Today

Phel's words made Kael and Alira feel as if someone had sucked the air from their lungs. A long, suffocating silence followed she finished her story.

"So, you're saying…" Kael took a deep breath, "…a single girl caused the destruction of this world—of Litruish." A girl named Caroline."

Phel nodded silently.

Kael let out a shaky laugh, running a hand down his arm as though trying to comfort himself. "One person… wiping out humanity? That sounds ridiculous."

"And you're telling me," Alira interjected, her disbelief sharp, "that a witch—not even a member of my Coven's successor—turned into a bloodthirsty maniac?"

"Your Coven's successor?" Phel arched a brow.

"Oh, right. I'm Alira—the White Witch. The greatest alchemist of all time." Alira crossed her arms with a smug grin.

Phel only looked at her with deeper skepticism. "You? A witch? Alira? Please, cut the nonsense."

Alira fumed. "Kael! Tell him I'm not lying!"

Kael shrugged with a wry smile. "I mean… it's hard to believe at first. But yeah, she's the real deal—a brilliant witch."

Alira beamed proudly, puffing her chest.

"…Though she's also kind of an idiot and way too full of herself," Kael added.

Alira's grin instantly vanished.

"So you really are Alira, the Alchemist," Phel murmured. "I thought your entire Coven was gone."

"You're not wrong." Alira's smile faded. "But before that a few of us found the Forbidden Library of Mideway… Though I'm the only one left."

Phel lowered her head slightly. "I'm… sorry for bringing it up."

Alira shook her head. "It's fine. What matters now is… the Red Witch you mentioned earlier—it wasn't Lady Seraphine but Caroline, right?"

Phel nodded, though she couldn't shake the feeling that Lady Seraphine might still be part of this nightmare. "Lady Seraphine is a cunning, immortal entity. I still believe Caroline went mad because of her manipulation."

She remembered the beautiful woman who once bought fruit from her… Could that have been Seraphine?

"That's baseless slander!" Alira snapped. "Sure, Lady Seraphine's been called a heretic by the Church and the Kingdom, but do you really think someone who achieved immortality, wrote countless grimoires, invented new spells, and became the face of witchcraft… would be evil?!"

With deadpan expressions, Phel and Kael looked at each other.

"Even hearing this story, I can't shake the feeling there's something… deeply wrong with your precious Red Witch," Kael said flatly.

Alira scowled but said nothing.

"What matters now," she said instead, "is that this town is crawling with abominations—ghosts fused with shadows. We have every reason to get out of here, Kael."

She grabbed Kael's hand, giving him a firm look.

Kael pulled away. "Are you insane? Lumino's still missing. And you want to run?" His voice hardened. "I don't back down from a fight. I'll destroy that ghost."

Kael turned to Phel. "I'm sorry for your town… but creatures like that can't be left alive."

Phel nodded. Perhaps this really was the right choice.

"You're right," Alira said, standing up with new resolve. "We have to find Lumino. If that thing outside is a ghost… well, it's basically a spirit. Time for me to prove myself as an Alchemist. I'll make something to counter it."

"If your friend's still wandering this city alone, he's in danger. I'll help you search for him," Phel offered.

"Good." Kael tapped his chin in thought. Then a slow, wicked grin spread across his face. "I have a plan. But it depends on you, Alira—if you can pull it off. And you too, Phel. I'll need your part in this."

Alira and Phel exchanged a glance… and nodded.

Wait for us, Lumino.

---

"Hey, guys… do you hear that?" Lumino called out, but Kael and Alira were still busy bickering.

Whatever it was, Lumino was sure… something was calling him. From the left.

"Guys—"

"Lumino…"

That voice again. Echoing faintly across the hollow, abandoned streets.

He turned toward the sound.

Was that… a child?

Without thinking, Lumino chased after the small figure—ragged clothes, blonde hair, pale green eyes. The child moved deeper into the ruins, and the farther Lumino chased, the farther the child seemed to slip away.

"Hey! Wait!" Lumino called out, his earlier fear dissolving into a strange sense of urgency.

If there really was a human left in this dead city… if this wasn't an empty world… maybe others survived too.

But the child vanished.

Lumino stopped, glancing around.

He had run farther than he meant to.

He should head back—

But then…

A lone farmhouse stood at the edge of an overgrown field. Abandoned, yet strangely intact. And at its door… the same child. Entering.

I'll go back and tell the others first.

He turned—

But something caught his leg.

A shadow. Black and gleaming with a faint crimson hue, snaking around his ankle. Before he could react, it yanked him off his feet, dragging him through the dirt toward the house.

"What the—! Hey! Stop! Agh!"

The pulling stopped. He scrambled to his feet, brushing dirt from his hoodie.

"What was that? It dragged me until here."

