.Hack//Epitaph of Twilight Volume2 Episode8

Episode 8//riddle

Continuing their search for the Twilight Dragon, the Little Witch’s group were guided by Gendor, whose abilities had finally bloomed, through the frozen moors that stretched through the center of the Land of the Beginning of Beginnings. Exhausted from traversing a blizzard, the group found a small cave and decided to warm themselves up inside. They knew that they had to hurry, but they wouldn’t be able to do anything if they dropped here.

Then, as she began to slowly warm up, the Little Witch stood as if called by something and walked to the back of the cave. Finding her actions curious, the others all got up to follow her.

“!”

There at the back of the cave, there was something cold and glowing. A huge androgynous spirit with six wings sprouting from their back was encase in the ice, and a solemn atmosphere seemed to surround them, as if they should not be touched.

“Is that a spirit of Darkness?” Fili questioned, but Lilith and Bith quickly denied the supposition.

But the fact that he had to ask meant that they also weren’t a spirit of Light. Which meant that they must have been a spirit like the Little Witch and the Mocaine, belonging to neither land.

Which left one question― why they were sleeping on ice in a place like this?

“I’ve never even heard of spirit like this…… what are they?” Fili muttered to himself, while the Little Witch gazed up at the frozen spirit unblinkingly with their golden-blue eyes.

Then Lilith noticed that the Little Witch wasn’t moving at all, and addressed her. “Hey, are you okay?”

Lilith tried to put her hand on the Little Witch’s shoulder, but she stepped towards the frozen spirit instead, ignoring her. But her steps were unsteady, like she was sleepwalking.

Sensing her withdrawn state, the others watched with bated breath as the Little Witch walked forward. “……” Muttering something under her breath, the Little Witch reached out to touch the spirit in the ice.

And the moment she did, the ice instantly evaporated, obscuring the whole cave with steam. The vapors slowly dispersed as air cycled in from outside the cave, and the spirit floated before them, not yet opening their eyes.

Everyone stood transfixed. But then, with a faint smile tracing their lips, the spirit flew over the group’s heads. And after watching them fly away for a moment, the group was brought back to their senses by the Little Witch. “What are you all doing here?”

The six-winged spirit was tearing through the sky as they left the cave without even opening their eyes. Like something else was driving their actions.



Though there should have been sound from many spirits bustling about within the Palace of Light – which radiated a warm glow as it was illuminated by the sun – now, all was silent.

The entire palace was deserted and in shambles. The Great Archive was overflowing with scattered books littering the floor. This was not unexpected though― for at the king’s command, all the spirits in the Lands of Light had rushed to prepare themselves and gather at the foot of the rainbow.

From the moment they began mass-producing weapons and armor, they all knew that they would eventually have to march into battle. But none could have anticipated it would happen so soon.

The flags on the roof continued to sway in the breeze, seeming somehow forlorn in the silence. The sky had been so clear just a short while ago, but now it was shrouded in dark clouds, and a deafening silence enveloped the region.

As the dark clouds moved across the sky above the palace, a sound pierced the silence from somewhere. It was a lonely sound, like a single note being struck on a piano. And a moment later, the Cursed Wave appeared, threatening to engulf the palace. A thick, greasy, black mass spread across the horizon, slowly enveloping the palace.

The torches lighting the palace halls were extinguished. But the waves could never be satisfied with consuming just the palace, so taking the dark clouds with it, they began to encroach on the rest of the Lands of Light.

And when the Palace of Light fell completely― far away at the Alba Lake, the King of Light Apeiron sensed it.

“What is it?” Standing beside him, Helba was the first to notice the subtle shift in Apeiron. “I hope you’re not about to say you’re already tired out.”

“N-no……”

Apeiron certainly was exhausted. The chaos following the wave withdrawing was immense. The spirits of Darkness were able to manage their chaos well thanks to the resourcefulness of Queen Helba’s attendant Boa― but the Lands of Light were not so lucky. Unfortunately, Apeiron’s inexperienced aide Papi was finding it incredibly difficult to support Apeiron as he tried to rein in the confused and exhausted spirits in the face of imminent death.

Overlooking the spirits― when he finally settled down on a small hill by the lake, Apeiron felt a piercing pain in his chest. “Has the palace fallen……?” Helba asked, and Apeiron turned to face her with a twisted expression.

“How did you know?”

“……” Helba spared Apeiron a glance before turning her gaze back to the spirits below. “Because I’ve already experienced the same pain.”

“You mean, the Palace of Darkness has also……”

“It happened just after we set up here.”

“Why didn’t you say anything?!”

Helba showed Apeiron a self-deprecating smile in response to his question. “What would have been the point? I knew from the moment I set out for battle that there would be no going back.”

“……” Apeiron went silent at that, and Helba shot him an annoyed sideways glare.

“You didn’t really think we would make it out of this, did you?”

“……”

“You really thought you would make it through this? Tell me you’re joking.” Helba said, but when Apeiron did not answer, she turned and continued. “You really went into this battle with such naïve resolve? You thought your palace would be safe when more than half the world had already been swallowed up by the waves and reduced to nothing? If that is the case, you should have just stayed couped up in your palace instead of marching to battle.”

Having spat that out, Helba raised her long, silvery-white spell staff and began to heal the army of spirits, which were significantly fewer than what she had come here with. Light emanated from Helba’s staff and gently enveloped them all without regard to whether they were of Light or Darkness. The spirits of Light seemed puzzled for a moment, but accepted Helba’s aid without complaint.

“Sorry……”

“Don’t apologize to me.” Helba dismissed Apeiron’s dispassionate consolations.

