Rubielle's Narrative:
The cool night air brushed against my face as I stepped onto the roof. From up here, the world stretched wide and unfamiliar—square structures, strange glowing lights, and silent roads weaving through the landscape. Even the stars above shimmered in odd constellations I couldn't recognize.
I closed my eyes, inhaling deeply, and stretched my senses outward. The crack I escaped through—it was unstable, hastily torn open in desperation. If it remained, it could open again leading them straight to me. I need to seal it before it causes harm to the people living here. I couldn't let that happen.
Concentrating, I reached deeper, pushing past my limits. Magic pulsed faintly within me, "Kugh!" Pain clenched my chest as I gasped, my breath coming in short, shallow bursts. Even this simple spell to sense surrounding strained my depleted mana. But stopping wasn't an option. Higher... farther... I reached until I found it..
My eyes snapped open, and I staggered back, clutching my chest. The sky felt unsteady... It was invisible to human eyes, but I could see it clearly—the layer separating dimensions was thin, scattered with vulnerable spots. Like an invisible shield riddled with gaps, these weak points could tear open at any moment. Even though it only covered this area for now, the threat was undeniable.
"Was this... my fault?"
A bitter taste filled my mouth as guilt clawed at me. Did I do this by forcing my way through the barrier? Had my desperation endangered this place too?
I bit my lip, forcing myself to act despite the strain. I have no time for regrets. With what little magic I had recovered, I focused on the nearest weak spot. I reached out, sealing to reinforce the break.
A sharp, splitting pain exploded through my head. "Agh—!" A warm trickle of blood slid from my nose. My vision blur, but I kept going. Not yet. Just... a little... more—!
The spell collapsed, snapping back into me like a whip. My knees gave out, sending me crashing onto the cold, unyielding rooftop. Panting, I clutched the worn fabric of my borrowed shirt, its soft material now damp with sweat.
I'd only managed to seal a small section. The remaining weak points shimmered faintly in the dark, still fragile, still dangerous.
I was out of strength. For now, the cracks would remain.
My path forward became painfully clear: Recover my magic. Find my sister's hearts. Close the dimensional wounds. And leave this world... before they find me.
The night air pressed heavily on my shoulders as I dragged myself back inside Ethan human's strange home. But as I passed by his room, a thought cross my mind: I still want that big bed.
Ethan's Narrative:
*Ring! Ring!*
I groaned, blindly swiping at empty air, trying to shut off the annoying noise. My fingers met only the cold floor.
"Huh? Why am I on the floor?" I mumbled groggily, sitting up and rubbing my neck, sore from the awkward position. My eyes landed on the lump curled up in my bed, wrapped snugly in my blanket. I think I know what it is.
"Hey! That's my bed!" I shouted and grabbed the edge of the blanket, ready to yank it off and scold her for stealing my spot. But as the covers slipped away, expecting to see her smug, drooling face. I instead found Rubielle pale and cold.
Rubielle lay there—pale, trembling, and drenched in sweat. Her breathing was shallow, her face twisted in pain like she was fighting something even in sleep. Does she have a fever?
"H-hey...!" I called out, softer this time, but no response.
Her brow furrowed, lips quivering as she mumbled something inaudible. My hand brushed her cheek—it was cold, despite the sweat beading her forehead. As if sensing the comfort, her tense expression eased just a little. Her breathing steadied—but then, a faint shimmer of tears slid down her cheeks.
"Sister…" she whispered brokenly, her voice small and trembling, filled with longing and pain. Was she having a nightmare? My hand lingered against her cheek, offering the only comfort I could in that moment.
POV Switch: Rubielle
Darkness surrounds me, suffocating, closing in tighter no matter how fast I ran. I ran, desperate to escape, but the shadows clung, never letting me go. My heart hammered in my chest, each beat louder than the last
Suddenly, the corpses of my sisters appeared before me—cold, lifeless eyes staring into mine, filled with accusation. I reached out, but they kept falling, one by one, over and over, their screams twisting through my mind.
