*
I don't think I could forget about them if I wanted to. I love them, as people, as friends. Secrets, enemies, obstacles, to hell with all of it!
Lastia started out with a curse of Oblivion, dreaming of a brand new world every single day. She trudged through difficulties no else would ever face, all with a smile on her face. The boundaries of human knowledge that she'd thread upon was so pitfully miniscule compared to anyone else, yet... She suffered, she cried, she laughed, she spoke to us with glee. Nothing could take away from it's sincerity. What we saw was a reflection of her world, she was the mirror that showed inherent beauty and goodness worthy for magical girls to save. If it weren't for her, I could simply tell... Arin wouldn't have been able to hang on.
If Lastia is a mirror, then Arin was nobility. The dignity and virtue of living, when hope was loss whenever we have to fight Traces, when despair was all that remained in the battles with those heavenly kings... Arin was the first to stand tall and display the strength of humanity, presenting to the world a previous possibility of taking back the future. Her secrets are far larger than most, they involve the mystic and possibly the divine. She was most familiar with Eterna and situations involving these inhuman concepts, guiding us towards a way towards victory.
When the mirror reflecting the good of humanity is broken, how are we still sure humanity is worth saving? When nobility has been corrupted, what still remains of the dignity in living? Two lives shouldn't outweigh the rest of the world... I know it's wrong to think that way, but I can't help it. To me, these two were far more precious than whatever else exists in this world. If I could... I would give the world to them. After all, they are my magical girls!
Don't worry, one day I'll save you. I've always been lost since they vanished in the battle with The Invader. When it took all of humanity to repel that being, it was a nightmare to see Vinia appear and ascend into something greater. I thought we could finally take a breath, in the end Lastia had no choice but to squander the life Arin gave her and take down Vinia with her. The magic intensity was too intense, even A grades like any of the sentinels would evaporate if they got close.
Everyone was helpless and could only leave things in the hands of that amnesiac, thinking closely from the day she lost that curse, she would only be a couple months old. Leaving things in her hands is a shame that the whole of humanity has to bear, she was pretty much an infant.
...!...!?...!!!
"What's up?" (Aura)
My thoughts are pulled back to reality like the hard tug on my harness on that carousel. My mind pulls a blank as my gaze lingers on her facial features. Bright round eyes, a cute small nose and rosy lips. Practically flawless with no blemishes, she must have went all out on her makeup. Usually in school, I could still see a hint of dark eye shadows under her concealer.
"Nothing, I was just thinking we should get some food soon. Maybe I'm starting to get peckish after the ride stirred the excitement out of me." (Sariel)
That tingle, that faint link with the unknown, piercing the smooth skin of my fingers like crackling electric... Pseudo-world tree, Yggdrasil. I still have a connection with it, does that mean Lastia is still alive? I have no clue if that spiritual module would remain in existence or not after she perishes, but I can't help but get optimistic when it comes in regards to her. She must still be fighting out there, that's why I can't keep staying gloomy and acting like life is meaningless.
As I reflected before, I'm rather selfish. I would sacrifice the world for those two, my first friends in highschool. Why? Is it because I feel helpless? Like I can't make anymore friends? That there is no one else around?
"Alright! I was checking the map just now for it, since it was awfully close to lunch time anyway. We can eat a little early then get to the rides first before anyone else!" (Aura)
"Yeah! I'm feeling tuckered out myself, I wonder what drinks they sell here?" (Dina)
I can't say I'm the same as back then. I'm no longer lonely. And I blame my selfishness on being 'normal'. It's my internal problems, I can pass the buck however I want. But at the end of the day... I want to be like the magical girls that they were. The magical girls of this era are weaker than previous eras, about a grade or two weaker. Not only because the threats that humanity faces are largely manageable, but also because our peace ridden mindsets fear the responsibility of protecting others, which getting stronger only pushes onto us. That's why most magical girls nowadays don't train, they don't try to get stronger, they might get wiser with experience but their stats won't improve much.
I'm not sure what this feeling, it's as if I'm floating. I feel the contact between the ground and my feet, each step pushing me ever forward.
"Jeez, just because you're hungry doesn't mean you should go on ahead! Here!" (Aura)
She held out her palm, I didn't need to think too deeply to understand. I grabbed it with my left and we strode towards the open area food centre. Numerous small stalls lie in adjacent lots, hawking different cuisines with bright flashy signs. I could feel the air rise in temperature from all the kitchens going active, and the scent of food wafted in every direction. Pepper held a table for us while we explored the different stalls.
It felt like my senses were heightened, my body sensitive and ready to respond at any time. That's why, at least for this time, you won't have the ability to react.
The world's colours are drained and the cacophony of merry making vanishes in an instant, like a television shut off. My eyes scanned around, confirming that no one was left, no one apart from Aura who was my junior magical girl. She was still queueing when it happened, and was caught by surprise. There isn't really a warning signal for 'events', so was it an ingrained instinct? The Trace's entry into this world is subtle, but if you can sense all magical particles located to the surrounding time and space you can feel it pick up in momentum. Like something had catalysed a summoning reaction.