"..."
Facing the blade poised inches from her throat, the frail girl pinned beneath her offered no reply—or rather, she was unable to reply at all.
The girl silently raised a hand, wanting to touch her face, but her wrist was seized and mercilessly pressed down against the stone bed at her side. The wrist, already chafed raw from former shackles, was forced down with considerable strength. Anyone else would have winced or cried out in pain, yet the girl before her did not react in the slightest. She did not even frown. That same calm expression remained on her face.
"...Don't you intend to explain yourself?"
After glancing at her wrist, she met her eyes again and asked coldly.
"...Regrettably, I have no reason that would fully convince you."
Pandora shook her head.
"Heh... are you gambling with me?"
A faint smile curved her lips as she questioned her.
"...You could say that, if Miss Raiden insists on seeing it that way."
Pandora kept her gaze fixed on her eyes as she spoke softly.
"..."
She looked again at the wounds on Pandora's wrist...
"You look so unconcerned. Doesn't it hurt?"
She lifted the wrist she was gripping and waved it lightly before her eyes, her meaning unmistakable.
"No. I'm already used to it. Including 'death.'"
Pandora flexed her fingers slightly and looked at her, speaking as if it were nothing.
Seeing that utterly indifferent expression, she found herself unable to tell whether Pandora was lying. She had always believed she was a good judge of character. Of course, it was also possible the other girl was simply an excellent actress.
Still... she would gamble as well. If Pandora dared to bet, then so would she.
She gradually drew the naginata away from the girl's throat and released her hands, allowing her to slowly sit up.
"It seems Miss Raiden is gambling too..."
Pandora rose somewhat sluggishly. Every movement revealed profound weakness, and paired with her slender frame, she looked almost pitiable. Yet this seemingly fragile person constantly wore a faintly smiling expression that unsettled her.
"I don't believe you're a careless person. On the contrary, someone as meticulous as you suddenly acting careless only makes you more believable."
She leaned back slightly, folding her arms as she examined Pandora with quiet scrutiny.
After sitting up, Pandora pulled her slipping collar back into place. With a gentle smile, she parted her soft lips.
"Then... Miss Raiden, do you prefer the careless me... or the meticulous me?"
The question came out of nowhere.
"Haa... You strike me as someone extremely meticulous. But this display of carelessness only proves how eager you are to find me—or to achieve your objective. Isn't that right?"
She narrowed her eyes.
"Mm... you could say that."
Pandora nodded.
"I will provisionally believe everything you just said. But if I discover even the slightest suspicious behavior, you know the consequences."
She issued her warning.
"Please rest assured... Now that I've met you, I would not dare act recklessly."
Pandora raised both hands, crossing her index fingers in a small gesture. Her voice, delicate as silver bells, carried a perpetual quiet serenity.
Her gaze drifted again to the bloodstains on Pandora's wrists. She sighed deeply, silently lamenting her own soft-hearted nature. Shifting her hips slightly closer to Pandora, she retrieved a pale violet handkerchief from her pocket and, with delicate precision, tore it into four strips of equal size.
"..."
Pandora tilted her head slightly, momentarily unsure of what she intended to do.
Pat.
She lightly tapped Pandora's smooth calves, which hung over the edge of the bed. The toes resting against the ground swayed slightly from the force.
"?"
Pandora looked at her blankly, then down at her own feet.
"Put them on the bed..."
She reminded her, exasperated.
Pandora complied silently, drawing her entire body onto the bed. Her legs rested upon the mattress, knees slightly bent, hands braced at her sides. For some reason, the sight gave her a strange sense of docility.
Looking at the glaring wounds, she frowned.
"Earlier, when you said 'used to it—including death,' what did you mean?"
She asked carefully. A certain answer had already formed in her mind, but she sought confirmation.
"Exactly what it sounds like..."
Pandora offered no further explanation. She spoke as if there were no deeper meaning.
"...?"
Her gaze grew increasingly severe.
"May I borrow that blade?"
Pandora seemed to read her expression and turned her eyes toward Engulfing Lightning, which rested nearby.
"You—wait—!"
