Divine Protection: The Pride System

Episode 11: Meily Vs True Despair

His consciousness floated, it was a place he was unfamiliar with, so dark and void.

His drowning mind was unable to move his entire limbs.

—Crying, laughing, angry.The feelings he had always imagined, were like dreams from a distant land.

But, he wanted to try to stretch out his hand, reach for it, and make it his own.

As soon as he opened his eyes, his vision saw light.

A bright light enveloped his darkness, which opened up like a flower petal in bloom.

When he doesn't know what's going to happen. His consciousness immediately jumped up, being forcefully pulled by the light.

And as soon as she regained consciousness, she– Meily, realized that her body was just a thread of helpless dreams.

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Meily woke up, breathing out through her throat, declaring her world still alive.

Brown eyes opened in confusion, as his chest began to deflate and bulge, he lifted his body and looked at the region around him.

He's lying in bed.

But, it was really strange to think that there was a mattress in a place where the area from the bottom to the ceiling was only stone.

“This.. where?”

His memory is still unclear, trying to identify normal things, he is still unable to.

But, when her little voice asked.

The answer he wanted, coming from behind his vision, that was in the corner there was the same color as the light he saw in his dream.

“Well, good morning, Meily-chan. I'm grateful you've woken up— No, I'm wrong, it's been night. So, it's supposed to be good night, right?”

Suddenly, Meily turned her gaze toward the owner of the voice, and saw a teenage boy with pale white hair.

Although he did not know who the teenager was, suddenly, his lips moved by themselves.

“Nights... Rogant..”.

“Oh, you remember me. That's good, in this way, we can shorten the conversation.”

The teenager's lips formed a smile, in a form that depicted the theme of tenderness.

Meily did not think too long, she assumed that the teenager was not a bad person. His alertness soon diminished, and he immediately stood up from his bed.

But, it instead made Rogant frown with worry.

“You are sure you can move, it would be better if you rest for a while.”

Meily looked towards Rogant, she was pleased at the attention, but she shook her head.

“I'm fine.”

“So, you're a strong boy.”

Meily smiled widely, her heart feeling happy as she was considered a strong child.

Then, Rogant walked towards Meily, bowing his body parallel to Meily's gaze.

After which, he took something out of his pants pocket, and extended his left hand to the front of Meily, with his palm still closed.

“As per promise, this is a gift from our friendship.”

Rogant opened his palm, and there, there was a candy still wrapped in plastic.

Sure, Meily doesn't know what it is?

However, more than that, suddenly the sting from his memory attacked, though somewhat hazy, he was certain. Before, and should have been, the hand that was currently in front of him...

—It's been cut.

But, it was there, with its existence still intact with no signs of scars.

—Is that just my feeling?

Meily asked, for a moment her heart was agitated. But, as he lifted his gaze and saw Rogant's innocent expression, his feelings softened.

Maybe I have too much thought.

“What's up, Meily-chan? Oh, don't you know what this is? This is sweets.”

Rogant said, in his strangely apathetic voice sounds pleasant.

Later, he helps Meily to unpack the candy, and gives the contents to Meily.

“Eat, it tastes sweet.”

Hearing the word “Manis”, Meily accepted it with pleasure.

“Thank you.”

“It's okay, if you want more. I can give you.”

“Rogant-san is a good person.”

“Really? It's the first time I've been told that, and, you can call me Rogant. No need to be formal, anyways we have become friends.”

But, immediately his gaze turned towards the 'Candy' that was now in his hands.

Rogant said, this is sweets. But, this is the first time I've seen a sweet like this.

Although she hesitated a bit, Meily kept putting the candy in her mouth, and slowly picked it up.

Then, not even at the same time—

“Manic..”.

A soft voice from his lips, expressing his pleasant reaction.

Meily's eyes opened wide, astonished by the sweet taste of the candy she ate.

But, he enjoyed it.

“This is delicious.”

“I'm glad you like it.”

As Meily enjoyed her time with a cheerful face, Rogant smiled, and then said in a slightly different tone than before.

“Hey, Meily-chan, it's already night. Shouldn't you go home. I'm sure your parents will be very worried when they find out that you've disappeared.”

“....”

Meily suddenly stopped, her body silent as if frozen.

Hearing what Rogant said, it seemed like it made him think back.

“It's true! I have to go home soon, I can't make Eras-chan wait any longer!”

Meily became panicked, she ran there to here with a pale expression. Looks like he's in trouble.

Seeing that, Rogant approaches him and catches him trying to run again.

“Call Meily-chan, it would be too dangerous for a little kid like you to go night and night through the woods.”

“But..”.

Meily's face was clear, like she would cry at any moment.

Unconsciously, Rogant sighed. After which, he smiled gently and said.

“I'll take you home until home, so you'll be fine.”

Instantly, hearing that, Meily's face turned cheerful again. He detaches himself from Rogant's grip and runs to hug Rogant's body, though he can only reach his ankle.

“Thank you, Rogant!”

“Sama-sama... Then, let's leave soon.”

“Understanding!”

Meily nodded vigorously, and after finishing getting ready, the two of them left together heading towards the village, with Meily leading the way.

But—

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Time, a handful of time in his hand, fell together with his soul.

The wind and darkness he passed by with joy, was wasted in vain.

Facing a reality, his conscience was unable to maintain its form.

The laughter from his past personality, was only a false dream that he must have forgotten.

The past, the future, and the present, what memories he had been doing could disappear so easily?

He might have to ask, is this a dream?

—Life, that is the word of a living creature. But, what is he alive now?

That incoherence made him fall into the crap of death.

The questions he had were turned upside down by a burning reality.

The heat on his chest, that must be proof. Proof that this is all just reality.

Shortness of breath, shortness of breath, shortness of breath, shortness of breath, shortness of breath, shortness of breath—

This excruciating pain, made him breathless to the point of not being able to say anything.

The oxygen coming out of his lungs, felt so sore as he tried to take his breath back.

His brown pupils turned red thanks to his vision mirror that was clouded by tears of loss.

The fire was burning like a raging monster. Destroying, burning, and scorching everything.

—What is this dream?

He asked back. But, the answer would not come no matter how many times he asked.

Meily, who went to return to her hometown with a happy face. Stripped directly by a fact, that—

—The village he used to love, has been charred in flames engulfed by the burning red flames.