“It wasn’t that I believed that I would return. Surely, I did expect the palace would fall at some point. I didn’t think I could face the waves and come out unscathed, I just― wasn’t prepared enough, I suppose.”

“Is that an excuse?”

Apeiron quickly went to deny that, but swallowed his words before he said them. “You’re right, it’s an excuse.”

Admitting it, Apeiron looked out at the spirits below. His expression seemed to reflect that something had broken. Apeiron sheathed the sword that lay at his feet, and held out one hand towards the spirits as warm light emanated from his palm.

Apeiron, too, was capable of casting healing spells, and without averting his gaze from the spirits, Apeiron spoke again.

“Helba…… thank you.”

“Well that’s rather unsettling. What’s that for?” Helba said with a coy smile on her lips.

But when over half of the spirits had been healed, Apeiron noticed something. “It’s coming.”

A dark cloud rose in the southern sky, accompanied by a deep rumbling, and all the spirits who saw it gasped. It was another of the Cursed Waves.

The waves almost seemed to be teasing the spirits as their advance slowed more and more with each assault. “This one appeared much more quickly than the last.” Apeiron muttered, and Helba responded.

“I suppose there isn’t much left for them to swallow up. Most of the major locales have already been destroyed.”

“I see.” Apeiron sighed before continuing. “I guess the Twilight Dragon didn’t make it in time.” Then he drew his sword from its scabbard. “I’ll give the order.”

“No, wait.” But Helba stopped him, noticing three figures flying with great speed towards them from above the wave.

It was Bith and Fili― and with them, a spirit with six wings that flew off in another direction.

“What is that?” Before Apeiron could get a good look at them, Fili and Bith descended before their respective monarchs.

“Sorry it took us so long.” Fili bowed to Apeiron and explained the spirit above them.

He explained how the Little Witch had broken a seal binding the spirit in the Land of the Beginning of Beginnings, and with their emergence, they were able to immediately leave the Wavering Peninsula to return here with great haste.

And upon hearing this, Helba and Apeiron looked up at the spirit floating above the battlefield. “What is that spirit?” Apeiron questioned, and Fili answered him.

“I’m not entirely sure, but I believe they are someone who will help us just as the Twilight Dragon will.”

“I see……”

“Very well done.” Helba praised Bith and Fili, then urged them to continue their report.

“We sent the others to the Wavering Peninsula a few hours ago, so I believe it will only be a matter of time before they find the Twilight Dragon.”

“Are you sure they will find them?”

Without a hint of hesitation or doubt, Bith answered, “I am certain they will.”

Apeiron muttered his understanding and gave a small nod. “Then for the sake of those who left in search of the Twilight Dragon, we must survive.”

With that decision made, Apeiron looked back to the spirits beneath him, many of whom appeared livelier now. Those with sharp ears had surely overheard Bith’s report.

“There is still hope.” And so, Apeiron spoke to inspire them further. But then, behind Apeiron as he stood atop the small hill, the rumbling of horses and scraping of metal grew close, gradually becoming more and more cacophonous. “Now what?” Apeiron turned back with a look of surprise. “W-why……?”

An incredible sight greeted him there. Tens of thousands of armed humans with a scattering of several hundred spirits and Mocaine marched towards them. And at their helm, as if leading them all, was Pleiad.

Shouting something, Pleiad then ran up to the monarchs with one human following her. “I’m glad we made it in time……”

Pleiad’s breathing seemed labored, as if they were about to collapse. Seeing that, Fili hurried to support her. “How are you here? Back in Arche Haokar―”

“I got out. The humans took me in.”

“Then……”

While being supported by Fili, Pleiad addressed the monarchs. “I asked the humans’ king for help.”

The human that had approached with Pleiad was Magi, the king of the humans. And on his back, he carried a large horn.

For the humans― it was an ancient rite for that horn to be played whenever they fought against the spirits. Its sound had the power to inspire one’s allies while making their enemies cower.

“I had believed that you spirits were the only ones the waves would destroy, and so it had nothing to do with me.” Magi glanced at Pleiad as they leaned against Fili, then continued. “However, I was cautioned by this girl not to turn a blind eye to what is happening in this world. I had been taking in the spirits who had escaped, but she convinced me that there was more I could be doing. This world does not belong to you, or to us. It belongs to everyone. So, the dangers that are manifesting here are not unrelated to us. I know we are late in coming, and though we lack your powers, we believed we could be of some aid, and are here now to lend it.”

Hearing those words, Apeiron shed tears for the first time in his life. He marveled at how hard it must have been for those who could not fly to have come all this way.

“I thank you.” Helba said, then shouted to the spirits who were now confused by the new situation. “You heard him; now is not the time for us to be fighting one another! I thank the humans for joining us here. Now let us all fight to survive! On our signal!” She declared, leading Magi before the spirits. “Will you use your horn?”

Magi nodded and took the horn from his back. “For all who fight in this battle……” He said, and taking a deep, deep breath, Magi blew the horn with all his might.

And the sound of that horn echoed out so that all could hear it.

We spent some time looking for Gendor after he had disappeared in a blinding light, but he was nowhere to be found. We searched all over, (or at least, as far as we could without getting lost) But eventually, we circled back to where Gendor vanished from.

“Where could he have gone……?” Fili muttered with a sigh as he looked around anxiously.

“We don’t have time for this.” Hearing the irritation in Bith’s voice, I painstakingly examined the spot that Gendor had vanished from.

(I was imagining it may have swallowed him or something like that, but……)

I couldn’t spot anything out of place. “I wonder if he actually went anywhere at all.” Lilith mused.