Before she could respond, Pandora had already crawled over and taken hold of the naginata. The weight clearly affected her; she struggled to drag it back, breaking into a faint sweat. With such a thin frame—even more fragile than Kokomi—no, fragile was not enough. She seemed hollow. Kokomi might have been delicate, but not to this exaggerated extent.
"What are you doing?"
She demanded.
"Words alone are difficult. It's better that you see for yourself."
With that, Pandora pressed her snow-white neck against the blade of Engulfing Lightning without hesitation.
Sshk—
Before her eyes, the girl drew her throat straight across the edge. A thick surge of blood poured from the wound.
"..."
She did not even have time to stop her. Instinctively, she held her breath.
"...Mm. This time the cut isn't very neat..."
Looking at the crimson soaking her hands and splattering onto the bed, Pandora touched the gash at her throat. Instead of pain, there was regret in her tone.
Then she lifted her gaze and met her eyes with a tranquil smile. Beneath that fragile expression, she slowly collapsed before her—her breathing ceasing.
Clatter—
Engulfing Lightning slipped from her hand and fell to the ground with a crisp sound.
"!"
She snapped out of her shock and hurried forward, brushing aside the long hair that concealed the girl's pale face. The crystalline blue eyes had already grown dull and lifeless. Yet that final smile remained—like a white rose stained red.
Still touching her cheek, she blinked once.
The next moment, she froze.
"Such warm hands... It makes me want to linger in them forever."
As if waking from a dream, Pandora—who should have been a corpse—was once again sitting on the bed as before, perfectly unharmed. She held her hand against her own cheek, a trace of yearning now visible in her expression.
"!"
She instinctively tried to withdraw her hand, but Pandora tightened her grip and looked up at her.
"Does this appearance frighten you?"
Pandora asked softly.
"...A foolish question. Why would I fear this? I am merely astonished."
She finally pulled her hand free and steadied herself.
To be honest, she truly had been startled just now. Was this her Authority as well?
Her gaze lowered once more.
It was no illusion. The blood remained.
Only the corpse had vanished—replaced by a flawless Pandora seated before her.
"Is this your Authority as well? Like the way your words become reality?"
She asked.
"Words becoming reality...? Hehe... I suppose that's not entirely wrong."
Pandora smiled faintly.
"But you're right. At the moment of death, a thought naturally arises—'I don't want to die, I must not die.' Because of that... I will never truly die."
She answered calmly. Unless she genuinely wished for death—but that was impossible for her now. She wanted to live.
"..."
She said nothing. Instead, she silently took Pandora's hand and used the torn strips of cloth to wrap her wrists and ankles one by one, preventing the wounds from worsening or becoming infected.
"..."
Throughout it all, Pandora quietly watched the woman lowering her head to tend to her injuries. For the first time, a faint glimmer appeared in her otherwise still eyes.
"For the first time..."
Hearing her soft voice, the Shogun glanced up instinctively, only to find Pandora looking at her with a gentle warmth in her smile.
"Miss Raiden... you're the first person who has ever treated me this kindly."
Her hands paused briefly.
"I'm merely tending to your wounds. How is that kindness?"
She resumed her movements.
"..."
Pandora said nothing further, simply watching her in silence.
"Don't do something like that again—such suicidal behavior. Even if you won't die, it's irresponsible to others."
She spoke in a low voice.
"...By 'others,' do you mean—"
"If you understand, there's no need to say it aloud."
She cut her off.
"Since Miss Raiden has said so, I will give it proper thought."
Pandora smiled softly.
After finishing the bandaging on her right ankle, she lightly tapped the top of Pandora's foot—a small motion carrying a hint of reproach.
"Since you have such a convenient Authority, why not use it on yourself?"
She asked, looking at the bandaged limbs.
"...On myself? I'm sorry... I don't quite understand...?"
Pandora tilted her head slightly, touching the cloth around her wrist.
"Haa... Why not simply say, 'I shouldn't be injured'? Wouldn't your wounds disappear that way?"
She even mimicked Pandora's tone, her voice shifting slightly—unexpectedly making her sound a bit cute.
