SING CRIER CH.16 - Half-life I feel a tap on my shoulder.

I whip around and leap away. 「 Whoa! Relax, it's just us. 」 ...I look down at them from atop a fallen tree trunk. Goz is riding Xaiyoya piggyback; both of them look a bit surprised. 「 You okay? 」 「 ...I'm fine. 」 I step down, crushing a mushroom underfoot. Glowing spores erupt and float into the air, illuminating the area.

I look around again. Nothing but insects. It really is just them... 「 Yeah... Can we not do this "I'm fine" stuff? 「 If you've got a problem just say so, we'll save time that way.」 She's... not wrong. There's not much to gain by staying quiet. I'm probably... being wary by habit. We've already gone this far. I should just tell them. 「 Sing spoke... earlier. 」 ...We can't waste time standing around, so I resume our march through the damp jungle. We can walk and talk, I know the way through. I just need to retrace my steps. 「 ...What? Is that it? 」 「 She said, "Marie." 」 「 Oh... okay, yeah, I can see why that's bothering you. When? Just now? 」 「 When we were crossing the plains. 」 「 You let that bother you this whole time, and said nothing? 」 「 ... 」 「 God, I imagined you hardening into some intimidating arms dealer. 「 Some really dark stories came up about you and Dream Eater, 「 but you're even softer than before, it's throwing me off. 」 「 ... 」 It doesn't seem like I stood to gain much by telling them either. A waste of time. I'll figure out why she said "Marie" on my own... 「 Oi, old man. 」 「 Hrmm? 」 「 What do you think? I'm drawing a blank here. 」 I step up onto another fallen tree. We use it as a bridge to cross over a ditch filled with fluorescent toxins. Its blue glow makes it appear as misty water, but in truth, it's all hot gas. 「 ...Alph-Polimion, may I ask how she said it? 」 ...How? Something like... "𝕄𝕒...𝕣𝕚𝕖..." 「 Desperately -- and with a strange accent. 」 「 Then, I would say... it's unlikely to be simply mimicry at least. 「 A reflex response is my best guess, considering her state now... 「 If she were more awake however, I'd assume she'd said that name intentionally.」 I look down at her. 「 ...I think she was awake back then; her eyes were glowing, 「 and my species' eyes only glow when we're focusing. 」 「 Er... but she's human isn't she? I'm not sure if that translates one to one... 」 Goz yawns. 「 Xaiyoya makes a good point, they probably don't work the way you think, 「 but... it's not impossible. As far as I know, she's not human.」 「 I-Is she not? I've heard of people with eyes that glow... 」 「 Yeah, but have you seen her legs? I remember her having frost demon legs. 」 They're wrapped in bandages now, but she does have them... Legs with frost demon skin... without their fur- 『 ℍ...𝕠𝕥... 』 We all stop. 「 What the hell was that? 」 「 That was... Sing. 」 「 That's what she sounds like? 」 『 𝕀𝕥'𝕤... 𝕥𝕠𝕠 𝕙𝕠𝕥! 』 「 What is she saying? 」 「 I-I don't know! I don't speak this language!」 「 Ha? Don't you know every language? 」 「 I don't know this one!」 She starts struggling wildly in my arms. It's easy to keep my grip on her with how weak she is, but she looks like she's dying! Isn't this bad?! I show her to them. Goz gives me a dumbfounded look. Xaiyoya however, squints. 「 Frost demon... Could it be that she's overheating? 」 The hot gas...! I run across the rest of the trunk, leaping off at its end. Far from the toxic ditch, I set her down on top of a large mushroom at the base of a tree. Surprisingly, the inflated fungus isn't crushed; she's too light. Wait, that doesn't matter! I need to cool her down! I drop my rucksack and start rummaging through it. What am I looking for...? Something cool... Something cold... ...This! I draw a serrated sword from its sheath. She's squirming in pain... I feel awful... Will she... hate me after this...? I hold the sword over her legs. A biting cold emanates from the frosted blade. I'm being especially careful not to get it too close... ...Is it working? Her writhing slows to a stop, leaving her with just heavy breaths.

