Bronya could barely believe what she was hearing—a child surviving on the outskirts of a town abandoned to monsters, left desolate for over ten years?
The thought alone filled her with a sorrow she couldn’t shake. But more than anything—
As she stopped in place, the voice seemed to sense her presence.
“Ah… Is someone there? Outside the window…?”
She heard a soft rustle of fabric, and it felt as though the child was drawing closer, separated only by a thin pane of glass.
“My eyes… I can’t see anything. Please forgive me if I’m being rude…”
The voice sounded hesitant, almost pleading.
Bronya pressed her lips together, forcing out a gentle reply.
“It’s alright; you don’t need to be afraid. I’m right here, just outside the window.”
“Ah… Thank you, stranger…”
The girl’s tone softened slightly.
“Although this might be sudden, may I ask you something?”
“Of course. If it’s something I know, I’ll tell you.”
“You’re very kind… just like my sister.”
The girl paused for a moment, then continued. “I want to ask if you’ve seen someone—a woman with a beautiful voice and a hairband decorated with bells…”
As if recalling a sweet memory, the girl chuckled softly.
“The bells make such a lovely sound, clear and gentle…”
But she quickly grew anxious, realizing she was taking up Bronya’s time.
“She’s… my sister. She left a long time ago, and hasn’t come home…”
As the girl’s words sank in, Bronya felt as though her heart were sinking into a dark, endless void.
“My sister told me she was going to a place called the… ‘Rift.’ She said she could find valuable things there…”
The ominous feeling took solid form, pressing down with even greater weight.
Bronya couldn’t dwell on why these two siblings had stayed here. All she could think about was how to comfort a child who might already have lost her family.
Unaware of Bronya’s inner turmoil, the girl continued in her frail, endearing voice.
“If you see my sister, could you tell her to come home soon? Her little sister is waiting for her… all alone.”
“I… I…” Bronya struggled to respond, and the girl waited patiently, as if sensing her distress.
At last, after gathering herself, Bronya forced out a promise, her voice laced with bitterness.
“I’ll… I’ll let her know for you.”
The girl sighed in relief, her voice trembling slightly with fatigue.
“Thank you for your kindness… I’ll wait here for news… please, stay safe…”
The child’s concern was something Bronya could hardly bear. She leaned closer to the glass, almost desperate.
“It’s too dangerous here! If you stay, a Rift creature could come out and—”
But before Bronya could finish, the girl interrupted.
“I’m sorry! I know you mean well… but I can’t leave…”
Her voice, previously soft and timid, now held a note of resolve.
“If I leave now, my sister won’t be able to find me when she comes back… she’ll be all alone…”
“But—”
“Truly… I’m so sorry, but this was our promise… Please don’t try to change my mind…”
With that final plea, there was the sound of something being shifted, and then the light dimmed. The girl’s voice faded, disappearing into the darkness beyond the glass.
Bronya, hoping for one last chance to reach out, was about to call again when—
“Hey! You’ve been standing there muttering to yourself for a while now—what’s up with you?”
Startled, she turned back to find Seele and Venti waiting for her.
Seele shot her an irritated look, while Venti’s face was etched with concern.
“Are you feeling alright?” he asked.
“No, I…” Bronya hesitated, unsure of where to begin. She looked back toward the small house, now devoid of warmth, its window thick with dust, abandoned long ago.
Was it just my imagination…?
Her mind resisted the idea, clinging to the feeling of reality, but it was true that neither of her companions had heard the girl’s voice. Nor did they seem like they were playing a prank to scare her.
“If you’re okay, let’s get moving. You can rest once we’re back at the clinic,” Seele said, her expression wary but not questioning further.
Venti took a few steps closer, patting her shoulder in comfort.
“Are you—”
“Hm? What now?” Seele, impatient, turned back with a questioning look.
Even Venti looked at Bronya, expectant, as though she were about to reveal some long-hidden truth.
Bronya took a deep breath, her voice steady but somber.
“I don’t quite understand it myself, but… I just heard something.”
“A sound?”
Seele’s gaze sharpened, her eyes scanning the ruins around them, especially the darkened areas where monsters might lurk. Finding nothing amiss, she frowned.
“Don’t scare yourself. We’re on the outskirts—it’s rare for monsters to wander here. And we’re following a path our charming guide here picked out for us, right? Doesn’t that count for something?”
“Oof, Seele, that hurts! What do you take me for?” Venti exclaimed, clutching his chest in mock offense.
Seele rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed, but Bronya’s mind was elsewhere. Her voice was faint as she tried to explain.
“No… it wasn’t a monster. It was… a young girl’s voice.”
Seele’s look was skeptical.
Venti raised an eyebrow, his expression waiting for her to continue.
Bronya pressed her hand to her forehead, searching for the words.
“I know it sounds unbelievable, but I heard someone… a child. She was talking to me. She asked me to find her sister… to pass along a message.”
Silence hung heavy for a moment, broken only by Seele’s burst of laughter.
“Ha! I never figured you’d be one for ghost stories. I thought that was more our bard’s thing.”
“Wait, am I really that big of a joker in your eyes?” Venti chuckled, giving a helpless shrug.
As the two started to bicker, Bronya’s patience ran out.
“I’m not joking, and this isn’t a ghost story! I truly heard her!”
“So… what’s your point?”
Seele tilted her head, confused as to why Bronya was suddenly so rattled by a tease.
“After the Rift overtook this area a decade ago, no one’s lived here, let alone a child. Do you really think a kid could survive here?”
“But…”
Bronya knew Seele was right; it was likely some strange phenomenon brought on by the Rift, or perhaps her grief had stirred something.
Such occurrences had been reported from time to time on the front lines—soldiers claiming they’d seen Silvermane Guards long since lost in battle.
But that sorrow… that sorrow had felt so raw and real, far beyond anything an illusion could evoke.
“Alright, enough with the spooking yourself. We’ve got people waiting on us back at the clinic, so save the chills for when we’re not on the clock.”
Assuming Bronya was just shaken, Seele sighed and waved her off, heading back without a second thought.
Watching her retreating figure, Bronya lowered her head, clenching her fists, torn over whether to let the memory go.
Just then—
Venti’s soft voice broke the silence.
“Do you… want to try finding that girl’s sister?”
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