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.

can laugh if

to speak was Melissa. Keeping her gaze on the display of drinks before her, she set her glass

find it amusing, I suppose. That Melissa Hall, who appears to be so powerful on the outside, really just wants her father's favor.

drink she set down on the counter and gulped it all in one

"Must be really funny..."

"Nah."

her glass

her arms,

"This is uncomfortably tight."

she turned her attention back to Melissa. Scratching the side of her cheek, she

be honest, I kind

tapped the tip of the

I only knew you from the academy. Ever since we were little I would always see you try your best to please

"Jealous?"

Melissa shook her head.

as if anyone would be

actually. Not only is your father the strongest in the world, but you're also incredibly smart.

"...Smart, huh?"

and wiped them with her clothes. Her eyes

only that was actually useful in this day and

think too little

Emma rolled her eyes.

to rise to heights previously seen as unthinkable. One example of that is the magic card system. That invention alone has helped us

on what other people think. It's what I've been

"That so?"

as she thought of

way, Melissa could see what Emma was trying to express, but she was

Her brows furrowed.

it

ring and took out several potions from her

complicated look spread across Melissa's face

"What are those?"

voice

staring at the potions for

I need

memories exposed, seeing Ren's memories, and her

bit late, it was time for her to grow up a

of the potions was the first step in her transformation. Taking another look at the potions before

I

"Take them."

potions in

she almost

"Eh...right."

she was confused, she still complied.

quiet for quite a while now, Amanda.

"Eh..ah!?!"

body flinched when she heard Emma's voice. Her reaction startled the two girls who looked at

eyes darted toward a particular area on the counter. An area where there was a slight stain that came as a result

"Amanda?"

"Yes?"

flinched once again when she

what

facepalmed halfway through her sentence as she finally got the gist of

her arm, she

"You happy now?"

"For what?"

and expressionless look. She was clearly trying to feign ignorance of

"You..."

***

Click—!

of me turned on when I inserted

eerily quiet around me while a dim white

moved the cursor till a message appeared on the

to

[Yes] [No]

around the screen, my

"Haaaa..."

nervous breath and

Click—!

the top part

should I start

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

on the

same room I was sitting in. No, rather, it looked an awful lot less advanced than what it was at the moment. Clearly indicating that this video had been taken quite a

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

wrist, he checked the time on

since nothing particularly important happened just yet, I won't make this any

"Smallsnake?"

void suddenly interrupted. It

are you? Oy,

"Haa..."

distant door and the camera, Smallsnake

I'll have to cut this

"Smallsnake!!!"

"I'm coming!!"

his hand, the screen

"Hahahaha.."

my lips while my arm covered my mouth and my body trembled. I felt a bundle

'...I remember this.'

remember needing Smallsnake for something urgent. Was taken aback by

it makes

it's been a

new image formed

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

voice also sounded

"Hmmm..."

back on the chair and blankly looked toward

it's been about a

video was recorded while I was in

know you're not. The fact that Angelica is still doing fine is proof of that....cause you know, the

his two fingers

with 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,

blank as Smallsnake leaned forward and tapped

began to play

a fucking asshole, you know

taken aback by his

not tell me to shut up after more than two

Smallsnake smacked the desk.

accept it like it's a given! Not even that, Ryan has also started to pick

"Hehehe...he.."

which was resting on the table, my body trembled as I tried to suppress my

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

me stick like human anymore! That's

you seriously just go on a trip without us just like

anguish, sadness, grief,

videos continued to play. A sense of dread filled me while my eyes

'No...'