The Share of the Living
Visiting the old woman with Lacy has become part of our routine on holidays.
Though she still remains stuck in her coma... we kept visiting her, because...
Child, today is the day of the grand festival, is it not?
...Lacy still has more to tell.
For today, I shalt make the trek myself. Thou shouldst spend thy time as a child would, and enjoy the festival with others of your age.
For instance, how about that young Observer clad in black? Her name was... Lisa, was it not?
As Lacy poked fun at me, I simply stared into her face and shook my head.
I'd rather stay with you.
H-hmm... What an unusual child thou art.
What dost thou stand to gain from wasting thy precious holiday keeping company with me?
I want to hear the rest of your story.
My story...? I see. Thou art my fan, is that it?
I thought about it for a moment, then shook my head again.
Even if I wasn't your fan...
I'd still stay by your side.
At my words, Lacy froze, her hand halted midair before it could knock.
What didst thou just...
Before she could finish, the door burst open from inside.
Lady Dragon! Captain!
What is it?!
I-it's grandmother...! Her condition...!
That alone was enough. Before the girl could say another word, Lacy rushed past like the wind toward the room where the old woman lay.
Inside, she was gripping the old woman's hand tightly, pouring her power into her.
*Huff...* *Huff...*
Stay with me! Thou still hast so many stories left to hear!
Sweat streamed down Lacy's face and her complexion grew pale.
Lacy!
I am fine! Perfectly fine!
That was a lie. Her usual composed face showed not a trace of calm.
There... There has to be something...
...There is something.
Whenever I collapsed from exhaustion, Lacy shared her strength with me—more than once.
So now, it is my turn to give that strength back.
Kgh... Ngh...!!
There was no time to hesitate.
I placed my hand on Lacy's back and focused, drawing up every ounce of energy within me.
C-child, what... what art thou doing?
It's time to show you the results of my training!
As I channeled my power into her, a wrenching pain tore through me, leaving my insides hollow.
Urgh...!
Cease this at once!
Thou hast only just begun amassing that power! Wouldst thou truly throw it all away for me?!
I'm not stopping!
Th-thou stubborn fool of a child!
Lacy!
Fine! Say what thou wilt, but release my hand!
Finish your story. Both of you!
With those words, I poured out the last of my strength and lost consciousness.
A dark, endless world... then, faint voices reached me.
Hohoho... Is that really true?
'Tis. I told him to make a wish, and he said he wished to help me write instead. Verily, the most ridiculous thing.
You've met someone wonderful.
He's merely a child ignorant of the world.
Even so, someone who acts for others despite that ignorance is rarer still. Wouldn't you agree?
One of the voices was familiar. The other... I didn't recognize.
I'm glad. It seems there's someone besides me who'll fill your long life with joy.
...Art thou leaving?
I should've left long ago, but thanks to you two turning back time, I could stay a little longer.
This is why ye mortals are such heartache... Just when I grow fond of them, they leave me.
If you'll miss me, then turn me into one of your stories.
That way, I can live forever within your words.
...Thou wert the snowflake that brushed my sleeping nose, waking me from my long slumber to see the world anew.
I promise thee this.
I shall weave thy tale into one the whole world will remember.
Haha... that sounds...
Truly...
Wonderful...
...
...And then, her voice was gone.
Mm...
My eyelids felt impossibly heavy as I forced them open, searching for the source of the silence.
...Thou hast awoken, I see.
Lacy...
Shh... One still slumbers.
She raised her hand, and from her palm, a small dragon took form.
It lifted off from her hand and flew through the open window into the night sky.
Farewell, my dear one. When next we meet, I'll have many more stories to tell.
Beneath the night sky, under flickering firelight, the lone dragon smiled softly...
And I realized that lifting her sorrow was now the burden of the one left behind.