“What do you mean?”

“We’re assuming that when he was enveloped in that light, he must have transported somewhere else― but what if that isn’t the case at all?”

“You think he might not even be alive anymore?” Bith confirmed, and Lilith nodded.

“What do we do?”

“What do you mean, ‘what do we do’?” Bith answered Lilith’s question. “We don’t know how far away the waves are. If we’re not going to keep looking for him, our only choice is to keep going, right?”

(But……!)

I knew what Lilith wanted to say. It may be the correct decision to move on rather than continue wasting time here― but leaving without Gendor after he had vanished in this terrible place was not an option. Not to me, at least. “We can’t just keep going on like this.”

“Saya is right. Let’s look around a bit more.” Fili agreed with me and turned on his heel. Then suddenly― he hit something and feel down with a loud thud. “!”

It was Gendor.

“Where have you been?” Bith asked, but instead of answering, Gendor held a finger to his mouth to stop him from speaking.

“There’s no time. We have to hurry.” Gendor said, and just then, the labyrinth let out another desperate cry. And like the first time, the walls and ceiling began oozing with an acidic liquid.

(What’s going on?!)

However― without explaining anything, Gendor began to move through the labyrinth without any sign of hesitation, so we followed silently behind him.

We had been completely lost in this labyrinth before, but now, Gendor was able to find the exit with ease. We found a staircase leading out and started running when it looked like they were going to close on us.

(Not good!)

My foot got caught in a pool of the acidic liquid, but Bith grabbed me before I fell and helped me keep going. “Thank you.”

I was sure Bith had heard me, but instead of responding, he just kept glaring at Gendor as he led us forward.

Leaving the living labyrinth, we found ourselves in a wasteland where the wind blew dry. And a short distance away, a black gate stood at the foot of a large stony peak.

(Surely, this is it……)

This must have been the entrance that led to the End of Land. And once we were all clear of the labyrinth and taking a breather, Fili looked to Gendor skeptically.

“Where were you?”

“I don’t know.”

“How can you not know?” Bith snapped at Gendor as Lilith gave him his cloak back. “There has to be a reason you could find the exit as easily as you did. You can’t just say you don’t know.”

At Bith’s chastising, Gendor groaned and fell silent. He didn’t seem to know how to explain himself. So thinking quick, Fili tried to offer a helping hand.

“Gendor― do you remember your body glowing, and then you disappearing?” Gendor thought for a moment, then nodded. “And can you remember what you did after you disappeared?” Gendor nodded again.

“Then you do know where you were.” Bith chimed in again, and Gendor immediately looked like he was going to cry. Fili was trying to help Gendor through it, but Bith’s singular complaint broke him down again.

It was understandable why Bith wanted an explanation, though. We lost valuable time because of what happened, so he wanted to know why it happened.

(Still, that isn’t the way to go about asking him about it……)

Apparently thinking the same thing as me, Lilith berated Bith. “Give him a minute. It’s not like he’s intentionally withholding the information from us.”

Bith sighed, but silently motioned for Gendor to continue. “I don’t actually remember disappearing. My body started glowing and then― I was just flying through the labyrinth all of a sudden.”

“!”

(He can fly now?)

I was about to blurt that out, but I stopped myself, thinking I shouldn’t interrupt Gendor anymore while he was trying to explain everything.

“I was excited at first, since I was the only one who couldn’t fly until now. But after a moment, I realized that everyone else was gone and did my best to find the exit.”

Hearing him out that much, Bith and Fili both dropped into contemplation. They must have had some idea about what this meant for Gendor. “The life-threatening situation must have awakened your dormant abilities.”

“I guess.” The two concurred.

(Except……)

If he had just needed a life-threatening situation― the first time we had encountered Cubia or tried to cross the Hearth of Dakk should have been crisis enough.

“Well, this should make things easier for us moving forward, at least.” Lilith said. “I didn’t think there were any humans who could fly without the help of tools, but it seems I was wrong.”

She urged Gendor to give it a try, and Gendor thought for a moment and then made a small jump.

“Huh?” He jumped again. “How do I fly again?”

Gendor stretched up as high as he could and tried jumping, but there was no sign of him being able to fly.

“Strange,” Fili muttered, seeming to have noticed something as he watched Gendor and tilted his head. “Back in the labyrinth― perhaps you were only able to fly because the manifestation of your abilities put you into a kind of trance.

“So, you mean Gendor’s power was what put the labyrinth back to normal?”

“It’s possible. Though it’s not like we could just go back and check, his power could still be unstable.” Fili explained in response to Lilith’s question.

“Hang on. Does that make Gendor a spellcaster?”

“That would seem to be the case, since it looks like he used a state-altering spell.”

Suddenly, a shock ran through me like I’d been struck in the head.

(This is……)

Memories I hadn’t been able to recall until now suddenly came flooding back to me. So much so that it made me dizzy. Near the end of the Epitaph of Twilight, I remembered that the description of the three shadow-bearers had changed.

The three shadow-bearing spellcasters―

(That’s it!)

That had been how it was written in the story after the shadow-bearing human had manifested his powers in the labyrinth.

(But, why now……)

As if in mockery of my inability to remember any of it up to now, my memories suddenly overflowed in my mind without end. I’d already known that the tear jar would be lost, and I’d known that Vesper would disappear.

Furthermore, by now, both the Palace of Darkness and the Palace of Light would have already fallen to the waves. And if I was recalling correctly― on the path just ahead of us, we would soon meet with a mysterious dragon. If we could answer the dragon’s riddle, then we would be able to meet the Twilight Dragon almost immediately after.

