She knew it was getting to be that time.
She hadn’t looked at a clock and no one had come to get her, and she still couldn’t gauge how much time had passed by looking out a window here in the sanctuary, but still.
Leticia MacCready rolled out of bed, sure that the time had come. She almost stepped on the Fairy Dragon sleeping on the floor, and it made no move to get out of her way. Leticia twisted in annoyance, managing not to fall.
She straightened up and ran her fingers through her hair to get it back in place. She knew there was no point in worrying about how she looked at this point, but she was all too aware of how she must look from the stress and fatigue eating at her. Suddenly she found herself wondering what would happen if she tried to go back to her routine right now. She had wandered the wasteland, scrabbling to survive even if she had to kill people to do it; her skin was breaking out from the pressure of something so ridiculous as the end of the world; and she was on the verge of losing her mind with an evil spirit possessing her. Her wounds had been forcefully healed by Azalie, but she still felt the phantom sensation of a bullet ripping through her gut.
Since coming to the sanctuary, she’d had to engage in fruitless debates and fend off constant attempts to dominate her mind. She could barely sleep and she had no allies. She was worried about Heartia going missing, but there was nothing she could do to find out where he’d gone.
Am I even worth anything anymore? She smiled bitterly, unable to stop her cynical thoughts. I wonder. If I went home looking like this, would Tiffes even open the door for me?
Could she go home?
She shook her head in answer to her own question. I want to go back... I don’t want to do this anymore. The world can just be destroyed for all I care. Five more days... If everything vanishes...there’s nothing I’ll miss.
There was nothing, since that day five years ago.
Her siblings had been more important to her than anything else, and they’d scattered that day, leaving her with nothing.
“...Really?”
When she heard the voice, she clenched her fists, a mask of rage coming over her face. Leticia searched for her enemy, unmistakably ready for combat. But she didn’t see the spirit anywhere in the room. She was sure that it was Azalie who had projected the thought into her head. It wasn’t teasing, it wasn’t sneering, it was just baffling, and she was sure she’d heard it.
“You think there was something left for me?!” she asked, grinding her teeth.
Azalie still didn’t show herself, but her voice now sounded nearer to Leticia’s ear. “You had a starting point all your own.”
“That’s twisting things!”
“But it’s not petty.”
Azalie appeared right before her eyes.
Leticia held her fists at her sides, just staring at her.
“Let’s keep fighting,” Azalie said quietly. “Krylancelo will be here soon.”
She was being too direct. Unable to bear it, Leticia looked away and spat, “I’m sure he’s getting sick of this too.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure. Krylancelo chose the role he’s playing, after all. So did Heartia and Colgon.” Azalie sounded sure of herself.
Leticia shook her head again. “What are you trying to say? That I’m the only one spinning my wheels—”
“I won’t deny that. But isn’t that better than the alternative? I don’t even exist on the same plane as the rest of you anymore. I’m a ghost.”
“If you’re aware of that, then why are you still here, huh?” As she looked up at Azalie, all of the emotion left Leticia. Her rage and sadness didn’t last long. Not while she was mired in despair.
Leticia reached out. She wanted to pull her sister close to her, but her fingers felt nothing when they touched her. Azalie didn’t even seem to notice that she was trying to touch her, as if she could no longer even mimic having a physical form.
She took half a step back. “I’m sure as long as my mouth works, I’ll be able to keep fighting with you at least.” She faced the door. “Come on, let’s go. It’ll be easier for everyone else if we’re attracting the priestesses’ attention.”
“...Yeah.” Leticia nodded, closing her hands after they failed to connect to anything.
She should have known already that even if her hands couldn’t feel it, there was still something there.