Main Story/2-4

Hope and Despair

When we had arrived at the church...-.
Many people were sitting in chairs and listening to someone speak.

Avi

"They're...."

At the end of Avi's gaze, there were many children.
However, every one of their expressions were gloomy and pale.

Medi

"Do you know them?"

Avi

"Yeah. Just like Emil, they were all under my tutelage for sword training"
"I thought they were just not coming to sword training for the time being, but I guess they were here"

Avi dashed up to the children.

Child 1

"P-prince Avi....."

Avi

"How come you're here instead of coming to sword training?"

Child 2

"We... Are quitting sword training"

Avi

"Why?"

??

"If we do that kind of stuff, we're going to get attacked by the Dream Eaters"

MC

"!"

Turning to look at the source of the voice, we found a man in black standing there.

Avi

"Who are you?"

(That person is...)

??

"Where there is light, there is darkness"
"Because you have hope, despair will also appear"
"Nice to meet you. I am Kasa, doing experiments under the agency of science Magna."

Kasa

"I am pleased to make your acquaintance"

Avi

"Magna...?"

Medi

"I've heard of them. It's an organization of collected scholars formed in order to find ways to combat the Dream Eaters"

Avi

"Then, Kasa. What are you doing in my country?"

Kasa

"I heard that the damage done here by the Dream Eaters is relatively small, and so I came to save these people"

Avi

"Came to save....?"

Looking at the pale faces of the children, Avi's voice began to build anger.

Kasa

"Prince Avi. Your patriotism is sweet, but it would be best to turn your eyes to the rest of the world sometimes, too"

Avi

"What are you trying to say"

Kasa

"At this very moments, there are countries that the Dream Eaters are annihilating"
"You don't want something like that to happen to Alstoria, right"

Avi

"......"

Kasa

"We have come to one conclusion"
"What the Dream Eaters are targeting are things like "dreams" and "hope." If you throw away those things, you can avoid danger"

Avi

"That's ridiculous....!"

(It's possible that if you don't have dreams)
(The Dream Eaters won't attack you...?)
At that, Kasa transferred his gaze to me.

Kasa

"It looks like you have very strong dream power"
"But not you yourself.... but that ring?"

Without thinking, I hid my ring from Kasa's searching gaze.

Kasa

"At any rate, if we had something like that...-"

Kasa began to walk over to me.

Avi

"Don't get close to her"

Avi came out in front of me as if to hide me from Kasa.
Medi and Luke also lined up on his sides.

Avi

"On top of that, living without hopes and dreams is foolish!"
"All of you, open your eyes!"

Kasa

"You are as the rumors say, Prince Avi. You are beautiful in your heroism. However, that will bring the darkness of despair."
"....Look, it's come already. Despair"

Luke

"Dream Eaters!"

Dream Eaters large and small appeared in front of us...-.
The cries of children and strange groans of the Dream Eaters echoed throughout the area....-.
At the shrieks of the congregation, the Dream Eaters appeared one by one....-.

Kasa

"The darkness is gathering in response to your hope"
"It's better not to have hopes and dreams"

Avi

"Shut up!"

Little boy

"H....."

The darkness of the Dream Eaters enveloped the litlte boy.

MC

"Look out...-!"

Trying to protect the boy with my body...-.

Avi

"MC!"

With great speed, Avi changed direction and slashed the Dream Eaters away from us.

Avi

"Are you ok!?"

MC

"Y-yes...."

As the boy's body shivered, he stared at us with frightened eyes.

Little boy

"I'm scared...... If I have dreams, the Dream Eaters will come get me"
"Don't get near me...-"

MC

".....!"

Avi

"Hey!"

Medi

"Avi, help us out over here!!"

Avi

"Damn.....!"
"We've defeated them all. Is everyone alright?"

MC

"Yes...."

Kasa

"It's over. Where hopes and dreams overflow, Dream Eaters will visit upon"

At Kasa's words, the villagers' heads nodded one by one.

Villager 1

"Yes... That's right"

Villager 2

"Prince Avi, it's your fault the Dream Eaters appeared!"

Avi

"....!"

(No way!!)

Kasa

"You have called the Dream Eaters here. Can you please leave immediately"

When the villagers had started to chase us out, at that time...-.

Emil

"Prince Avi!"

Emil opened the door and dashed over to us.

