Aiko's Room – The Present
Aiko sat motionless beside the bed, staring at Veronica's sleeping face, her golden eyes filled with a sorrow so deep it felt like the room itself was suffocating. The air was heavy, almost oppressive, as if the walls were closing in, pressing down on her chest with every breath she took. The faint glow of the enchanted lanterns cast long shadows across the room, their light flickering weakly against the dark violet drapes that hung from the ceiling. The ornate bookshelves, once filled with rare potions and magical trinkets, now seemed like relics of a time that no longer mattered. The room, once a sanctuary, felt hollow—a shell of what it used to be.
Three days.
It had been three days since the incident in the Demon King's hall.
Three days since Piero's gas stole Veronica's consciousness.
Three days since Aiko had last heard her best friend's voice.
The silence was unbearable.
Aiko's hands trembled in her lap, her fingers clutching the fabric of her dress as if it could anchor her to reality. She had tried everything—every healing spell, every elixir, every whispered prayer to gods she didn't even believe in. But nothing worked. Veronica remained trapped in a place Aiko couldn't reach, her body still and lifeless, her chest rising and falling with shallow breaths.
"She should have woken up by now," Aiko whispered, her voice barely audible in the suffocating quiet.
She reached out, brushing a strand of dark violet hair from Veronica's face. Her skin was cool to the touch, her expression serene, as if she were simply caught in a deep, untroubled sleep. But Aiko knew better. This wasn't sleep. This was something else—something far more sinister.
"What are you seeing right now, Veronica?" Aiko murmured, her voice trembling. "Are you dreaming? Are you lost? Or are you just... gone?"
The thought sent a shiver down her spine. She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms as she fought back the wave of despair threatening to overwhelm her. She needed to believe Veronica would wake up. She had to believe it. But deep in the corner of her mind, a small, insidious voice whispered:
"What if she doesn't?"
Aiko lowered her head, closing her eyes as she tried to steady her breathing. She couldn't let herself think like that. She couldn't give up. Not now. Not ever.
And suddenly—
She wasn't in the room anymore.
---
The Past – The Demon King's Castle Garden
Laughter filled the air.
Aiko opened her eyes to a world bathed in golden light. The castle gardens stretched endlessly before her, untouched by time, filled with flowers of impossible colors, their petals shifting hues in the soft breeze. The air was warm and sweet, carrying the faint scent of blooming roses and the earthy aroma of the forest beyond. Above, the sky shimmered like liquid gold, casting its warm glow upon the landscape.
Two-headed birds fluttered between the silver-leafed trees, their twin voices harmonizing in eerie yet beautiful melodies. Tiny dragons, no bigger than the palm of a hand, darted through the air, their gem-like scales glinting as they weaved between the branches. The garden was alive with magic, every corner teeming with life and wonder.
And in the heart of it all—two little girls ran through the flowers, giggling.
"You'll never catch me, Aiko!"
Veronica, only seven years old, raced ahead, her violet hair trailing behind her like silk, her crimson eyes shining with mischief. A small ruby-colored dragon clung to her shoulder, its tiny wings flapping as if cheering her on. She leaped over a cluster of glowing flowers, her bare feet barely making a sound against the soft grass.
Aiko, dressed in a soft pink dress, was right behind her, laughing as she chased her best friend through the garden. Her golden eyes sparkled with joy, her cheeks flushed from the exertion. She loved this—the thrill of the chase, the sound of Veronica's laughter, the feeling of running without a care in the world.
"You always say that! But you always lose!" Aiko teased, her voice light and playful.
Veronica twisted around, smirking. "Not this time!"
She darted between the towering black trees, her movements quick and agile. Aiko grinned, pushing forward, her heart racing in excitement. At that moment, it felt like they would always be like this—always running, always laughing, always together.
But time had other plans.
---
A Game That Never Ends – The Passage of Time
The years passed between their footsteps.
As they ran, they grew.
Seven years old. Nine. Eleven. Thirteen.
With every round of hide-and-seek, their limbs stretched, their faces sharpened, their voices lost their childhood softness. Aiko's once-clumsy steps became graceful, her movements fluid and precise. Her golden eyes, once filled with innocent wonder, now gleamed with intelligence and quiet strength.
Veronica, once wild and carefree, became elegant and swift, her movements precise, her laughter quieter but never truly gone. Her violet hair, once a tangled mess, now flowed like silk, and her crimson eyes held a sharpness that spoke of wisdom beyond her years.
The castle garden, once enormous, seemed smaller with every year that passed. The trees that once towered over them were no longer so high. The flowers that once swallowed their tiny feet barely reached their knees. The dragons that once landed in their hands now flew far above, no longer interested in playing.
They were not children anymore.
And yet—the game never stopped.
Aiko chased.
Veronica ran.
Through the garden. Through the years.
Until, finally—
Aiko caught her wrist.
---
The Final Round – The Present Arrives
Time stopped.
Veronica turned, her smirk still the same, but her eyes different now.
Wiser. Stronger.
The same girl Aiko had always known, yet no longer the same at all.
Aiko, still holding her wrist, smiled softly.
And then, she whispered the words that would stay with them forever.
"A queen should never lose."
The game was over.
---
The Present – Aiko's Room
Aiko blinked.
The garden was gone. The golden sky had faded.
The laughter, the running, the warmth of childhood—it all disappeared.
And in its place, was only the still, cold room and the sound of her own breathing.
She was no longer holding Veronica's wrist.
She was back beside the bed, staring at the unmoving form of her best friend.
Her hands trembled as she reached out, brushing against Veronica's wrist—just like in the memory.
But this time, Veronica didn't turn to face her.
Aiko's chest tightened, a sharp pain cutting through her as she realized the truth. Veronica wasn't here. She wasn't running. She wasn't laughing. She wasn't even breathing on her own. She was trapped, lost in a place Aiko couldn't reach.
Her voice cracked as she whispered:
"Veronica… I don't want you to lose."
Her hands clenched into fists on her lap, her nails digging into her palms as she fought back the tears that threatened to spill. Her golden eyes burned with unshed tears, but she refused to let them fall. She couldn't cry. Not now. Not when Veronica needed her to be strong.
"I don't want to lose you."
And then—
Silence.
The room felt colder than ever, the weight of Aiko's grief pressing down on her like a physical force. She sat there, staring at Veronica's still form, her mind racing with thoughts of what could have been, what should have been.
But deep down, she knew one thing for certain: she wouldn't give up. Not on Veronica. Not on their friendship. Not on the game they had played for so many years.
Because some games never truly end.