Steadily, her breathing too slows to normal levels. To which, she frowns, and her eyes go dim... Giii... Did I... do something wrong...? I hear foliage being crunched behind me. 「 Oh, I don't have to do anything. Nice. 」 「 A-Alph... Polimion... can you... maintain that... air magic...? 」 It's Xaiyoya and Goz, they finally caught up. Ah, I accidentally let go of their «Fey Breath». I cast it again on both of them with a twirl of my fingers. With its help, Xaiyoya stands up straight, still carrying Goz. Did he carry her here without the help of my magic? He's surprisingly fit if he caught up that quickly... 「 Thank you... 」 「 Goz, get off of him. 」 「 No way. I'll sprain an ankle. 」 「 And he won't? 」 「 Uh, yeah? 」 ...I can't even give her the pampered princess excuse. Nobody calls her princess except her dad, the emperor. 「 Polimion, what... are you holding? 」 Xaiyoya is furrowing his brow at the blade. 「 Oh, this? Its The Pith of Rime, a magic sword from- 」 「 Ey! That belongs to my country. Give it back. 」 「 Sure, here Goz, hold it. 」 「 Uh... l-later... 」 「 One time offer. No? Okay, it's mine then.」 「 Ah. You harlot. 」 Upsetting Goz feels strangely satisfying. I really have no intention of returning this for free though. Even if it originated in her country, it was outside when we acquired it. Me and Mak, that is... 「 I-I see! So you carry dangerous items like that as well... 「 I suppose that's to be expected from "The Wonderful Merchant..."」 「 Yes... I suppose so... 」 I turn back to Sing. She's sitting up, focusing on the blade. Hmm? Even though her eyes aren't glowing? I suppose those two were right after all... Her eye glow doesn't work like mine... She reaches out to the blade. 「 No! 」 I yank it away. Xaiyoya leans back to avoid the swing. 「 Why do you keep trying to hurt yourself?! 」 She looks at me with an emotionless face. I give her a scolding look. 『 ... 』 She looks down at her legs and bounces them against the mushroom top; then presses her hands against it and leaps off. I catch her with one arm and lift her up by her hair. 「 No. Bad. 」 「 D-Doesn't that hurt? 」 I look up at Xaiyoya. Then bounce Sing by her side tail. 「 ...?! 」 Like a ball on a string, her hair stretches and contracts to her weight, but even then, only a little. The ball, in this case, is as light as a leaf. 「 Does this look like it hurts? 」 「 It's... not hurting her at all...? 」 「 Wow... huh. That's... a thing. 」 Even though I'm doing this absurd thing, Sing's face is still emotionless. What is she thinking? I can't understand her at all... Mentally, physically... what is she even? I've thought about this before, but isn't she kind of... impossible? 「 ...Alright, let's keep going. We need all the time we can get. 」 Sheathing the sword, I secure it over my gut and hold it in place with the straps of my rucksack.

Although it's cold for me, this should keep her cool as I carry her. Impossible or not, I still have a job to do. And so, with that brief crisis averted, let's press on. Except Sing is moving in my arms a lot more now... 「 Maybe she's Marie's kid. 」

