Kimoko stiffened. She let go of Kigami’s hand and slowly turned to Estella. Something dangerous flashed in her eyes.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUAzNBnWw5
“What?” Her voice was low, tense.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbepOCu3e8
Estella didn’t flinch from her gaze, even though she felt her heart pounding in her chest. Sooner or later she had to tell them. And she’d rather do it now than if they found out in the worst possible way.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlULABMkbz
“I don’t have it,” she repeated quietly. “I never had it.”
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMGvmrsYiQ
There was silence, so deep that Estella was almost certain she could hear her own blood pulsing in her temples. Kimoko looked at her as if she didn’t believe it. As if she wanted to hear that it was a joke. But Estella wasn’t joking.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqekKcINuk
“You lied to us,” she said finally, and there was no anger in her voice anymore. Only cold disappointment.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGpQu24CJZ
“I had to,” the goddess replied. “If I told you the truth, you wouldn’t help me.” Kimoko laughed quietly, but it wasn’t a happy laugh. It was empty.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwjDEBam1u
“So it’s like this. From the beginning… all this time…”
“I had no choice,” Estella interrupted sharply. “If you knew…”
“If we knew, then what?” Kimoko interrupted. “We wouldn’t risk our lives for you? Didn’t trust you? Don’t you think it’s too late now?”
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnD9akevM5
Estella clenched her hands. She couldn’t deny it. She couldn’t even pretend that what she had done was right. But… she still didn’t regret it.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5zp2z5iOGg
Kigami, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1g4icce9Y
“So where is the crystal?” he asked calmly. Too calmly.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Y724ZJlug
Estella swallowed.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSxmy10c2Nx
“It’s… in the hands of my oldest brother, Icaros, maybe you know him better as the ‘personification of law’.”
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYTZdHSqYs
Kimoko froze. Her breathing became shallow, as if she was trying to calm herself, but her trembling hands betrayed her true emotions.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5NHEPUACUF
“Icaros.” She repeated the name with such coldness that the air around them suddenly seemed thicker. Are you telling me that all this time we were chasing something that was out of our reach from the start?
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXC0lc6Rq9
Estella was silent. She felt the weight of their gazes on her, like blades dug into her skin.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgk6vZhKljJ
‘' So what now? ‘' Kigami turned to her slowly. ‘' Do you have a plan? Or did you just hope that somehow it would work out?’’
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZ6JM51F8M
‘' I couldn’t tell you.’’ the goddess began, but Kimoko immediately interrupted her.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERLAZJ9dfW
‘' You couldn’t or didn’t want to? ‘' Anger flashed in her eyes. ‘' You can’t tell me you didn’t know how this would end!’’
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUwq50tr15U
Estella fell silent. Kigami stood still, staring at his feet. Kimoko wasn’t sure if it was from anger or disappointment, but she saw hidden fear in his eyes.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wxWN6IBTV
‘‘Kigami… what is it?’’
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLgr84C2GJ
Kigami looked at her.
‘' “The personification of law” is the god Veridona. In practice, nothing is known about Veridona, except that everyone must obey the laws devised by this god, no matter how absurd they may be. And their god… has some sick obsession with demons, he wants to judge us all.’’
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajuVMkQyiH
His voice was quiet, almost as if he had already accepted that they would never recover Estella’s crystal.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqor2SxPmRx
Kimoko raised an eyebrow.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRIlKcKUPX
“What do you mean nothing is known?”
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyMlnkxNwO
“Veridona has been missing for centuries,” Estella replied.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2GFX44k2GX
“Even I don’t know where my brother is or what he’s up to.”
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQvVO6ciMV3
“So who does?” Kimoko asked, trying to hide the frustration in her voice.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMF8FWwfujy
“Anstellerette. He had the best relationship with Icaros from the beginning. If you want to find out anything about Veridona, you have the best chance with him.”
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJ2OF7XDCV
Kigami looked at the goddess with a cold, reproachful gaze. Kimoko saw how much he held it all against her, the lies, the fact that he almost died because of her, and now the fact that she had only just revealed the identity of her oldest brother.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWV4Wrq3rG
“Why… why did he take it from you?” he whispered.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSU1g0qjFF
Tears welled up in Estella’s eyes, as if her own words had struck her like blades.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpAigrbGGbN
“He didn’t trust me. From the beginning, he thought I wouldn’t be able to protect that crystal.”
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7iXdmEvoT
“And he was right…”
After those words, the world seemed to stop for a moment. Estella stood still, only lowering her head. Kigami didn’t say anything more. He simply turned around, grabbed Kimoko’s hand, and pulled her along. The girl moved without resistance. She didn’t understand anything anymore. She didn’t know what was right. She was tired of both Estella’s and Kigami’s secrets and lies, and yet her heart told her something else—that each of them had their reasons. But would she ever be able to trust Estella again?
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9cgxnAqOGC
She cast one last glance over her shoulder. Estella stood there, watching them as they got further away from her.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVgssLPIMV4
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXKIcYov2L
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcqySrcHy4
- in the Evening
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHFCX2ZZkp
Kigami and Kimoko sat by the fire. They were silent the whole way. The girl looked up at the boy who was staring into the flames. However, the dancing tongues of fire were not reflected in his eyes. He no longer reminded her of the Kigami she knew - he was just an empty shadow of himself. She sighed quietly and put one of the berries lying on the hem of her blouse into her mouth.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQqfBMFmvU
“Tomorrow we have to find a way to get to Nokta.”
Kimoko swallowed hard.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡePfR42zhEO
‘‘Is he telling me that he intends to leave Estella to her fate?’’
