Chapter 77 77: Cold (12)

Having found a secluded spot at the periphery of the Imperial Palace's expansive gardens, the Protagonist and I took our seats casually on a patch of soft grass. Because there were so many guests visiting on this day, we ended up moving this far in order to guarantee a spot of true isolation from any pesky disturbances. It seems both of us had our motives, as we easily concurred, albeit in silence. It was a genuinely beautiful place, one from which we could effortlessly gaze upon the countless sparkling stars in the sky as well as the cosmic sight of the Winter Full Moon looking over us as we, in turn, overlooked the vastness of the Imperial Capital, its streets blanketed in natural shadow. Incidentally, it needn't be mentioned that the mellow tune of the 「scene」 was also with us. Sitting side-by-side, our knees barely touching, I was the first one to speak― "Sorry." ―Starting with a simple word of curt apology. "You wanted to dance, right? It might be late, but I'm sure things will continue to be busy for a while. Would you want to dance together after this?" I tuned my voice to one that was more soft, more compassionate. It was the tone I often used when dealing with the Protagonist, and one I had plenty of time to perfect over the past months. Although, for something I considered no less than repulsive, I don't think I would ever grow accustomed to putting on this kind of act. Still, I could only endure the churning of my stomach. Not long remained, after all. Soon, it would all be over. "Mmh..." In response, the Protagonist gave a faint nod, her downturned eyes remaining as such even after my first attempt at comfort. Realising it would take more than usual to console her this time, I wrapped an arm around her shoulders and lightly pulled her, letting her head fall and rest on my side without an ounce of resistance. And, from a place outside of her view, I grimaced. "Ayla. Will you forgive me? Don't look so sad... Listen, I have some good news." My face did not at all match the words coming out of my mouth, nor the tone with which they were spoken. All whilst doing this, my knotting stomach clenched tight enough to cramp, and all whilst doing this, I pretended flawlessly that nothing was wrong. "Good news...?" She pulled her head just up enough to see me. Just before she did, I made sure to wipe all signs of discomfort off my face. Like that, I continued. "Yep. Can you guess what it is?" "Hmmm... I don't know... Ah, time to visit your family...?" "Nope. Well, sort of, but even better than that." "Better...?" Curling the ends of my lips upwards, I looked down at her puzzled gaze. "I'm quitting." "...!" At my admission, the Protagonist gasped. "Really? But-- but why...?" "I didn't like the way she was treating you all the time. Between you and the job, there's no question about what's more important." "Ah... Enki... you didn't have to... f-for me..." Blushing massively at my statement, she murmured my name whilst I focused on maintaining an outward expression that emanated warmth. For a long time―had I been waiting for this moment. This mini-bombshell, combined with everything else I painstakingly planned for tonight. Nothing was set-in-stone, of course, as stubborn plans only served to be a vulnerability; wasn't there such a saying about a more intricate plan being that much more prone to disruption by having a monkey wrench thrown into the works, or something along those lines? I suppose it was like that. Anyway, just like the Winter Full Moon looking down on us right now, I would use everything to my advantage as it happens. That Winter Mother, who seemed to be baring her full teeth on this bitter night. Without a shadow of a doubt. I absolutely would not let the opportunity gifted to me fall from my grasp. "Ngh..." Letting out a small groan, the Protagonist shivered slightly as she leaned closer to my side. "Are you cold? Here. The Winter Mother is really showing herself in full tonight, isn't she? I guess because it's that day." Taking the outer jacket of my suit off, I wrapped it around her shoulders and pulled her a little more into my embrace. If I were to give an estimation, the time was probably about seven or eight in the evening; it wasn't all that late, but considering it was the day of the Winter Solstice here, the world had already been dyed dark for a number of hours now. Naturally, the night, the wind, the air――was cold. Peering up at the Winter Full Moon together, which was shaded over with a deep lustre of vivid red, it should be noted that this wasn't its usual colour. "It's really pretty..." "Right? This is called a 'Lunar Eclipse'." "'Eclipse'...? I have seen the Winter Moon turn red a few times before, but why? What does it mean?" On Earth, Lunar Eclipses were nothing special, really. They occur when the Moon is in the Earth's shadow, opposite to the Sun, and they make the surface of the Moon appear red due to Rayleigh scattering, the same phenomenon that makes our sky appear blue during the day and that makes the sunrise and set appear more amber. At least, that was my knowledge on it. There might have been more to it that I was unaware of. "Do you want to hear? My Lady once told me: 'In Christina-Rasa, there is a saying'." This Illusory World―was not Earth, however. "'When the Winter Mother bathes herself in blood, take care, for even the Father of the Sun has gone into hiding.'" The Protagonist rose her shoulders at my recitation of something interesting Lucretia once said. It was truly a chilling line to hear when you were staring right up at the infamous 'Bloodthirsty Winter Moon' so blatantly, but with all I had experienced since coming here, I could certainly say that each world had its share of creepy folklore and sayings to go around. At this point, I stopped wondering if such tales were something I had to worry about in regards to dealing with the Protagonist, but they were still intriguing. In response to her silent, yet evidently spooked reaction, I rubbed her stiff shoulders a tad. "Don't worry. No one knows this, but I actually have the Blessing of the Winter Mother, so we won't be in any trouble." "Wait, really...!? E-Enki, that's incredible!" Following such an exclamation, the Protagonist immediately subdued herself and wore a look as if ashamed. "Hm? Ayla?" Accordingly, I tilted my head to try and peer into her downturned eyes. Inwardly, I already knew what she wanted to say. Was this... it? No, there was not a question, not a doubt about it. I was certain, more certain than anything else. 