The Author's POV

Chapter 254

[July 15, 2056.

A terrorist attack took place at the Lock during the battle royale games of the inter-academy tournament.

Two teleportation devices were found to be installed during the event. Investigators have linked this attack to the Monolith.

With the brave efforts of two young students, the portals were soon found and their activation was prevented.

Unfortunately, in a last-ditch attempt, one of the perpetrators directly cracked the core installed in the teleportation device.

A massive explosion followed suit, killing 260 people and injuring more than 80 in the process.]

'”Click!

Turning off the TV, Emma threw the remote to the side.

"It's about time." Dressed in a black dress, Emma turned around. "Let's go, Kevin."

"Hmm"

A weak and hoarse voice replied back.

"...Kevin."

Emma's lips tensed.

Staring at Kevin who was sitting on a white sofa dressed in black, Emma felt her heart tear apart.

Ever since 'that' day, Kevin had not been the same. He was skipping out on meals, and for the most part, he was always absentminded. He had even stopped training, something that she had never seen him do throughout the whole year.

His whole complexion was white, and his eyes were bloodshot. Glaring black circles appeared underneath his eyes.

"It's all my fault..."

He repeatedly muttered to himself.

Emma did not understand why he was blaming himself for Ren's death. It wasn't something he could've controlled.

But.

Every time, Kevin would mumble those words. Blaming himself for Ren's death.

"...Kevin."

Emma called out.

"...Ah, Emma... Give me a second."

Kevin finally looked at Emma. He tried to smile cheerfully, but that made him look all the more pitiful. His lifeless eyes coupled with his glaring black circles caused Emma's heart to stir.

Emma understood.

Ren's death had truly hit him hard.

"We need to go. Attending is the least you can do for him"

Today was the day of Ren's funeral. For obvious reasons, there was no corpse at the scene. Even then, no one questioned his death.

Unless a miracle happened, there was just no way for Ren to survive.

"...E-emma, what do I do?"

Bringing Emma back to reality was Kevin's hoarse voice.

Staring at her in the eyes, he weakly muttered.

"I-i, don't know what to do...Had I not been so stupid, and just left wi'”"

"Enough!"

Emma cut him off.

"Now is not the time for this! How long are you going to wail in self-pity?"

She was starting to get angry now.

It was only natural for someone to be distraught upon the death of someone close. She too was sad. Although she wasn't particularly close to Ren, she did interact with him quite a lot in the past.

And although Kevin and Ren were really close, the last thing Kevin could do was drown himself in self-pity.

It wouldn't be something Ren would've wanted for him. Even though, Emma didn't interact with Ren much, she could see how much he genuinely cared about Kevin.

He would never want Kevin to blame himself for something like this.

Lifting his head, Kevin weakly asked.

"...Then what should I do?"

"Get stronger." Emma's voice became firm. "...Get strong enough to prevent this from ever happening in the future and make those that have caused this pay. Be it the Monolith or anyone that was involved!"

Whilst she spoke, Emma's eyes never left Kevin.

She wanted him to understand that instead of beating himself up for what had happened, it was better for him to pick himself up and mature.

Even if took years for Kevin to recover from this, Emma wanted Kevin to use this incident as a reference point for his growth.

She wanted him to grow stronger. Strong enough to prevent any of this from happening.

"...I see"

Kevin said after a brief moment of silence.

Staring at Kevin, Emma was able to notice a subtle change in Kevin. Even though the sadness never disappeared, there was something else within that sadness.

Resolution.

The resolution to grow up and change.

the change, Emma

extended her hand "Let's go, it's time we say goodbye to

"Mhm."

her hand, Kevin stood

***

scattered all over her

days had passed since the incident, and unbeknownst to

planning on leaving the

about the guild. This time, her reason for leaving the academy

the academy reminded her

walked in the academy she would recall her conversations and memories

interaction she had with him. Even

before her eyes, Amanda still couldn't quite grasp the

to the pain of

Yes.

Important.

after Amanda witnessed Ren's death, that she had

...she liked him.

started to long for him. Every day, a small part of her would look forward to the lectures, and classes. The ones that had him in

or when he would randomly slap Kevin in the head

of those moments were deeply etched

feeling, she couldn't quite grasp what she was feeling.

the realization was

again

Tok, tok'”

"Young Miss, it's time."

was her

is waiting for

"...I'm coming"

lifting her body up,

her desk opposite

time for

***

'”Click!

Melissa closed the door behind

"..."

halted. Turning

already empty. Everything that used to belong to Ren had already been taken by his parents

'...he's really gone, huh.'

since meeting him, she had wished nothing but for

now that he had actually died. She

anyone else but him, but his death hit

her by

few days, she wasn't able to focus like before. She made

"Haa..."

eyes slightly,

what is wrong

Turning around, she left.

***

July 17th.

Ashton city. A day that completely contrasted

Inside a funeral home.

"Waaaahh...Whaaaaa..."

the whole room as a young girl cried in front of a picture frame. Her eyes were red and snot fell from her nose. The scene was heartbreaking for

"Bwuddar!"

It was Nola.

father

But.

"Waaaahh...Whaaaaa..."

crying wouldn't stop. It was only after someone used a sleeping

all stood

Ren had influenced throughout his

he was something else. A business partner, a student, a friend, and the person

for better or for worse, he had influenced the life of every single

funeral hymns, everyone lowered their

the next thirty minutes or so, no one talked. They

world, Ren Dover was officially

*

"Haaa..."

exhaled. With the funeral coming to an end, Kevin decided to go out to take

mind was a

him moments prior to the funeral, Kevin still couldn't quite pick himself up. He knew better than anyone else what

he not been so fixed with the idea of saving those eight people,

thought alone was eating him up

are you holding

"Miss Longbern?"

out of his thoughts, was a familiar voice. It was

you doing

was looking

"Me?"

Donna look for me? Did

do you

Donna let

may have

"What!?"

Kevin's voice raised a few

on her lips, Donna gestured

"Shhh...lower your voice."

"Ah, sorry."

mistake, Kevin

"...What do you have?"

take a

Taking the

"A phone?"

"Give me a second."

screen of the phone, a

me if you've also noticed

"...sure."

button, Kevin played the video. In

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