Chapter 167 [Event] [Enigma Red Dungeon] [28] Orlin



('Aunt Oryanna will always be with you, Edward') her words echoed in my mind, resurfacing fleeting memories.

"!" My eyes started to turn red so I turned my face away, unable to face Louisa in that moment. 

I-I…am sorry. 

I am sorry Louisa.

Aurora refused to accept the circumstances, her body trembling as warm tears streamed down her cheeks. "W-Wait! L-Louisa! Y-You can't abandon your life so easily!" she pleaded. "Y-You can't... please... L-Louisa..."

Louisa weakly raised her hand and gently patted Aurora's hair. "I'm sorry, Aurora... I had... so many things on my mind these past years... my brother... my uncle. I-I wasn't able to be the elder sister you always wanted."

Aurora shook her head tearfully, unable to accept Louisa's words.

"But... Nonetheless, I've always considered you and the others as my younger sisters, and the other... unmanly boys as my younger brothers," Louisa's faint smile appeared. "Much has changed over the years, but this bond remains deeply etched in my heart."

Aurora clutched Louisa's hand desperately. "Louisa... there must be a w-way—"

"I haven't been a good elder sister... but... I just hope that..." Louisa's gaze turned to Ronald, who leaned against the rocky wall, unaware of the events unfolding. Tears flowed freely down her face. "I... at least hope that he has seen me as a good si-sister..."

"......"

"L-Louisa...?" Aurora shifted her position slightly, and Louisa's hand that was patting her head fell powerlessly. "Louisa... n-no... No!"

I clenched my chest, overwhelmed by a flood of emotions, and stumbled away, my steps unsteady.

Aurora's grieving cries echoed behind me, her sorrow tearing at my heart. I had never witnessed her cry and scream in such anguish before. She had always been the strong one, yearning to be like Louisa...

Leaning against the wall, I sank to the ground, feeling a profound weariness seep into my bones.

I have seen her dying so many times in the Game but here—I have already witnessed Louisa's death and at that time—behind my screen, I didn't feel this sad. But right now, I am remembering the past…and it's difficult to accept it. We have been apart for several years but I couldn't ignore those moments when we were playing together with the others without any of those problems and deaths that had wrecked all of our lives.

I'm just a little tired…

….

….

"Edward."

"..."

"Edward." A hand reached out toward a boy whose eyes seemed lifeless.

The young girl—Louisa faced Edward. "What are you doing here alone?" she asked, concern etched in her face as she stood before me on the staircase.

"The others are waiting for you, Edward," Louisa continued, her voice gentle yet firm. "Elona and Myra are worried."

Silence enveloped us as Edward struggled to find the words to respond.

Louisa approached him slowly, her arms encircling him in a tender embrace. She paid no mind to his trembling body, offering comfort in her touch.

"Aunt Oryanna will always be with you, Edward," she whispered softly, her voice filled with warmth and reassurance.

"You are not alone."

****

"..."

I groggily opened my eyes, feeling the weight of exhaustion weighing me down. "It's really a crappy day," I muttered under my breath.

"No swearing," came Aurora's reprimanding voice from beside me. I turned my head and winced as a sharp pain shot through my back.

"Are you okay?" Aurora asked, her concern evident as she gingerly touched my back, revealing the gruesome state of my wounds. My flesh was exposed, the result of the grueling battle we had endured for several hours.

Panicking, I reached up to touch my eyes, relieved to find that my blindfold was still in place. I let out a sigh of relief, grateful for that small comfort.

"Stop moving, Amael," Aurora chided me, turning me around to face her. Confused, I asked her what she was doing.

"Treating your wound," she replied, applying ointment to my back with a tissue. The burning sensation made me grit my teeth, but I knew it was necessary.

I caught a glimpse of Aurora's face from the corner of my eye. There were traces of dried tears on her cheeks and her eyes were swollen but she seemed to be holding up better than before. Behind her, Ronald sat next to Louisa's lifeless body, his expression vacant and devoid of life.

"T-Then, Amael, are you in my class?" Aurora asked tentatively, trying to fill the silence that hung in the air.

"I won't tell," I replied.

