, prompted by Fili, the rest of us followed after Bith with Gendor looking scared behind us.

“Is something wrong?” Fili called out to Bith, who seemed to be suddenly in a much greater hurry. However, Bith didn’t say anything as he continued forward;.

“That was one of Helba’s familiars, wasn’t it?”

“……”

“Care to share the information? Unless―”

“The Verdant Spring was destroyed.” Interrupting Fili’s speculation, Bith answered without turning to face us.

“The waves?”

“What else?”

“No……” Next to Fili, Gendor’s jaw dropped in distress. “Were the humans―” Bith didn’t reply. “Bith, please. I can take it, so tell me.”

Yet still, Bith remained silent.

But Gendor seemed to take that for a yes, because he bit his lower lip as if to hold back his grief.

(It can’t be true……)

I could still remember the warmth of Theo’s hands over mine and his carefree smile.

“I had a hunch when Theo started saying he couldn’t ‘see’ what was ahead……” Gendor muttered, quietly beginning a mantra of ‘It’s okay, it’s okay’ to himself. I knew he was upset, but I didn’t have a clue what I could do for him.

Every second we wasted brought us closer to the end. Even as we pressed onwards without rest, the waves were mercilessly swallowing up the world. But our journey would be meaningless if there wasn’t a world left to save when we reached the end.

We hurried after Bith in order to not lose sight of him as eerie, owl-like cries were constantly echoing down from the foliage above us. And noticing that I had an uneasy expression on face, Lilith tapped my shoulder.

“Pretty annoying, isn’t it?” Without even needing to consider it, I nodded. “I know it’s grating, but as long as they’re still squawking about, that means we’re safe.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, but at my question, Lilith looked surprised.

She seemed to have expected me to know what it would mean already if the birds stopped squawking. “If they go quiet, it means that Lazeth is nearby. So if they ever stop squawking, that means we need to be extra vigilant.”

“Who is Lazeth?”

Lilith sighed heavily like she was starting to get fed up with my ignorance. “Are you sure you’re the Little Witch? I don’t know what to make of you anymore.”

I knew it hadn’t been Lilith’s intention, but hearing her ask that hit a little too close to home. And after I had just been cheered up by Vesper.

(No, I can’t keep thinking like that!)

I tried to keep my spirits up, but it didn’t help much. And seeing me go quiet, Lilith hurried to change the subject back to the matter at hand. “In this forest― there is said to be a dragon of dreams with six heads named Lazeth.”

“Said to be…… so you mean you’ve never met it, Lilith?”

“No. If I had, I wouldn’t be here today.”

“What do you mean?”

“Lazeth draws others into their dreams. And if you get drawn in, you will never be able to get back out. You will live in Lazeth’s dreams forever.”

Ahead of us, Gendor suddenly cupped his hands over his ears. Then the moment I thought that had been strange for him, my ears started to ring painfully, too.

“Wh-what is this……?”

Lilith’s response came too late. Bith – who should have been leading us – was nowhere to be seen. And Fili had also disappeared as if they had melted into the darkness.

“Oh shit!” I heard Lilith scream, but then I couldn’t see her anymore either.

Everything had gone pitch black around me, and I suddenly felt the sensation of falling in circles, as if my sense of balance had been disrupted.

Or maybe I had actually fallen. A shock ran through me a moment later as if I’d been struck with a rock, and the searing pain made it impossible to try and stand. “Ve……Vesper?” I managed to croak out that one word.

“I’m fine. What about you, Saya?”

Slowly opening my eyes― a reddish-brown wasteland spread out before me. And in the sky, there was a fiery red moon looming over us.

I slowly staggered back to my feet. “Where are we?” I looked around, but there was no one else here besides me and Vesper.

“I suppose…… this must be the dream of Lazeth.” Vesper stood at my feet, then added, “But it feels too real to be a dream.”