Beyond that, the story was unfinished, so even with my memories restored, I didn’t know what would happen after that. But surely our future wouldn’t have such a bleak ending.

(I’m glad I was finally able to remember, but……)

How had things managed to progress perfectly according to the novel so far?

(I’m not the Little Witch Saya, so how……)

My thoughts and actions up till now couldn’t possibly have all been the same as hers. Not unless something like the will of the story itself had been guiding me through it.

(I don’t understand……)

Even if there had been something guiding me, I couldn’t believe it had all gone according to plan. But in either case, our journey was nearly complete now. Our narrative goal was nearly in reach.

(Papa, Mama…… I hope I can come home soon.)

Without Vesper to snap me out of it, I couldn’t stop thinking about it now.

“If you can’t fly, then that’s alright. Nothing has changed for us, so there’s nothing for you to feel guilty about.” Comforted by Fili, Gendor stopped trying to fly and calmed down.

(I can’t get sentimental just yet. We have to keep going until we find the Twilight Dragon!)

But just when it seemed time to leave, one of Bith’s familiars arrived. And as it spoke, the color drained from Bith’s face. “Did something happen.” Fili asked, and Bith shook his head in distress.

“The palace fell. The Queen’s status is unknown.”

“What?!” Fili reacted with shock, but neither me nor Lilith did.

I was prepared since my memories had just returned, but why wasn’t Lilith surprised? As I thought that, Lilith noticed I was staring at her and gave me a cool smile. “Is it that strange that I’m not surprised?”

“Uh…… well, kind of. After all, it’s the palace of the nation you used to belong to……”

Seeing my confusion, Lilith muttered something about me being surprisingly honest. “The waves have been appearing in key locations around the world. I knew it would only be a matter of time before the palace was swallowed up, too. I’m more upset at Bith for apparently holding out hope that it would be fine.”

Lilith stared at Bith with a stern look on her face after saying that, but he spoke up again without taking notice. “By the time my familiar arrived, it says that more than half of the palace had already been consumed.”

“No way……” Fili was at a loss for words. “Is there someplace they could have run―”

“Well, I don’t think they were swallowed up without a fight. I’m sure they’re fine.”

Suppressing the sinking feeling that the waves were closing in on us, we all began moving towards the gate in the distance that would lead to the End of Land, though our steps were measured.

Something was there in front of the gate which was built directly into the rocky cliff face behind it. A skeleton with eight arms and eight legs stood in our way. “An enemy?” Bith eyed the skeleton ahead of us skeptically. Yet after a moment, there was no sign of it moving.

Neither Bith nor Fili had any information on the Land of the Beginning of Beginnings. Not on the kind of people who lived there, or what their culture might be. We were in uncharted territory here and needed information badly.

But as we approached, the skeleton didn’t budge at all. It was standing as if it were guarding the gate behind it with four swords in its hands that appeared to have rusted over years of being exposed to the rain and wind. It was never mentioned in the story whether they had always been a skeleton, or if they had died and become one, but I knew that they were here to serve as a gatekeeper.

“Maybe they’re actually dead?” Lilith suggested, and Bith stepped closer to look into the skeleton’s face.

“Looks that way.” He decided, then noticed something else.

Hanging from the skeleton’s waist was one, singular key.

“Must be a key to the gate.” Fili stated, moving forward to take the key from the skeleton.

“Gigagigagi,” With the sound of clattering teeth, the skeleton’s head turned to face us.

“It’s alive!” I shouted and jumped back on reflex. Bones clacked menacingly, and the skeleton’s limbs slowly began moving like a wind-up doll.

“Get back!” Bith shouted― and with a level of force we couldn’t have expected from its slow movements, the skeleton swiped at Fili’s cheek with sharp, claw-like bones, and a single streak of blood ran down his cheek. If he had been any slower to dodge, his cheek would have been sliced open completely. “PhaVak Rom!”

Flames in the shape of a dragon emerged from Bith’s spell wand and rushed the skeleton while letting out a kind of roar.

“Get lost!” Bith’s flames engulfed the skeleton as it burned and charred.

Shaking within the flames, the skeleton dropped the swords it was holding one after another― while I stood motionlessly as if dangling by a thread. After waiting for the moment the skeleton went completely silent, the flames were extinguished.

“……It wasn’t dead?”

Bith put his wand back in his pocket and took the key from the now silent skeleton. “Let’s keep moving.” He said, throwing the key to me since I was closest to the gate. I snatched it up quickly, though it was still hot from being in the flames. “Got it?”

I nodded and inserted the key into the gate’s lock. However, once it was in, the key wouldn’t turn. I tried a few more times, but this key didn’t seem to work for this lock. “It’s no good.” I turned back to the others, and then saw the skeleton behind Bith slowly moving again without making a sound. Before I could even say a word, the skeleton’s arms reached out and grabbed Bith, Fili, and Lilith by their throats. “Everyone!”

In an instant, all three were captured with no way of resisting. “Gigagigagi,” The skeleton almost seemed to be laughing at us. Even without a face, it was clear from the way its mouth moved; he was giving us a sickening, victorious smile.

Then it tightened its grip around their throats to the point that they were all clearly in agony. “Let them―”

“Let them go!” Before I could raise my wand, Gendor raised his hands towards the skeleton.

(……Huh?)

I’d never seen Gendor act this way before, so his ferocity caught me off guard. However, when I looked close, I could see that his arms were trembling slightly. “Even I can do this much……”

Seeing Gendor muttering to try and encourage himself, the skeleton sneered at him. Gendor remained motionless with his hands raised. For a moment, I waited for something happen, but there was no sign that either would act.

