Her footsteps trembled as she descended the last step. Tezza could no longer think with the burden feeling heavier, holding on until she arrived in the dark hallway.
Sweat streaming down Tezza's forehead crossed her facial skin, hanging from her chin before falling freely to the floor. She steadied her breath as her eyes searched for Obsidia, who had disappeared into the darkness of the hallway.
"O-obsidia...," Tezza called out, her voice sounding faint.
Why is it so dark here?
I don't remember it being like this.
The air on this floor is damper than upstairs, I can feel it through my feet. Only the sound of my own breathing can be heard. No other sound. This is terrifying.
What if something comes out of the darkness.
Where is Obsidia... I don't know which way she walked.
This is terrifying.
A gulping sound was heard from Tezza's throat. She took a deep breath.
"Obsidia,"
"I'm here," the reply came like a blade stabbing from behind, startling Tezza.
Her heart pounded.
As if the blood flowing in her body had stopped.
"Ha!" Tezza gasped, hearing the voice right behind her ear. Before she could turn around, her body tipped forward. Two heavy vibrations shook the floor with a loud sound.
The weak candlelight illuminated the bodies of Tezza and Ascella, who were sprawled on the floor. Obsidia stood there holding a plate with a candle standing upright in the center.
"Scared of the dark, huh?"
Tezza's eyes found the figure of Obsidia who had just startled her. Quickly, Tezza pushed her body up from the floor. She ended up sitting with both hands supporting her from behind, staring at Obsidia.
"Well—a little," Tezza replied while averting her gaze elsewhere.
"Hmm...," Obsidia murmured.
Obsidia slowly bent her knees until her eyes were level with Tezza's. The plate containing the burning candle she held in her right hand moved closer to Tezza's face. The heat from the candle flame spread to her face. But for some reason, Tezza did not pull her face away.
Even when the candle was right beside her cheek.
"It's hot, you know."
"I've already been stuck against the heat coming from this girl for a while now," Tezza replied, visible under the candlelight with her clothes soaked in sweat.
Slowly, Obsidia pulled the candle away from Tezza's face. Her empty left hand moved slowly, stroking her own left chest weakly.
Obsidia fell silent and slowly shifted her gaze to her left hand.
For a moment, my breath was a little deeper.
What is this heart-pounding feeling.
There is no pain.
Only a feeling of warmth in this chest.
This feeling.
I will always remember it.
Again, a green shimmer was visible behind the sunglasses that muffled its light.
"I—I'm sorry, my legs feel tense. I don't think I can carry this girl anymore, Obsidia." Tezza watched her own legs while rubbing her calves repeatedly.
"And actually..." Tezza's voice trailed off. Right as her eyes looked back at Obsidia.
A soft tapping sound was heard coming from the candle plate that had just been placed on the wooden floor.
"You've been thinking about it this whole time, haven't you," Obsidia said flatly to Tezza.
For some reason, Tezza felt there was a difference in Obsidia.
"Obsidia?" A cold sensation spread through Tezza's body. This time, their eyes met again.
"Where we are heading, is that what you mean." Obsidia's knees touched the floor.
The green shimmer that had been restrained behind the sunglasses all this time.
Tezza's heart felt increasingly strange as she watched Obsidia's body lean closer to her.
"There is something wrong with you, Obsidia." Right after that, Obsidia's hands gripped Tezza's shoulders.
Obsidia's body leaned slightly forward, blocking the candlelight that had been illuminating her face. Her face, no longer lit by the light, made the green shimmer from her eyes appear even clearer in Tezza's vision.
"Something wrong? This cannot be wrong," Obsidia said, her voice sounding close to Tezza.
Tezza felt something strange in her shoulders that began to spread. Reflexively, she retaliated, her hands gripping each of Obsidia's arms in return.
"You're acting strangely!" Tezza used her remaining strength to try and pry Obsidia's hands off her shoulders.
At that same moment. Without Tezza realizing it, from within Obsidia's hands that held her shoulders. Pale skin illuminated by the thin candlelight. Green light appeared from within.
Her vision began to blur. Tezza felt her body swaying freely, not even taking a second before hitting the floor.
A soft thud, which was not expected, was heard from the floor.
Then everything went silent.
There was no sound of a hard impact heard in that hallway.
Tezza's body had disappeared.
Only Obsidia remained with her palm touching the floor.
The air blew softly. Sweeping the small candle flame. The candlelight flickered, illuminating Ascella's face, who was still unconscious.
Obsidia's two hands that were resting on the floor lifted. Her loose sleeves pushed the air around them. Sweeping the candlelight once more. The green shimmer in her eyes was covered.
"Just hold on for a little longer." Right after saying that, Obsidia lifted her body, attempting to stand.
The candle plate on the floor was lifted by Obsidia's hand. Her shadow on the wall descended from above until it was level with her height. With her left hand already gripping Ascella's collar, her feet began to step.
The hallway in front of her was dark, as if it had no end.
But, Obsidia continued to walk. Every step she made sounded deep. Followed by the sound of Ascella's clothing rubbing harshly against the wooden floor.
The hallway was the same as before when she dragged Sinhart at the beginning.
Quiet, without sound.
However, for Obsidia, the floor was too quiet.
Obsidia's footsteps stopped when her eyes found a candle holder on the left side of the wall that had no candle at all.
Obsidia's eyes opened and began to glance in various directions. Before she found traces of red blood that were beginning to fade on the floor, just a few steps in front of her.
The corpse has disappeared.
There are no other bloodstains.
Was the corpse moved.
If so, there should have been signs of it.
Obsidia's left hand released Ascella's collar for a moment to discard the glasses she was wearing.
"Now it's clearer." Once more, Obsidia's eyes scanned every corner of the hallway.
Small particles of Anima Eugenes.
The trail leads in the opposite direction, huh.
It looks very old and is starting to fade.
It seems something happened here.
While her eyes were still shifting from one side of the hallway wall to the other. Her head bowed and she stared at her feet, which were covered by the fabric of her dress.
"The floor is vibrating slightly." Obsidia took a breath deeper than before.
The smell that had been familiar on the ship began to be detected again.
The smell of fresh blood.
Without thinking twice, Obsidia continued her steps, which for her were already close to the destination. The vibration on the floor felt repetitive and had a rhythmic timing when it occurred.
The vibration on the floor grew stronger.
Just as Obsidia drew closer.
The door to the room that Obsidia had previously entered was visible.
"Anima Sinhart energy... I cannot feel it." The sound accompanying Obsidia's steps began to fade.
For the first time that night.
Obsidia fell silent in front of a room door.
Through her eyes, she knew.
There was a killing intent coming from behind the door in front of her.
A killing intent that made the air around it feel thick to breathe.
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