A Small Miracle (1)
At the bottom of the Abyss, a pitch-black snake lay coiled tight. The pure darkness within it was slowly, bit by bit, devouring the golden light.
"Damn it, isn't there anything?"
I stamped my feet and scanned the surroundings. There was no way I could unravel that snake, coiled so tightly by my own power. If only I had some other tool…
"Even a rock would do!"
What kind of sea didn't even have a single pebble rolling around? All I could see was the mud of the floor and water.
While I dithered, not knowing what to do, the darkness had almost completely swallowed the golden light.
—Tssaaaaak
Was that the sound of a monster's maw opening, or just my imagination? A chill ran down my spine for no reason.
The tiny golden starlight, nearly buried in darkness, flickered weakly like an ember about to go out.
—Tsspat
It blinked its light thinly, as if it would snuff out any second. My chest burned along with that dying light. Seriously, was there nothing? Did I just have to stand here and watch?
—Crack
"Huh?"
From the snake's direction… something broke. I hurriedly checked the source of the sound. Could it be?
"This is…"
A large crack had formed right in the middle of the black snake's body. Like a long stab wound, a scar had appeared. Why on earth? No—the reason didn't matter right now.
Centered on that wound, the snake's body was split wide open. I quickly thrust my hands in and began prying the wound wider.
"Hup! Ghhup!!"
I squeezed out every last ounce of strength. I didn't know what that golden light was, but it was warm and pleasant. I couldn't let it be swallowed by that foul darkness and disappear.
I diligently worked the gap of the wound, widening the crack. The snake's body made a cracking sound as the fissure grew, and it began to shatter.
"G-good! Just a little more!!"
With a grunt, I pulled harder on the snake's body.
Whether it was my imagination or not, an unpleasant scream came from the direction of the snake's snout. Spending so long in the dark deep sea must have weakened my mind. Ignoring it, I silently pried and tore at the snake's wound.
—Kwa-jijijik!
The gaping wound covered the snake's body, and the sound of its hard shell shattering rang out. Like an insect's carapace breaking, the snake's body slowly turned to powder and scattered.
"Hah, haah— huuh… Did it work?"
I made a show of wiping away nonexistent sweat. It had been really close. If that inexplicable wound hadn't appeared at the end… that tiny golden starlight would have been eaten by the darkness.
"Ah! The starlight!"
I hurriedly checked on the golden starlight. After all this trouble, it had to be okay, right? My heart pounded.
"Ah…"
Had I been too late? Had it been trapped in the darkness too long? The dazzling form from the beginning was gone, and it flickered weakly as if about to go out any moment.
A small, frail light trembling like an ember on the verge of extinction. Looking at it made my chest ache.
"…Poor little thing."
An inexplicable sadness and pang filled my chest. Why was I so sad? What was this tiny light that it could make me this sorrowful?
"…I don't know."
But did one really need a reason to feel pity and compassion for something? I slowly reached out toward the faintly flickering light.
—Tss, tss-tss…
Before I knew it, the time the light was out had grown longer than the time it shone. I carefully cupped the starlight in my hands. Like a child cradling a firefly, like handling a fragile treasure, I slowly embraced the starlight.
Would this change anything? Maybe nothing would change. But if I could share even my small warmth with this starlight…
Wouldn't it give this starlight even a little strength?
"Hang in there."
I whispered as I pulled the starlight to my chest. Softly, I spoke the name of this star that the white starlight had told me.
"Hang in there, Kenis."
Embracing the starlight, I wished for a small miracle.
That this star might sparkle once more.
Kenis had a terrible nightmare. A powerful demon had seized her body and was trying to kill the holy knights, Friga, and even the Paladin.
Fortunately, at the end, the Paladin had stopped the demon-possessed version of herself… but it had been a truly grotesque nightmare.
Ha, haha… Even I have ridiculous dreams sometimes…
Kenis tried to open her eyes. She opened them. Or had she not yet? Even though her eyes were open, darkness filled every direction.
"Ah… ah…?"
A deflated sound escaped Kenis's lips. Where on earth was this…? Was she still trapped in the nightmare?
—Khuhk —Khhuup
From far away in the darkness came the sound of someone sobbing. Whatever it was, it was weeping so mournfully. Kenis slowly moved her legs—invisible in the dark—toward the sound of crying.
