-It's cold...

A quiet voice echoed within the confines of the empty corridors. Unlike before, I didn't know where she was.

I just followed the voice.

-..It's dark.

It was the same childish voice from before.

But...

The joy and amusement that was previously present were no longer there.

It was now faint.

Tak-

My step echoed gently across the quiet corridor.

Looking around, it didn't seem as quiet and deserted as it once had been. Rather, the deeper I went, the more people appeared.

I knew they were illusions.

A fabrication of the vision I had once seen, showing me what life once had been in this palace area.

But with a blink of my eyes, it all disappeared.

The corridors...

They were now cold and deserted.

-It's quiet...

Her voice seemed to be everywhere, and nowhere at once. I just blindly walked. I... was bound to find her soon enough.

I knew I would.

-...Where is everyone?

I continued walking across the empty halls, the child's voice lingering in the air as I roamed the palace's walls.

It was quiet, just like it had been before.

A certain gloom pressed on as I walked, making each step heavier than the other.

'Where is she?'

-I'm lost...

The voice reached out for me once more. It was pleading for something.

Someone...

And I knew what it was, and that...

That...

Is the reason why my steps felt so heavy.

I just...

Cr Crack-

Fine cracks suddenly formed on the walls, spreading like spiderwebs and creeping in every direction. My steps paused as I looked at the cracks.

They continued to spread, reaching every corner of the area I was in.

I took in the sight for a moment.

'So she did it...'

I closed my eyes.

This was without a doubt Evelyn's work.

'She must've probably have freed everyone...'

Evelyn completed her task as she promised. It was now my turn.

Cr Crack-

Seeing the cracks that were spreading further and further, I pursed my lips and continued forward.

There was not much time left.

....I hurried my steps.

Tak, Tak-

Every time I blinked, an illusion of the past would appear.

People dressed in weirdly fashioned clothing appeared, chatting with drinks in hand, their

hair styled in weird fashions as they laughed casually.

It stood as a stark contrast to the reality that it was now.

"Where are you going?"

Owl-Mighty's voice suddenly reached me.

"....The place is about to collapse. You should leave."

Clench.

"Not yet..."

"Why?"

"...."

Why...?

Because it wasn't over yet.

Not yet...

"Why do you think she did what she did?"

"...."

It was Owl-Mighty's turn to be quiet.

"....I don't know the story."

"Right..."

Owl-Mighty didn't see what I saw.

Extending my hand, I used 'Veil of Deceit' to replay a small part of what I had seen. It was rather quick and Owl-Mighty's answer came shortly after.

"For revenge."

"Revenge?"

"Yes. I would also want revenge if I were trapped and sealed in a statue for so long."

"Right..."

I would too if I were in the same position. Not only that, but to also witnessed the crumbling

of her own Monarchy, and saw her parents die...

Anyone would go crazy over that matter.

"But it's not the right answer."

"It's not?"

"It's not."

There was one unique ability that the second leaf had, and that was that I could perceive the emotions of those that I touched during the time of their past.

When everything happened, the emotions that the little girl felt were not rage, sadness, or a

thirst for revenge.

No.

It was...

'Joy.'

In those moments, when everything went down, what she felt was joy.

'It makes no sense.'

At least, that was what I thought back then. I never had much time to dwell on it though.

Everything that unfolded shortly after made it impossible for me to think.

But now that I had time to think, I was able to come to a conclusion.

Why she felt 'joy' in such moments.

-...I'm lonely.

I closed my eyes.

Right, the last words perfectly summarized the situation.

She was... lonely.

A Palace as grand as anything could be.

A father who ruled an entire Kindom, and...

Wealth that could buy anything that she'd ever want.

She had everything, and yet...

She also had nothing.

"If you say it's not revenge, what is the answer?"

I didn't answer.

Coming to a stop, I turned my head. There, a portrait of the king appeared. He looked younger than he had been in the vision. His hair was short and blonde, while his previous mustache was gone. He looked a lot more dignified, and his blue eyes were filled with spirit.

It was an awe-inspiring portrait.

.... And I placed my hand over it, tracing all the details in my mind.

-Why is no one here...?

Moving my hand away, I once again resumed my steps.

This time, I had a direction.

Cra Crack-

Even as more cracks appeared around the Palace, I didn't let that affect me and walked at the

same pace toward where I needed to be.

Where she was waiting for me.

Eventually, I stopped before a large wooden door. It stood taller than the room where Theresa

stayed and looked a lot more imposing.

"The King's Chambers.'

-...I'm right here.

"I know you are."

Creeaaak-

I pushed the door open, revealing the insides of the King's chambers.

As expected, the room was spacious, dominated by a massive bed at its center and adorned

with an array of luxurious furnishings. There were paintings all over the place, and golden-

plated objects were scattered throughout.

Curtains draped over the large frame of the bed as they quietly ballooned, allowing me to see

the little girl that sat on it, her back against me.

-I want to play with...

The little girl stopped, turning her attention toward me.

Her expression changed the moment she saw me.

I smiled and turned to look at Owl-Mighty.

"You wanted to know the reason why she did what she did?"

Owl-Mighty looked at me with a strange look.

"Why are you-"

I extended both hands forward where a cat appeared.

