The Lost Bird
What? Is that really an Executor? And the person beside her is...
Don't tell me the Captain's going to make an Executor a Journey member.
How can an Executor possibly be a Journey member?
Even for the Captain, isn't that taking things too far?
I could hear the maids whispering about Gille.
And about me, too.
Maybe registering a Savior made things easier, because we drew less attention than we had in NOA.
...So much bureaucracy.
And I have to stand around in this noisy place until it's finished.
Don't let what they're saying get to you.
Get to me? What makes you think I care?
The prattle of insignificant creatures is nothing but noise to me.
If they truly had something to say to me, they'd say it to my face.
Only those without the courage or strength to do so gossip behind people's backs.
Well... I'm glad to hear that.
You're done, aren't you? Then what are you waiting for?
If there's anything left to do, hurry up and finish it.
I don't intend to stay here any longer than necessary.
Not that Gille's prodding had anything to do with it, but I gathered up the paperwork I'd filled out and submitted it.
That made Gille and me members of the same Savior Party.
...You're telling me my room is here?
You could tell me this was animal husbandry instead of a Journey, and I'd believe you.
You really don't like the accommodations?
What? Isn't that obvious?
It's only for a year, but how am I supposed to live in a place like this?
...Hmph. Ridiculous. I knew you'd put me on a leash, but I didn't expect things to be this bad.
...
I became a Journey member solely for my own sake.
Unless it's something important, I'd rather you didn't call for me.
If you're done here, leave.
Gille spoke coldly and disappeared into her room.
...And several more days passed like that.
Gille hadn't shown herself since then.
I was told her meals were brought to her room, and they sometimes consisted of leftover bread and soup.
But with Gille herself refusing to come out, there was no way we could make any progress on the Journey.
Gille, are you in there?
There was no answer when I called. Even after waiting a while, the door remained locked when I tried the knob.
Apparently, she had decided to disappear on me...
...All right. Let's do this.
Sometimes even the most brute-force approach worked.
I'd been waiting for hours when I finally heard movement inside.
...Uh, hi?
...
What are you doing there?
You don't look like someone who happened to run into me. You've clearly been waiting a while.
Have you forgotten I told you not to bother me unless it was important?
I never asked you to concern yourself with me.
You clearly have something to say, but I have no intention of listening.
Where are you going?
*Sigh* Must you pry into everything?
My room is so filthy and stifling that I was going out for a nighttime walk.
Must I report every little thing to you?
Well, no, but...
You chose to wait here. Don't expect any kindness in return.
If you have nothing to say, get out of my way.
I can't stand the sight of you.
Wait, wait a second.
Have you thought about doing some training?
...Training?
Do you think I'm some kind of pet?
So you intend to use getting my power back as an excuse to keep me on a leash.
But the power I have left is more than enough for this little Journey.
Which makes training even more pointless.
And I certainly have no reason to waste my time following your orders.
You... What do you take me for...?!
...I didn't expect you to resort to such cheap provocation.
I normally wouldn't spare a thought for the words of your kind, but if you're that desperate, I'll show you myself.
Tell me what this training involves.
I'll finish it quickly, before you become even more of a nuisance.
*Huff...* *Huff...*
Ngh... Curse it...
Hmm...
Why are you... looking at me so seriously?
I think I've—*Huff...* finished that training of yours...
Somehow, Gille had managed to complete the exercises.
The problem was how easily she tired, despite how undemanding they were.
...I was beginning to understand what it meant for her to have lost most of her power.
...Hmph. Why you insist on training at night is beyond me.
Are you trying to ruin my sleep too? What else could it be?
...
If you mean their gossip, I've already told you I don't care.
It makes no difference to them when I train.
They simply find my very existence repulsive.
And I'm sure they feel the same way about you for insisting on accepting me as a Journey member.
Are you worried about me?
...There you go spouting nonsense again.
Do you still not understand? Everything you do for me amounts to pointless charity.
The same goes for this Journey.
But if you aren't acting out of some fixation to help...
Then you must have some ulterior motive for bringing me here and going on about membership and training.
And that's precisely what makes it pointless charity!
Who asked you to save me? Who asked you to care?
Everything you say is hopelessly idealistic and trite.
You're just like that witch. You pretend to be kind with that sickening hypocrisy.
You think I'll thank you for forcing your goodwill on me?
You people have decided my master will never return, and now you treat me like some poor stray cat.
...Fine. Let's say Aldebaran hasn't disappeared.
But you've still lost your power, haven't you?
...!
...
You're right. There's nothing I can do alone.
As you said, I've become so weak I can't even finish that pitiful training properly.
...It's true that I can no longer sense Aldebaran.
But that doesn't mean she's vanished for good.
And the same goes for me.
Without her, I don't even know what purpose my existence serves.
...
For longer than you can imagine, I was bound in that witch's shackles and imprisoned underground.
And now, because the Cycle has stopped, I've been brought here.
And you expect me to let you people bind me again?
You and that witch are no different to me. I can't trust either of you, and I refuse to follow either of you.
Complete the Journey and regain my power? What would that change?
No, are you even certain anything would change?
...A goal, you say.
To pray for my master's descent upon this land and destroy the world in her stead.
That was my goal. It still is.
What I want for you is...
Not a goal for some uncertain future.
I just want you to find a goal for the present.
...
My goal for the present...?
So you're saying you'll find a goal for me?
How unbearably arrogant.
Who are you to find a goal for me?
There you go again, with all this talk of Journey members and Captains...!
...
You insist on having everything your way, to the bitter end.
You're no different in any timeline.
You're always the same man.
You'll open the door next time, right?
...If I don't, you'll just wait outside again without asking.
Fine. Since I'm your Journey member now...
There's no use trying to change your mind anyway.
A black feather drifted to the ground where Gille had stood.
I wondered what lay ahead for us on the Journey...