𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟓𝟖
“So, is it okay to leave here?
I didn’t have the courage, and I’ve been hiding all this time. . .
But if Sofia is with me, I feel like I can go outside.”
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“Go outside with me?”
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“Is that. . .not good?”
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With no reason to refuse, I reach out my hand to the anxiously looking up Lilia.
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“Is it okay?”
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“Yeah, it’s fine. Let’s go outside together.”
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I don’t know if it’s really okay to go outside.
Even if it’s a dream, I couldn’t predict what would happen if Lilia left the tower.
But still, if going outside is Lilia’s wish, I want to grant it.
We hold hands and descend the spiral staircase.
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The hand I’m holding is trembling slightly.
. . .She is really scared.
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“Are you scared to go outside?”
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“Yeah. . .I’m scared. But, you know, I’m more afraid of being here forever.
A little while ago, I heard a voice. I couldn’t see it, but it was a kind man’s voice.
It seemed like he knew Lilia. He said, ‘I won’t leave you alone.’”
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“A man’s voice. . .?”
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Did such a thing happen?
Was it not real but only in a dream?
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“He said he’d be with me forever, but I couldn’t see him.
He said it was peaceful now, so I didn’t have to be in the tower.
I thought I might meet him outside the tower.
. . .Even if I meet him, I might disappear, but
I don’t want to be here alone anymore.”
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“I see. . .that’s right.
You don’t want to be here alone.”
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I understand that pain well.
That’s why I understand Lilia’s desire to go outside, even if she disappears.
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Lilia, who is descending the stairs beside me, is a full head shorter than me.
Her hand is small, and I’m surprised that she’s remained so childlike.
I thought I had become Sofia while still being Lilia.
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But that was wrong.
I had grown up much more than Lilia, had more people who were important to me,
And had someone beside me so much that I had no time to be alone.
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It’s different. I wasn’t Lilia anymore.
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“Shall we open the door together?”
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If I touch the wall with both hands and flow magic, the door will open.
Lilia and I touch the wall with one hand each.
Our magic resonates, spreading out, and the door opens.
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The outside of the tower is full of dazzling light, and I can’t open my eyes.
Unexpectedly, I let go of Lilia’s hand, and Lilia went outside.
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“Lilia?”
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“. . .It’s dazzling. I’m outside the tower!”
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“Wait, don’t go alone?”
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“. . .It’s okay now. We can’t go together from here.”
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“Eh?”
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I can’t see Lilia going into the light.
She disappears as if melting into the light.
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“See you, Sofia. I wonder if we’ll meet again.
If we do, let me hear all the fun things you’ve experienced.”
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“. . .Lilia. Alright, I got it. Let’s have tea when that time comes.
I’ll prepare some baked sweets.
Let’s have tea together with sweet honey in it.”
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“Really?! I’m so happy. Promise?
. . .Well, I’m going.”
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When I thought the light became even stronger, Lilia’s presence was gone.
. . .She really disappeared. I wonder if she met the kind-voiced man.
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“What should I do? She won’t wake up at all.”
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“Look at this. Didn’t I tell you not to push it too hard?
I told you to take it easy, didn’t I?”
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“I did go easy!”
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“I don’t trust your idea of ‘going easy.’”
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When I opened my eyes, Kyle and Chris were arguing. Why?
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“Ah, are you awake? Are you okay?”
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“Sofia!”
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“Why are you arguing?”
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It seems they were arguing next to me, who was sleeping in my bed.
I must have overslept again, as the room is bright.
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“Because Kyle was fussing that Princess wouldn’t wake up.”
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“No, I mean, she wasn’t waking up at all, and I was worried. . .”
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“. . .Worried?”
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“Princess, is your body okay? Doesn’t it hurt?”
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“. . .My body?”
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Now that you mention it, I feel lethargic, and my body hurts here and there.
I try to recall what I did last night, and I want to go back under the covers.
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“. . .It does hurt, doesn’t it.”
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“It hurts. . .all over.”
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Chris, who started examining me by channeling magic into my body, turns an astonished gaze towards Kyle.
Is this pain in my body Kyle’s fault. . .maybe?
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“. . .No bedroom activities today. Rather, they’re forbidden until the pain goes away.”
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“. . .Understood.”
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Chris forbids it, and Kyle droops his shoulders in disappointment.
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“Are you hungry? If you can get up, shall we change and eat breakfast?”
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“Yes, I’m hungry. . .But, it might be tough to get up.”
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“I understand. Kyle, take responsibility and carry Princess.”
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“Yeah.”
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I can’t help but smile at Kyle, who seems hesitant as he tries to pick me up.
It reminds me of last night.
I won’t break that easily, though.
From somewhere, I feel like I heard Lilia’s voice.
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(Hey, Sofia. Are you happy?)
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Ah, that’s right. I remember I reincarnated to be happy.
Did Lilia witness it?
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“What’s wrong, Princess?”
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“Is something the matter?”
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The two of them call out to me in concern. Kind men.
I wonder which one it was. . .Maybe both.
Surely, both Lilia and I have been protected by these two all this time.
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“You know, I’m really happy. That I met both of you.
So. . .please stay with me forever?”
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Chris looks surprised but smiles a little and ruffles my hair.
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“Of course, we’ll be with you.”
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Holding me up, Kyle touches our foreheads together and smiles.
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“We’ll always be with you. So, keep smiling.”
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I can’t share happiness with Lilia, who has already disappeared.
So, if we meet again, I want to tell her how happy I am.
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I’m sure I’ll never see that tower dream again.
Because Lilia has gone out and become free.
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