Rurika's Point of View
My name is Rurika Merokara. I live with Aunt Sarona and Etral on the slope of Mount Astrella.
The reason I live here is because Gandelion can stabilize my "illness." At first, it rejected the existence of humans.
But the moment it saw me—it eventually accepted us. It even willingly helped me. I don't understand the reason. Aside from my aura and power being similar to the owner of Gandelion…
I don't know anything else. But I am very grateful to it. If there is anything I can do, I will help it.
Like right now.
This is the first time an Anathema has come.
So we head toward the place "where the danger is coming from," which most likely originates from the river that borders Mount Astrea and Astrella.
After all whether from Mount Astria, Astrea, or Astrella—the waters from the mountains all flow into the boundary river between the three twin peaks.
The closer we get, the denser that black aura becomes. The air around us feels different.
The trees begin to wither rapidly. Their leaves lose their color then die. Their trunks turn black, crack—and become brittle, dark wood.
The ground once covered in grass loses its green. Slowly turning yellow—then crumbling into dust. Each step we take, lifts that dust into the air…before it disappears. The land beneath us becomes barren.
The black aura continues to spread.
Animals caught within it…scream. Then their bodies dry out, leaving only bones—and then turn into dust.
I look at them. My hands—too late to save them. Leaving an unpleasant feeling in my chest.
I don't like this. This is different. This is not just death…This is life being forcibly taken from the living.
"This is the Death brought by the sinners.
A death that signifies the end of everything,"
Etral explained as it approached me.
Death...
Hearing that—I feel sad. I remember my friend who is no longer here. But now…she has become part of nature.
But this—is different. The death before me…
takes life from the living, brutally. I don't like it.
Is this the doing of an Anathema?
Why would they do something like this?
Seeing everything that is happening—we decide to move on foot, while trying to restore things as they were.
Even though…not everything can be saved. All I can do—is quicken my steps.
But the closer we get, the heavier the air feels. My chest tightens. Every breath feels short. As if…I am not truly breathing. I begin to struggle.
I have to endure.
Etral said only I can do this. So I must be able to. I have to believe in it.
For the sake of protecting Aunt…Gandelion…and everything behind us.
While holding Etral—my power begins to spread. Warm…yet heavy. As if something is holding me back. Light flows out from my body…slowly.
Touching the barren ground…seeping into it…
And then—reviving what was almost lost. The yellowed grass begins to change. The dry earth slowly recovers.
But…not everything returns. The animals that have died cannot be saved.
More than that—I can feel it. My strength is fading. This is heavier than usual. My breathing grows shorter.
"Are you feeling exhausted? It seems the sinner who has come…" Etral said, looking around. "…is not an ordinary Anathema."
Its voice sounds different. As if…
worried.
Then—
"Didn't you say… that only I can do it?" I said.
I smiled softly "So we have to believe… everything will be alright."
"…You're right…" Etral falls silent for a moment. But deep inside, Etral said [If you can't do it, then no one else can.]
"So we will definitely succeed," Etral says again.
Then—we arrive at the place where the source of that death is.
There…
I see a young man. He is male…just like my father. His body is tense. His breathing is irregular.
Around him, black masses surround him…
moving as if alive…pressing him from all directions. Every time those masses touch him,his body jerks.
He is in pain. His breathing is uneven. His body keeps convulsing. Every movement looks forced.
Seeing him…my chest tightens.
I move. Without realizing it, Etral calls out to me. I hear it. But I do not stop. I know it will be angry…but my feet keep moving. I cannot stay still. And leave it behind—even as it shouts after me.
I keep approaching the young man.
"A… are you okay?" I say. My voice is soft. A little hesitant.
I don't listen to what Etral is saying. Because the closer I get, the clearer I can see him.
Amid his increasingly chaotic breathing,
and his body still convulsing…he is trying not to fall.
My steps become faster. I run toward him.
"Don't come any closer!!" he says. His voice is loud. There is a warning in his words.
My steps stop immediately. I don't understand. He is clearly hurt. Those black masses are hurting him. Devouring his body little by little.
But why is he telling me to leave? Why doesn't he ask for help?
Why…
I could feel it… coming from him. He is not a bad person. He is different from what Etral said. There is no ill intent within him.
Maybe…something is forcing him?
"But you're hurt," I say. I keep stepping closer. This time—without hesitation.
"LEAVE!!" he shouts. His voice is louder than before.
I flinch. It's not just rejection…he's angry.
Even though…he looks like he's suffering so much…enduring the pain.
"Why? You look like you're in so much pain…" I say. My voice trembles. It feels tight in my chest. Seeing him…hurts my heart.
Why?
I may not be smart. I may be slow. But I know one thing.
He is telling me to leave…because he wants to protect me. He's even hurting himself. Enduring everything on his own.
Him…makes my chest ache even more than before. Looking at him…that feeling doesn't go away. It only grows heavier.
I don't understand why he's trying this hard. For what?
Until finally…he looks at me.
Eyes of deep crimson. So beautiful…like a red gemstone. But within them…there is pain and sadness. All of it—forced to remain silent.
At the same time—that aura of death moves again. The black masses attack both of us. So fast. I don't even have time to react.
But—he moves first. His body is suddenly in front of me. Protecting me with his hand is trembling.
And yet—
he still stands in front of me.
"Damn… go… aw…" he said. His voice was unclear and roken.
His body was pushed backward. The black mass began to consume him. Slowly… little by little.
To protect me—
He pushed me away. With all the strength he had left. As if it were his final decision.
Without hesitation. Without asking for anything.
He sacrificed himself. And allowed himself to be devoured by that darkness.
For my sake…
No…
NO…
I can't let that happen…
Not yet…it's not over…not everything…My hand immediately caught his. I will not let go.
And then—
I was pulled in as well.
——
Dark, cold and heavy. Pressing from every direction.
I couldn't see anything. But I could feel it.
That energy entered me. Like something alive…crawling inside my body. They were searching. As if trying to find something within me. And then began to gnaw…
It was disgusting…
I hated this feeling.
Like something was inside my body. They wanted to devour me. Pull me deeper. Tear me apart.
They even tried to separate me from him. I won't let go. I won't.
Even as my skin began to turn pale blue…even as my breathing became harder…My arms held him tighter. Because if I let go… he would truly disappear.
I don't want that.
Then—
I used my power. The power of life within me.
A light from inside me began to envelop us.
But it was heavy. So very heavy.
As if something was holding it back. As if it wasn't allowed to come out.
But I kept pushing it. Slowly…If it wasn't enough, then I just had to be stronger…Stronger still…to fight against the darkness pressing in on us.
I have to protect him. I have to stop this.
SHIIIIIIINGGGG—
The light within me burst forth.