““Emergency!””

Huh… there seems to be some kind of trouble going on at the lower gates…

“Emergency! Has anyone seen a person without armor that was about to take the tria purge!?” [Guide]

A person without armor huh… that reminds me, Lan wasn’t wearing any-

Wait… this was his tria purge. God Kael please let this be a coincidence…

“HAS ANYONE SEEN LANTERN VENICK?! PLEASE SPEAK UP! WHEN WE ENTERED THE GATE HE HAD DISAPPEARED, WE NEED HIM BEFORE WE CONTINUE! SPEAK UP! LANTERN VENICK WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?!” [Guide]

!!!!!!!!!

WHAT?! LAN IS MISSING?! On his tria purge at that! Isn’t this bad?!

What the hell is going on?!

“Sir guide! Did you say Lan-Lantern Venick is the name of the person missing?” [Ellie]

“Correct! Have you perhaps have seen hi-“ [Guide]

“Allow me to enter the gate with all of you, he could already be inside” [Ellie]

“But no one saw him inside, he probably chickened out” [Guide]

“No one got out of the gate before you returned sir guide. Please let me enter the gate, the more hands on this problem the better” [Ellie]

“Why are you so damn persistent, do you have any special relationship with that lowblood?” [Guide]

“Spe…Special, you say… That aside…here!” [Ellie]

I don’t really want to use my status to gain authority for any situation but desperate times call for desperate measures-

“Ah you’re one of those highbloods huh… tsk, fine. Do as you wish” [Guide]

.

.

.

We did all we could. We searched the entire floor, we raked every corner, killed every monster but to no avail… he was gone. Lan was-

Lan, how dare you… how dare you disappear… On your first day, no less!

You were looking forward to today, weren’t you?

You probably neglect this but I’m sure that your family is worried sick about you.

Yet why? Why did this have to happen?

If I went with him, would things have ended up differently? Damn it… I…

I have to go.

* * * * *

Phew… I finally finished. Housework sure is tiring. Big brother used to help me with house chores, now I’m always gonna be home alone. This sucks… it would be fine if he didn’t help as long as he kept me company, it feels eerie being alone after all. I should also set a goal of being a vessel huh? Seeing how big brother got in, it shouldn’t be impossible for me. Yeah, that would be awesome! I can totally picture myself looking like one and I look pretty damn good too.

knock knock

Ah that must be brother! He’s awfully early, I thought it would take days to finish a floor? Maybe he was just exaggerating? Oh well-

“Welcome home big br-” [Ember]

“Sorry but I’m not your big brother Ember” [Ellie]

“Oh Ellie! Sorry, I thought big bro was finished with his tria purge and went home early. Teehee… what brings you here Ellie? Did you see big bro? Hmmm if you didn’t, you probably wanted to see him didn’t cha? Are you blushing? Hmmm? Hmmm?” [Ember]

“About that Ember…” [Ellie]

“By the way, why are you so dirty? Did you also come from a purge?” [Ember]

“Ember…” [Ellie]

“Yes?” [Ember]

“Your brother” [Ellie]

“What about him?” [Ember]

“He’s gone” [Ellie]

“He’s…gone?” [Ember]

Ellie nods

“Ellie… what do you mean he’s gone?” [Ember]

“When his team entered the gate, moments after, the guide came back since they were missing a person when he did a headcount inside. His teammates also said that… he just disappeared. He wasn’t the last one to enter the gate so no one could have missed him. He really did just disappear” [Ellie]

Huh?

My brother… disappeared?

Hold on…

What?

My brother is a person.

He is not a bubble that suddenly pops when conditions are met.

And yet…

He disappeared?

“Huh?” [Ember]

Why isn’t Elena speaking up?

I just noticed but her eyes are swollen…

She must have been crying… a lot... So…

This is real? Not a joke? My big brother just…poof?

Ah… now the tears are falling…

Did I just accept the fact that he disappeared?

Please let this be a joke…

Please let this be a gag, a prank, a lie…

Big bro, you won’t just leave us right?

You won’t just leave me…right?

“Ember… I’m sorry… When it happened I immediately chased after him… I went through the floor’s every nook and cranny, killed every beast I saw and yet he… he… wasn’t there. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry” [Ellie]

Huh?

Why are you crying like it’s your fault Ellie?

This isn’t your fault…

Your heart is probably in pieces right now…

You probably did the best you could…

You probably did everything …

and yet…

This is all we can do?

Crying like widows who lost their men to war.

This sensation…

We really are…

powerless.

“UWAAAAAAA!!!”