I almost spit out the mana potion I'm drinking. 「 Excuse me? 」 「 Yeah, maybe not... 」 「 Absolutely not. Why would you even suggest that? 」 「 I imagined the uproar. The scandal would be funny. 」 「 It wouldn't be so funny after the following civil war. 」 「 Ha? But that's the funny part? 」 「 This is why you're unpopular. 」 「 Ouch. I'm just messing with you... 「 but did that give you any ideas? 」 Huh? Ideas? About what? About her family? Her mo...ther...? " You invested all this time and effort to bring them to Agehatate, but why not just raise them yourself? You're capable enough... ...Huh? Wait, you're actually going to do it? What happened to all that about them needing a mother? ...Giii? Really? Who do you have in mind? " ...I hold my head. 「 Oh? Looks like you came up with something. 」 「 ...I haven't. I just... remembered something unpleasant. 」 「 ...Well? 」 「 Sorry, but this is something I won't share. 」 「 Whaat? Come on... 」 「 Goz, please. 」 「 ...Fine. 」 「 Thank you. 」 I feel sluggish all of a sudden... This... this hurts... I didn't want to remember that... Giii...i... Sing, why do you have to keep wiggling...? Is it that uncomfortable in my arms? Do you hate me? Would you rather walk? ... Then walk, if you hate me so much. I let her down. She takes one step before her legs fail her, and she falls onto the moss on her side. 「 A-Alph-Polimion?! 」 「 Hmm? What are you doing? Have finally you lost it? 」 What am I doing? She pushes her body off the ground. Even after doing that horrible thing, her expression hasn't changed... I... I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me. I reach out to help her up. 「 Come on- 」 She feebly swats away my hand. I stare at her. She stands up on her own. I tighten my hands into fists. 「 Fine then! ...Do what you want. 」 I resume walking. 「 Ay! Polimion?! 」 「 She's walking with you now. 」 She evidently doesn't have any attachment to me. ... I try not to listen, but I overhear them whispering behind me. 「 Uh... don't mind her, she's just stupid. 」 「 ...Would you like me to carry you instead? 」 I crush a mushroom underfoot. She doesn't understand what you're saying. Why even talk to her? 「 Er... I suppose not. 」 Of course not. I thought you were a caretaker. You can't even read that much? Haa... I need... I need to cool down.... 「 Xaiyoya, let me down. 」 「 Hrmm? Oh, yes, here... 」 You better not come over here, Goz. I'm warning you. 「 Poly.」 Shut up. 「 Polimion. 」 「 Shut up... 」 「 Alph-Polimion. 」 「 Go away.」 She walks up beside me. 「 ... 」 「 ...You okay? 」 「 No. 」 「 ...Wanna talk about it? 」 「 No. 」 「 ...So- 」 「 I said I don't want to talk.」 「 -do you remember when we first met? 」 「 Oh please, you're doing this? Really? You? 」 「 ...Yeah, I am. Do you have a problem with that? 」 ...I look away. She's making a... weird face. 「 Thought so. 」 「 ... 」 ...Strangely, she doesn't continue. We spend some time travelling with only the sound of the rainforest. Nobody says a word. I check behind me. Xaiyoya is walking quietly. Sing as well, she's holding her own... And I... I feel bad... This silence is deafening... I glance sideways at Goz. She's looking up at the canopy... Am I... really this desperate for noise? 「 ...I remember. 」 「 Ah, really? 」 I'm just amusing myself... That's all this is. 「 You were a new Highlander, very shy. 」 「 Uh... wait, I don't remember that part at all... 」 「 I was sweet talking you for a sale, 「 and you looked so happy... 」 「 You're mistaken. 」 「 I found out later you had no friends. 」 Goz clutches her heart. 「 D-Damn... that's too far Poly... 」 「 What do you mean? That was the first day we met. 」 「 Yeah... but I was going to talk about something else... 「 Daaamn iiiit! I was so cringy back then! Ugh! 「 I can't stop remembering! ...You did this on purpose. 」 I grin. She makes a sour face. It takes some effort not to snicker. 「 Man... I really missed you, Alph-Polimion... 」 「 Wha-? Where is this coming from? 」 「 I said we went looking for you for this past year, remember? 「 I wasn't kidding, even I volunteered my hours to help out. 」 「 ...I would rather you not have though. 」 「 Yeah, I'm regretting it. 」 I punch her in the shoulder. 「 Ow! Easy! I bruise like a fruit... 」 「 ... 」 Sigh. I should... tell her, right? What's bothering me... It really hurts to remember though... Will it even help if I tell her? I feel bad thinking this but... I'm still not sure this isn't all a ruse. 「 Tell me. 」 Crap, she's reading me. How does she even do that...? 「 Your antennae. 」 「 Huh? 」 「 I read you through your antennae. 」 「 My... antennae? 」 I reach up and touch them. I don't feel any movement... 「 They don't move when you're aware of them, 「 but when you're not paying attention they go crazy.」 「 What?! That's a lie! How long has it been like this?! 」 「 Ever since the day I first met you, I kind of assumed you knew. 」 「 N-No way... that's... really? How can you just drop that bomb on me now?! 」 「 Felt like a good time. How does it feel? 「 Thinking back to all the times you wanted to hide your thoughts, 「 and realising everyone actually knew how you felt the entire time?」 「 No... no! That's a lie! You're lying!」 She's trying to stifle her laugh... 「 I knew it... you were messing with me again.」 「 A-Actually, no! This time I'm serious, they actually do. 」 「 I'm tearing them off.」 「 Don't! It's what makes you, you! They're amazing!」 「 What does that even mean? "They're amazing." How?」 「 It's what I like most about you, I told you. How easy it is to know what you want. 「 I'd wager, that might be one of your biggest advantages as an honest merchant too. 「 Think about it. Has anyone ever surprisingly believed you? 「 Or put faith in you without reason to? 「 I bet things are all starting to make sense now. 」 「 S-Stop that... I'm... freaking out here... 」 「 But now you know though, so you can lie to me all you like. 」 A lie... it has to be a lie... She's just trying to earn my trust back. But Agehatate... the reason why she let me be... I turn to Xaiyoya... And the reason he decided to accept my request... There's no way it's true... He can't read what I'm feeling! ... He slowly nods. That's it. My life is over... Thump. Something soft is hitting my stomach... 「 ...Sing? 」