"E-excuse me. Are you… all right?"
She carefully spoke toward the approaching sobs. Then the weeping… cut off with a sudden stop.
—Zzzt —Zzzzt
The sound of a leather pouch being dragged across the ground came toward her. Something was crawling through the thick darkness, heading straight for her. Fear filled Kenis's eyes.
"W-what is it! A demon? A heretic? What are you!"
She shouted loudly to hide her fear. But the terror within was unmistakable.
—Kikik —Kikikik
From every direction, unpleasant laughter pierced the darkness. Unknown things kept crawling across the floor, drawing closer to Kenis.
"Hic, huuk…! G-get away from me!"
Kenis squeezed her eyes shut in fear. If only she had a sword—even a small blade…
—Chap —Chap
Cold, clammy palms seized her legs. Slowly… slowly they gripped her body and climbed. A bone-chilling sensation raced up her spine. Kenis's body trembled like a leaf in the wind.
"You… you killed us, Kenis."
"You killed us."
Friga's voice whispered right beside her ear. A voice rough and cracked, as if blood were boiling in her throat. Kenis felt her heart stop with a heavy thud.
"N-no… it wasn't me…! The demon—the demon did it!"
"No… no!!"
Voices blaming Kenis rang out from every direction.
Everyone was blaming her. They condemned her powerlessness and screamed at her.
Ah, if only she could wake from this terrible nightmare…
"S-Six Gods. W-with your eternal light, p-protect m—hup! Protect me…"
She recited the prayer frantically while covering her ears. Even with her ears blocked, the resentment and screams directed at her continued to reach her.
—Chap —Chaap
The hands clinging to her body increased one by one. From her legs to her waist. From her waist to her shoulders. From her shoulders to her face.
Little by little. Blood-soaked hands layered over one another, seizing Kenis's body. Was this what an ant felt when it fell into an antlion's pit?
"Ah… uwa…"
A cold hand covered her mouth. Covered her nose. Gradually the hands climbed and covered her face. Was she… was she going to die like this?
Through a tiny gap, Kenis's golden eyes trembled violently. Just as the last remaining eye was about to be covered by a palm—
—Hwaaaaak!
"U-ahk!"
Across the countless hands covering Kenis, a massive scar of light appeared. From the wound, sharp as if stabbed by a blade, light that banished the darkness poured forth.
Kieeek!!
With ghostly wails the hands vanished. The countless hands that had covered Kenis burned away in the bright light. Hands crumbling like dust.
"Ugh… augh."
Where the hands had been, Kenis lay collapsed. Black palm prints remained all over her body. Like an ember about to go out, Kenis exhaled a thin breath.
"Hah… uuh—"
A weak, rattling breath. Had it been too late? The light in Kenis's eyes was gradually fading.
Ah… ah. That light… is…?
In Kenis's dying eyes appeared a colossal light. Like a dazzling illusion, it shone brilliantly.
A light so vast it could not be taken in at a single glance. A giant of light was looking down at Kenis.
The… Great One…
The giant of light carefully lifted the collapsed Kenis. As if handling a delicate, fragile treasure, its touch was gentle and warm.
Hands, body, face—all were a collection of countless stars. So many stars formed the giant that it appeared as a single light.
Sixth… God…
Light slowly returned to Kenis's unfocused pupils. The giant of light slowly drew Kenis into its embrace.
Like a parent cradling a child, like a mother bird protecting her young. Warm, soft starlight wrapped around Kenis.
"Ahh, Great One… Merciful One…!"
Kenis felt tears well up and spill over. The giant's embrace was so warm and kind.
Beautifully shining starlights seeped into Kenis's body. Each time the multicolored starlights settled into her, the black palm prints vanished one by one.
Hang in there.
The giant of light whispered as it gazed at Kenis. A vast resonance shook the space. The starlights shone and blessed her.
—Hwaaaaak!
With those words, a dazzling light covered Kenis's eyes. She squeezed them shut without thinking. Then a tremendous sound of water reached her ears.
—Kwarrrruk!
"Uup?!"
Cold water crashed over her entire body. Before she could even panic, her body rose rapidly. Continuously piercing through the water, her body climbed higher and higher.
After rising for what felt like a long time, when she opened her eyes…
"Kenis!"
She could see familiar faces.