Episode Three

“…oh no…”

A sound from beyond the door woke me. I must have fallen asleep without realising. The room that had been bright was wrapped in darkness now, cool air drifting through it.

I hurried to the entrance, and Selene came into view.

“Selene! Welcome ho—”

The words burst out at the sight I’d been wanting to see all day, and then stopped.

“…what… is that.”

The blood drained from my face at the sight of bandaging wound around her white skin.

My legs weakened and I pressed a hand to the wall, trying to steady my shallow breathing.

“Don’t worry about it. I just let my guard down for a moment.”

“What were you doing today, Sion?”

Selene, bandaging around her forehead, asked me gently, her eyes softening.

The kindest way of smiling I know. The White Witch everyone admires must have smiled like this.

“…I don’t care about me right now.”

“…Why do you push yourself like this.”

The scraped whisper dissolved into the entrance.

“I’m not pushing myself. Don’t worry.”

If she was going to smile like that, I’d have rather had the cold face she usually wore at home. The Selene in front of me right now, I can’t… bear to look at her.

“Tomorrow… it’s a day off, isn’t it.”

“I want to talk.”

The hand pressed to the wall was trembling. A relationship this one-sided should not go on any longer.

“Sorry. Tomorrow I have a commission to go to—”

The fist I drove into the wall made a dull, heavy sound. There was no room to feel the pain.

“Why?!”

“That’s three days in a row! Are you trying to die?!”

The scream that tore out of me without my deciding it, raw enough to draw blood. My voice must have carried outside.

“Please let me talk to you properly… I don’t want to be apart from Selene.”

The strength left my knees and I sank to the floor where I stood. My tear-blurred vision showed no sign of clearing anytime soon.

A brief silence. Watching me collapse in tears like a child, what was she thinking.

“Tomorrow… when I get back, let’s talk.”

Her voice trembled as she continued.

“…So wait one more day for me.”

With that, she gently drew me against her chest.

It still wasn’t what I’d wanted. The same feeling as yesterday rose in me. Even so, the faint warmth reaching me from Selene broke something open, and I seemed to have lost all control of my tears. Sobbing louder than before, I went on soaking the front of her clothes.

I don’t remember when I pulled myself away from Selene’s chest after that, when I got into bed, when I fell asleep. By the time I was aware again, it was morning.

Deep black shadows clung under my eyes, and my hair hung loose and unkempt. The person in the mirror looked nothing like the Black Witch.

Pulling the hood of my robe deep over my face as though hiding from the light, I drifted through the capital on unsteady feet. The crowds that didn’t usually bother me much felt oppressive today.

I pushed back my hood and stood in front of a familiar building, catching my breath. The rough, unfinished-looking wooden door, the faded sign with the crest of Edelcia and a painted girl mage.

A view I must have seen dozens of times since graduating from the academy, and yet it looks oddly fresh.

It may have been a while since I came to the guild. Though only a few days have passed, I feel as though I’ve been left behind by the world.

I pushed open the door, bracing against the noise I could already sense before it opened.

Even before noon the place is full. Probably adventurers running late. Weaving through the gaps between broad-shouldered figures toward the counter, I caught sight of a familiar red bandana.

“Becky. Are you free to talk right now?”

“Oh, Sion? Is something wrong?”

Becky murmured, eyes going wide.

Even in a place this noisy, she always catches my voice.

“Of course. You look pale though… are you all right?”

“Um… could you tell me about the commission Selene’s been taking?”

I asked it with my gaze turned to the edge of the counter.

“Ah… I’ve only been seeing Selene recently, not you two together… did you have a fight?”

Becky began going through a stack of documents, drawing her neat eyebrows down.

I’d decided: if Becky wasn’t here, I’d go straight home. Since I’d only decided that much, I hadn’t thought about what to say or how much to tell.

“Um… something like that.”

I stretched the corners of my mouth as best I could, but I’m sure it didn’t come across as a smile.

“I see.”

“I won’t ask for details, but you should make up sooner rather than later.”

She continued, her gaze dropping in a way that was unusual for her.

“I’ve seen so many adventurers who never got to make up with their partner after a fight.”

