Euphemia's perspective.

The dust.

***

"Good luck, may God protect each of you." The proctor stated.

Silence engulfed the whole area. Here we are, inside of this huge dome made of glass, as we witness how the light was slowly being tucked away by a small-scale black pixel. My mind envelops a common question in my head.

"Why?"

It wasn't like this in the previous examination I had, everything is just not familiar as it was before. I can hear everyone's voiceless worries. It's deafening and fretting.

"Sister." the child goes sideways. I barely see how he is looking at me, he was stiff and seemed to be uncomfortable. However, I can't just let him be like that. I poked him, trying the best I could to cheer him up.

"Scardy cats usually end up dead."

"E-ekk? I don't want to die!"

"Wait, did I scare him instead of making him calm? Ugh. This is why I don't babysit." I murmured to myself.

A huge snap after, the next thing we saw was the dome was completely shut, there was no speck of light that can be seen from the inside anymore. I felt a grip on my skirt, "S-sister." his shrilled voice is the only thing I can hear.

The air was exhausting, and even this whole area is trampled with a scorching sensation.

"You said we're going to get stronger together."

"Huh?"

I heard a whisper nearby but I didn't bother to look for it, it is senseless anyway. I pulled the kid closer; something is happening but I can't figure out what it is.

"Why did you leave us behind? you're supposed to be with us."

"Leave? Who is talking to me?"

Questions, I can clearly hear them. "Hey, kid. Are you doing good?" as I tried to touch him once again, I could no longer feel him, or his presence. Clearly, I wouldn't be able to search for him if the whole place was blanketed with blinding darkness.

"Kid!" I shouted once more, expecting an answer. I tried to turn around even if useless, mimicking a blind person the way they search the unsearchable path.

It's no good, I couldn't find him. I didn't hear him, "Where the hell did you go?" My patient is leaving me, but I have to remain calm, and if I'm correct. We're already inside the test. I just can't figure out what kind of Schatten we're facing.

"We are your family, why are you looking for other people?" and the whisperer is fucking annoying. "Will you stop talking to me? I don't owe you a conversation, to begin with."

Once I step, the heavy sensation begins to submerge within.

"Don't you want to go back with us, anymore?" I stood up, closing my eyes. Perhaps those whisperers who are talking with me are Schatten called dust. I've never encountered them, but if this is really dust. What are they even trying to do?

They are whispering like a bug; I couldn't see them. This is a disadvantage for me.

"Open your eyes."

"Open your eyes."

These whisperers, I couldn't figure out what are they trying to do, however; I just couldn't stand there. If that's what they wanted then, I'll do it—

Once I opened my eyes. The space and time where I stand changed, not only that the darkness faded in my sight but even the whole dome disappeared. Leaving me in this familiar, and warm gentle place.

I'm standing, breathing tenderly in the place that I once called, "Home."

This is an illusion, I stepped backwards, and confusion was already lingering in my mind.

"There's no way—!", Infiltrated by the scream of my lungs.

I won't fall to a simple trick like this, this might be the work of dust.

"Ahaha." Sweet laughter from behind mends my aware self. I quickly turned to see who it was, but I was speechless once I saw that person. She is gracefully smiling, her appearance didn't even change, and she is still beautiful as ever. "...Big...Sister?" my mouth left a gap before I could even notice it.

I'm penetrated from where I stand, continuously observing her.

She stood up from where her seat was, she was still wearing that long formal flowery gown. I remember, the gown was given to her by her crush, so it was her favourite one.

Falling back, I see she's planning to approach me—.

I felt I needed to go away. My heart was trapped by her mysterious presence.

"If I don't get away, she might—!" I'm screeching all over my head, but only I, can be able to hear it.

Everything was going smoothly, and the chance of getting away is calculated by 101%.

But because of my stupidity, I didn't notice there was already a rigid pavement at the edge where I trample behind.

Stumbling to myself like a little brat, my sister laughed once more. It was ridiculously irritating when she laughed.

"Ahaha. What are you doing? Come here, little lady." she said.

I'm supporting myself using my elbows, still staring at her confusedly. She is still the same as ever. The twilight lush silk hair oscillated with the breathing rush of the wind, and together with those tall blue eyes glimmering under the light of the sun, I barely see the difference.

She pulled me up. Dusting my clothes gently.

So much that I wanted to react, but I couldn't. She started a conversation that I couldn't even think to commence.

"What are you even shouting, and why do you look frightened when you see me?"

"...What are you doing here? This is an illusion made by those monsters. You're already dead, dead people must stay dead."

"...Euphy! That's harsh!" Did I sneeze?

"I don't care. Dead people don't need to come back! You are not my sister; my sister is dead. Why are you acting like a bitch claiming you are my sister?"

I heard her gasping inhale; it was rough and ugly. Then curving that fooling smile again as she faced me once more.

"Why are you saying this?" ah, the timid voice is really convincing. If I'm idiot enough, I would believe that I came back from the past, the tragedy didn't happen, and we'll live like normal people once more.

"I'm saying this because I want to get out of here." but I won't let it manipulate me. "Why do you want to get out of here? This is your home!"

"My home is long gone. My family is dead, they are not going to come back." but every time I say this to the illusion, my heart is in pain. Part of me doesn't want to say this to her, even though she is just made of Schatten.

"No! Can't you see me? I'm here!"

My sister grasped my shoulders tightly, her eyes were getting wet. I avoided her eyes, "No. I can't see you. A mere illusion will not fool me." my brows furrowed with anger. "Let me go. You're dead."

I saw a genuine flashback of my childhood memories. The one that I saw was when my sister was with my mother who was burning in the pit of fire.

"No! Do you want to go? Then... you have to kill me first—"

"How did you know? I was about to do that."

I sneak a glare, gripping her right hand tightly. "Hmph. I hope I don't see you anymore. Big Sister!" I made sure that she'd absorb my last word of farewell. "I need to go and save that hopeless kid."

I felt my Artes rushing out of my veins, the proof of this was my hair gradually turning into Ice-like colour. A vile smirk painted my face. As for that one, she flinched in fear, shaking like a cowering dog who would be eaten by a ferocious wolf at this very moment.

"...A—ah!"

My Artes entered her body; first, the sharp Eis would reach the parts that were crucial and would make her crumble. I don't know if she even has a heart but, when I said crucial, it does mean I stroked the parts that were keeping her alive. Then, enshrouding her whole body with Eis. Releasing my grip was the last thing I did.

She became a statue made of Eis.

"Fragile. Just like the memories that were shattered a few years ago." I snapped away, "I'm not going back. So, stop waiting for me."

And with the click of my hand. Everything was brought into its naught. The gentle scenery went dark, I came back to where I was. Where my reality is.

My eyes widen when I can clearly see people, they are being choked by a black shadow. The darkness hasn't faded yet, I can seem to see clearly as if there's light. "This is not the time for the confusion!"

I saw the kid; he was being eaten away by Schatten!

"Hey!"

Rushing toward the kid, I grabbed his hand but didn't exactly expect I will see things—

"You want to be with Mother and Father, right? We can swap for a while just before the exam!"

This kid, why is he smiling with another kid who has the exact appearance as him?!