*
What is it that one sees at the end of the world? Would it be an endless abyss, devoid of all things? Or would it be an all consuming grey fog that disorients left from right and up to down?
She can see it. She would know. She was at the very forefront of everything that happened, the epicentre of the world's end. She saw all of it, yet this was what she chose... I couldn't ever understand her decision, or maybe I was too afraid to.
A lavish castle that spanned the size of a city, an internal ecosystem built on decadence of the nobility. From my perspective, it was a hundred thousand year old balloon waiting to burst. How did she see it? On some nights I dream of running across the grand corridors of the castle, the walls were so far apart that ten of me holding hands wasn't enough to fill its cross section.
... My shared dreams... They evade the unseen usurper. Ever since that day... When I awakened once more.
Her mind exists in fragments. Even in her dreams. However, only in those dreams did the fragments manage to make contact with each other and reunite.
***
Akira
Celia
Feilin
Pheena
Juri
Corrine
Mebi
Aloysius
Terrin
Calamine
Tinsel
Hengji
Jianmi
Faramicia
Eichiro
Arugawa
Ed
With a ratio of 10 girls to 10 guys, these were the names listed in her diary. At this point in the year, they had long formed their cliques and groups. She never spoke much aside from having lunch with Arin until now... Was this the right step? Then... What about the previous Lastias who never managed to do it?
"I think, I would like to keep my interactions to a minimum." (Lastia)
"... Is there a reason why?" (Sariel)
"I presume because it's unfair to the other Lastias who have passed?" (Arin)
"... Yeah. In Sariel's case, she's an exception. It was inevitable that we need to know her to survive Trace 'Event's." (Lastia)
"Hyaagh!!?" (Feilin)
Turning around, she saw a girl with jett black hair in twin drills. Her shrill shriek immediately filled the classroom, but it was so common place that everyone continued on with what they were doing. There was a small entry that Lastia noted, it was written that she liked horror flicks and games, that she enjoyed the thrill of the scares and atmospheres.
She was frequently seen with Pheena and Juri who shared similar hobbies, though they roughly differ in the genre that they like. Since they roughly dabbled in similar hobbies, if they come across something that someone else liked, they would share it with each other. Feilin was watching one such video. Juri had short black pigtails and a sky blue dyed inner hair that reached her clavicle. Pheena had back lengthed straight black hair, they were often seen watching movies together, likely due to a fusion of the genres that they enjoyed.
Corrine and Mebi sat far across the classroom, but would faithfully convene at a corner everytime during lunch. This observation was verified by Arin, it seemed these two were the type to discuss about the future and the studies they undertook. When they're not together in the classroom, they were said to be outside doing volunteer work to pad out their portfolio for future study program applications.
Corinne had a full head of brown and red coloured contacts. She betrayed the typical bookworm look, according to Mebi, she was actually quite fashionable. During their volunteer work, it almost seemed like she was out on a date. Mebi had dark blue ink like hair that flowed down in the form of twintails. It was certainly a powerful hairstyle that gave off the impression that nobody dared to challenge it. Her locks were luscious and soft, they somehow remain in shape with every fickle movement, likely the result of meticulous care.
"... There's one on the run, they're not hiding." (Lastia)
"Your senses have become sharper... But we should stay put until an 'Event' starts. Otherwise the corrective law won't cover our actions right now." (Sariel)
"What exactly sets the boundaries for the law to act?" (Lastia)
"It has already set the boundary on it's own, has it not? The moment the 'Event' starts-" (Arin)
The world returns to a black, white and grey scale. It's almost as if something has sapped the vibrancy out of the universe into a higher plane. Yet, colours will always remain on those that are deemed magical girls. The world outside this zone will be perpetually frozen, even magical girls will not retain their time there.
"Speak of the devil. This feeling... It's a third person that I remember despite the curse, but it's also not a person." (Lastia)
"... She's back. It's the Trace that evolved, the Remnant." (Arin)
"... Ogre type evolved Trace, her power of {Anxiety} went a step further and could pull people into its own dimension.
Even before it evolved, its power of manipulating vibrations was beyond average. The Lastia who encountered her first couldn't tell, because it was her very first encounter. " (Lastia)
" Let's move. " (Sariel)
Arin turned her gaze towards her, a smile etched on her face. She was itching to say something, was she getting excited? Puzzled, Lastia also craned her neck towards Sariel whom was directly behind her.
"... Isn't it time? Take us there with {Swap}, it'll be the fastest method." (Arin)
Lastia looked away, losing interest. She notes four boys who were huddled around the same desk, likely a friend group. Aloysius, he might have been the mediator of the group. None of his features stand out, his short black hair was well kept and his black eyes needed contacts to see. For a while now, there were self correcting contact lenses that could adjust to any degree of myopia. They were also far easier to apply and wouldn't get stuck, that's why less people have hesitated to wear them.
There might have been some places that prohibited the use of coloured contact lenses, but even such talk of prohibition is rare since they would involve other residential zones, a rather distant happening that didn't concern the locals. Terrin was a little taller, he was lean but not too skinny and he kept his black hair thin and easy to maintain. According to he diary he might have been involved in some sports club after school. He was far more athletic, and acedmic standards weren't so forgiving for him.
Calamine had thick brown hair that always formed bed hair. He was a little lazy and didn't go to any after school clubs, naturally he used that free time to study and achieved an outcome polar from Terrin. The last one was Tinsel. He was a little similar to Calamine, and was his close gaming buddy. He was the shortest of the bunch and he retained his black hair colour from young. His grades were slightly lower than Calamine all around, because he picked up too many games to keep up with him.