Kimoko stiffened. She let go of Kigami’s hand and slowly turned to Estella. Something dangerous flashed in her eyes.
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh7yWzL349S
“What?” Her voice was low, tense.
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOygVf3iFjc
Estella didn’t flinch from her gaze, even though she felt her heart pounding in her chest. Sooner or later she had to tell them. And she’d rather do it now than if they found out in the worst possible way.
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXIURd8Dwou
“I don’t have it,” she repeated quietly. “I never had it.”
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbQ07rkTZH
There was silence, so deep that Estella was almost certain she could hear her own blood pulsing in her temples. Kimoko looked at her as if she didn’t believe it. As if she wanted to hear that it was a joke. But Estella wasn’t joking.
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkw043vDWou
“You lied to us,” she said finally, and there was no anger in her voice anymore. Only cold disappointment.
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZrEEbTplmH
“I had to,” the goddess replied. “If I told you the truth, you wouldn’t help me.” Kimoko laughed quietly, but it wasn’t a happy laugh. It was empty.
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpJbQl9dER
“So it’s like this. From the beginning… all this time…”
“I had no choice,” Estella interrupted sharply. “If you knew…”
“If we knew, then what?” Kimoko interrupted. “We wouldn’t risk our lives for you? Didn’t trust you? Don’t you think it’s too late now?”
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxk2EtTYIWo
Estella clenched her hands. She couldn’t deny it. She couldn’t even pretend that what she had done was right. But… she still didn’t regret it.
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDNaQmaRlt
Kigami, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up.
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjPuWTjQDn
“So where is the crystal?” he asked calmly. Too calmly.
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpDKvUoF5d
Estella swallowed.
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2bBn1wfX7
“It’s… in the hands of my oldest brother, Icaros, maybe you know him better as the ‘personification of law’.”
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFR0KfJFft4
Kimoko froze. Her breathing became shallow, as if she was trying to calm herself, but her trembling hands betrayed her true emotions.
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkAGaHf2ndK
“Icaros.” She repeated the name with such coldness that the air around them suddenly seemed thicker. Are you telling me that all this time we were chasing something that was out of our reach from the start?
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgPQZfWvwS
Estella was silent. She felt the weight of their gazes on her, like blades dug into her skin.
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPGjL5bbGMX
‘' So what now? ‘' Kigami turned to her slowly. ‘' Do you have a plan? Or did you just hope that somehow it would work out?’’
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnX6nKeOhj
‘' I couldn’t tell you.’’ the goddess began, but Kimoko immediately interrupted her.
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3aaGLoWkCA
‘' You couldn’t or didn’t want to? ‘' Anger flashed in her eyes. ‘' You can’t tell me you didn’t know how this would end!’’
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP53kaFQ2CH
Estella fell silent. Kigami stood still, staring at his feet. Kimoko wasn’t sure if it was from anger or disappointment, but she saw hidden fear in his eyes.
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWT5X3dy2Z
‘‘Kigami… what is it?’’
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRFCnSL4J4
Kigami looked at her.
‘' “The personification of law” is the god Veridona. In practice, nothing is known about Veridona, except that everyone must obey the laws devised by this god, no matter how absurd they may be. And their god… has some sick obsession with demons, he wants to judge us all.’’
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZy0eyP7W8O
His voice was quiet, almost as if he had already accepted that they would never recover Estella’s crystal.
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNvSvfyIoP
Kimoko raised an eyebrow.
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJlSUYsfWL
“What do you mean nothing is known?”
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNvvLVH6ii
“Veridona has been missing for centuries,” Estella replied.
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡANukqBf5lM
“Even I don’t know where my brother is or what he’s up to.”
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2rFNSNcLRq
“So who does?” Kimoko asked, trying to hide the frustration in her voice.
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuOtfv9bRzv
“Anstellerette. He had the best relationship with Icaros from the beginning. If you want to find out anything about Veridona, you have the best chance with him.”
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡazWliEAeuT
Kigami looked at the goddess with a cold, reproachful gaze. Kimoko saw how much he held it all against her, the lies, the fact that he almost died because of her, and now the fact that she had only just revealed the identity of her oldest brother.
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzX9t6T80JL
“Why… why did he take it from you?” he whispered.
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9aRzneVCHL
Tears welled up in Estella’s eyes, as if her own words had struck her like blades.
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zJ8XqSjjn
“He didn’t trust me. From the beginning, he thought I wouldn’t be able to protect that crystal.”
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuN8qGrGmA
“And he was right…”
After those words, the world seemed to stop for a moment. Estella stood still, only lowering her head. Kigami didn’t say anything more. He simply turned around, grabbed Kimoko’s hand, and pulled her along. The girl moved without resistance. She didn’t understand anything anymore. She didn’t know what was right. She was tired of both Estella’s and Kigami’s secrets and lies, and yet her heart told her something else—that each of them had their reasons. But would she ever be able to trust Estella again?
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO53XJfusxX
She cast one last glance over her shoulder. Estella stood there, watching them as they got further away from her.
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlEsGtuP4DE
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYfdsjDmqn
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFDuEhp0Hp
- in the Evening
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXDPSkSeyi
Kigami and Kimoko sat by the fire. They were silent the whole way. The girl looked up at the boy who was staring into the flames. However, the dancing tongues of fire were not reflected in his eyes. He no longer reminded her of the Kigami she knew - he was just an empty shadow of himself. She sighed quietly and put one of the berries lying on the hem of her blouse into her mouth.
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4PnZ3bQil
“Tomorrow we have to find a way to get to Nokta.”
Kimoko swallowed hard.
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqVD64hyTz
‘‘Is he telling me that he intends to leave Estella to her fate?’’