Fili’s words echoed in my head. “His power could still be unstable……”

He couldn’t use his abilities the way he wanted, just like I couldn’t at first― but there was no time to think about that right now.

(I have to do what I can right now!)

I held up my wand and concentrated on trying to use the spell that Vesper told me was forbidden. With no plants around for me to manipulate in this wasteland, this spell was the only thing I could use to try and save everyone.

But the skeleton wasn’t stupid. It stretched out its five remaining arms and tried to grab me to stop me from casting the spell. Power welled up deep within me. I needed to pierce the skeleton from below, so I tried to focus on only the ground beneath its feet. If I made even the slightest mistake, it would hit everyone.

(Just a little more……)

I knew the skeleton would attack me, but couldn’t move from where I was. I knew that if I moved, I would lose concentration and my spell would fail. “Ah!” I crossed my arms in front of my face to protect myself from the attack while focusing on keep a firm grip on my wand at the same time.

(Please…… work quickly!)

The skeletal arms closed in around me, reaching for my head, and I shut my eyes without thinking. “……?” But the pain I was expecting to feel never came, and I slowly opened my eyes back up. “Huh?!”

The skeleton’s sharp claws had come to a stop, hovering just centimeters in front of my face. They were stretching straight out from each of the five arms, trying to pierce into me, but now they appeared to have been packed together like a bundle of needles.

“What?”

Then I noticed that one of the fingers had a different shape from the rest. Looking more closely at it, the finger looked to have the shape of a key. I grabbed for it, and it broke off the skeleton’s hand without issue.

“Is this……” It looked very similar to the key that Bith had taken off the skeleton’s waist. This had to be the real one though, so I stuffed it in my pocket to make sure that I wouldn’t lose it.

(But why……?)

I backed up, wanting to get away from the claws for the moment. Even though it didn’t seem to be moving anymore, there was always a chance it would again like last time.

“Saya, are you okay?” Gendor rushed over to me with his cheeks flushed red.

“Wait, are you doing this Gendor?”

“When I thought that I wanted it to stop, it did. If it hadn’t stopped, you would have died…… is that how spellcasting works?”

The skeleton’s rubbery arms had been halted by Gendor’s power. But behind them, the skeleton was still struggling to try and make them move. Maybe because Gendor wasn’t familiar with using spellcraft, his power hadn’t affected the skeleton’s entire body, and I realized then just how bad off the other three.

“Since it looks like he used a state-altering spell……”

Remembering what Fili had said, I took Gendor by the arm and spoke quickly. “If you were able to stop it, could you stretch out the skeleton’s arms? If you could get the arms holding the others away from its body, then I might…… I will be able to save them from it quickly.”

“Alright, I’ll try.”

Standing next to me, Gendor held his hands out towards the skeleton. Then at once― the arms that had been aimed at me began to move again. It looked like Gendor couldn’t focus on both spells at once.

And as if in response to the first spell ending, those arms began to stretch forward at an incredible speed. If I hadn’t stepped away, I would have been skewered for sure.

“Saya!” Gendor’s new spell took effect.

The skeleton’s eight arms all began to stretch out away from it like an octopus’s tentacles.

(Now!)

I directed the wasteland. But since I didn’t try to give it specific instructions this time― the earth below the skeleton’s feet surged upwards with incredible force and reached towards the heavens. Unable to withstand the force of the land striking it― the skeletons arms were all broken off as it was flung into the sky by the rising stone.

With that, the other three were freed from its grasp and collapsed, so Gendor and I rushed over to them. Coughing and gasping for air, they climbed slowly back to their feet.

“Thanks for the help……” Fili said, then looked at the pillar of land that had been raised up. “Saya…… you did this?”

“Y-yes.” I suddenly felt a wave of dizziness wash over me like I was going through a bout of anemia, and guessed that it was the recoil from using that forbidden technique.

“Your face…… looks pale.” Lilith gave me a closer look over while massaging the marks on her neck.

“You used a forbidden technique, didn’t you?” Bith questioned, and unable to meet his penetrating gaze, I turned my eyes towards the ground. Then Bith grabbed my arms and squeezed. “What if you had died?!”

“But, there was no other way―”

“That doesn’t make it okay to use a forbidden technique!” Bith yelled, but then let go of my arms as if he had noticed something. “I get it. This is what you learned from Vesper, isn’t it?”

“……”

“That explains it. I’d never heard of the Little Witch being able to use spells that harm others; but damn, he sure taught you something nasty……”

“Don’t say it like―”

“Never use that again, no matter what. It’s a miracle you’re even alive for me to scold you right now.”

I couldn’t say anything as Bith interrupted me with words of warning. “Got it……”

Seeing me sulk, though, Bith added crisply, “But, thanks for helping us out.” I raised my dizzy head to look at Bith, and seeing the way he looked embarrassed, I knew that he really was worried about me. “And I’m sorry…… I didn’t think there was any way it would be able to move after that.”

“How far did they get thrown, do you think? If it still has the real key, we won’t be able to go on.” Hearing Lilith mention that, I pulled the bone key back out of my pocket. “What is that?” She asked, and I explained that I had taken it from one of the skeleton’s claws.

“So the key on its waist was a decoy, then.” Fili muttered, sounding impressed, then looked up at the darkening sky. Back in the direction we came from― thick clouds were spreading out with a thunderous roar brought on by the waves. “Let’s hurry.”

Together, we stood in front of the gate again. The key turned easily this time, and the gate slowly opened with a creaking sound. It opened up to a long tunnel, but a few kilometers ahead, we could see a pure white light that seemed to be the exit. With Bith in the lead, we rushed through.