"Uh?"

Pebble looked startled, but I didn't care.

"Theresa, look what I brought here."

"Eh?"

Theresa looked at Pebble, Owl-Mighty, and then me.

"This is...?"

"You want to play?"

"I can?"

"You can."

I placed Pebble on the ground who looked utterly confused.

"Oy, human. I am a mighty d-Hiek!"

"Hihihi."

Before Pebble had the chance to finish its words, its cheeks were pulled apart by Theresa who

grabbed it by the stomach and lifted Pebble up.

"Uahaak! Let me down! Release me at once you gremlin-looking midget!"

"Uh?"

It was now my turn to look surprised.

Since when did Pebble learn...

"It's you."

As if sensing my thoughts, Owl-Mighty replied in a low tone. Turning my attention to Owl-

Mighty, I blinked my eyes.

"Me...?"

"Yes."

Owl-Mighty nodded, hopping off my shoulder.

"You say it all the time whenever that woman comes. That stupid cat liked it, and now uses it

all the time."

"That's a thing?"

"Yes..."

"Uakh!"

"Hihihihihi!"

Theresa giggled while she spun Pebble around. Its desperate screams echoed throughout,

arousing even more laughter from her.

The most surprising part of the situation was the fact that while Pebble was protesting, it

wasn't putting in a real struggle.

If Pebble wanted to, then it wouldn't be a problem to escape or even bully the little girl.

But it never did so.

"Are you not going to play as well?"

"Hm?"

Turning my attention back to Theresa, I opened my mouth before smiling.

"Of course, I am." Extending my hands to make myself as big as possible, I rushed for the little girl who

squealed as she threw Pebble away.

"Hieeek!"

"Wawawawawa!"

"Come here!"

"Noooo!"

The girl held her head, running around the bed and shoving herself under it.

"Come here! Don't hide down there! If you do I'll devour you!"

I ducked down and reached my hand down.

"Kyaaak!"

Theresa screamed and hastily rushed out of the bed.

"Nooo!"

Cra Crack-

Cracks continued to form as we played.

But we paid no mind to them.

We still had time.

She ran toward Pebble who had just recovered before embracing it and throwing it in my

direction.

"Protect me!"

"Huaaak!"

"Owl-Mighty!" "As you wish!"

Pack!

Diving down from above, Owl-Mighty's beak struck the airborne Pebble, hitting its head and

sending it crashing to the ground.

"Huek-!"

"Useless!"

Theresa shouted, eliciting a twitch from Pebble who grievly mumbled, 'I'm a Mighty

Dragon...'

"...Stupid cat."

Satisfied with its accomplishments, Owl-Mighty rested on top of the wooden frame of the

bed, coldly looking down on Pebble.

On the other hand, I continued to chase the little girl.

I had her cornered now, with a plain mirror resting against the wall beside her.

"What now!?"

"Hiaaak!"

I raised both hands and cast a shadow over her little body.

She shivered.

"Noooo!"

Her little head and eyes darted all over the place in search of an opening to exploit. Something

that would allow her to run away from me.

But it was too late.

I had arrived!

"Kyyyyak!"

I hugged her little body and held her tightly into my embrace.

She was small.

So small that it felt as though I was touching the most delicate object. As I embraced her small

body, I turned my head to glance at the mirror beside me.

There, I saw my reflection.

With short blonde hair, deep blue eyes, and a dignified appearance, I looked nothing like I

normally did.

The girl's body shivered under my embrace as the room fell silent.

'If you say it's not revenge, what is the answer?'

Owl-Mighty's words once again echoed in my mind. Feeling the gazes of the two, I pressed

my lips and looked down to meet the little girl's hollow eyes.

She was blind...

But she hadn't been blind since birth.

It was only after that she became blind. A terrible disease had infected her, robbing her of her

eyes.

The world grew dark from that point.

...And her father stopped paying attention to her.

At least, to her.

He was simply too busy looking for the blood so that he could cure her.

Besides her bodyguard, she had nothing.

Nothing...

'It's cold...'

'..It's dark.'

'It's quiet...'

...Where is everyone?'

'I'm lost...'

'Why is no one here...?'

'...I'm right here.'

But all of that changed from the moment her body was taken over.

She was able to see again.

...And that was when she witnessed her dad rush into her room.

He looked older, and he looked at her.

'Daddy...'

He also looked at the spectacle that greeted them outside.

He never left his sight away from that...

That's when Theresa had an idea.

'If I do it, will he look at me again?'

If she were to replicate what was outside, would her daddy look at her?

"I am looking."

Straight into those eyes of hers.

I was looking.

"Yes, I see."

The girl replied back, her arms squeezing my body tightly. Her body, which I could feel

properly moments prior started to dissipate.

"You see me..."

"I do."

There was a silence.

"Thank you."

A silence she broke.

"...Fake daddy."

Fake daddy...?

I almost broke into a laughter, feeling my lips curl as I pressed her dissipating body tighter

into my embrace. So she knew...

What a smart child.

Cra Crack-

The cracks appearing around me spread faster and faster, slowly reaching a limit as the palace

rumbled.

Keeping the girl tight against me, I mumbled,

"....I have devoured you."

Crash-