She's leaning her head on me... No way... you too...? I'm... 「 I-I'm sorry... 」 I reach down and hug her. 「 I didn't mean those awful things... I'm sorry... 」 I don't want to let go of her... I don't want to bring her to Agehatate... Why... Mak? Was I just not good enough...? Not first, or even second?

Did you even consider me? ... How... how did things turn out this way...? Everything was so close to being perfect. We were so close... you almost made it... I... It's my fault... If I didn't bring that up... You'd have just went straight to Agehatate... It's my fault... all of this is my fault... 「 Polimion. 」 I look up at Goz, she looks blurry. I wipe my eyes against my sleeve. 「W-What is it? 」 She looks at me as if I just said something really stupid. 「Uh, the sky is turning. Are we gonna get going? 」 Right... right, we can't stop here... We're losing time we don't have. I look Sing in the eyes. She looks away from me. It doesn't seem like she wants to be picked up... ...Giiii? She grabbed my hand... Well... I suppose this works just as well... 「Sorry everyone, let's hurry... 」 Goz sighs. ...Armada. I thrust forward a glaive. It lodges into thick wooden armour and explodes with magic force, sending wood chips flying whilst pushing me back to safety. 「 So uh... who was Dream Eater's choice to foster them? 「 Also, why are you still bringing them to White Ash?」 The treant slowly raises it's disproportionately large arm to the sky. I kick the bottom of my rucksack and reach up, pulling out a rapier from the top. ...Waltzing Courier. 「I don't know her name... Hmph! 」 When its arm comes hurtling downwards, I parry it as if it were weightless. Switching to the glaive, I charge and thrust forward again. This time, the blade explodes for enough damage to send it staggering back. 「 An elf with red hair, back in Sal'venakai. You knew her. 」 I drop the glaive and draw the frost sword I'd kept sheathed over my gut. ...Pith of Rime. I run forward to slice through the treant at close range. 「 Wait, no... the one from the ambush? But she- 」 「 Snapping Sing's neck was mercy. If you all didn't kill her... too! 「 She probably would have... saved -- Crier from having been... burned! ...Alive!」