Avi

"Emil! Why are you here!?"

Emil

"When I saw your horse outside, I thought maybe..."

A man and woman within the people who were listening to Kasa stood up.

Man

"Emil! You always duck out from church... You must receive Kasa's teachings today!"

Woman

"That's right, Emil. Because you were like that, Rena...-"

Emil

"Father, mother, you were here again...?"

(Emil's parents!?"
(Then, could that be)

Emil

"These days, my mom and dad don't come home very much."

"But, I'm fine. If I get stronger, I can make everyone smile again"
"More than that, let's find out a way for sis to see your mom and dad! Family is the most important thing"

"My little sister... Rena got attacked by the Dream Eaters, and my mom and dad come here every day...."

Avi

"What did you say!?"

Emil

"Prince Avi..... It's not true that we can't have dreams, rght!?"
"I won't believe something like that!"

Emil's mother

"Stop! Rena was attacked by the Dream Eaters because you had hope!"

Emil

"You're wrong....h!"

Kasa

"That won't do... Please take him"

Emil's parents grabbed his arms and attempted to drag him to the cave.

Emil

"Stop! Let me go! I want to save Rena! I have to get stronger!!"

Avi

"Hey! Wait!!"

Avi tried to run up to Emil, but the villagers restrained him...-.

Emil

"Prince Avi, sis.... Save me....!"

MC

"Emil!"

The heavy door made of stone closed with a loud noise.

Emil

"My little sister is such a crybaby, so until she stopped, I always used to do this"

"Sis, cry as much as you want"

"I said this last time, right? Next time I'll be the one protecting you"

I balled up my hands into fists...-.
After chasing us outside, the villagers had used a key to lock the door from the inside.

Avi

"Hey! .... Damn!"

Avi rammed the heavy door in an attempt to open it.

Luke

"The Dream Eaters come because we have dreams....?"

Avi

"Hey, what are you saying?"

Luke

"Oh, no.... It's just that time in that first village where we fought the Dream Eaters"
"The more and more terrified the villagers got, the less in number the Dream Eaters seemed to get"

Avi

"....."

Avi stopped ramming the door and looked down at the ground.

Luke

"I'm sorry. What I'm saying is, that doesn't mean they're right"
"... I think"

Medi

"Get it together"

Navi

"I know it's a bad time... But it seems they've come"

Avi

"The Dream Eaters?!!"

Medi

"Can't they cut us some slack.."

Luke

"Can't we even discuss things in peace....."

Navi

"Princess MC! You're bleeding.....!"

Navi flew to my left shoulder.
After defeating the Dream Eaters, I had sustained an injury on my left shoulder

Avi

"Are you ok? I'm so sorry, that shouldn't have happened while I was here!"

MC

"No, it was due to my carelessness. Navi, I'm completely... fine..."

That's what I tried to say, but I felt my consciousness fading.

Navi

"Princess, I'm sorry! Someone! Call a doctor!!"

Navi tried to slop the blood flowing from my shoulder with all his might.
(I'm fine.. really)

Navi

"Princess!!!"

...
......

??

"..... MC"

(Brother....?)
Those gentle eyes quivered sorrowfully.

??

"So you got hurt"

(I'm fine... Don't make such a sorrowful face)

??

"... How was it? The world you were born in"
"MC was loved and favored by this world the moment you were born into it"

(by the world?)

??

"That's right. Everyone loves MC.... I also love you"

(Everyone.....)
The people who I've met in this world came to my mind one by one.

??

"However, this world is being made dangerous. It is steadily changing...."
"The world that loves you, is hurting you..."

My left shoulder throbbed.

??

"I'm truly sorry... I'm a terrible older brother"

(That's not..!)

??

"No, Really though."

(??)

??

"There is only one method I can use to return you to your former world"

(Huh...!!"

??

"I'm sorry... I've been hiding it from you"
"At the night of the next full moon, go to the fountain of stardust. Then, you have to hold up your ring to the moonlight. If you do that, you'll be able to return to your former world."

(Really?)

??

"That night is when a special moon comes out, that only comes out once a year. You can crack the space-time continuum and transport to a parallel universe.

(I can return.... to my former world...)

??

"This is your only chance"
"I'm so glad I could meet the grown-up you"

My older brother's form started to grow hazy.
(Wait! Wait a second...!)

