Viona's closest ones, including Kael, had been informed of her sudden death. Just hearing the news made Kael's heart stop; he couldn't believe his friend was gone.
Meanwhile, Mei Zorca, her biological mother, was shattered upon hearing the news of her child's death. She cried uncontrollably, unable to fathom the loss of her daughter.
On that day, she had lost her husband, and just this morning, she received the news of Viona's passing. Unable to hold back her grief, she wept in Vale's lap.
Kael and the other members of The Cimmeria mourned Viona's death. Among them, Miyu approached Vale, expressing her sympathy for the loss of her beloved sister.
Vale could only nod, her tears held back. All the memories shared with Viona overwhelmed her, making it hard to contain herself. Her mother had exhausted herself from the relentless flow of tears and eventually fell asleep on Vale's lap.
19-05-1294
Public Cemetery of Monity…
Viona was buried; she was at peace now, free from the strange illness that had plagued her, finally able to rest.
Kael knelt beside Viona's grave, scattering a basket of her favorite flowers. Standing up, he gazed at the sky, tears streaming down his cheeks.
Miyu attempted to console him, but Leo held her back, shaking his head. Ultimately, Miyu lowered her hand.
The others looked on with sympathy at this tragedy. Kael wiped his eyes and turned away, his gaze heavy with confusion. His teeth clenched, as if trying to uncover the cause of Viona's death.
He felt something strange about Viona at the time of her death. Upon arriving at his apartment, shocked by the news, he saw a purple shadow emerge as he recalled the moment.
Only he could see the shadow that slipped from Viona's mouth, while Vale and the other Cimmeria members noticed nothing unusual.
…
Vale could only look down at the gravestone bearing the name of someone she knew. Her mother still couldn't accept the sudden death of her daughter.
Kael bid farewell to the Zorca family, extending his condolences for Viona's passing. Mei could only nod, tears still flowing down her face. Seeing Viona's mother cry incessantly made her fists clench in frustration over the loss of her closest companion.
One Day After the Funeral…
20-05-1294.
Since that day, Kael had vanished without a trace, and the others, including Vale, could not find any sign of him.
His subordinates, including Miyu and Leo, sensed something was off about his behavior at the funeral, but they couldn't find any clues about his whereabouts. However, one of them mentioned Kael's intent to uncover the cause of Viona's death.
He had always acted recklessly, never asking for help from reliable friends. Yet he also didn't want to drag others into his personal troubles.
The apartment they shared felt eerily silent since Viona's death. A small memory etched in Vale's mind, her memories blending with him now. The kindness she had shown him felt impossible to repay.
Meanwhile, her mother was still in Viona's room, packing her belongings to take back home. Her mother was in a better state now, and today she invited Vale to return to their hometown.
Vale shook her head; her heart still longed to stay here. Her mother smiled, assuring her she wouldn't force her if she didn't want to. Ultimately, Vale embraced her mother, a bittersweet smile gracing her usually sorrowful face.
As she hugged her mother, memories of the family she had left behind in her original world flooded back. Overwhelmed by the pleasant atmosphere, she couldn't help but cry, clutching her mother's shoulders tightly.
Mei, noticing this, began to pat her shoulder, trying to soothe her. But she kept her eyes closed, determined not to cry in front of her daughter again.
Her mother smiled gently, closing her eyes, and eventually left Vale alone in Monity, while Mei returned to her hometown in this city. From a distance, Vale could only wave goodbye with a faint smile.
Turning away, she entered her apartment room. Between the gaps of the buildings in front of her apartment, a shadow could be seen watching her.
But Vale was unaware that something had been following her silently. As she walked down the hallway, a door slammed open, releasing a surge of pent-up anger.
Her steps grew heavier, and her gaze fixed on a chair, where she sat, resting her head against its backrest. She pondered what illness—or more accurately, what entity had possessed Viona's body.
With two fingers, her index and middle fingers, she tapped her forehead, as if trying to dispel her confusion. Her eyes suddenly widened as if she had found something amidst the turmoil of her thoughts.
The chair was pushed back as she quickly stood up and hurried to Viona's room to retrieve something. The door creaked open on its own; as usual, no light penetrated the dim room.
But she knew exactly where the object she sought was located: an odd book she had been looking for. Vale had been curious ever since she first discovered the strange book lying on Viona's table. She hadn't had the chance to ask about it, and now she was lost in thoughts of her death.
Knowing where the book was kept, she began feeling around for a drawer where she had stored the old book. However, she found it strange that the drawer seemed slightly out of place from where she had left it. It felt as if it had moved on its own, prompting her to activate her system for illumination.
"Open!" A blue hologram floated before her, casting a faint light. She wanted to open the window but didn't want to waste time.
Strangely, she found the book lying on the bed, open. As she approached to pick it up, she hesitated, staring intently at the book.
The window had been opened, allowing the breeze to flow into the room, accompanied by sunlight that illuminated the space and her face. Her eyes squinted against the glare, and she raised her right hand to shield her gaze.
Turning to the book, she sat on the bed and flipped through the pages, but Vale couldn't decipher the language written within.
The system activated, prompting her about the text in the book she held.
[Information received!]
[Loading…]
Her eyes were glued to the system, which seemed about to provide her with an answer. Vale felt a mix of excitement and curiosity about what the system would reveal.