「 No... that... that wasn't my order... 」 Frost rapidly grows over its wide body with each attack, until it freezes wholly, from its four legs to its lopsided arms. 「 I know it wasn't... I was there... 」 I breathe out. Finally. I walk back to pick up the glaive. 「 Anyway... that's also why I'm bringing them to White Ash. 「 That red haired elf was the first choice, White Ash was the second... 」 I walk back to the treant and stab the glaive into its core. 「 ...and there is no third. 」 The treant erupts from the inside, shattering into fine grains of sleet and snow. 「 I-... 」 Goz and I turn to Xaiyoya, who is uncharacteristically speaking up. 「 -I'm sure, you had your reasons back then... but hasn't that time passed? 「 They're undead now. What will you do after you bring them there? 」 I gather up my weapons, sort them back into my rucksack, then take Sing's hand and continue walking. 「 ...She'll bring them back. 」 Goz groans. 「 Polimion, come on... not even the Goddess can bring back the dead. 「 I'm all for "magic can do everything," but this... is actually the one thing it can't do. 」 「 It's not magic. 」 「 Hah? 」 「 It's something else. A liquid. 」 「 ...What are you getting at? 」 「 She has Red Roses. 」 She gives me a blank stare. 「 Yup. Yup, okay, sure. Let's roll with that. 「 This whole thing is already over the top, so why not? 「 Let's just throw The Demon King into all this too. 」 「 I'm serious, Dre- 」 「 Yeah, yeah... mister miracle man. I get it, let's just get this over with... 「 Are you going to raise them by yourself after you revive them? 」 ... 「 No, I'm... going to give them to White Ash... like he asked... 」 ...I hear Goz taking a deep breath. 「 Polimion... are you sure about that? 」 I glance at her over my shoulder.

She's glaring at me. 「 ...Yes. That's what's best for them... 「 I trust Dream Eater more than I trust myself. 「 If White Ash is who he picked... then... that's where I'll bring them. 「 He asked me personally to do this, and I promised him that. 」 「 ... 」 Goz closes her eyes. 「 I guess that's just how it is then... 」 「 This is it. 」 The mountain temple. Thousands of cracked stone steps, several courtyards, dozens of bridges, some collapsed... and at the top, a rogue lesser god. The scale of it is... like Exaibon. In its prime, this place could probably house the entire population of that town and then some... History, lost during The World Fall probably. But my immediate concern is the time we have left... Looking towards Exaibon, I can see the barest traces of morning on the horizon. In an hour, two hours tops, the sun will be out... by then, however, we should be done. These two will be adopted by Agehatate, and they'll finally be able to rest in peace... Me too, I could retire after this if I wanted to... but I probably won't. Despite travelling to the other end of the world and back, I feel like I still have places I want to visit. And... Mak's ashes, I kind of want to bring them back to his home. Giii... I guess I'm still going to be busy after all... Well! None of that will be coming true if we don't start climbing right now. 「 Polimion. 」 「 Goz? 」 We were silent for most of this trip, could she not have brought this up earlier? 「 This is where we part ways. 」 I put my hand on the frost sword's handle. 「 No you idiot, not like that. 「 I'm getting off here, you two go on. 「 I know what you're thinking, but don't ask. 「 You don't have time, just go. 「 ...and I'll see ya later. 」 After Xaiyoya lets her down, she pushes him towards me and waves. 「 Thanks for the ride old man, you'll be alright. 」 「 Wha- 」 「 Just go! You're outta time! Get! Shoo! 」 I pick up Sing, and thankfully, she doesn't seem to mind. With her, and Xaiyoya, we start climbing the steps. When I look back, Goz makes a shooing gesture. I give her a wave and resume climbing... I guess... she got all she needed... Finishing this trip without her doesn't feel right, but there's no time to argue, I'll... I'll trust her on this one. 「 ...Artibeus!」 [END]