Hope born of solitus

*

The Ogre Trace's yellow eyes glowed in the other vibrational dimension, emanating a tint akin to that of a rotten page. It dashes forward with unimaginable speed almost as if it transposed instantly. A being of vibrations replacing the vibrational value of air to match its existence, and vice versa to switch places.

It's only possible because it was switching places with air, where the environmental pressure will not crush it, and it will not resist the switching either. As such, it can't switch places with me or teleport only certain parts of my body away to kill me. A natural conclusion. I swing my fist forward regardless, landing it squarely at its jaw and sending it flying through the air. It switched places with the air a few metres away, but I catch up by leaping at an angle and swung another punch.

Drawing a large angle, my left fist glides through the air and makes contact, adding more momentum to it's already flying body. It swapped places with air, but it retained momentum. As such, it's only posing more danger to itself by teleporting, by giving me free hits. As long as it held magic power to recreate vibrations, it could regenerate. In other words, teleporting away and healing is a balancing act, eventually it'll run out when I punch it enough. It teleported away once more, this time it was much further away. It held a distance limit as well. I ran after it.

Ugh... The buildings zoom by, portraying how much distance we've covered since the fight started. Each time I got close, it teleported further away. Even worse, it was using the momentum I gave it to travel. The world gradually grew more colourful, it was too busy healing and running, so it no longer held enough power to hide us in another dimension. However, being out in the open only served to make it a sitting target for more magical girls. After all the teleporting thus far, it was rapidly running out of magic to sustain its own existence. Before long, it flew inbetween buildings and was lost among a maze of alleyways.

It was too late, I could no longer find it. It escaped... I didn't think it would, but living beings would naturally prioritise self preservation won't they? So in reality it was natural instinct to run the moment the tides were turned... There was no information about Traces escaping from fights in the diary... This was not something I assumed would be possible, I was under the misconception that they would fight to the death... However, what would work on me... Should work on them.

In a way, I'm glad. If retreat was viable, it'd be a lot easier surviving Trace attacks. At the end of the day, I was fighting it out of some sort of sense of responsibility... As a magical girl. If I could run from a superior opponent, I should. There's no sense in throwing away my life for someone else. Giving up, I headed back to the meeting spot at max speed, the world gradually grew more vibrant as the radiant skies illuminate the urban world.

I was targeted ever since I left my home. If I can sense the Trace, the Trace can sense me too. Now that it's out of hiding, it's a big target for every magical girl in the city. Sariel should be rushing about now.

Leaving it up to her, this might have been 'my' best and worst decision ever.

***

I arrived at the meeting location in a rush, my chest heaved uncontrollably as I caught my breath between steps. I was around 10 minutes late to our agreed timing...

"Haa~ haa~ I'm sorry. I'm a little late. I have no excuse..." (Lastia)

I have many excuses, but I can't bear doing anything other than taking the blame. I can't let her know about magic! Even if the world were to block her cognition and prevent it, I can't risk any danger reaching her whatsoever.

"... It's fine. You're making this up to me. Let's go!" (Arin)

With a mischievous youthful smile, she grabbed onto the collar of my sleeve and dragged me off. I roughly know the layout of these streets, there was a map pasted onto the inside of my closet when I went to change my clothes in the morning. But I never knew...

Under the vibrant blue skies, every inch of this food street was well lit. The grey of the concrete pavements, the slick black tar of the road, the yellow, green and blue signboards. The myriad of colours tastefully depicting food on displayed menus, the chorus of indistinct noise in the background. The lively atmosphere, the friendly crowd. Enthusiasm is carried through the air, the vigor and vitality of life is conveyed through actions.

Parsing food while navigating through the stormy crowd, Arin was like an expert helmsman manning her ship skillfully like a fish swimming in water. Finding her favourite stall, she pointed at it with a big grin on her cheeks. Her eyes seemed to sparkle with more lustre than any gem, like jubilation given life and materialised in this world.

"Fu fuu~ Ah... Ahm! " (Arin)

She cautiously took a bite from the steaming hot takoyaki. Naturally this place sold many varieties of street food, akin to an all year round festival. It was in an excellent location between the commutes of many, so it was the perfect pitstop on the way home. It was even livelier and brighter at night. At least that was what Arin had been telling me, as we ate what we had bought while walking further in.

"... How do I pay you back?" (Lastia)

The sky had begun to darken. We ate lunch at the foodie Street area and went through various shops in a mall, exploring many different products and hobby areas. If anyone were to pay slightly more attention, they would be able to easily deduce that this was my first time seeing so many new things. The wonder I felt as I explored new possibilities, the despair filling my heart as I realised I couldn't ever have a hobby. Because 'I' wouldn't last past today.

"... Before that, don't you have something to tell me?" (Arin)

She noticed. Of course she would. Who wouldn't? She must have been the closest person 'I' has in life. She must have been the only one who had noticed so much more than the others this whole time. The differences are only glaringly more obvious to her, not less.

"I...-" (Lastia)