Pieces of the Puzzle

CID

When I finally came to, I was drifting in total darkness.

I strained my eyes, but I couldn't see a damn thing—just an endless, suffocating void of black.

Up, down, left, right... even my own sense of self was starting to get fuzzy. But then, something finally materialized out of the gloom.

It was a left arm. A hideous thing, bound tight in heavy chains.

It looked like it was miles away, yet at the same time, it felt close enough to touch if I just reached out.

Then, without warning, the chains shattered.

The shards fell away, disintegrating into nothingness.

Free at last, the arm lunged toward me, reaching out as if it wanted to drag me down.

I readied my Jet-black Blade, and then...

The world was swallowed by light.

I found myself standing in the Early Morning Forest. It was the exact spot where I’d first stepped through the door into the Sanctuary.

I scanned the area, but the creepy arm was gone. The morning sun was a bit too bright for my liking, so I narrowed my eyes against the glare.

"I see you’re doing just fine, even after getting your heart skewered."

A voice called out from behind me. I turned around to find Aurora standing there. She looked... thin. Like she was fading out of existence.

"I just shifted my vitals at the last second. Still, I’m pretty wiped out..."

I let out a long sigh toward the morning sky and slumped against a tree, sliding down until I hit the grass.

"You really are a freak of nature. Much more than I ever was."

Aurora sat down next to me and reached out, her fingers hovering over the wound in my chest.

But no blood stained her skin. Her hand simply ghosted through me, unable to make contact.

"Fading away, huh?"

"Looks like it."

Neither of us said anything for a while. We just sat there, watching the sun come up.

"I’m the one who summoned you here. I'm sorry for lying to you."

"Whatever. It’s fine."

"I lied about other things, too."

"Doesn't matter."

Nearby, I could hear the faint chirping of birds. The morning dew glistened, catching the light.

"For the longest time, I just wanted to vanish. I wanted to forget everything."

"Yeah."

"But I finally made a memory that I actually want to keep. Even if I'm gone, I want to hold onto this one memory."

She looked at me and smiled.

"Thank you for the precious memory."

And then, she started to dissolve. That forced smile of hers was pretty heartbreaking.

"I had a good time, too. Thanks."

"If you ever find the real me..."

She whispered the words while reaching up to cup my cheek. But she was already gone. I couldn't see her anymore.

The forest was empty. Just me and a quiet morning that felt like it would go on forever.

"Kill me," huh?

I muttered the words she’d left behind and touched my cheek. I could almost still feel a lingering warmth where her hand had been.

ALPHA

Epsilon and I stood on the mountain summit, looking down at the city of Lindwurm.

The wind whipped at my dress, and I could feel the chill against my legs.

"The Sanctuary has vanished," Epsilon reported.

"I see." I pressed my fingers to the corners of my eyes, feeling the weight of the situation.

"And the Recovery of the Holy Sword?"

"The Holy Sword has... evaporated."

I let out a long, weary sigh. "And the Sample of the Core?"

"The core also evaporated, ma'am."

I shook my head. The simplest and most absolute solution possible. How typical of him.

"Only Master Shadow could pull off something so definitive," Epsilon added, her voice practically dripping with pride.

"The path he walks is the path we follow."

My hair glittered in the reflection of the rising sun. I squinted at the distant streets of Lindwurm.

"And what of Beta?"

"She is currently guiding the Princesses. If all goes well, she should be able to infiltrate their ranks."

"Good. And the Investigation of the Sanctuary?"

"We have concluded every possible investigation allowed by the current stage."

"Fill me in."

I listened as Epsilon spoke. My mind moved through the data, organizing and filing away the information instantly.

"That's enough. Now... what about that specific matter?"

Epsilon hesitated for a heartbeat before giving me the simplest answer possible.

"The Witch of Calamity Aurora... otherwise known as the Demon Diabolos."

I stared out at the horizon, my eyes fixed on the distant sun.

"I see... So that's why he did it..."

The final pieces of the puzzle clicked into place with a satisfying snap.