He took a step away—

A crimson shimmer rippled in front of him. A barrier.

"What the…" He pressed against it. It didn't budge. "I'm trapped?"

CREAK…

A door. Opening behind him.

He spun around.

The child stood in the doorway, smiling gently.

"Welcome. You're Lumino, right? Sera told me a lot about you."

Every instinct in Lumino screamed at him.

How… did this kid know his name?

"Why don't you come in?" The child held out a hand.

Lumino stepped closer, wary. "Are you… the owner of this house?"

The child laughed—loud, sharp—and slammed the door shut.

Lumino frowned. "Guess I'll try break the barrier."

He summoned his power, golden light flickering at his fingertips. His white hair began to glow—then lift—

But… nothing.

The light died.

The power vanished.

"What…?"

A burning mark flared on his wrist. His thread—his link to Kael—Severed.

His eyes widened.

And then… a new thread appeared. Glowing red. Connecting his wrist—

To the house.

His heart hammered in his chest.What kind of spell is this…?

Lumino took a breath.

No choice, huh?

He gripped the door handle… and stepped inside.

The door closed behind him.

He turned—And his blood froze.

"Lumino! You're back! How was the harvest? Any spoiled vegetables?"

There—standing at the kitchen counter, smiling warmly—was his grandfather.

Cooking.

Just like before.

"Come, sit down! I made your favorite."

This… this was his home. His real home.

Perfectly preserved.

But… it burned down years ago. And his grandfather…

Was dead.

Is this a dream…?

"Lumino? What are you waiting for? Come, have a seat!"

Lumino forced a faint smile. Whatever this illusion was… it wasn't funny.

I'll kill whoever's doing this.

He ran toward his grandfather—

…And just like before, they talked. Like nothing had ever happened.

"So… how's Kali?" his grandfather asked.

"…What?" Lumino blinked.

"Did you tell her how you feel yet?"

"Wha— How did you—?!"

"It's obvious, the way you look at her."

Lumino chuckled awkwardly.

He remembered this conversation.

Four days before… he lost everything.

A shimmering facade, born of memory. Then, a gravelly voice, his grandfather's, echoing, "Lumino, be true to yourself, then to her." The words hung, heavy, familiar. This charade, a hollow echo. A cold finality settled upon him, silencing him for a moment before the bitter words escaped, "If this was a game, I've had enough!" His voice was tight with a weary anger."

"Then why don't you destroy it?" A voice—soft, almost playful.

He turned.

There—sitting beside him at the dining table—was the child.

Smiling sweetly.

"If you know how this ends… why not just break it?"

Lumino glared. "If I do… will you stop showing me this crap?"

The child shrugged. "That depends… on the choice you make."

A soft grin spread across the child's lips.

"My name's Carol. So… will you play my game, Lumino?"

Lumino stared hard at her.

What is your goal…?

But in the end…

He clenched his fists.

"If I make a different choice… if I change the past in this illusion… will they survive?"

"Of course. The choice… is always yours."

Lumino exhaled slowly.

"Fine. I'll play your game."

Lumino stepped outside after lunch.

Past the door… there was no barrier. No strange red shimmer.

Just… his home.

Everything looked exactly as it should.

So this is part of it too…

"Are you just going to follow me forever?" Lumino asked, glancing over his shoulder.

"Hehehe… you agreed to play with me, didn't you? So let's go have some fun!" Carol chirped beside him.

Lumino scratched his head. Everything felt unreal, especially whenever Carol was around.

But maybe… if he could figure out this illusion… he'd find a way to break it.

"What's your goal showing me all this?" Lumino asked.

"Don't you wonder…?" Carol tilted her head. "If you could turn back time—would changing a single choice… change everything?"

So that's it… is she trying to mess with my memories?

"I don't care. I'll break out of this dream of yours."

"This isn't some cheap illusion," Carol replied softly. "Ah… we're here."

Lumino looked up—

No way…

Kali's house.

"What the hey? Did you just… make me walk here?"

Carol smiled innocently. "You said you wanted to play. Besides… aren't you curious what might happen if you came here now?"

Lumino frowned, his jaw tight.

"I don't care about your games." He turned away.

"Wait!" Carol called, following him.

"That day… you came to see Kali at sunset. But you turned back when you saw her holding hands with your childhood friend, right?"

Lumino froze.

"What are you getting at?" He turned, shadows darkening his face.

"This time… ask her first. Right now. Invite her to the festival."

Lumino clenched his fists.

"Who do you think you are, trying to control me?"

"Don't you wonder… if taking a different path—just once—might change fate itself?"

Lumino's teeth ground together. His anger surged for reasons he couldn't explain.

"You saw them that night… holding hands. And instead of speaking up, you stepped back. You told yourself you didn't want to interfere with their happiness. You spent the festival night locked in your room…

And then… everything changed."

