Chapter 45 - The Research (1/2)

Persephone

It had been two days since Epoch and Carolinus warned us about the demons. Since then, I have been going to Epoch's study, aiding him in searching for a way to end the demonic threat. However, time after time, we ran into a brick wall, unable to come up with any solution. We knew too little to make any headway. For these two days, I would come back exhausted, drained from the countless hours we spent on research. Every night I would come into my room and collapse into my bed. I was so exhausted that Savah's warning could bȧrėly register in my mind, despite the grave circumstances. However, Solskin didn't forget. He remembered it with every step of his life. He spent every moment glaring at the nearby rooftops, at the sky, and at every window. It had become a paranoid obsession, turning anything and everything into an attempt on my life. It was like he wanted to get into a fight just to be done with it.

Solskin added to the stress that was slowing building and building to an all time high. Every day, it felt like I aged a full year. It was beginning to show on my face. I looked hollow, dead inside. Behind my unkempt hair were two pitch black eyes with all signs of life leeched away.

Murmuring about what happened today, I drifted into a deep slumber. When I opened my eyes again, pure white light was shining from above through a small opening on a very familiar roof.

”You awake?” a soft murmur said from beside me. The voice was bȧrėly audible. I turned my head and looked over. Ophelia was sprawled out on the floor, her face serene. She basked in the light, her hands still dirty from when we were playing earlier.

”Yeah,” I replied quietly, turning my head to stare at the opening again.

Ophelia rolled over, her short blonde hair cascading down her face. Her eyes were bȧrėly open. ”Happy birthday.”

That was right. Today was my twelfth birthday, I had almost forgotten. ”Thanks.”

Ophelia merely mumbled in acknowledgement. The day was hot and both of us felt a deep seated exhaustion. Quietly, a door opened. Crono walked in, trying to not make a sound. He sat down next to us, stretching in the light. ”Nice spot,” he whispered.

Suddenly, Ophelia sat up, her eyes wide with excitement. ”I am going to join the guard.”

Shocked, Crono shot up too, ”You are going to join the guard? Do you want to die?”