"Because... my Authority is currently restricted by her. And since I was split from her, my Authority is less than half of hers. Under these conditions, I cannot interfere with the causality she imposes upon me. So... I cannot remove these injuries."
Pandora slowly hugged her knees, her pale feet drawing slightly closer together.
"So you can't even open the cage, because she's the one who locked you inside?"
As she spoke, she glanced toward the cave entrance. Snow still drifted outside. Though the storm had subsided, the sky remained dim and heavy.
"Mm..."
Pandora nodded.
"Then how did you escape?"
She asked.
"This..."
Click~
From her sleeve, Pandora produced a bronze key and held it up, letting it sway before her eyes.
"The simplest method is often the most effective... isn't it?"
She smiled softly.
"So...? Won't she track you down here and drag you back?"
She stood up from the bloodstained bed and walked toward the cave entrance, leaning against the stone wall as she looked out into the frozen landscape.
"That is exactly why I sought you out, Miss Raiden..."
Pandora stepped down from the bed as well and walked barefoot to her side. She pointed toward a distant mountain peak, barely visible through the dim horizon.
"There... hidden at the summit, is a 'gemstone'—also called the 'Heart of Sylvia.' If I carry it, it can completely block her ability to sense me. Otherwise... she will inevitably find me."
The Shogun followed her gaze. The peak pierced into the clouds, reminding her faintly of Amakumo Peak from long ago.
"You intend for me to take you there?"
She asked.
"Yes. Storm clouds gather there year-round, with constant lightning. If it's you, Miss Raiden... perhaps you can handle it. Alone, I would struggle. My Authority is limited—I cannot alter the climate."
Pandora nodded, explaining further.
"..."
She turned to look at her in silence, an expression of disbelief crossing her face.
"...? Is there a problem?"
Pandora tilted her head.
"Give me a reason to help you."
She replied bluntly. Being dragged from a peaceful sleep into this desolate place—only to now be asked to climb a mountain—no reasonable person would comply so easily.
"Hmm... afterward, I—the Witch of Vainglory—will accompany you on your journey. Would that suffice?"
Pandora touched her hair lightly as she spoke.
"...You have quite the nerve."
She muttered.
"You don't actually have a convincing reason, do you?"
She exposed her directly.
"Then... what should I do? I don't have anything of value to offer. And if I don't obtain it, I will surely be discovered by her. So... perhaps I should offer myself to you?"
Pandora's eyes lit up slightly. She placed her hands over her chest, then slowly opened her arms toward her in a gesture of surrender.
"..."
Her lips twitched faintly.
"I'm quite useful... If you have emotions with nowhere to vent them, you can direct them all at me. You may strike me, mistreat me, or even... force yourself upon me. I will accept it all silently. If that still isn't enough, you may even kill me."
Speaking such abnormal words, Pandora stepped closer, pressing her palms together as if in prayer. Her eyes were filled with fixation, yet her expression remained eerily calm.
"That's enough!"
Smack.
She slammed Pandora against the wall, pinning her firmly in place.
"Yes... just like that. Pour all your desires onto me. That would fulfill what I just said, wouldn't it?"
Even pinned against the wall, the girl showed no fear. Instead, she smiled serenely, her body relaxing as if ready to be handled however she pleased.
"Look at me."
"I am looking."
Pandora obediently met her gaze. Just as she was about to surrender herself entirely to whatever desires the woman might have—
She felt a warm touch on her cheek.
"...?"
She looked at her in confusion.
"I'll take you there. But in return, you must do one thing for me."
The Shogun gently pinched her soft cheek.
"Yes. Please, give your command."
"...Stop treating yourself like that. No more self-destruction. Can you do that?"
"!"
For the first time, clear surprise appeared on Pandora's face. Her calm blue eyes widened slightly.
"Promise me... now."
She urged.
"...Alright. I promise you."
Pandora answered softly, her voice tinged with confusion.
"I told you before—think about how others feel before saying such things. This is the last time."
She released her.
"Let's go... I'll take you there."
She gestured toward the outside and stepped out first.
"..."
Pandora watched her back in silence for a moment. Then a faint smile curved her lips as she quietly followed.
(She truly is... a special person, Miss Raiden.)