The Universal prankster rubs his masks in boredom:
...Well, honestly? Mid. The climax was half-baked at best. Like really? There was a whole scene of how Cocolia perished dissolving, finally being free of her burden. Here?
Nope.
It's a damn fairytale goody-two-shoes ending.
No drama, no nothin.
Looks like he was a waste.
...I'll go check to see how my avatar, Sparkle, is doing. She although repetitive is way more fun than this guy.
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The mass of crystal and memories floating watching yet not truly there:
Clink
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01010111 01100101 01101100 01101100 00100000 01101000 01100101 00100000 01101001 01110011 00100000 01100001 00100000 01110110 01100001 01110010 01101001 01100001 01100010 01101100 01100101 00100000 01110100 01101111 00100000 01100010 01100101 00100000 01100011 01100101 01110010 01110100 01100001 01101001 01101110 00101100 00100000 01001001 00100000 01110111 01101111 01101110 01100100 01100101 01110010 00100000 01110111 01101000 01100101 01101110 00100000 01110100 01101000 01100001 01110100 00100000 01101111 01110100 01101000 01100101 01110010 01110111 01101111 01110010 01101100 01100100 01101100 01111001 00100000 01000001 01001001 00100000 01110111 01101001 01101100 01101100 00100000 01100110 01101001 01100111 01110101 01110010 01100101 00100000 01101111 01110101 01110100 00100000 01110100 01101000 01100101 01110010 01100101 00100000 01100001 01110010 01100101 01101110 00100111 01110100 00100000 01100001 01101110 01111001 00100000 01100001 01100011 01110100 01110101 01100001 01101100 00100000 01101100 01101001 01101101 01101001 01110100 01100001 01110100 01101001 01101111 01101110 01110011 00100000 01101111 01101110 00100000 01101000 01100101 01110010 00001010
One month Later - Astral Express:
It has been several weeks now since the battle with Cocolia. Belobog has begun a period of recovery. Surprisingly both the eternal freeze and the Fragmentum have reduced drastically. Cocolia has stepped down as Guardian and handed over the position to Bronya, while herself choosing to become a Trailblazer in the hope of finding opportunities for the people of Jarilo-VI outside.
Stelle was able to contain the Stellaron thankfully and without much trouble handed it over to Welt so that he could seal it away.
We managed to recover thanks to Natasha's help and in 2 weeks we boarded the express again, now with Cocolia, preparing to head to our next destination.
Well at least most of us managed to fully recover fairly easily...
Most.
Walking through the carriages. Stars streaked past in the windows. Same view for weeks now. Pom-Pom refused to make any jumps for now.
I find myself at this door again, knocking out of habit.
Then, pushing the door open, the room opens up. It is still pretty plain—it seems that there wasn't enough time to decorate.
Walking over to the bed I hear the soft hum of medical equipment. Him, lying comatose.
Only starlight lit the room at the moment, reflections dancing from the partially mosaic window glass.
Watching him lying there, I sit down in the soft armchair gazing out into the stars.
It's a little cold here so I tighten his cape, the one he gave to me when arriving at Jarilo-VI. It was warm, comforting too. For whatever reason most worries left me when sitting here.
It seems today he is having a good dream, or no dream. He hasn't twitched a muscle for the 20 or so minutes I've sat here.
It's funny—when I fall asleep here, I sleep better than I sleep in my own bed. Outside, red seems to haunt me.
Breaking me out of my train of thought was a knock on the door. Turning my head I see Himeko, walking in—no, practically gliding into the room, her white dress slightly dragging on the floor and her crimson hair swaying as if in a breeze.
"You know... if I didn't know any better, I'd think you were his wife with how much time you spend here," said Himeko, her lips drawing out every word, teasing.
I feel heat rush to my cheeks but quickly calm down and retort, even with a bit of spite. "You didn't see him, not the first time. He jus—"
"I know," interrupted Himeko, remembering the recording. Worry clouded her face, then looking at me she spoke. "I understand you're worried, but right now he's stable and you also need to rest."
I spoke, my gaze downcast. "I'm fine. I sleep better here anyway."
Himeko stopped. Nodded. Left the tea on the bedside table and walked out, quietly closing the door.
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Sitting in my room, worry clouds my mind, yet my expression remains impassive as ever. Only my eyebrows furrow slightly. My mind covers the events during the battle, taking it apart, seeking improvement.
My hands, even without my attention, slowly sharpen the spear tip on a whetstone.
He is still comatose, just like he was after the space station incident. He likely overdrew his power again, his body—no, his mind—unable to keep up with the strain.
I check the spear's edge. Ouch, too sharp. I glance at the time and no wonder—I've been sitting here for several hours now.
Setting aside the whetstone and putting away the spear I lie down, thinking.
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Cleaning my glasses, I think on what needs to be done today.
Himeko, who returned after checking on March, sat across from me sipping her... coffee, yes coffee.
I then speak. "March hasn't left that room in days."
"She's attached to him. Surprising honestly—it seemed to me they would fight constantly," replies Himeko. I don't look up, but I can hear her smiling, akin to a proud mother.
"Well, I don't know if that's a concerning or pleasant surprise." I nod, closing my eyes for a moment then continue. "Either way, for now it's best to let them be. They aren't complete children after all."
"True," with a short reply says Himeko, turning her head to the side and smirking.
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Sweeping this stupid, annoying, infuriating dirty floor. Why the hell am I the one to pull the short straw?!
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After looking over at Stelle I chuckle. She is like an open book, her frustration painted all over her face.