She traced a finger along the counter as she said it, pressing the words like she was working something through.

An adventurer could die at any moment. I’ve seen people set out from here with energy and be brought back in silence by evening, more times than I can count.

Selene is strong and she’s clever. I’ve barely ever seen her hurt. But she isn’t invincible.

Hurt means—

“…!”

The image of last night’s bandaging flashed through my mind and nausea surged upward. I pressed a hand to my mouth on instinct and crouched down.

“Sion?!”

Becky came around the counter and rubbed my back gently. I felt the surrounding adventurers stir, a ripple of attention reaching me.

The Black Witch alone in this state — I’d stand out whether I wanted to or not. I’m sorry to everyone, but right now I’m not even an adventurer.

“…Sorry. I’m all right now.”

Sweat had risen on my forehead, but I’d steadied somewhat. If I got like this over a wound that small, what would become of me from here on.

“You’re still pale. Want to rest out back for a bit?”

“No… I really am all right.”

“Could you tell me about Selene? If you know anything.”

Becky gave a small nod and moved away from the counter at a quick pace. I tried to steady my breathing while she was gone, but it didn’t go well. I seem to be more worn down than I realised.

“Sorry for the wait.”

I bowed my head at the glass she handed me and sent cold water down my throat. The nausea that had been pressing up toward my mouth ebbed, bit by bit.

“About Selene.”

She paused a beat as she said it. Her gaze looked somehow unfocused.

“She’s been taking commissions from the second floor for a while now.”

“The second floor…?”

I echoed it in a vague voice, not quite making sense of the words.

“You don’t know, Sion? The second floor is where commissions are available exclusively to the more capable adventurers within the guild.”

“I… see.”

We’ve come to the guild together so many times, but I’ve never known us to take anything other than first-floor commissions.

“I’m always down here, so I only catch glimpses of her, but—”

Becky’s words seemed to be passing through my ears and flowing somewhere away from me. As though a haze had settled, I couldn’t quite grasp what she was saying.

Why was she taking commissions like that alone. That must have been why she came home tired every time, with that injury that wasn’t like her.

Going out alone every day to dangerous commissions without rest. A life like that couldn’t last—

“Sion, are you listening?”

Becky peered at me with a puzzled expression.

“Oh, sorry.”

“I got a little lost.”

Becky sighed and gave me a pointed look.

“Are you really all right? For someone in the middle of a fight, you look very worried.”

“I’m all right… but if you’ve heard, could you tell me?”

“Why is Selene taking second-floor commissions?”

I looked straight at Becky. Those lively eyes of hers seemed to waver for just a moment.

“…You know, don’t you?”

I pressed her further. Becky, I thought, probably wasn’t good at lying.

The noise of adventurers rang around us as she held my gaze for a while, then finally opened her heavy mouth.

“She said she had to get stronger.”

“What?”

The meaning didn’t reach me.

“Selene let it slip quietly. That’s all I know. I don’t really understand it, but you probably do, don’t you, Sion?”

As she said it she brought a finger gently to my cheek.

“I’ll say it one more time: you should make up sooner rather than later.”

“To me, you and Selene are like children, you know.”

“I don’t want to see you fighting either.”

“All right?” she murmured, and stroked my cheek softly.

If we could make up, I’d want that too. What we’re doing isn’t even really a fight. That’s exactly why I don’t know what to do.

If a day comes when Selene doesn’t come home, I think I really will… come apart completely.

“…Yes. I’m sorry for worrying you.”

“Thank you, Becky.”

I bowed my head low.

“Right then. Next time come together, you two.”

I walked out of the guild and back toward home, the commission slip Selene had taken still clutched in my hand.

I’m absolutely going to talk to Selene tonight. She’ll probably try to push me away again, but I won’t allow it anymore.

I think we should both just say everything we’ve been hiding. We’ve been together all this time — hiding things from each other at this stage doesn’t make sense.

When we’ve made things right today, tomorrow I’ll spend the whole day with Selene. Once her injury heals, the two of us can go back to being the witch ladies together.

I had to think that, or I felt I might lose the ability to breathe entirely.