Chapter 86

“Because you’re one of the involved parties.” “I already told you I was asleep in my dorm. I dunno anything about what happened.” “Claire hasn’t woken up since then. The Knight Order wants to talk to you about her.” “Ohhh, the thing with my sister. Yeah, I have nothing to tell them. It’s not like I know anything about that, either.” “I don’t doubt it. You don’t know anything. Not about what’s happening to the world, or about how deep its darkness runs…” A smile plays on the silver-haired girl’s face. “Yeah, so I dunno why they wanna talk to me.” “They aren’t expecting anything to come from it. They’re just checking off boxes.” “Eh, I guess that’s fair,” the dark-haired boy says, sounding a little irked. A cold wintry breeze blows through the window, sending the girl’s beautiful hair aflutter. “Can you shut that?” the boy asks. “It’s freezing in here.” “You know, Fido,” the girl starts, ignoring the boy’s request, “I really am jealous of how simple your life is.” “You make that sound like an insult.” “No, I mean it. I hope it can always stay that way.” “I don’t follow,” the boy replies. The girl smiles. Then the boy hears his name being called from outside the classroom. “Anyways, I’ll see you later. Those guys from Knight Order wanna chat with me.” He reaches for the door. “…Tell me, Fido,” the girl calls after him. “Have you ever wanted to live forever?” The boy whips his head around so fast, it seems liable to fly off. “More than anything.” “R-really?” “I’d let the whole world burn, if that’s what it took.” “I can see that you were the wrong person to ask.” “If you find a way to pull it off, let me know,” the dark-haired boy says, looking dead serious as he leaves the classroom. Now alone, the silver-haired girl lets out a sigh. “Eternal life… Shadow’s not some materialist like Fido. If Shadow’s after eternal life, then what’s going to become of the world?” She looks up at the sky. The stagnant gray heavens seem to continue forever.