I readied my spell wand. I wasn’t sure what I would be able to do here, but I felt compelled to prepare myself anyways, because it felt like something was crawling closer right in front of me.

“Something is…… coming……!”

Immediately after I said that, the ground shook and cracked open― and from it, a monster I had hoped to never see again slowly emerged. The monster Cubia which had been mentioned in the ancient texts of the Lands of Light. My legs started shaking from fear. I tried to say something― but my throat had gone suddenly dry.

I knew there was no way I could beat this thing. And yet, I had to fight.

“Vesper……” I just barely managed to eke out a few words as I stared at Cubia rising from the ground. “Aren’t there any other spells I can use besides my healing abilities?”

Holding the spell wand in my hand, my whole arm was trembling like it was refusing to fight.

“It’s not that there isn’t, but it’s something of a forbidden technique. If you’re not careful, using it could mean death―”

“If I don’t try, it’ll end the same way.”

Vesper hesitated a moment, “Maybe it’s time……” he muttered, then climbed up my cloak and jumped onto my shoulder again. “Breathe life into the wasteland.”

(Breathe life into it?)

“A wasteland like this has no power to grow plants or feed animals. It is a dead land. That is why you must share your power with it.”

Not wanting to waste time asking questions now, I began to pray.

(Please…… I will share my power with you, so please help me……)

I didn’t know if it was really possible for me to breathe life into the wasteland or not, and I was barely managing to stay on my feet as it was.

(No matter what, I must survive this and return to my original world.)

I had no way of knowing if that thought had been conveyed as a part of my prayers― but after thinking it, the earth rose up before me as if to protect me from Cubia’s roots. But then the stone was shattered into pieces, and I was knocked back by the roots. I almost didn’t notice it, but Vesper was also thrown out of my hood.

“Ahhh……!”

I was slammed down into the wasteland and my whole body screamed in pain, and I started puking. I couldn’t even try to keep it off my clothes as I convulsed on the ground. Then, before I could even try to escape, another root attacked me.

Lying on the ground, I raised my spell wand. Many earthen walls rose around me to defend me from the twisting roots. But of course, the result was the same as the first time.

“Gah……!”

Just as I had finally gotten back on my feet, I was struck again by the roots and sent flying. Slammed down to the ground again, excruciating pain rang through my whole body. Bright red blood was pouring from a dozen cuts and scrapes in my skin, and the crushed earth rained down so much that it practically buried me.

“Hah…… hah……” I tried to breathe, but the pain coursing through my body was so intense that I could hardly manage it.

Desperately, I clung to the spell wand in my hand. The pain lessened slightly, and I finally managed to take a proper breath. But that relief didn’t last long― because many twisting roots were darting towards me again.

Even with the earth as my shield, the roots got through to reach me. My whole body was convulsing, and I couldn’t even muster the strength to grip my spell wand anymore as my vision started to blur.

(Papa…… Mama……)

Tears further distorted my vision even and I couldn’t see a thing anymore.

(Am I going to die here?)

The wand slipped from my shaking fingers.

“Saya!” Then I heard Vesper’s voice.

“You have to get back! Back to your own world!” His voice echoed through my mind.

(Get back……)

A sharp pain ran through my temples.

Memories suddenly came rushing back to me. My memories of Papa and Mama, of our house where we could smell the sea breeze blow in. Memories of school and my friends…… and memories of Uncle Harald.

(I can’t give up……!)

Somehow, I managed to bring my hands together. Without the spell wand, I tried to guide the prayer in my mind with clasped hands instead. There was something ironic in trying to use a deadly forbidden technique to survive, but― I would rather struggle to the end than give up without fighting back.

If I had known what the outcome of using that technique would be, though, I wonder if I still would have used it.

The earth rose with a tremor, stretching up like branches and leaves to pierce the body of Cubia faster than Cubia’s roots could strangle me.

It all happened in an instant.

The roots gradually slackened around me, and I fell to the ground like a worn-out ragdoll. Then Vesper stumbled up to me on shaky legs.

