Chapter 2 (1/2)

There was a , pleasant sensation

It was a little cold, but its gentle and soft caresses against Yuna’s body put her at ease

“… nngh…”

Yuna slowly opened her heavy eyes and raised her head a little

Her eyes were still out of focus but faintly, in her vision, she could see a rock face? Coed sensation against her body

Where was she right now? What was she doing?

Little by little, her awareness came to her and Yuna slowly raised her upper body– her body was very heavy But even still, she somehoists her body and looks around the area It seee of a river

Most of her body is subainst the moss-covered stones of the riverside She must have lost consciousness like this Because she had been in the water for some time, her hands and feet were chilled

There was a thick forest in this area and in between the gaps of the tall trees, a black night sky spread And, as if shying away from the painted black sky, the stars twinkled here and there, and the moon could not be seen

Yuna gathered up her white one-piece dress, heavy ater, and crawled out from the river

“Where is… this place”

Muttering that, Yuna became anxious

A sue realization, she also realized that she didn’t have the slightest idea as to why she was here or what she was doing here Did she come here on a walk? However, surrounded by steep slopes and exposed rock, this place doesn’t appear suitable for a walk

So then, as she–

She– her… Her?

Suddenly, Yuna looked up

She just re

“That’s right… that’s right, I… died!”

And, on top of that, she becaer who also died, all because of a brief moment… No, it wasn’t forced onto her The events in that white world gradually came back to her

“I’m not– Yuna anymore”

Mu this, Yuna was shocked She spread both her hands, nu hard look at thee as her, and she couldn’t see a difference between now and then Even ht, without a moon, she couldn’t even check her face in the water’s reflection She lowered her hands, giving up on them, but then felt like she touched a slanced down There was a black lu, and she happened to see it crawl, rustling, across the fabric

“Ahh!”

Yuna brushed it away at once with her hand Looking closely at the luround, it was a poisonous insect It was said that so scared, Yuna forced her heavy body toaway from the poisonous insect The stones tripped up her feet and she nearly fell many times However, there was no one to support her

(I don’t want to be in this place I want to hurry and leave At any rate, I want to meet someone)

Yes, first she had to soe What had become of her, why did Celiastina choose this place as her last moments, and what she knehat she should do– all of these were out of the question until she found someone first

“What do I do? Is this place a brook or so?”

If that was the case, then if she cliht be a boardwalk And if she walked alongside that then it should beco that she would end up with this hard work upon her return to life; but nothing would happen if she complained about that now Yuna approached the slope and tested the solidity of the soil The slope itself was gentle and the ground wasn’t too soft It seerabbed onto the tree trunks and weeds as she went up

(Here we go!)

Motivating herself, Yuna reached out to the first weed that would be the beginning– at that moment

She heard the neigh of a horse in the distance Following it, the faint sound of asaid, but as she strained her ears she could hear that he was calling out the na for her!

But the horse’s footsteps and the voice repeatedly came closer and went farther, it didn’t seeht leave without noticing her Upon realizing that, Yuna raised her voice without hesitation; it was a voice louder than she had everthe e

“I’m over here–!! Help me–!!”

… Was it no good? The wall of dirty in front of her see it so that it wouldn’t be heard very far

“Please, notice me–!! SOMEONE–!!”

As Yuna continued to shout she, unconsciously, began to give into despair until somehow it seealloping over suddenly became quite distinct to her ears

“I-I’m over here! Please, notice me!”

“–Lady Celiastina!?”

This time she could clearly hear the voice That low, pleasant voice was strained right now but even still, to Yuna, it felt like afrom God

Suddenly, a man on horseback appeared at the top of the slope In the darkness she could only see hie shadow, but it looked like he noticed her

“Being in a place like that… please, wait for me!”

The owner of the voice said that sharply and nimbly jumped off the horse to descend the slope quickly From the way he carried hi

In the blink of an eye he arrived at Yuna’s side and grabbed her fir her in closer

“Are you well!?”

“Y… yes”

The ht at her with extremely serious eyes Jet black eyes They were sharp with a core that could not be shaken by anyone To the extent that Yuna instinctively felt frightened

In awhether or not she had any large injuries He exhaled quietly, but upon noticing how her entire body was soaked and covered in reatly

Yuna, being herself, took a long hard look at the man as well His hair, as black as his eyes, was short and tidy, and he was a young raceful features From his finely embroidered and detailed tunic, she didn’t think that he was a coe she would have unconsciously backed away from the aristocratic atmosphere that rapped around his body It seemed like he was someone of status

“Are you unharmed?”

“Y-Yes I’m… okay”

“Nevertheless, let us return to the royal palace as soon as possible Please hold on to me”

Saying that, the man suddenly lifted Yuna up into his arms and ascended the slope as smoothly as when he had co but clutch on to him pitiably and desperately

Thethat, he ju this series of actions, Yuna noticed that he seery

(T-That’s natural, I guess It looks like he was searching for the saint ent ht?)

“… It is said that you went into the forest alone, without attendants”

As she thought, the er His voice was also acco that Yuna trembled in surprise

“And that, even when night fell, you did not return Do you kno much everyone worried?”

She felt asha she had absolutely no recollection of, but right now she was definitely Celiastina and so she silently resigned herself to accepting his words

“Please, never again, do such a thing I sincerely beseech you”

Sorry, Yuna mumbled in a very thin voice However, her mumble seemed to disappear into the wind as the horse ran In that case she at least had to tell him this; Yuna clu ns

“… U all the way here to find rateful”

Whereupon his eyes widened slightly, as if in surprise, and then suddenly his face twisted, a s

“– Just what kind of pretence is that Is this some new form of torment?”

This ti but take in the gaze of the young man, who looked down on her

When they reached the gates of the royal palace, the area was noisy