Change: New World

Recovery

I silently opened the door and entered the art-room.

I saw the familiar cabinets, the strewn about chairs and tables, even the wrapper from the granola bar I ate earlier.

It all brought weird sense of familiarity. A feeling of familiarity that I had began to unconsciously cherish. In a world were familiar things were changing and familiar logic was being overturned, I clung to such concepts desperately, as if some semblance of familiarity was a treasure greater than the heavens.

Now, the only thing missing were the girls.

I did a double take of my surroundings once more, as if to affirm the essential thing missing in this familiar scene. At first glance, it was relatively obvious that right now, I was the only person in the room.

My eyes focused on the now empty table. This table was the one I helped place Hina on. The fresh bloodstains were all still visible even now.

This brought a bitter smile to my face.

The possibility of them leaving was even greater than me surviving my harrowing brushes with death. It was within my range of expectations for the girls to not be here when and if I ever returned. Although I thought like this, the sight of the empty room still brought surprise to my haggard mind.

I regretted the fact that I didn't get here in time. I regretted all the hard work that, now, seemed all but pointless. But most of all, I regretted not being able to save the first person who relied on.

Thoughts like these, and many more, swirled my mind

But before my spiral of chaos got even deeper, my eyes caught sight of the blood on the table.

More specifically, the blood trail it formed and where it led.

Taking a closer look, I noticed that the blood weren't just random splatters, rather, they were a carelessly forgotten leftovers, indicating someone had moved Hina... or Hina's body.

At first, I followed the blood trail with my eyes before my body naturally moved towards the trail.

I silently walked, making sure to keep my steps as light and subtle as possible. I was taking maximum precaution. While there existed a possibility that what lay at the end of this trail were merely Hina and Cielle, there also existed a possibility that something... else waited.

Leading my follow with my eyes, I discovered that the trail led to a very familiar place.

Of to the corner of the room was a semi barricaded area. The familiar teacher's desk was positioned in such a way that it blocked the view of what lay behind. Various other pieces of school furniture adorned the surrounding area, making quite an effective blockade.

As I moved closer to the barricade, my sensitive ears began to pick up subtle nuances I had not heard prior to my entry. The faint pitter patter of breathing, an indistinguishable shuffling, which, in my honest opinion, was poorly hidden.

All these sounds and noise were picked up now that I was standing less than a meter from their source.

Hesitantly, I peered inside.

Like, I half-expected, I was now staring directly at a girl, who also stared back, albeit through a curtain of thin, silky, dark, black hair. Next to her, was another girl. This one was sleeping with a emotionless expression. Her skin was pale, and her larger than average chest was rising up and down, in-sync with her faint breathing.

It was Cielle and Hina.

I breathed out a sigh of relief. It was good to know that these two weren't in any immediate danger, and frankly, it was kind of smart in Cielle’s part to form a barricade such as this. It hid there bodies fairly well, and unless scrutinized real closely, it was hard to tell that the barricade was, well a barricade, and not merely a jumbled collection of strewn about furniture.

Although the blood trail made it rather easy for someone to discern her location, but that’s besides the point.

Cielle, who heard my exasperation and had exchanged glances briefly with me, spoke up. Her voice soft and faint, barely a sliver above silence.

“H-Hide..?”

She widened her eyes for the first time. Going by her expression, I’m guessing this is the first time she noticed that someone other than the two of them had entered the room.

I smiled faintly upon hearing her voice. It was a sharp contrast from the wailing screams of the goblins, and the slight fluctuation in her voice was somehow… pleasing to my ears.

“Yes.” I answered simply.

Without another word, I quietly began dismantling the barricade.

I moved and re positioned the chairs carefully, taking care so that the structure wouldn't collapse in on itself.

Cielle, was a bit startled at first, but quickly, she too began dismantling her impromptu barricade from the inside.

After about 5 minutes have passed, I could now clearly see the two girls.

Cielle was sitting with her knees bent as she caressed Hina’s head, who slept listlessly.

“...I didn’t think you would comeback.” She spoke gloomily.

Although her words were simple, and if viewed onesidedly, one would think she was merely concerned for my well being, but there was an underlying meaning to her words, which I quickly understood.

Her voice had a hint of apprehension to it, as if she was chiding herself for how accusatory her sentence came off.

But it’s not like I blamed her. In a situation like this humans are quick to abandon, so its no surprise that the possibility that I left drifted into her mind.

Heck, even I don’t know why I returned. I could have just as easily walked out on my promise.

So, instead of refuting, I simply nodded.

“I’m sorry I kept you waiting then.” I said, as if that was enough.

Due to our height difference, Cielle ended up looking up towards me upon hearing my voice. She stared for a moment, not knowing what to do. In the end, she just nodded.

Something I returned with another nod.

“....”

“....”

“Um… Did you..?” Cielle broke the quickly forming awkward silence as she posed a question that quickly trailed off. She hesitated, as if to say the full expression of her inquiry would warrant the worst outcome to occur.

I nodded with a slight bob.

Just from that action, her face lit up like an enchanting Christmas tree. The locks of hair that covered her face magically seemed to part ways, revealing a cute and lively smile.

Before Cielle’s expression could blossom into the full blown joy it was quickly turning into, I interrupted her.

“Help me move Hina back to the table.” I spoke while I bent down to carefully grasp Hina’s slender legs.

They were pale, much like her face, and her skin was cold to the touch. If I hadn’t known any better, these were the legs of a corpse.

Cielle, who was still in a bit of a daze after hearing the good news, squeaked out a soft Ah, before her body promptly moved into action. With determined readiness, she grasped onto Hina’s head and back and moved her with finely controlled finesse.

As Cielle’s butt lifted off the ground and her overgrown sweater fluttered down to her thighs, her body made way to reveal the small first aid kit which stood near the corner. The supplies were haphazardly strewn about, and much of the gauze, bandages, and basic medical supplies had been exhausted.

To me, it was as if her determination was revealed in that small corner.

I broke my stare with the first aid kit and focused in on the immediate task.

In a short while, with the help of both of our combined power, we lifted the fatally injured girl onto the cleared away table.

Cielle and I stood back, and just looked at Hina’s cold body.

Cielle’s eyes darted back and forth, to me then back to Hina. Her expression contorted into uncertainty. Although I had confirmed successful accomplishment of my task for her, Cielle was still unsure as to what my nod meant.

I ignored the feverish girl, and focused in on Hina.

I didn’t get the opportunity to do this 5 hours ago, but now there was something I wanted both to try and to confirm.

[identify!]

I used my rare skill on Hina’s quiet frame.

Like I originally assumed, not a moment later, a pale blue window popped up above HIna’s undisturbed face.