A human… although no, rather something that once wore a human form, a higher being merely pretending to be a human, nevertheless answered with agreement to the outstretched hand of another, just as pretend "human."
He extended his hand and in that moment everything was decided. The final answer, put as a period in an argument where everyone desperately insists on their own correctness. After all, they all came to this island for the sake of their dream, right? Precisely for it he exists. And if not? If the answer is "no"?
Then I don't know what all of this is for at all.
In his eyes, which for so long hid beneath a layer of indifference an infinite contempt, finally a tiny spark flared up. Hope. Too small to call it light. But it was there. And, strangely enough, he found salvation in me. In an ordinary guy who himself doesn't fully understand which side he is on or if he is even right.
This time I refused the habitual path of logic. This step is not by facts, but by heart. Further I will go not by mind, but by feelings.
He stood up, accepting my hand, and said with gratitude:
— This gratitude is not superficial, not polite, but genuine. From the whole soul. Would never have thought that someone would be able to stand up for me. And see it through to the end.
— Don't mention it. I am ordinary, banal, absolutely unremarkable in any way guy. I ended up here just like you, — I said. — Better tell me, what should we do now?
Then something strange happened. No, not magic. Just… strange. It turned out, Enua knew the translation of the inscriptions all this time. And just… didn't speak.
— You understand, no one will believe us without evidence, — I said.
— I was thinking about this all the time while you were deciphering the lines… And I realized, in their eyes not a single argument will become proof. Not a single one, — answered Enua, as if resigned.
And he was right. Everything happening is staged too skillfully. The Witch directed this perfectly. To come now with a confession is like surrendering. No one will buy an "error". It looks… too artful to be an accident.
And then cold. Sharp, instantaneous, like a breath through a broken window. Someone touched me on the shoulder.
It was Morgana.
— Ah… It's you… You almost killed me, — I exhaled.
— I apologize if I frightened you, — she answered so quietly, as if trying not to wake reality itself.
And behind her back stood he, Cheryl. Eternally serious. So serious that, perhaps, he jokes, but we simply will never understand.
— I hope we are not disturbing you? You were talking so seriously… We thought that, perhaps, we could help…
— Don't lie, — Cheryl cut her off. — It's just that you couldn't bear it from helplessness, because you couldn't help with the translation.
Morgana averted her gaze and lowered her head.
— I'm sorry…
— It's nothing. We will manage. Before the others return, there is a little time.
But before I managed to ask, Kamiki and Tiamut appeared.
— Well, well. And you, it seems, have already finished, — said Kamiki, as if we were late with homework.
And then Team Yahweh. But something was off about them. Too serious, too quiet. Didn't look like they came to share results. More like jurors who have already delivered a verdict.
— What happened? Why such faces?
— Can it be… you are the murderer's accomplice, Aragi? — asked Kamiki. His voice was heavy, like a hammer blow on glass.
…
— Answer. How will you explain this? Everything points precisely at you.
…
I was silent. Not because I didn't understand. On the contrary, I understood everything perfectly. I just didn't know how they found out.
— Stop it! Mr. Aragi doesn't even understand what you are talking about… — Morgana intervened.
— Morgana, don't interfere. They know more than you, — Cheryl said calmly but sternly.
— He is right, — Yahweh agreed. — You shouldn't interfere.
Silence fell. The kind from which even the walls begin to whisper. Kamiki stepped forward, as if delivering a verdict.
— We gave you a deadline. The second night. But you never justified yourself. Look out the window. Do you see?
…
Enua looked. His eyes... were no longer searching for light. They already knew that nothing remained.
— The deadline has expired. You didn't even try to defend yourself. Pitiful.
— I…! You…! You cannot…!!
Enua's voice exploded. Anger, rage, despair, all at once. But Kamiki just smirked and took out a device, a listening device. One press, and the world heard the truth. Their conversation with Enua. His confession.
With this move, Kamiki delivered checkmate.
— Sometimes it's worth accepting reality, Aragi, — Hov put his hand on my shoulder. — Everything was heading towards this.
— We saved your life, — Yahweh added. — Be grateful. We found the real murderer.
— And what now? — I asked. Emotionlessly, empty.
— No one is going to kill him, — said Kamiki. — He will simply leave the mansion. And then… let him live as he wants.
To leave the mansion…?
That is the verdict.