*Layla's POV

Kevin's face looked grim after I released him from the magic wall. He kept staring down, avoiding my gaze as if it was something disgusting. Both his hands were clenched with fresh blood flowing from the wounds on his knuckles. I guess he spent the time continuously punching the magic wall.

I was grateful he didn't push himself with his lightning power because his Atma was on the verge of collapse.

The cut on my hand was also still fresh. I pressed it again, forcing a few drops of blood to come out. I took both of Kevin's hands, making the blood on his clenched fists mix with mine. After a while, the blood on his hands began to turn into blue light particles, gently and slowly closing the wounds on Kevin's knuckles.

"I can still hear their screams," he murmured while my magic worked. "Can you imagine that?"

I didn't answer him. My mind stayed focused on the healing magic, also pushing Kevin's core to regenerate his Atma.

Kevin roughly pulled his hands away, breaking the healing spell in progress. His face looked angry; I guess he knew what I was doing. Kevin never liked it. Especially when what I did harmed me more. "Why just me?" he lamented. "You could protect everyone, why only me?"

No. If I made a magic wall big enough to protect everyone, some Nien would already be inside, and it would end up the same. Besides, I didn't have enough blood to trap everyone in a small magic wall.

But I didn't say it. The answer remained in my mind.

"Is it because I'm going to die?"

No. I don't want to remember it. No, I don't know anything.

"Layla, I know you always see further. That's why I could never understand you. I also never expected you to tell us what you see because I know what that means for you. But... you can still tell us what we need to do."

"Trying to prevent what's going to happen can result in something worse."

"But you did it to me!"

"And I'm ready to bear the consequences."

Kevin pressed his lips together. "You are a strong girl, Layla. But your trait like this, I always hated it." Then he stepped back. "Thanks for saving me." He turned, walking into the forest, back toward the main field.

***

The total of deaths is 147 Weaver. Nearly half of Calmora's entire residents.

Several hours had passed since the Nien attack. Now everyone left had gathered in the main field. Surrounding the pile of firewood initially prepared for a bonfire after the war simulation, now arranged lengthwise as the final bed for the remains of victims we find in the forest. Even those who were only slightly eroded, missing just a leg or half their body. We also carry body parts that hadn't disappeared for a final tribute.

The number is not even twenty. They weren't dead yet. But for Weaver, when disintegration occurs, nothing can stop it. Disintegration means their life energy is gone, and their bodies, which serve as vessels, no longer contain anything. It means there's nothing left to bind them to this world.

However, because of that condition, we could still hear their remaining breaths. The desperate cries of unbearable pain. For a long time, we believed that turning into black smoke was the worst form of death, with such a slow and painful process, we trust that those who experienced this death were those who spent their lives for something miserable.

But everyone who died tonight clearly wasn't like that. They were just unfortunate people who lost their homes and ended up in a place they thought could be a surrogate.

It made me wonder. What does all this really mean? Even for those who just wanted a peaceful life, why did they still end up like this?

The all-day rain made all the firewood wet. Earlier, the Fire Weavers tried to burn the wood pile to speed up their death. But the process had been going on for almost fifteen minutes without a piece of wood burn.

So when the Director said to burn them directly, the hesitation was clear in the eyes of the fireweavers. It was clearly a difficult choice. Letting those bodies erode slowly would look horrific. But burning them directly—even if it could speed up the process—was not an easy choice either.

I knew well what they had been through all this time. The bonds and various interactions created warmth in this place. After a few minutes of hesitation, one Fireweaver started first. He extended his hand toward the line of victims and released a burst of fire. Soon, another Fireweaver followed him.

Their eyes were closed. Their hands also trembled. But the fire could not stop. Because if it did, their suffering would never end.

I watched from a distance. The line of victims lying there was now completely covered in flames. I could also hear it, the muffled cries from those watching up close.

Even Kevin, standing across from me, closed his eyes. His hands clenched tightly. I understood his feelings. Kevin clearly thought he should have been able to save them. His power was the most effective against the Nien.