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPEZXBaoPO
“Wait… weren’t we supposed to help Estella first?”
Kigami looked at her, then burst out laughing. The sound made a shiver ran down her spine.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPx4JhX4df
“Do I look like an idiot to you who would risk his life for a spoiled brat who can’t handle herself?”
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0ONnTZDXU
“Don’t forget we had a deal with her.”
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJefDwFVt2
“A deal?! Kimoko, do you hear yourself? That deal lost its value the moment she admitted to lying to us!
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZA3gBJ2in
“You know that doesn’t make you any better than her?” His gaze softened. He looked as if it had only just now really sunk in.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNL4i1MDeE
“…So what? It doesn’t matter anyway. To her I’m already a monster…” Kimoko clenched her fists.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaQ2apW8Jr
“Do you really think so?” she asked quietly.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXVAeAaxig
Kigami didn’t answer right away. Staring into the fire, he gave the impression that he was talking to himself, not her.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXBfnx1mdC
“And isn’t that true?” his voice was devoid of emotion. “Maybe that’s for the best. After all…what else am I if not a monster?” Kimoko narrowed her eyes.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIo0sJpXb0U
“Stop talking nonsense.”
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nRol4y9YC
“Nonsense?” He smiled bitterly. “I knew the whole way there that she was hiding something from us, but I still believed her. I was an idiot.”
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNRFfhCcEQL
“Maybe.” Kimoko shrugged. “But that doesn’t mean you’re right to leave her to her fate.”
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NbOHTWdkE
Kigami looked at her sharply.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetignQGcs7
“Why not?”
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9lHQ0O6tu
“Because if we leave her, we’ll be just like her.” Her gaze was hard. “Or maybe worse.”
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8ix3dStnq
“Worse?” he snorted.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVKA5GrcAw
“Yes. Because at least she had a reason to lie to us. We… we just want to turn away from her because it’s more convenient for us.”
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXH3oc2alFE
There was silence.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCx326JqGR
Kigami clenched his jaw, looking away. Kimoko could see him struggling with his thoughts. Fighting with himself.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2ACxAVS6p
“It’s not that simple, Kimoko…”
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPXMI3Rewa
“It never was.” She looked him straight in the eye.
‘' But isn’t that what we’re here for? To do things that aren’t easy?’’
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VTRXpIzKc
Kigami took a deep breath, as if trying to calm himself down.
‘' Even if… ‘' His voice was quiet. ‘‘How do we know she won’t lie to us again?’’
‘' We don’t.’’’ Kimoko shrugged. ‘‘But you know what? We weren’t completely honest either, were we?’’
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQ18weymbZ
Kigami looked at her in surprise.
‘' What are you…’’
‘‘Come on.’’ Kimoko rolled her eyes.
‘' Do you think I didn’t notice how long you’ve been hiding something?’’
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmxUY1DS7G
He didn’t answer.
‘' So what? Are we supposed to pretend that she’s the only one to blame now?’’ Kimoko tilted her head. “ Or are we old enough to admit that we all have our secrets?”
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFViIhI8iCG
Kigami bit his lip.
‘' Do you know how annoying it is?’’
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDP6rRSmJii
Kimoko smiled crookedly.
‘‘I know. But does that mean I’m wrong?’’
He didn’t answer.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCyJdnhr6p
They sat in silence for a long moment, looking at the flames. Finally, Kigami took a deep breath and tilted his head back, looking at the night sky.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6XDkmVm5h
“Shit…”
Kimoko smiled.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCw2jjR4Lb
“So it is.”
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6XyZUtBYO
“I’m not saying, you’re wrong.”
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikjVYuh7HT
“But you’re thinking about coming back.”
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVuRLdygDfe
Kigami clenched his fists, but didn’t deny it.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLfSngQZEM
Kimoko knew that would be enough. For now. Kigami stared at the night sky for a long time, as if searching for an answer he couldn’t find in himself. Finally, he sighed heavily, closing his eyes.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZyoRMiivWe
“If we go back… what next?”
Kimoko crossed her arms over her chest.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2gNcxxCTx
“We’ll find a way to get the crystal back. That’s our goal from the beginning, right?”
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHtJd267sS
“Our goal…” Kigami shook his head. “I don’t think it’ll be that easy anymore.”
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWC5czjBkA0
Kimoko raised an eyebrow.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hM7gEL3cz
“It never was.’’
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOJo6N12UC
“That’s why.” He looked at her sharply. “It’s even worse now. Before we even knew Estella had it. Now… we have to get to Veridona.” Kimoko nodded reluctantly.
“But first we need to find Anstellerette.”
“If he agrees to help us at all.” There was a moment of silence. “You think he won’t help his own sister?” she finally asked.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2QSSrCMAYu
Kigami snorted. “The question is, does it even matter to him.”
Kimoko had no answer. She didn’t know Anstellerette. She didn’t know how he would react if they mentioned Estella, after all he was probably still mad at her.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHMkPciuWj
“We’ll go back to her tomorrow.” Her tone left no room for argument.
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7cj9eGOaC
Kigami looked at her skeptically. “And what will you tell her?”
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡliVAljSXtG
“That we believe her.” Kimoko shrugged. “Or at least, that we want to believe her.”
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ1LGKgUdZD
“A lie.”
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFaASaqpY04
“Maybe.” She smiled faintly. “But sometimes a lie is the only way to find out the truth.” Kigami watched her for a moment, then looked away. “I hate it when you’re right.” Kimoko laughed quietly. “Get used to it.” The silence between them wasn’t as heavy as it had been before. There was still something uncertain about it, full of unspoken words and hidden wounds, but at least they both knew what they had to do.
and then Add to home screen.