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

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

"Mhm."

hand, Kevin stood

***

all over her pillow, Amanda blankly

had passed since the incident, and unbeknownst to anyone,

on leaving the

time, her reason for

academy reminded

academy she would recall her conversations and memories with

Amanda could vividly recall every single interaction she had with him.

right before her eyes,

the

Yes.

Important.

only after Amanda witnessed Ren's death,

...she liked him.

know when, but at some point, she had started to long for him. Every day, a small part of

do from cringing whenever the class attention was on him, or when he would randomly slap Kevin

deeply etched

type of feeling, she couldn't quite grasp

the realization was a painful

once again shut her heart

Tok, tok'”

"Young Miss, it's time."

Amanda, was her attendant,

car is waiting

"...I'm coming"

lifting her body up, Amanda

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

time for another

***

'”Click!

black, Melissa closed the

"..."

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

now, the room was already empty. Everything that used to belong to

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

she had wished nothing but for him

he had

she had never talked to anyone else but him,

her by

the past few days, she wasn't able to focus like before. She made a lot more mistakes than she would've normally have

"Haa..."

slightly,

is wrong

Turning around, she left.

***

July 17th.

in Ashton city. A day that completely contrasted the gloomy atmosphere

Inside a funeral home.

"Waaaahh...Whaaaaa..."

room. A high-pitched wail echoed throughout the whole room as a young girl cried in front of a picture frame. Her eyes were

"Bwuddar!"

It was Nola.

father tried their

But.

"Waaaahh...Whaaaaa..."

they tried, the crying wouldn't stop. It was only after someone used a

side, Emma, Jin, Kevin, Amanda, Melissa, Leo, Ram, and Donna all stood

who Ren had influenced

A business partner, a student, a friend,

unbeknownst to Ren, for better or for worse, he had

to the funeral hymns, everyone lowered

or so, no one talked. They all

to the world, Ren Dover was officially

*

"Haaa..."

an end,

was

still couldn't quite pick himself up. He knew better than anyone

the idea of saving those eight people, and had directly left

thought alone was eating

are you

"Miss Longbern?"

thoughts, was a

are you doing

looking

"Me?"

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

you need me

a bit of thought, Donna

know what may have resulted in

"What!?"

Kevin's voice raised a

finger on her lips, Donna gestured for Kevin to lower

"Shhh...lower your voice."

"Ah, sorry."

his mistake,

"...What do you have?"

a look at

Donna's hand. Taking the

"A phone?"

"Give me a second."

of the

tell me if

"...sure."

the play button, Kevin played the video. In

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