Kevin wasn't angry because I trapped him. He was mad because his Atma ran out too quickly before a worse situation occurred. He was only blaming himself.

At least I'm sure no one would blame Kevin. They didn't know the truth either.

Several minutes passed. The awaited miracle appeared from the midst of the flames. Sounds of surprise began to be heard there. From the fire, the thick black smoke that had previously dominated was now replaced by thousands of light particles. Scattering in all directions and filling the night sky which somehow became clear now.

My eyes felt heavy. I clenched my hands and bowed my head. Hiding my face from the stars in the sky that would now guide those souls. I'm not sure if they could hear it. Even Kevin. All I could do was repeatedly say sorry in my heart.

Even though, of course, it wouldn't affect anything.

***

I left the field earlier than the others. Perhaps they would stay there until morning, gazing at the remains of the fire and the ashes of those who had completely vanished.

Kevin didn’t say anything when I left. He was still like the others with his vacant stare. Unlike Kevin, I had given up blaming myself. I could understand their hatred for me after this. Even though I had been here since I was 10. I kept my distance from them only to avoid the visions of them wouldn’t come to me.

I walked through the southern forest. Further beyond the giant banyan tree, where the vegetation started to change. Replaced by rows of pine trees and damp soil. The atmosphere was so calm. Dark and seemingly intimate. Along with the sound of crickets and the crashing waves at the place I was heading to.

My steps slowed as I reached the edge of the forest. Slightly surprised to find someone already there.

San was sitting, hugging his knees at the lakeside, in a spot where the waves couldn’t reach him.

My mind raced quickly. On the one hand, I was grateful he didn’t really leave, but on the other hand, I didn’t know what to say now.

I wiped my face and took a deep breath, walking and stopping beside him. “You’re the second person to find this place. Usually, no one dares to go past the giant banyan tree.”

He didn’t turn around, nor even look surprised. San’s gaze was still straight ahead. But his stare was empty. He didn’t see the reflection of the beautiful lights on the lake or the clusters of stars in the sky. Not even the silhouettes of the steep cliffs that separated the lake from the larger waters.

An awkward silence suddenly filled the space between us. There was no reason for San to not hate me now. The thought almost made my tears flow again.

I picked up a pebble from the ground and threw it into the lake. The small stone skipped five times before sinking into the dark water. “These waters are part of the Rivera Strait. The strait that separates the two main lands.”

I looked at the moon, veiled by thin clouds. It reminded me of all the souls who became victims tonight. Did they make it there? Or did they get lost because of those clouds? “Hundreds of miles there,” I pointed to the horizon, “you’ll find the land of Dhelteren. We call it the Abandoned Land.”

I threw another stone. This time it skipped seven times on the surface. “I haven’t told you, have I? Solaris is like an imperfect replica of the Human World. All the morphology here wasn’t created naturally but made by the Elements themselves. Even the sun, moon, and stars. Also, the sky that shelters us has always been just a projection of the sky in the human world, existed because of the portal connection.”

This topic fascinated me when I was 12. But not for San. I picked up another stone. Squeezing it tightly before throwing it into the lake. No skips, it went straight into the water with a loud splash.

As I was about to pick up another stone, San stopped me. “Why don’t you just sit down?”

I realized my breath was a bit uneven. What was I feeling? Was I trying to release all those emotions through the stones I threw? Was I ultimately blaming myself too?

Oddly, I started laughing. For a few seconds, until my chest felt tight. After that, I felt a little better. Maybe it couldn’t erase all the guilt I felt. But at least, I could laugh at my helplessness.

I still picked up the stone. “Thank you, but just one more time.” This time I threw it earnestly. The stone skipped more times than I could count. It even disappeared before I could see it sink.

Then, I sat cross-legged beside San. That’s when I could finally feel the peace that emanated from this place. The night wind hit my face and the cold almost made me shiver. I knew this was indeed the place to release all those feelings.