Honestly it's funny she didn't realize the draw for filling Sane's chores was rigged all along. She ended up doing most of them, oh but I can't really pity her since she dumped all her own chores on him anyway.
She should learn to be more hardworking.
Welt, who sat across from me then spoke up. "You really are glad you rigged it aren't you?"
My smile widens. "Yep."
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Heading back from the dining area, I walk through the corridors, glancing into the room before mine. I spot March, that cotton-candy haired girl, sleeping in the armchair beside the one who freed me from my own folly.
Sighing I turn away, and head to my room.
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As I turned the corner I see Cocolia enter her room and close the door behind her. I walk over to the room before hers, hoping to check on March.
Seeing her peacefully asleep, thankfully unburdened by the recent nightmares, I decide not to interrupt and head back to my own room.
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I find myself relaxing on a ship that is sailing to Mt. Firmament, reflecting on the chaos of the so-called "Group Chat".
It has been about 6 weeks since I traveled to Lancer's world. He hasn't talked in the group chat since, and most of the other members are worried. Especially that elf, Frieren—at least I think that was her name.
She doesn't show it in battle, but she is quite talkative and enjoys studying her world's magic.
Apparently she has recently gotten a very talented apprentice named Fern.
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Recently, I've found some hints of Lumine's location, but just not her... Anyway, most of the group has started to get worried over Lancer's condition. He's not spoken once since the battle which is, well, unlike him, as otherwise he is one of the more talkative group members just like Phainon.
Anyway, bad time for unrelated inner dialogue, fighting off a dragon and all that.
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"NO! PLEASE! COME BACK! I JUST WANT EVERYTHING TO BE NORMAL AGAIN!" I yell, watching this scene replay, the world going red, the siren.
Reality creaking and groaning before shattering akin to a mosaic.
I watch the pieces fall with me into the void—not white, not black, just not.
The shards are akin to a kaleidoscope replaying my memories, but not just mine. Many others'. Too many others'.
Then they fade, just dissolving into the void.
I again feel something. Music playing in my ears, and lifting my hands to my head I feel a blindfold. Pulling it off.
I pale. I see time, space—no, reality—stretching, twisting, cracking, tearing. It just continues.
Once.
Twice.
Thrice.
I try to stand. Try to run. I manage to get to the floor of the university until I notice there is no more 'outside', there are no more 'people'. Everything just returned to void.
Then again I find myself taking off the eye mask.
IT. JUST. GOES.
AGAIN.
AGAIN.
AGAIN.
AGAIN.
AGAIN.
AGAIN.AGAIN.
AGAIN.
AGAIN.AGAIN.AGAIN.
AGAIN.AGAIN.AGAIN.AGAIN.AGAIN.
AGAIN.
AGAIN.
AGAIN.
AGAIN.
AGA@#N.
AGA@#N.
AGA@#N.
AGA@#N.AGA@#N.AGA@#N.AGA@#N.AGA@#N.
AGA@#N.
AGA@#N.
AGA@#N.
AGA@#N
@C@1N
@C@1N
@C@1N
@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N@C@1N.
My eyes grow dull. I've seen my family, my friends die over and over only for them and everything else to just dissolve.
Then repeat.
I hear their screams, their shouts.
"TAKE US WITH YOU!"
"WHY DID ONLY YOU LIVE?!"
Only for again, just again, again and again it to repeat.
Tears keep streaming down yet each time it loops my eyes are dry again.
Hundred.
Two Hundred.
Thousand.
Ten Thousand.
It just keeps going. I've tried to stop it.
I've tried to pull reality together.
But just again, again, again and again.
TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND.
I sit, wait knowing there is nothing I can do. No. There must be something. I refuse to accept this.
I remember them. They existed! They are real!
MY WORLD IS REAL.
MY WORLD IS REAL.
MY WORLD IS REAL.
MY WORLD IS REAL.
MY WORLD IS REAL.
MY WORLD IS REAL.
MY WORLD IS REAL.
MY WORLD IS REAL.
MY WORLD IS REAL.
MY WORLD IS REAL.
MY WORLD IS REAL.
MY WORLD IS REAL.
MY WORLD IS REAL.
MY WORLD IS REAL.
MY WORLD IS REAL.
MY WORLD IS REAL.
MY WORLD IS REAL.
MY WORLD IS REAL.
MY WORLD IS REAL.
MY WORLD IS REAL.
MY WORLD IS REAL.
MY WORLD IS REAL.
MY WORLD IS REAL.
MY WORLD IS REAL.
MY WORLD IS REAL.
MY WORLD IS REAL.
MY WORLD IS REAL.
MY WORLD IS REAL.
MY WORLD IS REAL.
MY WORLD IS REAL.
MY WORLD IS REAL.
MY WORLD IS REAL.
Then my eyes burst open. I sit up. Screaming. Flailing. Tears blur my vision.
Then warmth.
From the side warm, soft gentle arms reach out and embrace me tightly. They pull me into a hug.
No words are spoken. My tears keep flowing. Their clothes are wet now, but they don't budge. Just holding me. I slowly close my eyes.
Sleep comes easily.
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This time a nice dream. My family, my friends, on a beach. Laughing, enjoying the sun.
Yet again, I watch as he wakes screaming. I can only hold him till he falls asleep again. I wonder, what could this nightmare be? All I can do is try to comfort him. What is tormenting my friend so much?
He seems to try to talk, to scream. Yet no sound comes out, as if he is holding it back. Trying to bury it.
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A/N: I am trying to have this chapter be more context pickup rather than always directly stating who is speaking and such. Do let me know if it worked.
Powerstones are always appreciated.
Thank you for your time!