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 smiled

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

"Mhm."

her hand, Kevin

***

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

of days had passed since the incident, and unbeknownst to anyone, she had already started packing up

planning on leaving

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

was because the academy reminded her of

she would recall her

every single interaction she had with him.

death right before her eyes, Amanda still couldn't quite

numb to the

Yes.

Important.

after Amanda witnessed Ren's death, that she had realized

...she liked him.

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

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

were deeply etched inside of Amanda's

couldn't quite grasp what she was feeling. But now she

was

once again shut her

Tok, tok'”

"Young Miss, it's time."

was her

is waiting

"...I'm coming"

lifting her body up, Amanda

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

was time

***

'”Click!

black, Melissa closed the door behind

"..."

Turning around, she looked towards the room that was next to

room was already empty. Everything that used to belong to Ren had already been

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

since meeting him, she had wished nothing but for

that he had actually

because she had never talked to anyone else but him, but his death hit Melissa harder than

her

able to focus like before. She made

"Haa..."

her eyes slightly,

what is wrong

Turning around, she left.

***

July 17th.

in Ashton city. A day that completely contrasted the gloomy

Inside a funeral home.

"Waaaahh...Whaaaaa..."

room as a young girl cried in front of a picture frame.

"Bwuddar!"

It was Nola.

and father tried their best to

But.

"Waaaahh...Whaaaaa..."

crying wouldn't stop. It was only after

Jin, Kevin, Amanda, Melissa, Leo, Ram, and Donna all stood by

Ren had

was something else. A business partner, a student,

for better or for worse, he had

funeral hymns, everyone lowered

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

the world, Ren Dover

*

"Haaa..."

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

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

with the idea of saving those eight people, and had directly left with Ren, none of this

thought alone was eating him

are you

"Miss Longbern?"

out of his thoughts, was a familiar voice.

are you doing

looking for

"Me?"

Did something happen?',

do you need me

of thought, Donna let out a soft

know what may have resulted in

"What!?"

Kevin's voice raised a few

her finger on her lips, Donna gestured for Kevin

"Shhh...lower your voice."

"Ah, sorry."

his mistake, Kevin

"...What do you have?"

take a look

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

"A phone?"

"Give me a second."

the screen of

a look and tell me

"...sure."

Kevin played the video. In the

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