The waves were coming. By now, it was possible that the place we were moving towards was the only safe place left in this world.

When we came out the other side of the tunnel, we entered into a world of pure white. A raging blizzard made it impossible to see more than a few meters ahead of us, and the cold was immediately overwhelming. Still, before going any further, both Bith and Fili sent out their familiars to investigate our surroundings. Even if they trusted the compass to guide us, they wanted to know what might lie ahead of us.

We waited patiently for the familiars to return, but after just a few minutes, my body started to grow numb. Fili was able to use a spell to protect us from the blizzard, but he couldn’t do anything about the cold itself. As soon as the familiars got back, we had to move.

“We’ll need to rest soon……” Lilith had borrowed Bith’s cloak again since she was the most exposed among us, but it was still freezing, so she murmured a complaint as she hugged her own trembling body.

“It’ll take a few more hours of walking before we reach a place where we can rest. You’ll have to stay strong until then.”

Being told that, Lilith cringed with disgust.

(I want to rest too……)

And it made me wonder― Bith and Fili seemed fine; how did they manage to stay so strong? Despite how we felt about the cold, though, we had no other choice but to hurry onwards. But since the rest of us didn’t have the same fortitude, Gendor, Lilith, and I all ran out of stamina rather quickly.

Then when he saw that we were all slowing down, Fili told Bith that we had to rest. “Are you going to rake responsibility if they all collapse after coming this far?”

“……Alright, I get it.” Bith agreed with some reluctance, but Fili smiled brightly and turned back to us.

“There should be a cave just up ahead where we can rest. We’ll take a break there.” Thanks to that information which Fili’s familiars had collected on the snowfields, we were able to reach a cave to warm up in.

And with the dragon of flame that Bith conjured, we were able to quickly recover from the freezing temperatures.

“…………this way.”

“?” As Gendor was nodding off next to me, I could have sworn I heard someone calling me and looked into the depths of the cave. A winding path lead further in, but there was no sign of anyone else there.

“…………way.”

(Again……)

Fili and Bith were talking about something as they kept watch outside the cave with intense expressions. But they didn’t seem to hear the voice that I did.

“……Come this way.”

“!” That time, I heard it clearly.

Even if Fili and Bith were being distracted by the blizzard, Lilith definitely should have been able to hear it as she rested next to Gendor.

“Saya…… come this way.”

As soon as the voice called for me by name, I felt a strange sensation like I was having an out of body experience.

(I have to go……)

I slowly stood up and walked into the depths of the cave as if I had been invited in. The path had looked like it might wind down forever, but it didn’t take long at all to each the end.

At the back of the cave, I found something large, cold, and radiant. And when I approached it― I saw it was a huge androgynous spirit with six wings sprouting from their back encased in ice.

“Did you call me here?” I asked, but received no reply. That wasn’t surprising, though, since they were encased in the ice. “Why are you frozen here?”

Gingerly, I reached out to try and touch the ice― but I was suddenly overwhelmed by the impression that I shouldn’t and snapped my hand back away from it.

“Is that― a spirit of Darkness?” I heard Fili approach behind me, but I didn’t look back at him.

I couldn’t take my eyes off of the spirit in front of me.

Everyone was here now, and in response to Fili’s question, Lilith and Bith shook their heads to deny that possibility. But the fact that Fili had to ask that question at all meant that they were not a spirit of Light either.

“I’ve never even heard of a spirit like this…… what are they?” Fili’s voice grew faint as he muttered to himself.

“Hey, are you okay?” Lilith asked me, but instead of answering her, I simply continued to stare at the spirit in silence.

(Maybe I’m just tired……)

I felt my consciousness fading, and as it did, I grew dizzy and began stepping closer the frozen spirit as if I were sleepwalking.

“……” In a voice so small I couldn’t even make out the words myself, I muttered something without meaning to.

(Is this the will of the Epitaph of Twilight?)

It felt like someone else had taken over, and I suddenly felt afraid of the idea that I was being moved against my will. I feared that I would be completely taken in by this world this time. Yet in spite of how I felt, my body still reached out to touch the frozen spirit.

(No!)

I had a gut feeling that I should not touch this spirit, but my body would not listen to me.

I felt that – the moment I was forced to play into the part of the Little Witch Saya – I would lose something important about myself. Something integral.

My memories of the world that I should return to.

(NO!)

My outstretched hand started to tremble as I prayed desperately for my senses to come back to me, but it was impossible.

“!”

The instant I touched it― the ice evaporated. The whole space was obscured by steam, and a gust of wind blew in from the cave entrance and slowly dispelled the vapors.

(What did I do?!)

I strained my eyes, and there in front of me with a smile on their lips, I saw a divine spirit floating in the air, their eyes still closed.

“Thank you……”

With a voice that echoed in my head, the spirit thanked me― then flew out over our heads towards the entrance of the cave.

For a moment, I just stood there dumbfounded. I finally felt like I had control of myself again, and I cautiously tried to move my hands. “I can move!”

For obvious reasons, everyone else looked at me with confusion when I shouted that.

What in the world had that been about? And why had I been able to release that spirit?

“So what exactly was all that about?”

“You don’t know?” Lilith questioned, and I shook my head. I was the one who most wanted to know what had happened. “So it’s a complete mystery why you were able to release that spirit, huh……?”

Times like this made me wonder if Vesper would have known more.

I had so many questions, but we couldn’t waste any more time here, so we started walking through the blizzard again, and after a while, we passed through the frozen snowfields completely.

