CHAPTER 16: LIFE IS STRANGE

Life is strange indeed.

In one night, Kira and I went from battlefield foes to inseparable allies.

We reunited with old friends, were betrayed by them, and now mourn their loss—all in a single night.

A new day dawned. Kira sat silently beside Poppy, wordless. Muse grinned awkwardly, recounting her and Edward’s tales through the night. I understood their pain—losing loved ones cuts deep. I didn’t know how to comfort them, to ease their grief. I could only watch the survivors, seething in silence. I blamed the cloaked figure and that idiot Gremlin; I blamed myself for not going with Kira. She rose slowly, saying she wanted to cremate her friends. Muse’s face twisted, tears welling—though Androids lack tear ducts. We can’t cry.

Kira and I gathered the factory’s roots, piling them around the cold bodies. Muse sat helplessly in a corner, handless and powerless. We stood before Edward and Poppy, their faces still as if sleeping. “Sweet dreams,” Kira whispered, raising her hand to ignite the pyre—but something was wrong. I scanned her with my system, the results baffling me.

Her body held no trace of mana.

Muse seemed to notice too. Kira gritted her teeth, focusing, but nothing happened. “Let me,” I said, firing at the roots. Small explosions sparked, flames roaring to life. Muse cried out in despair; Kira stood motionless, watching. She’d lost friends, lost her power—and I could only stay quiet. The fire consumed Edward and Poppy, ending a sorrowful tale.

We returned to the sewer hideout. Muse said she had something to tell us. Kira sat silently in Edward’s chair, where he’d once scribbled tirelessly. Muse explained how the Gremlin approached them, promising the cloaked figure would save Edward and Poppy from death and upgrade Muse’s body if they helped. They refused at first, but Poppy secretly sought the Gremlin, receiving a Philosopher’s Stone—and was tricked into becoming a Beast, as we’d seen. Edward saw Poppy as a sister; he agreed to the terms, adding that the cloaked figure must free her from the Beast. Their sole task: eliminate the Reaper. The Gremlin tracked and reported our positions to Edward. They lured Kira into Sleeping Beauty’s world, where she’d be vulnerable.

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“So where’d your intel come from?” I asked Muse curiously.

“That Gremlin’s dumb and greedy. Feed it sweets, and it spills everything,” Muse chuckled faintly. “Edward planned to use that info against the cloaked figure after freeing Poppy.”

“Do you know who he really is?” I asked again.

“Only that he’s a man tied to the Elder Council. I tried infiltrating the Meadow once, but it’s heavily guarded—my frame couldn’t handle it,” Muse sighed, her expressions strikingly human.

“True enough,” I replied. Guardian Androids have thicker frames, slowing them compared to others. “And Kira’s current state…”

“…I don’t know,” Muse glanced at Kira with concern. “Edward’s notes never mentioned a Homunculus suddenly losing mana like this.”

I looked at Kira, still seated, head bowed, toying with Edward’s pen, staring blankly at it. Nothing seemed to reach her ears.

“Listen, I have to go,” Muse said abruptly. “Stay here as long as you like—I can’t bear another moment in this place…”

“Where to?” I asked.

“Anywhere. Too many memories here…” Muse’s voice choked. “…I’m truly sorry for everything.”

“Muse…”

“Take care, both of you. Snow, I left something behind the bookshelf—hope it helps.”

Muse departed. Kira remained oblivious, fixated on the pen. I wanted to hug her, to voice my thoughts, but something held me back. Following Muse’s hint, I found a crate tucked in a wall nook. Inside was a note and a black device resembling THE SHIEL2. “BR1SC0E…” I muttered after scanning it. I equipped it, activating a black armor suit that encased me, a sword at my hip. Deactivating it, I picked up the tattered note—Muse’s intel on the Meadow. An idea sparked.

“Kira, stay here. I’ll end this…”

“No!” Kira gripped my hand tightly. “Don’t go—I can’t lose anyone else…” Her voice trembled.

I hugged her—something I couldn’t do before. “It’ll be fine. I’m your Guardian Angel, remember? In return, become the Reaper again,” I smiled. Kira looked at me, tears streaming. “I’ll be back soon.” I brushed her black hair gently, then turned and left.

The Meadow—where the cloaked figure hid—lay encircled by towering walls, isolated from Elysium. I activated the armor, approaching the sealed gate. Guards swarmed me, but I paid them no mind. They were mere pebbles in my path—too weak to stop me.

“Second-generation combat Android, once called CBT-002. Now, please call me Snow.”