The Author's POV

Darkness engulfed Ashton's metropolis with the passing of the twelfth hour.

"Haaa..."

Melissa stared at the scenery outside and sighed. Her features were beautifully illuminated by the lights coming from above as she sat on a tiny stool.

"Ashton city looks a lot better at night, don't you think?"

"...Excuse me?"

The barista in front of her was taken aback. In spite of the current time in Ashton city, Melissa's orders were absolute, and he was thus forced to work at these hours.

"Y..yes, it indeed does look more beautiful."

"The beauty of the lights coming from the buildings is best appreciated at night.

They dispel the darkness brought on by the night."

"R..right."

The barista reluctantly nodded his head.

If he had to be completely honest, right now, all he wanted was to sleep. Additionally, he found Melissa's comments to be incomprehensible, which made the situation rather uncomfortable for him.

Regardless, a job was a job, and he could only put on a fake smile and nod his head.

"Pfff."

Melissa suddenly let out a small laugh as the cup in her hands loosely hung by the tips of her fingers.

"...Looks like you find my words boring."

The barista's face hardened. He had been caught red-handed.

Melissa laughed in self-depreciation when she saw his expression. She then waved her hand in his direction.

"Don't worry, you're not fired. I get it, I'm annoying."

Taking a sip of her drink, she smacked it against the counter.

"I'm one annoying bitch, so do me a favor. Give me another shot.

As she raised an eyebrow at the barista, a slight flush developed on the side of her cheeks. At this point, she was acting extremely differently from how she usually did. She was obviously inebriated, as evidenced by her flush and words.

"I don't think..."

"No point refusing. If you won't give it to me, I'll just get it myself."

Melissa stood up from her seat. Sweeping her eyes on the numerous bottles that stood behind the marble counter, her eyes paused toward a certain bottle.

"1987, Melionette? Sounds fancy."

Setting her eyes on the target, she tried to jump over the counter.

"Let's stop here."

A hand pressed against her shoulder before she could do that.

"Eh?"

Melissa turned her head.

"Emma? Amanda?"

It surprised her to see Emma and Amanda standing behind her. What were they doing here?

Emma ignored Melissa while she turned her head to look at Amanda.

"Looks like you were right, Amanda. She's acting exactly like you said she would."

"Mhm."

Amanda quietly nodded her head.

She was currently wearing a one-piece black dress that perfectly highlighted her physique. It was the same dress she wore at the funeral. The same was for Emma. It was clear from their attires that they didn't have time to change.

"What do you guys want?"

Melissa's eyes grew clearer as her thoughts started to slowly calm down.

"...How did you get in here?"

Emma flashed a black card.

Melissa's brows twitched when she saw the card. She could faintly recall giving one to Emma in the past when she was begging her for one.

Melissa gave her one out of pity. Naturally, she knew about her situation.

She was starting to regret that decision right now.

"What's with that look? You think we wouldn't know what you're thinking about after seeing the state you were in after we returned?"

Moving to the counter, Emma sat down on a stool. Then, looking at the barista, she pointed at the same bottle Melissa was previously looking at.

"1987, Melionette. A glass each."

"...Sure."

The barista nodded after taking a short glance at Amanda and Emma. They looked responsible.

"I thought you were going to stop me from drinking."

"Why would we?"

Emma asked while a small pill appeared in her hand.

She then handed it to Melissa.

"Not like I'm worried about getting a hangover with this."

"...Right."

Melissa weakly turned her head and sat on a stool beside Emma.

Amanda followed her example and sat next to her.

"..."

"..."

"..."

Silence permeated the room as the three women sat serenely next to one another. The stillness was allowed to linger since none of the three of them wanted to speak first.

"Your drinks."

The clicking sound of glasses being set down on the counter disturbed the silence.

Simultaneously, all three girls reached out for their respective glasses and took a sip.

