Embracing the Shattered Heart
The tale of the princess who resembled moonlight came to an end. The black sphere was a living prison. I had no sense of direction at all. No up or down, no front or back. Was I even walking properly?
Whiiish— Emotions like razor-sharp winds swirled endlessly, blocking everything trying to approach the heart of the void. Sorrow. Rage. Loss. Guilt. Loneliness. A torrent of feelings turned into jagged thorns, slicing across me as they passed.
—Slash. Warm red blood poured down. With every step, my body tore open and bled. So this was what it felt like to have flesh ripped away.
"I thought I'd never know in my lifetime, but... damn, this hurts more than I expected..."
The blade-like winds kept assaulting me relentlessly.
My breathing's getting shorter...
My brain screamed at me to breathe, but my body wouldn't respond properly. I forced in a gasp, but air mixed with the metallic tang of blood flooded my lungs. The sensation of skin tearing, blood flowing. In pain no ordinary human could survive, I kept walking. Step after step.
"My legs... aren't working right... Lost too much blood, maybe."
Each step was excruciating. Who knew that just walking could hurt this much? I wiped the blood trickling into my eyes with one hand. Strangely, one side was starting to blur.
When did I get hurt there...? I don't even know where or how I'm wounded anymore... Eh, does it even matter now...?
My body was already wrecked beyond repair; one more injury wasn't worth fussing over.
"Gotta hurry. Luna's waiting..."
The deeper I pushed, the sharper the emotional blades grew, but I didn't stop. I couldn't stop.
—Twinkle. The crescent moon hairpin in my hand trembled faintly. The only thing connecting Luna and me. Her emotions flowed into me from this tiny pin.
"Si-hyun... it hurts..."
"Where are you...?"
"I'm so lonely..."
"Did you abandon me...?"
"Do you hate me now...?"
"No way that's true."
I gripped the hairpin tightly with my blood-slick hand. Amid the pain and torment, I felt the fragile girl's sobbing heart.
"I told you before. Even if you hurt me, even if my life ends by your hand. I'll never hate you, Luna."
I had to convey that to her. Before she fully succumbed to mengmang-grade oblivion. Before she felt utterly abandoned by everyone.
"Just wait a little longer."
—Sslash! Flesh tore, blood kept flowing, but somehow, the heat was gone. The pain barely registered anymore. Was my body giving up on responding?
"So this is what dying slowly feels like..."
Maybe it was my body's final warning signal. Don't go closer. You could really die. Turn back now, and you might live.
But I couldn't.
Even if I survive, without Luna by my side... what's the point?
I didn't want some comfortable life bought that way. Painful, sad, agonizing—it didn't matter. I wanted to live with Luna.
"Luna... at the end of this path of pain and solitude, you'll be there, right...?"
I dragged my wounded legs forward, step by agonizing step.
"...I'll be right there, Luna."
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."
The voice of a girl endlessly apologizing to someone. Realizing she had killed everyone, Luna could do nothing but beg for forgiveness.
"Luna, why didn't you trust us? It was all for you... everything we did was for you! How could you give in to Greed like that?!"
"Princess, you killed us all. You monster! Why did you kill us? Why?!"
"Luna... you pierced my heart, so why are you still alive? You should die too. Right?"
Hallucinations echoed relentlessly. Alone in the void with no one to hear, Luna repeated her fruitless regrets.
"I'm sorry... Forgive me... Please forgive me... I'm sorry... Forgive me... Please forgive me... I'm sorry... Forgive me... Please forgive me... I'm sorry... Forgive me... Please forgive me... I'm sorry... Forgive me... Please forgive me..."
The girl sat on the floor, hugging her knees, mumbling nonstop. Her lips were swollen, her throat raw with blood, but she wouldn't stop her penance. Hand on her chest, she sobbed.
"Ah... it hurts... here... it hurts so much..."
Guilt stabbed her heart like needles.
If only blood would flow...
Maybe that would ease the guilt, even a little...?
"I deserve the pain... I have to suffer too."
She raked her nails harshly across her arm, drawing wounds.
—Drip. Crimson blood welled up, but Luna's body, devolving into mengmang-grade, healed instantly. Yet she saw it as a blessing.
"I can keep hurting... keep suffering..."
She could torment herself endlessly.
—Sslash —Sslash —Sslash
Luna repeated the cycle of self-harm and healing hundreds of times. It was the only way to endure the crushing guilt.
"Please... please forgive me..."
How long had she done this? Blood pooled on the floor, rippling like a shallow pond.
"Ah...?"
Like a fleeting montage, old memories flashed before Luna's eyes.
"Luna, how's the toast today? I put real effort into it—tasty, right?"
"Oh, this? Bought it as a gift for you. Crescent moon hairpin—matches your silver hair perfectly, don't you think? You're so pretty; it'll look great on you."
"Come here, Luna. Big hug time today too."
"Hahaha, Luna, getting more spoiled by the day? I welcome that anytime!"
Memories so radiant and happy. But unlike Si-hyun, who always smiled at her warmly, she had never once smiled back at him.
"S-sorry... Si-hyun...! I-I'm sorry for never showing it properly..."