The blizzard came to an end, and the scenery transitioned into a lush green valley. Though by the time we arrived, the sun had already set, and stars were twinkling overhead in the night sky.

“We’ll have to camp here tonight. But tomorrow, we should be able to reach the Wavering Peninsula.”

“Right. This will probably be our last chance to rest.” Surprisingly, Bith agreed with Fili’s suggestion straight away.

After gathering up some dry branches for a campfire, we each began to drift off to sleep around it. But I―

(What was that……?)

After that strange out of body experience in the cave, I realized that my mind was feeling strangely clear. And although I did feel an odd sense of loss as if something important had disappeared, I couldn’t remember what it had been.

But even not knowing why, my sense of urgency wouldn’t go away.

(What was it……?)

No matter how hard I tried to remember, I was drawing a blank. I had absolutely no idea what it was I was trying to remember.

“Oh well, I guess.” It felt strange, but by saying it out loud, it cemented how little it mattered.

(I need to sleep too……)

But just when I was finally going to lie down and rest, I realized that I was crying.

I didn’t feel sad, but I also didn’t feel happy. Yet for some reason, I couldn’t stop crying. That night― I dreamt of Vesper, although the Vesper in my dream had a very sorrowful expression.

And no matter what I said to him, Vesper remained silent with that sad look on his face.

At dawn, we began to move. Even if it had been to rest our bodies, knowing we had lost half a day of time spurred us on as we hurried forwards, passing through a deep valley surrounded by mountains.

“The Land of the Beginning of Beginnings is really empty……” Gendor muttered with a sigh.

“This place has always been said to be devoid of life. It only makes sense it would be like this.” Fili explained as we moved. “These mountains are known as the Dragonbein Mountains because they are said to look like a dragon lying on its side.”

“I wonder who named them in the first place…… the name has been passed down for so long, I never thought to question it until now.”

“Couldn’t it have been anyone who likes to travel?”

“And made it past that gatekeeper? Not likely.” Bith answered Lilith’s question.

“You’re right…… the route we took to get here is almost certainly the only way to reach this place. Old man Tartarga was known as a living encyclopedia, so if there was any other way, either him or Dorin at the Great Tree of Lios should have told us about it.”

“What if someone flew in?” I suggested, but didn’t really think someone could have flown over the route that we had to take.

“However it happened, we have the legends, so someone must have come here at some point in history.”

We’d meant to have just a bit of casual conversation to pass the time, but instead, the topic became one that left a weight hanging in my chest. But while we were talking, we eventually arrived at the end of the Dragonbein Mountains and found a very, very large dragon sleeping there. Its body completely blocked the path that ran between the mountains, leaving no way for us to walk around them.

“This doesn’t look good…… do we try flying?” Fili suggested, and Bith nodded.

“Can you carry Gendor with me?” Bith requested, moving to stand next to Gendor.

(Hm?)

The compass I was holding onto shook slightly and pointed towards the sleeping dragon in front of me. “This is……”

“Is this the Twilight Dragon?” Gendor let out a gleeful cry when he noticed the compass.

“No, I don’t think it is. We haven’t reached the Wavering Peninsula yet.”

They kind of looked like Dorin did sleeping under the Great Tree of Lios, so I wondered briefly if they might be the same species― and then, as if sensing our presence, the dragon slowly raised their head.

They looked at each of our faces in turn as if confirming who we were, and then spoke with a deep breath.

“My name is Sheraton, he who interprets the signs. For many years, I have awaited the shadow-bearers. Little ones who would stand up to save their world― answer my riddle. If you do, I will have completed my role and will leave this land.” With a leisurely tone, Sheraton spoke while looking down at all of us.

As a group, we exchanged glances for a moment and nodded to each other. If we didn’t solve this riddle, we would not be able to move forward.

Seeing that we were ready, Sheraton asked his riddle. “Though equal before the eyes of all, alone, few are able to seize it. What is this?”

Everyone tilted their heads. “What could it be?” I spoke just to break the silence.

Something that is equal before everybody, but that few could seize alone. I turned the riddle over and over again in my mind, but I couldn’t think of a good answer.

“Is it ‘opportunity’?” Lilith tried, but Sheraton shook his head.

“Are you dense? I’m sure there are plenty of people who would seize an opportunity without help.

“Yeah, well you don’t have to be an ass about it.”

“Is it ‘air’?” Gendor answered excitedly. But that was also wrong, and Sheraton shook his head again as if bored.

“You realize you can hold air in a bag easily enough……”

“Oh, I see.”

“Shadow.”

(Again……)

Without feeling like I had meant to do so, I answered.

“By ‘shadow’, you mean like the ones we have, right?”

“Exactly.”

“But, hold on a second! Bith and Fili don’t have shadows. It’s only humans and spirits like us who have those, right? But if we’re thinking about Sheraton’s riddle, the answer should be something everyone has.”

“I guess that’s true……”

I wasn’t even sure why I had thought of ‘shadow’. But for a moment, I’d had the impression that they were something that everybody should have. Maybe it was related to that feeling of having lost something, but now wasn’t the time to be thinking about that.

“Though equal before the eyes of all, alone, few are able to seize it. What is this?” Sheraton posed his riddle again.

What could it be? Even though the waves were getting closer and closer, we were wasting time here. If only we could stop time, then we could take more time to think this through……

(Ah!)

“Could it be time― to seize the ‘moment’?” Sheraton paused when I gave that answer, and then roared and flew up into the sky. It seemed that had been the correct answer.

Seeing Sheraton disappearing into the sky, Lilith let out a shout of joy. “How did you figure it out?”