"Shut up!" Lumino snapped. His voice shook.

"What's wrong with wishing happiness for someone else?"

Carol's eyes darkened.

"You threw away your own happiness for others. That's not kindness. That's hypocrisy."

"What do you know about me?!" Lumino shouted.

"Lumino?"

A familiar voice—Ms. Narumi—cut in gently.

He spun around, startled.

"Oh… Ms. Narumi. It's nothing. I was just… talking to myself."

His expression flipped instantly from rage to a soft smile.

She gave him a worried look, then peered past him.

"Are you going to see Kali? She just stepped outside."

What?

Lumino whipped his head around.

There—Kali, stepping out of her house. Their eyes met.

She waved.

And… she started walking toward him.

K-Kali?!

Lumino caught Carol's smirk out of the corner of his eye.

"Lumino! I was just about to come find you," Kali said warmly.

Her long lashes, sun-kissed skin, and that simple, hardworking beauty…

After so long… why was Lumino still blushing like a fool? "I… I have something I want to ask you, Kali."

What am I doing—why am I stuttering?!

Carol gave him a knowing nod.

Ms. Narumi smiled softly, stepping away to give them space.

"What is it, Lumino?" Kali tilted her head, waiting.

Lumino glanced at Carol again—she mouthed, Say it.

Lumino took a breath.

"Would you… go to the festival with me?"

Kali's eyes sparkled. Her smile bloomed.

"I'd love to!"

Relief washed over him—unexpected, unfamiliar.

Carol gave him a thumbs-up.

"Then… I'll meet you later this evening," Kali said, giving a small wave before disappearing back inside.

Lumino turned to Carol—

But she was gone.

---

That evening, Lumino dressed in his best clothes.

Is this… a date?

"Sorry if I kept you waiting, Lumino," Kali greeted him, stepping out in a soft brown dress with a simple blouse.

He froze for a moment.

"You… you look beautiful."

Kali tucked her hair behind her ear, blushing.

They walked side by side to the festival—the town's annual celebration.

Food stalls, performances, music…And at the end—

The parade and fireworks.

Lumino had never gone before.

Even if this was just an illusion… it felt real enough to move him.

They ate together, laughed together.

And when they stood watching the fireworks—

Kali gently took his hand.

Lumino turned to her—she was blushing, her eyes soft.

"You know… I actually wanted to ask you first. To this festival. But you beat me to it."

Her voice cut through the noise like a whisper meant only for him.

"I… I've always liked you, Lumino."

Her hair fluttered in the breeze.

Lumino's heart thudded in disbelief.

No... she should have been with Theo. This isn't right... Could this truly be...? No. It was a setup. A trick. Carol's doing.

Lumino took a step back, clutching his chest.

"Lumino? What's wrong?" Kali asked softly.

He turned—

And ran.

Pain shot through his stomach, dropping him to his knees.

"You idiot! Why did you run?!"

Carol's furious voice sliced into him.

"Why did you leave her?!"

"What do you want from me?!" Lumino shouted back.

"You think this will fix the past?! Watching her make that face… it's not funny anymore!"

He gripped his head, trembling.

"Just stop… please."

Carol grabbed his collar.

"You can change this, Lumino! You don't have to let it end in ruin! Don't go home… Go back. Go to her!"

Carol shook his shoulders hard.

"Don't make the same mistake… Don't let it end—"

She froze.

"Lumino!"

Kali ran toward him.

"You looked pale. Are you okay?"

Lumino looked up.

Carol… was gone.

"I'm fine. Just… felt a bit sick."

Kali touched his arm gently, her eyes soft with concern.

"For a moment… I thought you ran away because of what I said… I was really worried."

Lumino stood, swaying.

But when he looked at Kali—

Her face shifted.

For a split second…

He saw a man's face.

His eyes, though kind, showed the wear of battle; a sword hung at his side.

"Lumino…"

Who… was that?

"Lumino…?" Kali's voice brought him back. "Can you walk? Should I take you home?"

His words echoed—

"I trust you, Lumino. I don't doubt you anymore. I don't care."

Another voice overlapped in his mind.

That gentle voice from the past…

"I… I like you too…" Lumino whispered.

"Then stop apologizing," the memory said.

"I… I like you too." And with that, Lumino leaned forward—

And kissed Kali.

The fireworks burst above them.

It was brief… but Kali's smile afterward was radiant. She couldn't believe it happen. Lumino finally kissing her.

"Lumino…" she whispered.

But his vision swayed—And he collapsed.

In the distance…

Carol watched, eyes filled with silent grief.

"I won't let you tie everything up so perfectly… Sera." Then she vanished.

And Lumino never saw Carol again after that day.