The silence continued for the next minute.

laugh

gaze on the display of drinks before her, she set her glass

on the outside, really just wants her father's favor. and the only reason why she acts the way she

she set down on the counter

"Must be really funny..."

"Nah."

set her glass

her arms, she

"This is uncomfortably tight."

attention back to Melissa. Scratching

be honest, I kind of

the tip of

did. It's not like I only knew you from the academy. Ever since we were little I would always

"Jealous?"

Melissa shook her head.

anyone would

strongest in the world, but you're also incredibly smart.

"...Smart, huh?"

took off her glasses and wiped them with her clothes. Her eyes

only that was actually useful in this day

too

Emma rolled her eyes.

to rise to heights previously seen as unthinkable. One example of that is the magic

simply put more emphasis on myself than on what other people think. It's what I've been doing, and it

"That so?"

as she

was trying to express, but she was still struggling

Her brows furrowed.

keep it

then tapped on her ring and took out

spread across Melissa's face when she looked

"What are those?"

curious voice reached her

staring at the potions for a moment, she

that I need to

her talk with Emma...Melissa

it was time for

been in the past, and getting rid of the potions was the first step in her transformation. Taking another

wouldn't hurt if I took another one...no,

"Take them."

the potions in Emma's

a brief moment, she almost lost herself in the

"Eh...right."

she was confused, she

been quiet for quite a while now, Amanda. Isn't there something that you want to

"Eh..ah!?!"

Her reaction startled the two girls

say something, her hand twitched and her eyes darted toward a particular area on the counter. An area where there was a slight

"Amanda?"

"Yes?"

again when

not hear what we were

facepalmed halfway through her sentence as she finally got the gist

she wiped off the

"You happy now?"

"For what?"

Emma with a blank and expressionless look. She was clearly trying to feign ignorance

"You..."

***

Click—!

turned on when I inserted the black box into the

eerily quiet around me while a dim white light

moved the cursor till a message appeared

to play the

[Yes] [No]

screen, my hand paused. I was starting to

"Haaaa..."

breath and tightened

Click—!

pressed the top part

should I

echoed throughout the air once I pressed on the mouse, and

the screen was

rather, it looked an awful lot less advanced than

I'm even making this video, to be honest. I don't think I'll ever be in a situation where I will have to go on a dangerous mission, but I guess you might never know what will happen in the future. Could just be a video log for me to relieve some of my stress,

wrist, he checked

just yet, I won't make this any longer than

"Smallsnake?"

suddenly interrupted. It

are you?

"Haa..."

distant door and the camera, Smallsnake

looks like I'll have to cut this

"Smallsnake!!!"

"I'm coming!!"

his hand, the screen turned

"Hahahaha.."

my lips while my arm covered my mouth and my body trembled.

'...I remember this.'

needing Smallsnake for something urgent. Was taken aback

it makes sense

been

formed on

the display. His physique appeared somewhat drab in comparison to the last time, and beneath his

also

"Hmmm..."

on the chair and blankly looked toward the

been about a

I understood that this video

you're dead, but I know you're not. The fact that Angelica is still doing fine is proof of

his

each other and stuff, so like...she would definitely know if you were alive or not and...what's the relationship between you two like? ...No, never mind...haaa...I can't do this...please come back, it's really

blank as Smallsnake leaned

new video began

asshole, you

aback

you not tell me to shut up after more than two phrases!

Smallsnake smacked the desk.

given! Not even that, Ryan has also started to pick a couple of things from you, and this is sadly

"Hehehe...he.."

the table, my body trembled as I tried to suppress my laugh. My other hand clenched at my chest

more videos began to replay, arousing all sorts of different emotions in

sister is an angel. Should I open up a shrine for her? Remember when she said to apologize to me? Oh, god, the face you made....ahahhaha, you

me stick like human anymore! That's progress

on a trip without us just like that? How irresponsible do you

sadness,

timer started to reach the end as the videos continued to play. A sense of dread filled me while my eyes tracked

'No...'