- 18: Young day’s farewell.
“The Mirack-chan in those days was completely opposite of me, an energetic girl that was seen as a boy by her surroundings.” (Karen)
So she isn’t that much different from now.
Anyways, it seems their houses were next to each other, and their age and gender were the same, it took no time for them to get along with each other.
“Mirack-chan was considerate towards the weak me. Like a knight protecting me. And I got spoiled by it. We were always together. She was truly a friend I loved.” (Karen)
The turning point came.
It all began with the doctor that came to do a medical examination on Karen-san, and with that process, that person noticed the overwhelming light element she had.
The doctor recommended her to train her control of the light divine power as a method of medical treatment. And so, Karen-san began her training just as suggested.
Then, the excessively inclined element of hers that had been eating onto her until now, turned into a talent.
She was able to master her light element, the controlled divine power was no longer eating onto her, and she finally achieved a healthy body.
Her talent caught the eye of the light church, and she was enlisted to the Aurora Knights with fanfares.
It is said that there was practically no stumbling as she climbed her way to being the light hero.
And so, in that time, her neighboring friend had been completely estranged from her life.
“It is not like I forgot about Mirack-chan. But with my everyday training, I didn’t have the time to meet her—no, that’s not it. I had fun training to control my light divine power. I had so much fun, I placed Mirack-chan as secondary. That’s why…!” (Karen)
When they met after several years later, Katack Mirack had become a hero as well. And she was no longer Karen-san’s friend.
The clear words of Mirack towards Karen-san: ‘You are not a friend. You are an enemy’.
The light hero and the fire hero; the representatives of their respective churches that are fighting with each other to obtain honor -the very definition of enemies.
Until today, there were several times where she had the chance to meet face-to-face with Mirack, but her attitude never softened.
That had cut the heart of Karen-san into pieces.
“…It is my fault. I was the one who abandoned Mirack-chan first after all. That’s why, no matter how much she hates me, it is my fault. Mirack-chan has done nothing wrong!” (Karen)
Karen-san tried to say it firmly, but her tears had already drenched almost half of my shirt.
If someone were to find this scene and witnessed the hero crying her eyes out, it would probably spread through the whole grand church by tomorrow, and there would be blood raining.
“I am truly a hopeless hero. Just how many times do I have to thank Haine-san today?” (Karen)
Crying as much as she needed, saying as much as she needed, she was slowly recovering her usual liveliness.
Even so, she was unable to get rid of that nasal voice.
“It might be a bit inappropriate to say this at this moment but, today, incredibly good things happened to me.” (Haine)
“Eh?”
“I learned about these things called ethereal machines, and I was able to confirm that humans have properly developed with the long passing of time. As expected, humans are incredible, humans are strong! No matter how harsh and painful their environment is, they are able to climb over it!” (Haine)
That’s why…
“Karen-san can climb over it as well! Right this instant! Let’s go!” (Haine)
I straddle on the flying machine that recently finished maintenance. I somewhat learned about how to ride it by seeing Karen-san before.
“Karen-san, ride on my back!” (Haine)
“Eh? Ride? Where are we going?! Or more like, can you drive this, Haine-san?!” (Karen)
“The Founder-sama said this at the meeting, right? That the city, where the Fire Church’s main headquarters are, is pretty close.” (Haine)
“Eh?! EEEEEEH?!!” (Karen)
Placing Karen-san at my back, the small flying machine flew into the sky.
“No way!! You are really driving it?!!! Moreover, flying at night?!!!” (Karen)
* * *
After around one hour, we arrive at the objective.
The Fire Church located at the fire capital, Muspelheim. The inner sanctuary of fire.
That building trembled.
“What?! What was that shock?!” “An enemy attack! An enemy attack!!” “An enemy attack?! Are you saying monsters have invaded?!” “No, that’s not it! That’s a human!!” “Wa?!!” “Those guys of the Light Church have invaded!!”