"It seems I truly am an immortal phoenix."
"Yeah, I think so too. And I seem to have transcended humanity."
"In other words, it's no exaggeration to call us the world's strongest, right?"
"Yeah, I think so. Maybe we should just call ourselves gods."
In the forest, Phoenix and I fought the vicious demon.
Pierced through, surrounded by a sea of flames.
Somehow I survived that hopeless situation, now lying in an unfamiliar bed in an unfamiliar room.
I awoke first. Huh? Confused for a while, then the Phoenix beside me woke too.
After a huge yawn, he blankly stared at the ceiling, but on realizing he wasn't dead, his first words were those.
Too full of himself? No, how are we alive?
It was hopeless then. Checkmate. I'm pretty sure I lost consciousness in the end.
Or did some hidden heroic power awaken? Did my other self fight on?
Thank you, my hidden strength. Do it while leaving memories next time.
As I ponder such escapist ideas, the room door opens.
"Yo, Io. Dunno how, but thanks for saving me. I survived thanks to you."
"I'm not Io though."
A bad assumption it seems.
The usual pattern would be waking in a nearby village or town's bed, but who's this? Where is this?
"Sorry. Still groggy. Let me reintroduce myself. I'm Engy, the bird is Phoenix. Thank you for saving us from danger."
Anything goes for first words upon waking.
Whose words? Mine.
"Thanks for the polite introduction. I'm Sara. But I didn't save or bring you here, you know?"
Huh? What is this situation?
"What do you plan on doing with us?"
I start trembling violently.
"No, I feel threatened here with many questions, but...I'll take you to the town guards first."
"The guards, huh? Sounds bad. They don't seem kind."
"So you did commit some crime. What did you do?"
"How rude. All I did was burn down a forest, nothing more."
"That's plenty criminal! And..."
Hmm. What to do?
I'm no criminal, but this situation already feels criminal.
Spawn point, way too evil.
"Wh-where is this? Who am I? What's this huge bird!?"
"Woaah! Who's this unimpressive man beside me!? Just yesterday, I was with cute lady birds and—"
"Why're you saying that now? You were chatting away earlier... Though a talking bird is weird too."
Shit, no choice.
"Phoenix, break the window!"
"Yosh, here goes! Oryaa!"
With a crash, the glass shatters audaciously.
And so I committed another cri—no, emergency measure, and escaped Sara's house.
"Ah! Wait!"
First, gotta confirm what happened and where this town is.
Still too early to meet Mr. Guard.
=====
Before my eyes, Engy vanished.
Just the result, it's something to brag about. We defeated the demon king's feared right hand, and took the supposedly impregnable fortress.
Everyone will say it couldn't be helped. A necessary sacrifice.
The enemy truly was that formidable. Honestly, we were powerless.
But Engy disappeared. Gone in an instant before me.
Without a trace, no longer there.
"It's my fault?"
Spitzy sat collapsed on the floor before me.
I'd never seen her like this. Always brimming with confidence, acting like she's the world's center.
She who always ordered and threatened Engy, treating him like an object, now shaken like this.
I shift my gaze. Lettie seems to be searching for something.
Actions like she dropped something precious, a panicked expression I've never seen before.
Around where Engy vanished, the floor still wet with Engy's blood, she searches for something.
Seeing that, it finally sinks in. Engy died. I'll never see him again.
Tears leak out before I know it. I didn't intend this. I wasn't together with him for this.
I never meant to treat him that way...
But as is, it seemed Engy would leave somewhere. Like he wouldn't meet me anymore.
I just, just wanted—
To be together.
To experience the joy, sorrow, everything together. Share it.
No matter Engy's standing, I was satisfied with him just being together with me.
Though I complained, he kept following me. I wondered if deep down, he felt the same as me.
But that was just me being selfish, arrogant. When I treated him that way, there's no way he felt the same.
Engy's face, voice, manners, come and go, fading away.
I realized once it was lost. I noticed.
That's right. As we spent time together, no, from the very first time we met.
I loved Engy—
A carriage holding the heroes returns triumphantly. Word of capturing the fortress spreads, and people show cheerful faces.
The heroes wave and smile back. But shadows seem to cling to the heroes' smiles.