“I just thought about how much of a hurry we were in…… how we were running out of time, and I thought that might be the answer.”

“Well done!”

With Sheraton out of the way, we ran through the narrow passage that extended past where he had lain. Finally, the Wavering Peninsula where the Twilight Dragon resided was within reach. After running the winding path for a few minutes― the way suddenly opened up in front of us, and the ocean spread out before our eyes.

There, the eastern coast jut out into that sea and was swaying just slightly. We had found the Wavering Peninsula. “Let’s fly!”

With that declaration, Bith grabbed under one of Gendor’s arms in preparation to carry him. Fili followed his lead, and then supported by the pair of them, Gendor was lifted slowly into the air.

Then Lilith and I followed them and took into the air as well. At long last, we had finally arrived at the end of our journey. All that was left to do was to find the Twilight Dragon who would save the world.

Reaching the Wavering Peninsula― we landed in a field of plain, short grass. but It didn’t feel like there was any soil here, just hard stone, so it seemed odd that even that thin layer of grass could grow here.

“Let’s start looking!” I was feeling highly motivated now, but Fili and Bith stopped behind me and Gendor. “What’s wrong? We have to move quickly.”

Looking at me, Fili shook his head apologetically. “Unfortunately, this is far as we go.”

“What do you mean?”

“The legend says that you three are the only ones who can meet the Twilight Dragon.”

“Huh?”

“We were― our mission was just to get you three to the Wavering Peninsula.”

“So, our job here is done.” Bith finished, and Lilith nodded to him as if she had already realized this was coming. Like she was telling him to leave the rest to us.

“Then what are you two going to do now?”

“We have to reach the Alba Lake― and return to the Hulle Granz Cathedral.”

“But the waves are……”

“I can’t just sit back and wait while the Queen may still be fighting.

“……”

A single tear ran down Fili’s cheek. “I would have liked to be with you until the end, but that isn’t possible. Still, I am glad that I could come this far with you……”

“Why? All we have to do now is find it. The peninsula isn’t that big, so it would be faster for everyone to go together!” I insisted, but Lilith shook her head at me.

“If they did that, then we probably wouldn’t be able to meet the Twilight Dragon.”

“What does that mean?”

“The Twilight Dragon will only appear before the three shadow-bearers.”

“Why?”

“I wish I knew. But it won’t appear if there is anyone else with us.”

“……I understand.”

As quickly as it had come, my motivation turned to despondence. I had thought we would all be together until the very end, so I couldn’t imagine Fili and Bith leaving us now.

“If I hadn’t met you guys, I would never have stopped hating the spirits of Darkness. I am truly grateful to you all.”

Fili was tearing up as he spoke, but Bith watched him with a much more indifferent expression on his face. “I never asked you to like me.”

“Well that’s fine, because I wasn’t referring to you!”

Seeing them start to bicker, Lilith sighed. “You two are going back to the cathedral together, aren’t you? So what are you still doing here arguing with each other?”

“We can get back separately.”

“You just can’t be honest, can you……?”

“I don’t need you telling me what to do.”

“Is that so? Then do whatever you want.”

Much like the first time we all came together, I felt a warm, welcoming atmosphere envelop me. Thinking back, there were so many things that happened, and somehow, we managed to overcome all of them― I was still sad that Vesper was gone, but I was also glad to have made it this far.

“Me too, I…… thank you. I’m sorry for always having had to rely on you for help.”

“But I was the one really slowing everyone down.” Gendor said.

The mood grew melancholic after that, making it difficult for us to part ways, so we all just fell silent. But in the end, Bith broke that silence. “Time’s up; let’s go.”

“A heart of stone to the end, huh Bith?”

“The rest is up to you.” Bith said softly, then tugged on Fili’s arm when he made no move to leave.

Then, the two of them flew away. “You can do this! You three will definitely find the Twilight Dragon.” Fili’s voice echoed as he flew farther away.

“They’re gone……” Gendor muttered, and Lilith tapped Gendor on his shoulder to snap him out of his stupor.

“We’ll see them again. But to do that, we have to find the Twilight Dragon as quickly as possible, okay?” Lilith looked to me for support, and I nodded to her.

“Like you said, the peninsula isn’t that big. We’ll find it easily enough.”

Saying that, Lilith looked out across the Wavering Peninsula. It wasn’t even a full kilometer across, so really, there was nowhere for the Twilight Dragon to hide here. But still, we would have to search.

Yet even after slowly walking from the base of the peninsula to the tip, there was no sign of any life here, let alone the Twilight Dragon. The peninsula was completely empty, and I was starting to worry if the Twilight Dragon was even really here or not.

“It’s not here……” I muttered after walking the path back to the base of the peninsula.

“Could it be underground……?” Lilith suggested, so we walked back over the peninsula another time, knocking against the ground as we made our way out to the tip. If it was hiding, it would have to be underground somewhere.

The three of us split up to search, but after a while, Lilith shouted out to us. “The peninsula is breathing!”

Hearing that, Gendor put his ear against the ground. “It is! And it feels warm.”

“Really?” Hurriedly, I placed my palms against the ground, too. There was a slight pulse running through it, and it was giving off a gentle warmth, like body heat.

“No way……”

Using my broom, I flew out to the tip of the peninsula. From there, I thought the shape of it looked like a nose.

The Wavering Peninsula itself was the Twilight Dragon.

“Lilith! Gendor!” I shouted to the other two as they came to the tip of the peninsula to see what I was doing. “The peninsula is the Twilight Dragon!”

We had finally found it. And at the same time, a faint whistling sound echoed through the distant sky.

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