"Ahaha, I see..." Aurora nodded, understanding my reluctance, and continued tending to my wound, cleaning it and applying a compress.

Silence enveloped us, and I could sense the unspoken emotions swirling within Aurora. I knew she wanted to cry, but she held back, not wanting to show her vulnerability in front of me and Ronald, even though I had already witnessed her tears.

"Enough Avia. It's fine."

Without turning around, I could feel the tears welling up in Aurora's eyes. There was a sniffing sound, followed by a gentle bump against my back. We were both kneeling on the ground, and Aurora leaned her forehead against my back, seeking solace in our shared pain.

"It hurts... it h-hurts, Amael," Aurora stammered, her voice hoarse with sorrow.

"I'm sorry for your loss," I whispered, my voice filled with genuine sympathy.

"U-Um... may I rest like this for a little longer?" Aurora asked, her voice filled with a hint of vulnerability.

"Yeah," I nodded, understanding her need for comfort. We stayed like that, finding solace in each other's presence, as we tried to process the pain and grief that weighed heavily upon us even though it was more for Aurora.

....

....

After a while, we both settled down again, trying to find some semblance of normalcy amidst the chaos. But then, something caught my attention. There was a strange sensation emanating from my space ring. I reached inside and pulled out the source of the peculiar feeling.

"The egg!" Aurora exclaimed, equally surprised by the unexpected development.

It was one of my Eggs, pulsating with an unusual energy. I cradled the large egg in my hands and gently stroked its surface.

-Crack!

A small crack appeared on the surface, quickly followed by several others. A brilliant red light burst forth, momentarily blinding us. As the light receded, I blinked my eyes open and beheld what now rested in my embrace.

A child.

It was a little boy, no older than five, with grayish red hair. He slept peacefully, clutching onto my clothes with his tiny hands.

"Amazing, your familiar has taken on a human form, Amael. He's just like us, like Ruma!" Aurora exclaimed joyfully. "Such a cute child." She leaned in closer, unable to resist poking at the boy's cheeks.

"Do you have a name in mind, Amael?" Aurora asked, continuing to play with the boy's features.

"Hm? No... I hadn't really thought about it," I admitted, still processing the unexpected turn of events. A human familiar was the last thing I anticipated.

Then, an idea struck me, and I glanced down at Aurora. "How about you give him a name?" I suggested. Perhaps it would bring her some happiness amidst the sorrow.

"Eh? M-Me?" Aurora's face contorted in surprise, and she turned her head to the side, inadvertently bringing her face close to mine. We were sitting so closely that our proximity felt intimate.

"..." The air grew still as we locked eyes, though I was wearing a blindfold, a mix of emotions passing between us.

"..." Aurora's gaze dropped, and she nervously nodded. "O-Oh. Thanks."

She turned her attention back to the boy, pondering for a moment before suggesting a name.

"How about Orlin?" she proposed, a smile gracing her lips. "When Ruma appeared in my life, I couldn't decide between his current name and Orlin. That's why."

"Orlin, huh? It's a nice name," I replied, my voice filled with appreciation. I gently patted Orlin's hair, feeling a sense of weird warmth.

A child again, huh? Looks like I'll be getting even busier now with Annabelle. 

[You'll just pass on all the work to Mary, won't you?] 

'Shaddap,' I muttered under my breath, unable to hide a small smile at the playful banter.

Cleenah would have also roasted me.

Aurora's observation caught my attention, her words bringing me back to the present. "Your familiar is born with your mana, so it should resemble you... but Orlin seems a little different from you, Amael."

I felt a bead of sweat forming on my forehead as Aurora furrowed her brows. The truth was that my blindfold altered my appearance, so Orlin did indeed share similarities with me.

"I-It might be because you also helped me," I quickly improvised, offering a random explanation to deflect the truth.

"Hm... perhaps," Aurora nodded, seemingly satisfied with my response. She leaned back against the wall and cast a glance towards Louisa. Her eyes grew moist once again, and she closed them, seeking solace in sleep. "I think I'll rest for a bit, Amael."

I nodded in understanding, giving her a soft smile. "Good night, Avia."

As the sounds of our quiet surroundings enveloped us, I settled into a calm silence.

I really want to stop now…

…but it's not the end.