I rushed out of the rift, carrying the things I needed to sell and the items for the funeral.
When I got out, it seemed I was teleported to a small dead-end alley in the city closest to the forest base. The portal closed as soon as I stepped out. The red brick walls and the tall apartment buildings on both sides made the narrow alley very dark. It was a good place to calm down.
I sat at the end of the alley and leaned my tired back against the wall. I sighed as I looked at the sky. My eyes started to tear up. My chest felt like it was being torn apart.
"I... I am so sorry..." I said with a trembling voice. I tried to wipe away my tears. I wanted to scream, but I didn't want people to find me. I had to hold it in until I reached the base.
I am not a crybaby, my father said. I have to be strong. I am the one who will lead this planet... But isn't all of this too crazy?
I got up slowly. I walked with my head down. My clothes were torn and dirty, my long hair was messy, and my face looked exhausted. I looked like a homeless person carrying too many things. People nearby looked at me with fear and disgust because of the smell of blood on my body. I looked at them for a second, and they quickly moved away. I kept walking.
When I arrived, I buried scraps of their clothes and marked the graves with wooden nameplates in the backyard. I picked some flowers, then went inside. I made a display and put their photos on it. I added a candle lantern and the flowers I picked.
I cleaned the base alone. I charged my phone, wiped the dust off the furniture, mopped the floor, and washed the dishes. Finally, I lit the candle near their photos. I sat in front of them and prayed they would be peaceful in heaven.
I talked to their photos like a crazy person. I told them everything, even my darkest secrets. I was so tired that I even forgot what Nicolle told me before she left. I talked until it was dark. My phone was fully charged. I checked it and realized we had only been gone for one month. I threw myself onto the sofa.
"That's impossible! Everything we did in there felt like years, but it's only been one month?!"
I scrolled through social media and found a post from the Empire: The Crown Prince's Birthday Announcement. I was shocked. "Are you serious?! Father announced my birthday?!" I checked the date on my phone. It was September 25th. "THAT'S TODAY!"
Fireworks started to go off in the city. I watched them from inside the dark base. It's so beautiful, I thought.
I looked back at my friends' photos and saw something glowing under the table. It was a box decorated with gold paint and beads. I opened it and found letters they wrote for me. There was a note on top: "IF YOU FIND THIS, WE ARE PROBABLY GONE."
The first letter was from Areta. It had two discount coupons for double cheeseburgers. From Areta: "Hi Nox—or should I call you 'Your Highness'? Anyway, do you like my gift? I've been saving these coupons. If you are reading this, it means we didn't survive, right? It's okay! Don't cry, okay? Stay strong!" I smiled. This was so typical of Areta.
The next was from Riel. "Hello, Your Highness. Sorry if I was rude before. You hid your identity so well. I hoped we could be better friends, but I guess that won't happen now. I hope the Gods protect you." "So that's why you were so nervous, Riel," I whispered.
Then, a letter from Rock. "Sorry for being rude at first. I hope our training was useful for you. Can you do me a favor? Please give the last letter in this box to my younger siblings. They live at Duke Jaeger's area, Falcon Street, No. 17. I trust you." "I will do it, Rock. I owe you so much," I said.
Finally... the letter from Nicolle. "You probably wonder how we knew who you are. A few days before the rift, the Hero came to the base. He shouted your real identity loudly. We were shocked, but we wanted to wait for you to tell us yourself. You asked about my dream, right? My dream is to be reborn into a kind family and live like a girl in a romance manga—cheerful and happy—instead of being an ignored princess. I'm sorry I wasn't a good leader. I'm sorry for making you sad. I am so sorry."
I started crying again. Her neat handwriting became messy at the end, with tear stains on the paper.
The Hero knew this place. I had to leave before the Orion soldiers found me. I leaned my head on the sofa and sighed. "This is too heavy. I'm just a beginner... it shouldn't be this tragic."
I curled up on the sofa and eventually fell asleep. In my sleep, I heard a girl's voice. "C*M***A! M***A!" I saw a blurry vision. Am I a girl now? I wondered.
The girl had short brown hair and a basket of biscuits. In front of her were two men. One was a very tall man with wolf ears and grey hair in a black uniform. The other was a handsome man with long black hair, looking like a god. They seemed like very close friends.
"You've seen it, haven't you?" Someone touched my shoulder. It was a young man with black hair and a lantern. His face was blurry. "There is still more you need to know. You aren't ready yet."
I returned to my body. I was in a dark place with red flowers (Spider Lilies) glowing below me. The man offered his hand. "Follow me," he said. We walked through the flowers until everything turned into bright light, and I woke up.
My eyes were swollen from crying. I washed my face and packed my things. I said my final goodbye to the photos of the Sunflower Party.
"Goodbye, friends." I locked the door and left.
~to be continued~