“Are you okay?”

I nodded slowly and looked up from where I was on the ground at Cubia floating overhead, having gone still, pierced by several jagged protrusions of earth. It didn’t seem like it was fully dead yet, but it wasn’t attacking anymore.

I picked up my spell wand that was lying at my feet and started healing myself. After recovering a little bit, I said, “I need to treat you too, Vesper.”

“I’m fine.”

“You are not fine!” I waved my spell wand over Vesper and started treating him.

Except, Vesper didn’t recover.

(Why?)

I was confused.

(Could it be……)

“Vesper, I……”

Vesper nodded slowly. “I knew this would happen.”

“When you said using the forbidden technique would mean death, I thought you meant death for me.”

“I used my own energy to power your abilities, Saya.”

“You mean―”

“You understand now, don’t you?” Vesper asked with a self-mocking smirk on his face. “Cubia was after my power. And this was the only way to use it all up.”

“Why……?”

“If I am on the side of preserving the world, then Cubia is on the side of destroying it. I’m afraid this is where I say goodbye.”

“No!” My tears overflowed and fell onto Vesper’s face.

“As long as Cubia is around, you won’t be able to continue your journey.”

I shook my head.

Again and again, I shook my head.

“I’m sorry, Lara. If I had left a little earlier, I wouldn’t have caused you to suffer this much.” Vesper’s body started to grow cold. “But I wanted to continue my journey with you for just a little while longer. I was worried about what lay ahead.”

“You don’t have to worry anymore, just don’t leave me!”

“No matter what happens, you have to get back to your original world…… right?”

One last time, Vesper tried to look up at me with eyes that had already lost their light― then he lost his strength and collapsed.

“……Vesper?”

He didn’t respond.

No matter how many times I called his name or tried to shake him awake, Vesper didn’t react at all.

“This can’t be real……” I muttered, unable to stop crying. “NOOOOOOOOOOO!” I screamed until my voice was hoarse, still holding Vesper in my arms.

But then the dream suddenly ended, and I sat alone in stunned disbelief― mentally drained and run utterly ragged. And Vesper was no longer in my arms.

(It isn’t true……)

Fili rushed over to me as I sat and sobbed.

“Saya, what’s wrong?”

All I could do in response was shake my head. Because the second I mentioned Vesper, I felt like it would become real.

(I could still find him if I keep looking……)

Ignoring Fili’s question, I staggered to my feet as if I were sleepwalking and started moving. And all the while, I called out for Vesper.

To the side, I could see Bith watching me with dubious expression on his face. Lilith must have noticed that Vesper was missing though, because she approached Fili amidst his bewilderment and started speaking softly to him.

I sat down again. I had to accept the reality that Vesper was no longer with me, but I just couldn’t. Vesper had been with me since I first appeared in this world. He had been the one to teach me how to use my abilities.

He was the only one who knew about my situation and comforted me. Vesper had even accepted me when I was weak.

“I can’t believe that Vesper was connected to Cubia, it just doesn’t make sense……”

Forgetting that I was in the Forest of Everlasting Darkness, I broke down in tears.

Then Lilith walked up to me and patted my back. “Hang in there. I won’t ask you to say anything yet, but we can’t stop here.” She said, helping wipe my tears away with a cold hand. “You can’t let yourself relax in this place when you’re not even a spirit of Darkness. The moment your heart becomes vulnerable, they’ll strike.”

I understood what Lilith was trying to tell me, but I couldn’t do anything about that right now. My heart felt like it was already in knots, so all I could do was shake my head at her like an impetuous child.

“That was all just Lazeth’s dream, wasn’t it……? Then why did it become real……?” Lilith put a hand on my shoulder. “I don’t have a single injury left on me now……”

“I get it now.” Lilith gestured for Gendor to come closer and had him carry me in his arms. “It’s a miracle you even managed to escape Lazeth’s dream. But we need to hurry.”

