The Mansion of Trials and Trials

Move on

"Hump. He sacrificed himself. What an idiot," said Brian coldly. He stared at the body on the ground. He didn't seem to feel anything by the sacrifice.

"Interesting. Oh dear, this is so interesting. So Levi made such a choice. Did the Residents see him wrong? Hehehe......" C laughed. Similarly, C didn't seem to show any sadness or sorrow.

"I'm saved......? By Levi......why did he saved me?" Haddie sobbed.

"What is he doing? I don't understand. Why doesn't he vote for Haddie?" Keira wondered.

"Oh my goodness, why did Levi......this is ridiculous!" Von said.

"So, is this over? Since we have a sinner. Are the trials completed?" Inga asked.

"Yes it is, my dear Wanderer. I now by declare 'The Sinners Trial' is over. You all will receive one obol from Mel. The next trial will start at twelve noon tomorrow. Take some rest for now. I'll see you guys tomorrow. Salutations, Wanderers." Puppet waved her goodbye and she disappeared from sight.

I collapsed on the ground, still in shock at what happened. I didn't quite understand what was happening. My face got washed away by tears. I cried heavily. I stared at Haddie and regretted.

"Argh.......I should have voted you." I said softly. Everyone stood away from Haddie. Although she was saved by Levi, I didn't like this ending.

Levi should be the one to survive the trials.

Not Haddie.

Not anyone but him......what did you do this?

Why did you love to sacrifice your life for others so much?

Among the people you want to protect, don't you count too?

I don't know.

I don't know.

What the hell are you doing, Levi??!!!!

You should just vote for Haddie! She is the murderer! She deserves to die first and not you.

No.......

Argh.......

WHY DIDN'T I VOTE FOR HADDIE?!!!

IF ONLY I KNEW LEVI WAS GOING SACRIFICE HIMSELF, WHY DID I LET LEVI DIE?

THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING. IT JUST CAN'T BE!!!!!

I yelled in my heart. Countless queries dazzled my brain and brought me to the meadow of affliction, torture and despair. I could not hesitate to think about the rationality of Levi's self-sacrifice. It was nothing above literally the meanings of dictionaries and useless blunt envelope cutter. He was a man of justice, kindness and heroism. Yet, self-sacrifice in heroism was just like the foolish knight called Don Quixote fighting against the windmills inside the literature or the tragedy of the love between Romeo and Juliet. Nothing less and nothing more. It was not something that should be proud or praised at, cause for the ones that are left behind would be filled with everlasting sadness and desolation. Didn't we promise together we will hang out together after the trials are completed?

Why did you break your promise, Levi? Is being a hero much more important than fulfilling our promises and vow?

Self-sacrifice and will against friendship.

I don't understand.

I don't understand at all.

With tears, I stumbled myself onto the bed sheets of my bed. I could barely recall how did I managed to go back to my room. Walking and wandering like the phantom ghosts. Eyes not looking at the road. I boiled the water with a kettle and took a slip of hot water. Tasting it, I saw the illusion of Levi's smiling face on the water surface, yet it dissolved quickly. The taste of the hot water was not helping me to regain my senses and hope. I patted my head again. Without Levi, what was the use of surviving the trial. Similar to him, I did not have a place to go after the trials, nor any families or friends to visit. It was just Levi, Levi who understood me well. Thinking back, we were indeed quite similar. I gazed at one of my obol coins. One side had a symbol of a rowboat. The another had a symbol of an old, strange-looking flower.