'Do it.' She wanted to confess. To come clean about her hidden power... To disclose any and all secrets between us, just as I had now done with her... To close the tiny, yet indubitable gap that remained... 'Do it already, for fuck's sake.' Tell me. 'Show me what you're hiding and let me go home, you--' "Enki... actually, I... have something to confess too..." Interrupting my thoughts, the Protagonist's small voice reached my ears clearly. Subconsciously, I wetted my lips and watched her intently. I couldn't even tell if I was blinking properly or not as I looked at her, but something like that didn't matter. "Yes? Whatever it is, I'll be here for you. I promise I won't tell anyone, even if it kills me." "Oh no, don't! I-I mean, you don't have to go that far... you've already done so much..." Taking a few moments to gather herself, she tilted her face up to look at me directly. And finally. "The truth is, I..." "..." "I have a Blessing, too... from the Sun Father." Cupping her hands together and holding them in front of us, she seemed to concentrate for a moment, and a soft light emanated from between her joined palms. Silently, my lips trembled. "See?" Flashing the tiniest smile, she turned to look at me, who observed the light blankly. I couldn't really claim to know much about magic even after asking Lucretia to teach me some things. Nevertheless, I knew a certain amount about the magic of this world. This magic I was being shown right now―it wasn't the same kind of holy magic that the Saint, Mikhael Avalon, or that Isabella in the residence used when restoring my shoulder. The light they showed when healing was a pure white, like snow. The Protagonist's light, on the other hand, possessed a hue of resplendent gold. Even if I knew nothing about magic. Instinctually, by its very nature, I could sense that it was different somehow. It didn't give a feeling of being close in nature to fire, and yet it was warm. Even compared to the so-called divine energy displayed previously, the energy here felt so much more sacred, incomparably so, to the point that placing the two side-by-side felt like pure mockery. Averting my eyes from that inexplicable thing, I met the Protagonist's tense gaze. "Ayla, that's incredible... what can it do?" The toasty warmth soon faded alongside the golden light, and in response, she lightly shook her head. "To be honest, I'm not entirely sure... There have been incidents in the past where I've exploded with this golden magic after feeling it all bubbly inside me, but all I know is that it's something I have because of the Blessing... It's caused a few incidents in the past because of that..." "..." "And..." "...?" Suddenly, she slowly reached up. As if touching something invisible, she made a motion as if pinching the air on her neck and pulling it over her head. Then, something materialised in her hands. An aureate amulet in the shape of a shining star. "This is something I always wear... I don't know where it came from or what it is, but I've had it on me as far back as I can remember... My father-- um, that is, the Count who adopted me, said it was an amulet bestowed to me by the Sun Father, and to never take it off or let it go..." "...Ayla." Shifting my position slightly, I placed one hand on top of hers which held the amulet, keeping my other wrapped around her. Staring deep into her eyes, I smiled. Perhaps, for the first time since meeting her, was it genuine? "Thank you for sharing this with me." Truly, I couldn't be more grateful. "I swear, your secret will stay with me." "Ah, Enki..." Her eyes began to glisten and she clasped my hand tightly, the amulet squished between us both. "S-something else, too..." Then, she started again. "Actually, I..." Staring straight at me, tears blurring her eyes completely, she wore a radiant smile. "E-Enki, I... I think..." It was so bright that anyone would struggle to imagine extinguishing it. "I think I like--" ―――At that moment, silence encompassed the world. The Protagonist's voice abruptly cut off, and along with it, so did that soft, melodic theme. "..." Lowering my right hand, whose grasp contained the Black Wisp, I rose to my feet. Thump. At my feet, something fell lifelessly, from which a pool of dark liquid expanded, staining the cut grass and seeping into the royal dirt below. Holding my left hand high, I briefly inspected the golden amulet, dyed pink from the sanguine light of the Bloodthirsty Winter Moon that shone down upon me. Or rather, the chilling breath of the Winter Mother that embraced me wholly. Like that, emanating from a certain, deepest and most untouchable corner of my heart, a piercing frigidity spread throughout my body. "..." I let out a prolonged, frosty exhale. More so than any other, the night was cold. [The Protagonist, 'Ayla Tichá, the Beloved', has been dispatched.] [Contract complete.] ...Far, far too cold.