Wrought King of Iron

Chapter 25: Blue Glass Moon

~Shiki Tohno~

'I love you, Shiki. Your honesty, how you are always spaced out, how I am the only one you yell at. I love every aspect of you...' 

The golden haired vampire's words cut my heart deeply. Even though she was saying how much I meant to her, I couldn't help but merely see the inevitable ending to come at the finale of her words.

'...That's why, I want you to do me a favour. From now on, please go through life with a smile on your face.'

Speechless, without being able to respond, or promise to her, I merely stared at her with a pained expression. I wanted to tell her not to go, but I couldn't.

'Bye bye.'

With those two words, and a gentle wave of her hand, as if fading into the sunset, she disappeared before my eyes.

This isn't what I wanted when I said I wanted to see you again! 

I wanted to be with her for all of eternity, and share my happiness with her, who had lived a life of loneliness. But she left and went back to a life of reclusion. 

Screaming out loud, in order to express the limitless emotions I felt, I solemnly mourned. I shed no tears, because my heart was bleeding instead.

There is no way I will be able to live the way she wants me to! But... even so. For her to be able to see a happy dream, I will try to grant her wish.

I finally realised that night had fallen, as I reflected on her final words. Walking to the window of that classroom, and staring at the distant blue moon, I said words I wish I was able to convey to her before she departed.

'See you. I too, had lots of fun...'

Staring at the moon, as if I was hoping she would descend from above and return to me, I remained frozen there. For a long time, I kept looking at it. Until dawn came...

-------------------

A few years ago, my most beloved person bid me farewell and vanished without a trace. I wanted to do what she had asked of me. But it was a difficult task, and the longer time passed, the harder it got... to smile. In a time where she was gone, my heart bled tears of anguish, yearning for the woman who had ripped its way in, and left with a piece of it.

After graduating school, for a few years I began my search to find her. Even if she left of her own volition, and even if it was my own selfish wish, I still wanted to see her again.

Hunting down several Dead Apostle Ancestors to inquire of her whereabouts led me to dead end after dead end. However, I refused to give up. In that time of futile search, I had several meaningful encounters, with my old master, who had given something important to me, as well as a powerful ally who helped me fight the Dead Apostles. Not everything was in vain. Rebuilding and creating new connections was certainly an important thing. But it was never enough to fill the void in my heart.

But then I met him. An old man, with boundless knowledge, who served as the thread to lead me out of the dark labyrinth of solitude.

~Several hours prior to Shiki's infiltration~

'The White Princess of the True Ancestors. She is the one you seek?' 

As I walked out of the collapsing Dead Apostle's fortress, having found no leads, he appeared before me. A Caucasian man emanating vast mana, and the attire of what a man with extreme wisdom would wear. A Magician appeared before me.