656,

I was running away. I hadn’t realized it until now.

After everything I’d been through, I never thought I’d end up like this.

When I thought back to how I’d pursued Yuna, I really had been fearless back then, charging ahead without hesitation.

With love alone, I’d even been able to win the world with words in the throne room.

But in just two short years, I’d changed. I wasn’t fearless anymore.

Cyclone was truly afraid now—afraid that Elyse would fall apart.

Both of them were already covered in wounds. Their bodies and hearts alike were ruled by a feeling called fear.

Even if things now couldn’t be compared to the past, Cyclone couldn’t find a way out of this spiral where everything just kept going wrong.

“We’re here for you. And by ‘we,’ I mean you and Elyse, too.”

Picking up where she’d left off, Yuna seemed to see right through him and tried to encourage him with her words.

Cyclone understood. From the looks on everyone’s faces, he already knew where things stood.

Honestly, when he heard what Onigashima had to say, he really was angry.

Not just at Onigashima, but at himself, too.

Wasn’t he the one who’d made Little Wind become an infant corpse demon?

“I know what you want to say. I understand what you’re thinking…”

Cyclone lowered his head, struggling with his fear.

“…This has to do with Onigashima, doesn’t it?”

Little Wind might become an infant corpse demon—or might already have become one. Either way, he was the one responsible for turning Little Wind into one.

“Cyclone… The infant corpse demon’s abilities could hurt you all. I’m really worried…”

Cyclone didn’t know how to respond, but Yuna’s concern was justified. At a loss, he could only lift a hand and gently pat her on the head.

“I know this is a hard decision, but you can’t let Little Wind become a monster, either…”

As Yuna let him pat her head, she continued to explain just how serious the situation was in a gentle voice.

“Little Wind isn’t a monster!!”

Unlike Cyclone, Elyse suddenly flared up in anger.

“Little Wind… Our Little Wind isn’t a monster!”

One moment she was angry; the next, she was at a loss.

The turmoil in Elyse’s heart was plain to see. That was exactly why everyone was even more worried.

Faced with Elyse’s objection, Yuna didn’t know what to say.

But she couldn’t back down just because of that. Retreating simply because she didn’t know how to answer would be unworthy of being Cyclone’s wife.

For everyone’s sake, and for Cyclone’s, Yuna had to make her words reach both of them.

“He isn’t a monster. But you don’t want him to become one, either, do you?”

Yuna looked Elyse straight in the eye, but Elyse kept her head lowered.

“Look up, Elyse!”

Yuna tried to make her voice firmer.

“Answer me honestly. You don’t want Little Wind to become a monster, either, do you?!”

“I—I…”

At last, Yuna managed to make Elyse look at her.

“I don’t want Little Wind to become a monster, either…”

As she voiced what was in her heart, Elyse began to cry again.

Little Dragon, sitting beside her, immediately scooted closer. She rubbed Elyse’s back and comforted her.

“We don’t want that, either. None of us do.”

“But… but do we really have to hurt Little Wind again?!”

“This isn’t hurting him, Elyse. Calm down. It’s one way we can help Little Wind.”

Yuna had hoped to use this chance to convince Elyse to accept it in one decisive stroke.

But Cyclone suddenly raised a hand, cutting Yuna off.

“Thank you, Yuna.”

“Cyclone?”

“Thank you, all of you…”

Cyclone stood up and helped Elyse to her feet.

Before taking Elyse back to her room to rest, Cyclone left them with one last thing to say.

“Go ask Onigashima to make the arrangements. I… I’ll try to accept it together with Elyse…”