1500-year journey

“Eat it?”

Hearing Key’s account, Edinia asked in confusion.

“That’s right. It was an unknown creature wandering in the universe, its entire body wrapped in pitch-black material so its true form couldn’t be seen.

And its main goal was to devour planets with a star-particle concentration that was too high.”

“What are star-particles?” Edinia asked.

“A kind of power. Here it’s called magic. Once the concentration of star-particles on a planet reaches a certain level, that thing is drawn to it.”

Key answered faintly.

“Then how is it that you and little Firefly can stay here unharmed? Did you already defeat that thing?”

Key shook her head. Her always-calm face revealed a sad expression as she gently replied:

“No. Our planet was destroyed. All civilization disappeared completely at that moment, leaving no trace.”

Seeing the look on Key’s face, the smile on Edinia’s also unknowingly faded. She reached out to gently pat Key’s head, then pulled her into her arms.

“I see… that really is sad.

I can’t truly empathize with you, little Key, since I’ve never experienced what you’ve been through, so I won’t pretend to understand.

But even so, at this moment, as the person you’re confiding in, I can at least do this simple thing—hold you gently and comfort you when you’re sad.

It hurts, doesn’t it? You blame yourself, don’t you? It’s alright. Those are feelings everyone has.

Your homeland gone, no place to return to, drifting helplessly outside with no clear direction for the future.

But even so, you’ve endured until now. So whether it’s you or Firefly, you’ve already done amazingly well.

The past can’t be changed, but the future is still full of miracles—like right now ♪

I’m your friend, little Key～ So if you’re sad, if there’s something you want to say, if you’ve been bottling things up inside, tell me everything now～

Though Edinia can’t do much for you, she can at least be a simple support and listener.

So… if you want to cry, cry. From now on you won’t be alone. Edinia will always be your companion.”

From Key’s words, Edinia could already roughly understand her experience.

After their homeland was destroyed, only Firefly and Key survived.

Then, for some unknown reason, the two were separated. Firefly came to the church and met the kind townspeople and Su Mo.

Key, meanwhile, wandered aimlessly all alone, searching for Firefly.

That feeling of loneliness had lingered around her, but she kept holding on, and in the end really did find Firefly.

Key’s head rested on the soft chest before her, and a warm feeling instantly spread through her whole body.

That unexplainable feeling appeared again, but she still didn’t dislike it—in fact she wanted to feel it even more.

From birth until now, always alone, Key had never felt anything like this, which made her a little scared.

She feared this was only a dream she was having in her sleep, and that when she opened her eyes again she would still be traveling alone.

“Don’t be afraid ♪”

Edinia’s gentle voice made the trembling body still. Key felt something slide across her cheeks. She reached up to touch it and said in confusion:

“What’s this…?”

Tears.

Key knew this liquid, but she had never thought she would shed it herself.

“I… can’t forgive myself, because the destruction of our planet was my fault.

After everyone’s efforts, just as they were about to fire the attack that combined the life force of the entire planet, I—the weapon—suddenly developed my own consciousness.

Because of that, the attack didn’t launch, and in the end only the Princess and I, protected by her, escaped at the last moment using everyone else’s final strength.

So… all of this was my mistake. I am the sinner who caused everyone to die.

Now, wanting to forget the past and start my life over is just an attempt to wash the sin from my hands.

I… can’t do it…”

Large tears slid down Key’s face. The destruction of her homeland hovered in her mind like a demon.

She felt that it was her sudden awakening that caused the disappearance of a civilization.

Therefore, she was the one who should vanish.

The reason she hadn’t chosen to die yet was that she wanted to wait until she found Firefly, become her weapon again, and then erase her consciousness completely.

She believed that as the culprit who destroyed the planet, Firefly would surely strike her down without hesitation.

Key curled up in Edinia’s arms and told her everything.

Including how, after the destruction of the planet, she began searching for Firefly—wandering for a total of 1500 years.

She lived alone in solitude for 1500 years before finally finding her Princess here.

She had thought her mission was finally about to end, that she could return the weapon to her Princess and then disappear to atone.

But unexpectedly, her Princess had lost her memories and had been used by people with impure motives.

So Key, investigating the church in secret and trying to get close to Firefly, became so excited when she finally saw Firefly coming out alone.

At that time, what she wanted to do was immediately and swiftly kill Su Mo—who looked like a church member—then rescue the Princess and tell her everything.

Then everything that followed happened, until she met Edinia and was brought to the orphanage.

Listening quietly to Key’s words, Edinia was a perfect listener, never interrupting.

Only after Key finished speaking did Edinia slowly say:

“A 1500-year journey of loneliness, just to find your Princess and atone? Little Key, you’re truly an incredible person.”

As she spoke, a slight smile appeared on Edinia’s face. She continued:

“Hey, little Key, you say you’re the murderer who destroyed your homeland, an unforgivable sinner?

Actually, I have a different opinion～”

Hearing this, Key lifted her head from Edinia’s embrace, her eyes full of doubt as she asked:

“What?”

“This ‘sinner’ thing—little Key, isn’t that something you’re putting on yourself?

When you gained consciousness, everyone was still alive, right?

If they truly hated you, they had plenty of time then to shout and curse at you.

But in the end, they sent you and Firefly off the planet without a single word of resentment.

Most importantly, if Firefly really hated you, then why did she protect you?”