The more memories passed, the more her heart crumbled. He had always been so kind. Hugged her so warmly every day.
"I... never did anything for him..."
Her golden eyes followed the Si-hyun in her memories, drinking him in before oblivion claimed her.
"Si-hyun... always looked at me with such warm eyes..."
She envied her past self. Foolish, not cherishing someone so warm by her side.
Now I could say I'm happy a hundred times over...
I could tell him I love him so much...
But it was a dream she'd never realize. No one could enter this void. And she could never leave.
Luna raised her trembling hand, grasping at empty air as if to hold something.
Si-hyun in my memories is so... so close... No feeling, but I want to feel him like this...
But her small hand just repeated futile gestures.
"Si-hyun... help me..."
A sudden memory surfaced.
"If Luna ever feels pain and it makes you sad, remember what I'm telling you now."
"You have to remember, Luna. If you say 'help me,' no matter how far I am, I'll come to you."
A promise to come no matter where, no matter how far. Believing it, Luna pleaded for the first time.
"Si-hyun... I-it... hurts..."
Her voice so tiny.
"H-here... it hurts so much... here..."
Too faint for anyone to hear. Hand on her chest, she sniffled.
"Si-hyun... help me... Come to me... please..."
She knew it was futile. Everything was too late. She was fated to become mengmang-grade oblivion here.
"I just... wanted to say goodbye..."
Her fingertips trembled.
Si-hyun... thank you... for loving me...
In the pitch-black void of despair and sorrow, Luna resolved to let go of her last thread of hope. She didn't want to suffer anymore.
"Goodbye... my precious one..."
The moment transparent tears fell from her golden eyes.
"Goodbye...? My precious Luna."
The voice she'd dreamed of. Luna thought it another hallucination.
Don't look up... If nothing's there... I can't take it...
Realizing it was fake would shatter her completely. She buried her face and waited for the illusion to fade.
But.
Thud—
Footsteps forced their way into the forbidden realm.
"Ah...?"
The girl looked up.
"Ah... aaa...?"
Far away, a man covered in wounds walked toward her. Endless thoughts flooded Luna.
Is it really Si-hyun?
Another illusion...?
Just a dream I made...?
As her heart pounded wildly, that beloved voice came again.
"Luna, I told you, right? If you say 'help me,' I'll come save you, no matter where you are. Pinky promise."
That voice. Those warm eyes.
"I came to keep that promise, Princess."
Only then did certainty dawn.
"Ah... aaa... S-Si-hyun...!!"
Luna's vision blurred with tears. Strength fled her body, but she reached out, forcing her legs to stand.
—Dash!
To reach him sooner.
"Hnnng... hnnngh!"
Pent-up emotions erupted uncontrollably. Tears streamed from her golden eyes.
She couldn't believe it. That he'd come here, enduring wounds, to find her. Risked his life to keep his promise.
—Whoosh!
She threw herself into his arms without hesitation. Strength gone, but she burrowed in with all she had.
"Ah... S-Si-hyun...! Si-hyun...! Si-hyuun...!!"
Screaming his name, the one she'd longed to call. Safe in his warm embrace, tension melted, and words poured out.
"Ah... s-sorry for hurting you...! Sorry for not waiting properly...! I-I was scared you'd disappear...! I missed you so, so much... Si-hyun...!"
Heart-wrenching confessions endlessly. She cried. Truly, for the first time since losing her emotions.
"Hnnng...! Hnnngh...! Si-hyun...! Si-hyuun...!!"
"Luna, I'm right here. Not going anywhere, so don't worry."
Si-hyun held her tight, stroking her back.
"Luna, I was too late, huh...? Sorry for breaking my promise to come right back. For leaving you alone all night... Can you forgive me?"
"Y-Yes... I can forgive everything...! Hic... You came back to me...! Kept your promise to come no matter where...!"
Luna clung to Si-hyun, sobbing for a long time. Neither let go.
How long did they cry? How long did they hold each other? Tear-filled eyes raised, Luna looked up at Si-hyun. He gazed back warmly.
Her bloodshot golden eyes. Blood on his face. She gently stroked his cheek.
"S-sorry for hurting you so much...! Sorry for just crying...! Hnnngh...!"
"Luna, no more 'sorry's. You've said it over a hundred times already."
"B-but..."
Si-hyun softly caressed her face, wiping her tears.
"No 'sorry's. I want to hear what our Luna always says."
"Wh-what I always say...?"
Si-hyun whispered, gazing at her.
"Luna, I'm home."
Those words. The ones she'd waited for, longed to hear. Tears flowed naturally from her golden eyes—but warm, joyful ones this time.
"Y-yes...!"
Luna smiled brightly. A smile so radiant and beautiful, it was hard to believe it came from first feeling true joy.
"...Welcome home, Si-hyun...!"
With those words, she spread her arms wide.
"You're home, so hug me tight...!!"
"Of course! Come here, Princess Luna."
The moment her small body nestled into his embrace, the dark red storm of emotions subsided. Only glowing golden waves of happiness enveloped the girl and her savior.
As gentle moonlight rained from above, the tale of mengmang-grade oblivion drew to a perfect close.