Dimensional Descent

[Second chapter otw]

Leonel led Aina into the basement. The sudden movement caused everyone to look in his direction simultaneously, their gloominess on full display.

Kaela smiled somewhat weakly when she saw Leonel. Realizing that he was holding a girl's small hand, she looked over and gave a polite nod to Aina as well. As for the fact she was wearing a mask… Well, Kaela wore a lab coat everywhere, so who was she to judge.

Leonel scanned their faces. He couldn't help but feel a twang of guilt seeing their downcast expressions.

The truth was that Leonel wasn't very surprised to find them all here. It was clear and obvious that none of them cared to go to the arena after hearing the bells because they somewhat already knew what would happen.

However, what Leonel didn't expect was…

"I'm sorry!"

After a deep breath, Kaela suddenly stood and bowed to everyone. She did so, so deeply that her forehead almost rebounded against her shins. It would have almost been comical had tears she had been holding back not spilled forth at that very moment.

It was obvious to everyone that Kaela was only waiting for everyone to be present for her to give this apology. All her frustration and rage welled up in her eyes, flooding forth. It became obvious very quickly that she had only bowed so low in an attempt to hide the tears she could no longer hold back.

things wouldn't be so simple and should have pulled us all

any wiser. She knew that her former master wasn't such a nice person, and neither were his wives. Each was more evil than the last. To have trusted them was the worst

falling

could lose balance, a

the same time as Rum's, but his speed was much faster. It was easy for Leonel to tell that Rum

passed Kaela off to Rum. But, the big man

interjected, rushing up and helping Kaela to wipe her tears.

Even the quiet Thilly

to 'blame', it would be him. Kaela was a convenient target not much unlike he was.

the mud, but all the resources they had poured into their products were considered to have been wasted too. They

comfort of everyone, Kaela couldn't hold back her

the safety of Valiant Hall because she believed her master wasn't looking out for her. Since then, despite having poor combat prowess as a Crafter,

this never went smoothly. Everywhere she went,

on stores, the difficulty in completing a novel design with her lack of

the last, instead of finding shining sun and colorful

of torture and laborious work didn't break her, but

but she could still feel a shadow of something familiar when she looked at her. It almost felt like Aina was watching a possible ending for