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C18: yearning becomes unbearable

C18: yearning becomes unbearable

By the fourth day, Jennette included in her letters to the princess;

Princess, is Sir Idris doing alright? I have also heard that he had fallen ill. I wonder if it would not be rude of me and Ijekiel to visit him if possible. My brother seems to have some worries and I thought that Sir Idris might be able to help him.

When Athanasia read that, she couldn't help but feel a bit weird. From what Octavius told her, Idris had disappeared after confronting her dad a few days ago. She assumed that Idris had gone ahead to sleep over at the Alpheus Household in secrecy again but...

He... doesn't seem to be at their place. Then, where did Idris go?

.

.

A few days later, Athanasia realized that Idris disappeared as quiet as a dandelion's fruits on a windy day.

Even when she called him by nickname, the invisible mark on her hand did not summon him like it did the first time.

.

.

"Brother Ye, I'm leaving today."

The little girl slumped in his arms, obviously unwilling to leave him. His lips could not help but twitch, her pampered attitude appearing quite cute in his eyes. "And what do you want Brother Ye to do, Athy?"

Her dark brown eyes widened, looking up at the the ill youth in expectation. "Brother Ye would do something for Athy?"

"That's right," a gentle smile graced his lips. "Because I want Athy to remember happiness even when we separate."

"But... I don't want to leave Brother Ye."

"Separation is always hard," the appearance of Sen popped up from deep within his mind, causing an indescribable sadness to flicker in Idris' eyes. "But, at the very least, when Athy thinks of me, you will only remember happiness."

Pouting, the little girl moved in his arms until she sat on his laps, each one of her tiny hands squishing his cheeks together. "Athy... I want to have a picture with Brother Ye, is that okay?"

It was obvious how parting from him affected her and this broke Idris' heart. After two years of spending his time in this strange world where he could not perform magic, the arrival of this little girl named Athy had made him feel better. Something about her soothed his worries.

It washed away his anxiety.

"Alright," he said. "I will happily fulfill your wishes, princess."

Athy beamed and hugged him around his neck. "Brother Ye is the best!"

When she left, Idris wanted nothing more than to get better. He wanted nothing more but to take care of Athy who had no parents. These past few weeks he spent with her had warmed his frozen heart; a heart filled with nothing but the vicious cold and frightening loneliness.

Yet, his wishes were not granted.

A few days Athy left, the body he occupied for the past two years gave up on him.

His soul left his dead body, and when he realized that, he had searched for his little girl.

There, he found her, surrounded by other orphan kids at the orphanage. When he witnessed her bright smile, Idris felt like he shouldn't intrude in her life anymore.

His time in this world had already ended.

Athy, if you and this one meet once more, this one shall never abandon you.