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.

change,

up." Emma extended her hand "Let's go, it's time we say

"Mhm."

her hand, Kevin

***

her bed as her hair scattered all over her pillow, Amanda blankly stared at the ceiling

the incident, and unbeknownst to anyone, she had already started packing

on leaving

the guild. This time, her reason for leaving

academy reminded her

she walked in the academy she would recall her

interaction she had with him. Even the small ones

Ren's death right before her eyes, Amanda still

the pain of having someone in

Yes.

Important.

death, that she had realized

...she liked him.

to long for him. Every day, a small part of her would look forward to the lectures, and

on him, or when he would randomly slap Kevin in the

were deeply etched inside of Amanda's

first, unfamiliar with this type of feeling, she couldn't quite grasp what she was feeling.

realization was

that once again

Tok, tok'”

"Young Miss, it's time."

was her attendant,

is waiting for you

"...I'm coming"

her body up,

at the neat black dress on her desk opposite to her, Amanda calmly walked up to

time for another

***

'”Click!

Melissa closed

"..."

when she was about to leave, her footsteps halted. Turning around, she looked towards the room that

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

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

wished

now that he had actually

to anyone else but him, but his death hit Melissa

her by

like before. She made a lot more

"Haa..."

slightly, Melissa exhaled

what is

Turning around, she left.

***

July 17th.

day in Ashton city. A day that completely contrasted the

Inside a funeral home.

"Waaaahh...Whaaaaa..."

front of a

"Bwuddar!"

It was Nola.

to her, her mother and father tried their best to console

But.

"Waaaahh...Whaaaaa..."

was only after someone used a sleeping spell on her that she stopped

stood by the side.

had

he was a best friend, for others he was something else. A business partner, a student, a friend, and

worse, he had influenced the

funeral hymns,

thirty minutes or so, no one talked.

to the world,

*

"Haaa..."

exhaled. With the funeral coming to an end, Kevin decided to go out to take a breath of fresh

mind was a

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

eight people, and had directly left with Ren,

alone was eating him

you holding

"Miss Longbern?"

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

are you doing

looking

"Me?"

would Donna look for me? Did something happen?', Kevin

you

thought, Donna let out a soft

I know what may have resulted

"What!?"

voice raised a

on her lips, Donna gestured

"Shhh...lower your voice."

"Ah, sorry."

his mistake, Kevin

"...What do you have?"

take a look

hand. Taking the phone, Kevin tilted his

"A phone?"

"Give me a second."

of the phone,

look and tell me if you've also

"...sure."

the play button, Kevin played the video. In the video, Kevin

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