"I… I need to save them…" I gasped, breath shallow, my legs trembling as I took another step, only to be met with more of their bodies, collapsing at my feet.
"Save who?" The voice that answered was chilling, hollow, like the wind blowing through a desolate wasteland.
I looked up in horror. One of my sisters—her body was twisted, her face distorted with a sorrowful, empty grin. "You let us all die. You can't save anyone."
"No… that's not—" My words caught in my throat, choking me.
A familiar blade materialized in front of me, dripping with blood. My heart skipped a beat—this wasn't just any blade; it was the one I'd seen before. The one that haunted me.
Before it could strike, a hand reached out. It was warm. So warm and nostalgic. The nightmare and the whispers faded, replaced by the soft comfort of the hand in mine.
I gasped awake, heart racing wildly in my chest. The lingering warmth on my face felt... comforting, strange, but familiar..
I glanced around, confusion setting in. Where was Ethan human?
I hurried down. I saw him, dressed in the same strange clothes from yesterday, ready to leave. Was he going to that academic place again? That place I hated—especially the grumpy man by the entrance.
Ethan's POV
Getting ready to leave, I felt like I was being watched. Turning around, I saw Rubielle keeps glaring at me. It's good to see her lively after her nightmare I guess.
"I'm leaving," I said. "You can stay here if you've got nowhere to go."
Without waiting for a response, I turned and headed out. It wasn't long before I noticed her trailing behind me, attempting to be sneaky. She clearly wasn't a master at stealth—her movements were anything but subtle. Every time I glanced over my shoulder, I caught glimpses of her ducking behind street corners or standing too still, as though trying to blend in. But she wasn't fooling anyone. It was actually kind of amusing, and I found myself almost smiling at the sight.
I stopped by a convenience store to grab a couple of pork buns and drinks. As I turned around, there she was again, standing by a street sign, pretending to read it.
"Here," I said, handing her a bun and a drink, trying not to laugh. Her eyes narrowed a little, but I could see the faintest softness in her expression. For once, she didn't look so stiff.
"Why are you following me?" I asked, raising an eyebrow, trying not to laugh.
"T-to protect you from the angry man," she replied quickly, as if trying to make up an excuse while chewing on the bun.
I chuckled, shaking my head. "He's not just some angry man. He's there to keep people like you out."
Rubielle raised an eyebrow, clearly curious. "How does he know who belongs?"
I pulled out my school ID card, showing it to her. "We wear these designed clothes called uniforms and carry this card to prove that we belong there." I explained, trying to keep it simple since I wasn't sure what she knew about human society. "Doesn't your home have something like that? Some place to learn?"
She shook her head, her voice quiet. "I don't know, I don't live with humans." Her words lingering in my mind. She kept saying human this and human that like we weren't part of the same world. What is she then?
Rubielle stared at me as other students from my school walked past, each of them wearing the same uniform I had on.
"W-what?" I stuttered, feeling self-conscious by the way she kept staring at me. "Hmm.. Uniform stuff I see.." She mumbled. Then, without warning, her body began to glow. "What the—?!" Instinctively shielding my eyes from the sudden light. When the light finally dimmed, I blinked, trying to process what just happened.
She was standing there, now dressed in a perfect replica of our school uniform. What was that?? Is this some kind of magical girl transformation?!
"Wait, where are my clothes?" I asked, a mix of surprise and confusion. "Hm? I turned them into this," she said nonchalantly, gesturing to the new outfit like it was no big deal.
Noooo! My clothes were gone! replaced by some weird magical transformation! Still, despite the inconvenience of losing my clothes to her weird magic, the thought of sneaking her into school brought a mix of excitement and nervousness. Could I pull it off? Could I get away with it?
As we walked together, Rubielle glanced back, her expression unreadable.
"What is it?" I asked.
"It's nothing," she replied quickly, turning away. But something is clearly bothering her.