Lilith stood up, and Bith began to move forward again. Gendor walked as if he were chasing after Bith, periodically casting a worried look down at me. But during it all, I couldn’t stop crying.

I recalled Vesper’s last words to me.

“No matter what happens, you have to get back to your original world…… right?”

How much easier would it be if I could still believe that.

And true― I wanted to return to my own world no matter what. But I never could have anticipated Vesper disappearing.

(And what…… what did you think would happen?)

I realized that I had never expected that I might have to sacrifice something to get this far.

(I was naïve……)

I knew now how unprepared I had been. Vesper had given up his own life so that I could keep going; I couldn’t let that sacrifice go to waste.

I knew that much, but following through on it was another matter. I still couldn’t stop crying, even as I swung uselessly in Gendor’s arms.

And then, something else happened. At the front of the group, Bith fell back onto his butt.

“What- what is it?” Gendor stopped and stared at Bith.

Bith stood with a growl and held his spell wand towards the large tree standing in front of him. “I thought I hadn’t made it in time.” A voice said from above us.

We all looked up, and found that what I had thought was a large tree was in fact a leg. It was too dark to make out the details, so I had been able to easily mistake it for being a tree.

“It looked like you were drawn in by Lazeth, so how are you all safe?” The tree-like leg bent forward, and a face sporting a large, Santa Claus-like white beard appeared from between the trees, and golden eyes glinted down at us through the darkness. “Well, it looks like everyone is here…… so it’s good that you’re all safe. The king is waiting. I am here to show you the way.”

Saying that, the giant scooped us all up in his hands. He (I assumed he was a man from the low tone of his voice) held us close with great care as he began to walk with us.

(Not all of us are safe……)

My tears had stopped for a moment, but now they started up again. Gendor gently pat my head, but it only made me feel worse.

“I guess he’s going to take us to Eld Sleika.” Lilith muttered beside me.

“Eld Sleika? Does that mean this giant is one of the legendary Mocaine?” Fili asked, seeming to understand the situation, though Gendor only tilted his head as he held me close. Noticing his confusion, Fili explained quickly. “In this world, there exist spirits who are neither of Darkness nor Light. They make their homes in deserted areas, and build their own communities there. These giants, the Mocaine, were said to have built up a veritable country centered around the old castle of Eld Sleika in the deepest depths of the Forest of Everlasting Darkness.” He said, then looked up at the giant carrying them. “Though honestly, I never thought that they really existed.”

While everyone else was immersed in the conversation about the Mocaine, I just sat in his palm and stared ahead blankly.

After a while, the dark forest finally opened up― and beyond it stood an old castle as tall as a mountain with a warm, pale light shining from within it.

We passed through a gate framed by dragon statues facing in towards us that were nearly as tall as the Mocaine.

But since we were being carried by the Mocaine, we were able to get a clear look at the dragons’ faces. And save for their eyes, which shone with a bright red light, they were made entirely out of a marble-like stone. In addition, a mist flowed out of their mouths like breath that made them look alive.

Perhaps thinking the same thing, Gendor’s jaw dropped, and he shuddered. “Do you think this is what the Twilight Dragon looks like?”

“Oh right, I suppose you wouldn’t know, would you Gendor?” Fili spoke up again. “Those like the Mocaine who build their own communities like this worship the Twilight Dragon as their god. So I suppose they crafted these stone statues with the idea of the Twilight Dragon in mind.”

“I see……”

Satisfied with that explanation, Gendor looked more closely at the statues. Though it felt as though they could start moving at any moment, and the light of their red eyes seemed to twinkle suspiciously from time to time, the dragon statues watched us passively as we passed through the gates.

“But…… if the Twilight Dragon is as dazzling as this, it shouldn’t be difficult to find.”

“If that is what it really looks like, you mean?” Lilith poked at Fili’s statement, and the Mocaine, who had remained quiet so far, laughed at the comment.

