I awoke, my hand going to my head as the pain began to form.
Suddenly, a touch came, an embrace pulling my head and my body into it.
"..."
Someone was hugging me, and they were speaking to me. Then, they released their hold. Their hands gripped both of my shoulders.
"Who are you?"
I tried to speak, but my voice would not come out. I tried to use my hands to touch their face; her cheeks were wet and tear-streaked. I could also feel her heavy breathing by touching her nose. She must have been crying.
Afterward, I wondered: where am I… what happened to me… and what is wrong with my voice, my sight, and my hearing?
I tried to remember, but then, the pain in my head returned.
Two hands pushed me gently, urging me to lie back down. I could see light and its colors clearly, but not its shape or form. Her words sounded only like a hum in my ears.
Another figure entered. She approached me and stroked my hair. The two of them stood by the side of the bed. They seemed to be talking, and then they left.
"It's so dark. Why did they turn off the lights before leaving?" And then I remembered: "Lamplight… illumination… light… light… the pillar of light… Teacher…"
I shot up from the bed, crawling to the edge only to fall as I tried to stand. The bedroom door opened, and two female figures entered.
They both helped me back to the bed, but I didn't want that.
"Let go… get out of my way, I want to see my teacher… don't block me."
I struggled, pushing them, dragging my body with my hands towards the door.
"Almost there… come on, just a little more…"
The door closed. One of them had shut it, and the other was pulling me back.
"No… let go… don't get in my way, I want to see my teacher."
I couldn't move. They both held my arms, carrying me back to the bed.
One of them spoke.
"..."
Then a green light appeared before my face. Suddenly, my body grew limp, my eyes heavy, until finally all light and sound vanished.
The next morning, I awoke. My senses of sight and hearing had returned.
My eyes were still closed as my hand crawled across the bed, searching for something—the presence that usually annoyed me in the morning.
My breath caught in my throat when I realized the person who usually bothered me in the morning wasn't in her spot.
"Where is she…"
My voice wouldn't come out. What was this? What was wrong with my voice? A knock sounded at the door.
"Little sis, I'm coming in."
I could hear her and see her, but I couldn't answer.
A young woman appeared from behind the door. She ran the moment she saw me, rushing to my side and immediately wrapping her arms around my body.
"There, don't cry anymore."
She wiped away my tears, which I hadn't even known or felt were there.
"Stop it. I can't stand to see you like this."
Her eyes began to water, welling up and streaming down her cheeks, then dripping onto my own.
"B-but… what about Teacher… where is she?"
I tried to speak, but still, my voice wouldn't come out.
"Enough!!! Stop it!!!"
I flinched at her words. She was shouting right in front of me, her head bowed low.
"Please, stop… You can grieve for her… but please don't hurt yourself like this."
She collapsed, slumping weakly to the floor.
"If she's not here… you still have me…"
Her face lifted, her gaze meeting mine directly.
"Am I… not enough?"
My chest tightened hearing her words. Was I not allowed to grieve for my teacher? Then what was I supposed to do?
"What is this? What are you two doing?"
Another woman in a Chronicler's uniform appeared. She walked closer from the door, then looked at me.
"I know this is hard for you… but please, look around you. Look at your senior here."
My head drooped.
Is this my fault? For making my senior cry?
"There. Calm yourself. Come on, let's go back to your room."
She put an arm around my senior, leading her away. Then another woman came after the previous two had left. She sat on the edge of the bed and said:
"Please forgive the words of Chronicler Alpha of the Warding Division from before."
She took my hand in hers.
"You may not know much about the Chroniclers, or even about me, though we met and talked often before. But that's alright. Chronicler Sigma didn't want that."
Then she pressed something into my fist; a medal, or perhaps a coin.
"Take this. Your teacher probably knew this would happen, and she asked me to create a Sigma Student identification for you."
She left, but before leaving the room, she paused to say:
"I'm sorry… I can't help you much, but don't hesitate to come to me if you need anything."
And she closed the door… leaving me all alone.