In the still study, as she closed the book, the efficient old woman with glasses raised her head and gazed at the girl before her, sighing deeply.
"Is this how it ends?"
The old woman asked, "You could have let him live till the next era, couldn't you?"
"But it's precisely because of that, that the story is most beautiful, isn't it?"
The Teenage Girl named Lily answered earnestly, "After all, this isn't my stage. Meddling recklessly would only undermine the original intent. A Hero's death before dawn—there couldn't be a more fitting end."
The old woman removed her glasses and looked at her intently, unable to help but feel emotional. "If you were an author, you might become one of those who are especially cruel to their protagonists."
"Author? That's an exaggeration."
Lily shook her head. "I don't possess the Ability to create events. I'm just picking the elements I like and compiling them into a collection."
"That's enough."