“Regardless of the form that it takes, you will be able to find the Twilight Dragon. That is why we are here.”

Fili opened his mouth to say something, but Bith interrupted him before he could. “And here comes the king.”

From the entrance of the old castle, wearing a glittering cloak, came the giants’ king― who much like the one carrying us sported a long, Santa-like beard on his face. The king’s appeared to be a bit fuller than his, however.

And so, we were brought down before the king. “We have been waiting for you.” The king said, and then knelt down and bowed his head.

(The king is bowing to us?!)

After seeing that Gendor and I were clearly stunned by this act, Fili spoke up. “What do you mean that you’ve been waiting for us?”

At that question, however, the king looked up at us with a quizzical expression. “I mean exactly as I said.”

“?”

Fili tilted his head at that, and so Bith addressed the king as well. “You’ve been watching us, haven’t you?”

“I was concerned, so I sent a guide to find you before you encountered Lazeth― though I am sorry to see we were a step too late on that count.”

Hearing that from his king, the guide seemed to slump as he stood behind us.

(Why are they being so formal with us? Are people with shadows given high status here?)

Normally, Vesper would have been able to explain for me― but as I turned to ask him out of habit, I was struck with a fresh wave of grief to see him missing.

Vesper wasn’t here anymore. I had no one left to pose my questions to. From here on, I would have to face this world on my own.

The king continued to speak. “Besides the legend of the Twilight Dragon, there is another legend that only we know of. It had been passed down among our people, and in accordance with it, we have waited for you all this time. All in order to guide you to the Twilight Dragon.”

“We’d appreciate that.” Lilith tried to take a step forward, but Bith held out a hand to stop her.

“What exactly do you mean by ‘guide us’?” Bith narrowed his eyes at the king as if trying to see through to the heart of his words. “We heard from Tartarga that you have a key we need.”

“And of course, we shall give you the key. But already, more than half of the world has been swallowed up by the waves and reduced to nothing, and it is a very long way to the temple’s seal. For that reason, I shall be your guide.”

“But―” Confused, Fili tried to say something then, but the king interrupted him to continue.

“The Mocaine have, for countless years, guarded the key and waited for the three shadow-bearers of legend to arrive. And even as I prayed that this day would never come, there was also never a day that I did not wish to meet with you…… in order that I might assist you in any way I could.” Fili and Bith exchanged a look at that. They seemed to be considering how much of what the king said they could really trust. “However― there are conditions.”

And as if to put an end to their concerns, the king went on. Though his expression tightened as he spoke now. Was his condition something difficult?

“Well, what are these conditions?”

With a subdued voice, the king answered. “The three shadow-bearers must be asked to pass a test.”

Lilith frowned as if to say she had never heard of such a thing before. “A test? Just what would we be doing?”

“But I can’t do anything……” Gendor said at the same time.

“Worry not, this will be more of an interview…… I would like to speak with each of you to see for myself if you are the right people to entrust with the key which we have been protecting all this time. I understand that time is short, but we also cannot act rashly.”

“But―” Fili hesitated to object, but continued despite himself. “But then, if these three do not meet your standards, does that mean you will not hand the key over to them?”

With that tight expression still on his face, the king slowly looked to each of us in turn. “Unfortunately, it does.”

I was completely stunned by that declaration.

I was not of this world, (Or at least my mind wasn’t……) I couldn’t possibly be accepted as the right person to hand the key over to. If he spoke with me, I was sure that he would sniff me out in a second.

If the King of the Mocaine didn’t approve of us― would our journey end here? And without being able to meet the Twilight Dragon, would I be able to return to my original world or not?

“Don’t you think that’s a bit selfish?” Lilith glared up at the king. “So if we don’t meet your standards, are you going to allow yourselves to be quietly swallowed up by the waves?”

“All is the will of the Twilight Dragon.”

With an anxious look, I watched Lilith enter the old castle at the king’s prompting and felt like I might cry again.

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