cetsyr

The shadow smiles at her, like an echo.

Amiya closes her eyes, new tears spilling out, rolling down her cheeks. She suddenly feels an unbearable sorrow...

...Theresa... please, you no longer have to...

The shadow reaches out and touches Amiya's forehead.

They made a promise. The shadow will appear whenever Amiya calls for her.

Amiya needs only to refuse the shadow, and she will disappear.

Unspoken words linger in the air.

But the shadow remains standing.

She leans down, and leaves a somewhat strained kiss on Amiya's head, then stands up and waits.

But Amiya comes to her senses, and her vulnerable state leaves her open to making another mistake.

How could I have said that...? I'm sorry, Theresa...

The shadow stops smiling, and Amiya's sorrowful expression appears on her face.

She hugs Amiya again, her cheek pressing against Amiya's temple. This way, Amiya cannot see the sadness on her face.

As she gently pats the Cautus's back, she says...

Amiya... don't worry about me.

You will never hurt me. You never have to apologize to me.

I know you're growing up. It's alright. It's good.

I'm always here.

As she finishes, the shadow releases Amiya from her embrace, squeezes her hand, and vanishes.

The endless stretch of sand disappears without a trace, and in the void within the void, the teal lake ripples slowly, the moist wind still tender.

Amiya opens her eyes. They sting a little. Her hair and pillow are wet.

Someone is holding her hand.

Amiya, you're awake.

Doctor...

It's so dark outside... is it morning already?

Yes. Seems like it'll rain today.

Ah, over there in the forest...

It's fine, let's set off before the rain falls.

Are you alright, Amiya?;You had a nightmare...

I did... have a really exhausting dream.

But it had a happy ending.

Because someone was with me. We went through the dream together.

Mm...

So, Doctor, I'll go with you too.

Amiya wipes the moisture from her eyes, removing any traces of water, and smiles at you.

_ND_DWDB_READY

_TIMEDATA_8141

I broke our 'promise' to fulfill my 'obligation', even though these two are logically the same, and there should not be a situation in which one is affirmed while the other is nullified.

But it did happen. I checked the progress logs, but found no errors.

Additionally, I already 'believed' this was the right choice before the verification happened.

Just like the request Amiya made to me.

I also had a 'premonition' of something I long knew: Amiya will grow, and change.

One question: Will there be a day when she 'will no longer need my company'?

Another question: Logically speaking, Amiya will cease to exist in the foreseeable future. In this situation, what should 'I' do?

Strictly speaking, Civilight Eterna grows the same way as time.

But the more I learn about Amiya, the more I run into events that show I don't understand 'me' at all.

However, just as when I started to 'believe', contradictory circumstances also became valid.

I also 'believe' the question of 'what should I do' is a topic not worth worrying about.

It may be far from inception, but Civilight Eterna was defined to be a management device for all memories.

But now, I'm beginning to understand what 'memories' are.

That problem is not worth worrying over, because I have learned I too have memories.

Even if they are memories of sorrow.

Or perhaps they are memories of love.

_ND_DWDB_CLOSED