I looked up and closed my eyes. Feeling the wind more clearly, along with my calmer breath now. “I’m sorry,” I finally said. “I don’t want to make excuses, but I really don’t know what to say. I knew what would happen by bringing you here, so the only way I thought of was making a deal with Orion.”

Unlike before, my words sounded softer now. I also looked at him with a friendly gaze. And said everything like when I explained about Weaver on the research facility’s roof.

San gripped his knees tighter. “Why did you go that far? I’m not the same person you knew six years ago.”

That question felt like a blow. Silencing all the words I had prepared before. I thought what I said earlier was too much. But I had never questioned that to myself after meeting him. Who is San to me now? He had forgotten everything. He even became a completely different person. It felt difficult to see him the same way. So, what?

I turned my face, staring at the wide expanse of pebbles and sand. “To me, Calmora is home. I would do anything to protect this place, but… I can’t forget my first home.” My chest tightened again. “Honestly, I don’t know what to do. I don’t want anything bad to happen to this place, but I also don’t want to leave you.”

San remained silent for a while. No reaction at all. As if he couldn’t understand my words, or maybe he only didn’t understand the reason.

“That’s why,” I continued, “you don’t have to do anything for Minerva. You can go wherever you want. Maybe to Andromeda or Cosmos, or even the Republic if you can hide well. But I’d recommend going to Cosmos. Compared to everything, that kingdom is the most peaceful and stable. But, wherever your destination is, please… take me with you.”

San lifted his head, turned, and looked at me with an expression I couldn’t understand. “If we don’t go to Minerva, you will die.”

“You too, right?”

San turned his face away again. His eyes showed many questions. “I don’t understand. Maybe because I don’t remember it, but, who am I to you?”

I pressed my lips together. Finally, San asked it clearly. “You know, in Solaris, people like me are called Sibyl. I can see things that will happen in the future, though I can’t predict exactly when they will happen. I’ve had this ability since I was a child. I used to tell everyone what I saw. That’s why they all stayed away from me. They were afraid I would tell them a terrible curse that would surely happen.”

As I told the story, those memories replayed in my mind. “Since you came, you told me to keep hiding everything I saw. Knowing the future is sometimes not a good thing. It only creates false hope and disappointment when everything still happens as it should.”

Usually, I would keep all those thoughts to myself. But at that moment, for some reason, I couldn’t stop. I felt I had to tell San. “When I was ten years old, one month before parting with you, I saw the end of Solaris. Everything that would happen and become the trigger, I saw it clearly. But not only that. For the first time, I also saw a symbolic vision. I saw a crossroads. The first path was filled with flames. Along that path, all I could see were corpses and pools of blood. While the other path was dark. I couldn’t see anything but darkness. But from that dark path, I felt something familiar. Something... that felt warm. Without thinking hard, it was clear I wouldn’t choose the first path. But, I also saw someone. Standing at the edge of the crossroads. He looked tired and could collapse anytime, but he kept standing. As if waiting to choose the path. Then I realized, that choosing one of those paths was not my task.”

I turned and smiled at San. “I saw you. You were the one standing at the edge of that crossroads.”

San looked surprised to hear that.

“Some people might see you as a disaster. Others might think of exploiting your power. But to me, I believe you are the one who will guide us through that dark path.”

San closed his eyes and was silent for a moment. I was sure he was thinking about something. Things I might not understand. “I will go to Minerva,” he said.

The statement left me stunned.

“Even though I don’t know how to change fate. Or maybe I will fail and die on the journey, I don’t care.”

I thought San had made up his mind. He didn’t sound doubtful at all. I thought he would choose to leave. After all, he had no reason to do all this. So, what was his reason?

“But promise me,” San said, “promise you will always accompany me.” Then he hid his face behind his knees again. But it wasn’t over yet. “I don’t want to be alone again. I... don’t want to go without any purpose again.”

I thought I understood now. Even since our meeting at the research facility, his fear of death was not greater than his fear of being alone. That made me ask the same thing again. The only thing that made me unable to understand him now.

What has he gone through all this time to make him change?[]