Dimensional Descent

Aina sat in silence, having not moved in the weeks they had been on this spacecraft. Despite her usually large appetite, she hadn't eaten anything. And, completely out of character, she hadn't lifted a single finger to practice or train.

She simply sat their, staring at her wrist the same way she had been for ages already.

On it, an old, cracked bracelet lay. She couldn't drum up the courage to hand it over with everything else. She convinced herself that Leonel didn't need it. After all, he had so many valuable things, right? He wouldn't miss a C-grade Treasure… right? It would be fine if she kept it, it wouldn't be a big deal. He's probably already forgotten about its existence…

Aina blinked, causing a discomfort to surge through her body. The dryness of her eyes almost made her feel as though something was scraping along them, making her shiver.

"Aina, you need to rest…"

Savahn tried to convince Aina to take a rest again. She had lost count of the number of times she had tried already. Even for someone within the Fourth Dimension, it most definitely wasn't healthy to remain awake for so long. Even Leonel who had Dream Force within the Fifth Dimension still felt the need to sleep at least once a week, let alone Aina whose Soul Force was only in the Fourth Dimension.

Before Aina could once again give her a perfunctory answer about being just fine, Yuri's Force suddenly surged. Aina couldn't react before she found her eyes closing involuntarily.

"Ah…"

Savahn reached her arms out and caught Aina before she could slump out of her seat.

The ship didn't have a lot of space. There was Yuri up ahead who took the helm and there was just enough space for about four people to sit facing each other in pairs toward the back. The seat could also recline to allow a decent sleeping experience and there was a compartment in the back with plenty of preserved food.

Savahn helped put Aina's seat into a reclined position and let her sleep.

She couldn't help but sigh under her breath. She had witnessed a lot of breakups in her lifetime. After all, she had once been a high school student. But, this clearly felt like it was something beyond that.

in such matters. She had never fallen

all. If it hurt you so much,

came from the front. "You should prepare yourself. The jump from Fifth to Sixth

not will decide if you have a future ahead

this nice

you want

that Yuri had thought she didn't have to expect a response at all. But, the content of

circumstances that led to Savahn being here were quite… unique. Aina had been clinging to her to the point of refusing to let go. As a result, Yuri had no choice but to propose

It was an opportunity to step into the broader world and experience the Dimensional Verse in a way she never had before. Compared to a middling Bronze Organization, the place they were going was not just

didn't really have anything to strive for, and she had no family left… If she were to answer why she had said

but she felt like it was less

I hate

"I…"

just that these two had shared a secret that she wasn't privy to. It was like finding out you were the third wheel in a relationship formed for two. If she was honest, this was a good portion of

because Aina killed Conrad so viciously. But, Aina had done that for Leonel's sake. And now, it was a matter between Aina and Leonel that once

Aina's father adopted. I have an obligation to protect her above all else. However, none of this

respond. But, her gaze glistened with unshed tears, her lips

"… Thank you, Yuri…"