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQCri4HGx4
“Wait… weren’t we supposed to help Estella first?”
Kigami looked at her, then burst out laughing. The sound made a shiver ran down her spine.
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeF22cwDsK3
“Do I look like an idiot to you who would risk his life for a spoiled brat who can’t handle herself?”
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEGFpR0m4Um
“Don’t forget we had a deal with her.”
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKQxxOeuzR
“A deal?! Kimoko, do you hear yourself? That deal lost its value the moment she admitted to lying to us!
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFo50PKD2mC
“You know that doesn’t make you any better than her?” His gaze softened. He looked as if it had only just now really sunk in.
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbejHvxnKW
“…So what? It doesn’t matter anyway. To her I’m already a monster…” Kimoko clenched her fists.
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpoM6bCy83
“Do you really think so?” she asked quietly.
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpxFN4FAnV
Kigami didn’t answer right away. Staring into the fire, he gave the impression that he was talking to himself, not her.
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNfR32EtQTD
“And isn’t that true?” his voice was devoid of emotion. “Maybe that’s for the best. After all…what else am I if not a monster?” Kimoko narrowed her eyes.
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoegec7JsGj
“Stop talking nonsense.”
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznXiMz1rOo
“Nonsense?” He smiled bitterly. “I knew the whole way there that she was hiding something from us, but I still believed her. I was an idiot.”
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZi06ozNLU
“Maybe.” Kimoko shrugged. “But that doesn’t mean you’re right to leave her to her fate.”
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEliHqZjoI
Kigami looked at her sharply.
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEINa1Hhzsz
“Why not?”
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUTvHUa4EC
“Because if we leave her, we’ll be just like her.” Her gaze was hard. “Or maybe worse.”
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCMsO81fVE
“Worse?” he snorted.
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTs14BvZeB
“Yes. Because at least she had a reason to lie to us. We… we just want to turn away from her because it’s more convenient for us.”
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJEQkiZH8Tx
There was silence.
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUeSjlQ9rFV
Kigami clenched his jaw, looking away. Kimoko could see him struggling with his thoughts. Fighting with himself.
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0oZ5rFQcy
“It’s not that simple, Kimoko…”
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBliDy0TxPO
“It never was.” She looked him straight in the eye.
‘' But isn’t that what we’re here for? To do things that aren’t easy?’’
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJek2VpdXC
Kigami took a deep breath, as if trying to calm himself down.
‘' Even if… ‘' His voice was quiet. ‘‘How do we know she won’t lie to us again?’’
‘' We don’t.’’’ Kimoko shrugged. ‘‘But you know what? We weren’t completely honest either, were we?’’
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznxyU4ArIu
Kigami looked at her in surprise.
‘' What are you…’’
‘‘Come on.’’ Kimoko rolled her eyes.
‘' Do you think I didn’t notice how long you’ve been hiding something?’’
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSF7sGo82T9
He didn’t answer.
‘' So what? Are we supposed to pretend that she’s the only one to blame now?’’ Kimoko tilted her head. “ Or are we old enough to admit that we all have our secrets?”
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5SKoA1eRX
Kigami bit his lip.
‘' Do you know how annoying it is?’’
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWRbR91GBJ
Kimoko smiled crookedly.
‘‘I know. But does that mean I’m wrong?’’
He didn’t answer.
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXL34rfcyfM
They sat in silence for a long moment, looking at the flames. Finally, Kigami took a deep breath and tilted his head back, looking at the night sky.
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6H5AEUpdbv
“Shit…”
Kimoko smiled.
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5UwdxeZPi
“So it is.”
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGpD59JXO6
“I’m not saying, you’re wrong.”
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5emzfBRne
“But you’re thinking about coming back.”
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrIjT5VY31
Kigami clenched his fists, but didn’t deny it.
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpnkcm4MEb
Kimoko knew that would be enough. For now. Kigami stared at the night sky for a long time, as if searching for an answer he couldn’t find in himself. Finally, he sighed heavily, closing his eyes.
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYURKLcRh80
“If we go back… what next?”
Kimoko crossed her arms over her chest.
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXyeTmcQct
“We’ll find a way to get the crystal back. That’s our goal from the beginning, right?”
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VbmKpuY1N
“Our goal…” Kigami shook his head. “I don’t think it’ll be that easy anymore.”
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8MFzz1F2RI
Kimoko raised an eyebrow.
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡej9a1w5ZBv
“It never was.’’
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Zp26EsrbB
“That’s why.” He looked at her sharply. “It’s even worse now. Before we even knew Estella had it. Now… we have to get to Veridona.” Kimoko nodded reluctantly.
“But first we need to find Anstellerette.”
“If he agrees to help us at all.” There was a moment of silence. “You think he won’t help his own sister?” she finally asked.
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSI3rinV2C
Kigami snorted. “The question is, does it even matter to him.”
Kimoko had no answer. She didn’t know Anstellerette. She didn’t know how he would react if they mentioned Estella, after all he was probably still mad at her.
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HcIcR19o9
“We’ll go back to her tomorrow.” Her tone left no room for argument.
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlw7xJDLsH4
Kigami looked at her skeptically. “And what will you tell her?”
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSK73BItCA9
“That we believe her.” Kimoko shrugged. “Or at least, that we want to believe her.”
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5S1zB6yq2
“A lie.”
74Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdxwS7SVoX
“Maybe.” She smiled faintly. “But sometimes a lie is the only way to find out the truth.” Kigami watched her for a moment, then looked away. “I hate it when you’re right.” Kimoko laughed quietly. “Get used to it.” The silence between them wasn’t as heavy as it had been before. There was still something uncertain about it, full of unspoken words and hidden wounds, but at least they both knew what they had to do.