??

"I'm sorry.... Goodbye"

When I opened my eyes, a single teardrop fell from them.

Navi

"Princess!!"

Avi

"Are you ok!?"

"I'm so relieved!"

MC

"Everyone...."

When I tried to get up, the wound on my shoulder throbbed violently.

Avi

"Don't move. We've treated it, but it'll be 2 or 3 days until it's safe."

Navi

"If it was just a little off, your heart would have... You were in a dangerous position, there"

MC

"Where are we?"

Avi

"The castle. You were asleep for half a day."

MC

"..... And Emil.....?"

Avi

"I'm having my troops search about various things regarding the cult of Magna. Don't worry"

Medi

"Anyway, those darn Dream Eaters! Marring the body of a beautiful princess is a disgrace to men!!!"

Luke

"Do Dream Eaters have a gender"

Medi

"Well, if they did...-"

MC

"I'm sorry... Could you all leave me alone for a bit?"

Avi

"... Sure. Everyone, let's go"

When the 3 of them left, I tightly shut my eyes.
(I can return to my former world)
(I can even see my mom and dad)
(But...)

Emil

"My daughter.... The Dream Eaters devoured my daughter....!!"

"Prince Avi... It's not true that we should stop having dreams, right?"

"I won't believe that!"

The things that happened yesterday came to mind.

Navi

"Princess MC......"

Navi stared at me worriedly.

MC

"... Hey, Navi. Do you know when the next full moon is?"

Navi

"....It's in 3 nights."

Navi smiled silently.

MC

"Is that so"

When I looked out the window, I could see Avi and the rest waving around swords.
The ring on my chest twinkled as it caught the sunlight
After advancing two days....-.
Gazing at the full moon filling the night sky, I sighed deeply.
(Tomorrow is the full moon.... My shoulder is also almost fully healed)
(I can go back to my former world, huh)
(But....)
I still haven't told Avi and the rest.
At that time, there was a knock at the door.

MC

"Avi...."

Avi

"Feeling alright?"

MC

"Huh?"

Avi

"Well, Luke and Medi were worrying about you"

Avi ruffled his red hair in embarrassment.

MC

"...I'm sorry for worrying you all"

Avi

"Nah"

My heart skipped a beat.

MC

"Umm...."

Avi

"Hm?"

MC

"......"

The words wouldn't come out of my mouth.

Avi

"What's wrong"

MC

"Avi, actually..."

ō
Ņ

Avi

"So you're going back"

MC

"....I'm sorry"

Avi

"Nah, it's nothing to apologize for... I should be the one apologizing, actually"
"Don't make that face, you can go home"

Avi gave a warm smile.
Putting away my wandering thoughts, I decided to return to my former world the next day...-.
And then, on the day of...-
Avi and the others seemed busy with Kasa and the town.
(It was somehow hard, and I left without telling everyone)

Navi

"Princess MC......."

MC

"I'm sorry, Navi"

Navi

"It's okay.... As long as it's what princess chose"

Navi's kind eyes looked straight at me

MC

"... I'm sorry"

Having no words in return, after being guided to the stardust fountain,
I saw a small boy running for his life.
(Emil!?)

??

"Hey, wait!"
"Don't think you can escape!"

MC

?Ņ!?

The adults were chasing after Emil.
(Ah!)

Emil

"....! Stop!"

??

"You're such a handful. Let's go back to Kasa, alright? I will not allow you to go against his teaching!"

Emil

"Let go of me!!"

??

"Because you keep holding onto your dreams, the Dream Eaters are even hunting the rest of us!"

Emil

"No! I don't want to go back! I have to save Rena!! I will protect mom and dad!!"

Emil was taken away by the adults.
(What do I do... If it continues like this!!)

Navi

"Princess MC, if you don't leave now....."

The full moon filled the sky.

MC

"... Yes"

(There's only one chance to return... But)

MC

?Ņ?

Emil

"Sis, it's okay to cry your heart out"

"Didn't I say it? That I would protect you next time"

"Prince Avi, sis... Save me...!"

I clenched the ring on my chest and took a deep breath.

MC

"Navi, let's chase after them!"

Navi

"I- is that okay!?"

MC

"... Yes!"

I turned my back on the full moon.
(Wait for me, Emil)
End of Section 4

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