Inside Ridan's mind.
That pool...
That wasn't just poison. It was acid.
A death trap.
He froze midair, heart thudding in his misty chest.
"Ah... no..."
The reality sank in.
Hazuki… he's…
Gone.
Melted. Drowned. Burned to bones in seconds.
Ridan's cloudy form trembled.
"What do I tell them?"
His thoughts raced—toward the two mysterious figures.
"The chosen one you picked?"
"Yeah, he died in a puddle of swamp, because I let him take a stupid quest."
"I was supposed to guide him. Warn him. Keep him safe."
"I should've told him to reject the quest. Should've stopped him."
Ridan clenched his tiny cloudy fists.
"He had no obligation to do any of this. Not for the guild. Not for anyone."
A pause. His voice cracked inside his thoughts.
"And now he's dead."
"And me?"
"I'll be sealed again."
His form twitched. The weight was crushing.
"Damn it... Hazuki…"
"Pwah!!"
Hazuki burst from the bubbling pool, coughing and gagging.
