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, Emma

hand "Let's go, it's time we

"Mhm."

hand,

***

bed as her hair scattered all over her pillow,

the incident, and unbeknownst to anyone,

planning on leaving the academy

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

was because the academy reminded

in the academy she would recall

interaction she had with him. Even the small ones she

her eyes,

was almost numb to the pain of having someone

Yes.

Important.

death, that she had realized

...she liked him.

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

from cringing whenever the class attention was on him, or when he

deeply etched inside

type of feeling, she couldn't quite grasp what

realization was a painful

again shut her

Tok, tok'”

"Young Miss, it's time."

was her attendant,

waiting for

"...I'm coming"

her body up, Amanda

dress on her desk opposite to her,

was time for

***

'”Click!

Melissa closed the door

"..."

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

used to belong to Ren had already been

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

him, she had wished nothing but for him to

had actually died. She

anyone else but him, but

caught her

she wasn't able to focus like before. She made a lot more mistakes

"Haa..."

eyes slightly, Melissa exhaled

what is wrong with

Turning around, she left.

***

July 17th.

clear and sunny day in Ashton city. A day that completely contrasted the gloomy atmosphere that was revolving around

Inside a funeral home.

"Waaaahh...Whaaaaa..."

wail echoed throughout the whole room as a young girl cried in front of a picture frame. Her eyes were red and snot fell from her

"Bwuddar!"

It was Nola.

her, her mother and father tried their best to

But.

"Waaaahh...Whaaaaa..."

the crying wouldn't stop. It was only

Leo, Ram, and Donna all stood by the side. Staring at

had

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

better or for worse, he had influenced the life of

funeral hymns, everyone

no one talked.

day, to the world, Ren

*

"Haaa..."

blue sky, Kevin exhaled. With the funeral coming to an end, Kevin

was

quite

not been so fixed with the idea of saving those eight people, and had directly left with Ren,

thought alone was eating him up from

are you holding up

"Miss Longbern?"

was

are you

was looking for

"Me?"

for me? Did something happen?',

you need me

a bit of thought, Donna let out a

what may

"What!?"

Kevin's voice raised a

Donna

"Shhh...lower your voice."

"Ah, sorry."

mistake, Kevin

"...What do you have?"

a look at

phone appeared on Donna's hand. Taking the phone, Kevin tilted his

"A phone?"

"Give me a second."

of the

me

"...sure."

button, Kevin played the video. In

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