Archive Of Potentialities.

Oneshot: Stale Epiphany. -- (Chloe)

More often than not, insanity is the best weapon against the world.
.
.
.
.

“

...I love you.” The words almost froze in my throat, but I managed to speak them.

Sensei's hand on top of my head didn't have the warmth I was used to from Shizu-sensei, but it still felt nice.

“That makes me happy, Chloe. Now, close your eyes.” Sensei smiled at me as he answered.

I didn't really feel satisfied with his answer, but it made me happy anyway.

I closed my eyes and put my hands together.

I trusted Rimuru-sensei. He saved my friends already, and now it was my turn..

I was supposed to be praying now, but I didn't know exactly how to do that.

Is it like how the Christians back in my home world did it? 

Do I just say please many times in my head?

I hadn't decided what exactly to do before I heard Ramiris shouting about something.

Sensei took his hand from on top of my head, but I didn't open my eyes.

I somehow felt that was the right choice.

Then suddenly, I felt something merge with me.

I haven't dealt with spirits before, and I haven't heard any stories from people who have…

Was it supposed to feel this familiar…? I didn't know..

It felt like I was reunited with something I'd lost a long time ago…like an old friend had visited. Flashes of different scenes sparked to life in my mind, but they were gone as quickly as they came.

And I felt it was okay to ignore this.

My body instantly felt lighter, and at that moment, I felt it was okay to stop attempting to pray…

I never got to that part, did I?

I opened my eyes to see Rimuru - sensei staring at me, his face was unusually tense.

I felt an odd sensation within me as he looked at me.

Oh, he's analyzing me.

Wait, how did I know that?

“Did anything go wrong, Sensei?” I asked, trying to take my mind off the weird things happening to me.

“Hm? Not at all! It all went as planned, heh.” 

Somehow, I knew this was an absolute lie from him…

Somehow, I found it cute.

“Thank you, Sensei.” I said, smiling.

A strange feeling filled my chest as I watched him smile at me.

Why am I so happy right now?

“I'll never let that smile disappear….” I caught myself whispering.

I don't know why I said this, or why I felt like it was even a concern..

But even then and there, with vague and incomplete feelings swirling within me, I knew how much I meant the statement.

“You don't need to thank me, Chloe. You guys deserve the right to live long and fulfilling lives.” He patted my head as he looked over at my friends, who were coming towards us.

Kenya, Ryota, Gale, Alice. I spoke with them just a few minutes ago, but their faces sparked feelings of nostalgia in me.

Why…

Why am I so relieved to see them? Why do I feel like I can relax now?

What is happening to me?

“Chloe! You went and summoned a weird spirit! That thing flew straight through Sensei!” Kenya shouted as soon as he got close enough, finding his own words funny as he chuckled.

“Yeah, for no reason!” Alice joined him, albeit a little less loud.

I looked over at Rimuru-sensei, who looked away and scratched his cheek nervously.

What was he embarrassed about? The spirit just flew through him, didn't it?

At that moment, deep down, I felt a burst of self satisfaction.

Like I had done something bold and gotten away with it…

Sensei flicked Kenya on the forehead, and received a confused protest in return. Then he said something to provoke them and a brawl immediately began.

They all swarmed around him, laughing and attempting to steal his sword.

Sensei played along with them as they fooled around, even the dubious Spirit Queen joined them.

Right now, Rimuru- sensei and my friends looked so happy, so free.

But my chest ached.

It was a gut feeling, a premonition.

Almost a certainty.

This happiness, this joy. It wasn't here to stay.

I couldn't bother myself to try to pin down the source of this sudden pessimism.

It was just too convincing, like the thoughts originated from my own soul.

They would stop smiling, they would stop enjoying.

And if things got dire enough…

They would stop living.

I felt sick as I thought of this, but I did my best to keep it from showing on my face.

Just as the feelings of hopelessness had suddenly invaded my heart, so did intense feelings of determination and anger.

It occupied the same space as my despair, and thoroughly eradicated it.

It was strong, it was firm, it was unyielding.

It was my resolve.

I still held some doubts about my sudden premonition, but that didn't matter.

If this world really did intend to take away the joy and life of the one I love, if it really was so intent on ruining his happiness.

Then I was ready to face the world itself.

At that moment, I felt something resonate within me, as if I had perfectly synchronized with the source of the sudden, unfamiliar feelings.

It was like our wills had come to agree on a single thing..

And right at that instant, a statement echoed in my mind.

It felt like it came from someone else, yet also like it was an echo of my very own thoughts.

I didn't know it at the time, but my personality had gone through a major shift, at that time, I had ceased to be Chloe Aubert, the class S student doomed to live a short life.

It was that one statement, it had triggered the change.

“Failure is unacceptable.”

Indeed.

.
.

That was pretty short, I know. But I think it's a perfect length for something like this.

Till I appear again then.