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471 Sirin
🕑 Added 2025-07-16 15:00:17 +0000 UTC—Inside the Cabin—
‘Creeeak…’
The wooden door let out a long, mournful groan as if it hadn’t been opened in decades.
When Kagura pushed it open, the sound cut through the silence like a scream.
‘Tap… tap… tap…’
She stepped into the small cabin, closing the door softly behind her to keep the biting wind and snow from seeping in.
‘Click.’
And just like that, the quiet returned—deep, still, and absolute.
“…Sirin.”
After a moment, Kagura spoke, her voice calm.
“This is our first time meeting. My name is Kagura. I came here to help—”
“Get out! Get out of my mind!”
Sirin, still curled up in the corner of the room, suddenly exploded with fury.
“Liar! All humans are liars! Your ‘kindness,’ your ‘love,’ your talk of ‘family’—it’s all fake! All of it! Just get out of here!”
“I know… what happened with Miss Cecilia must’ve been devastating for you. To finally have a mother again, only to…”
Kagura didn’t move any closer. Instead, she gently pulled out a chair and sat down across from Sirin, keeping her distance.
“…Honestly, if it were me, I think I would’ve lost faith in humanity too.”
“Then why are you still here?!”
Sirin raised her head, her golden eyes brimming with hatred.
“Humans should be wiped out while there’s still time!”
“If you truly understand me, then give me back the Herrscher of the Void’s power! Let me burn this rotten world to ash! Isn’t that what you want?! Why are you wasting your breath?!”
“But if you do that… wouldn’t a lot of people be heartbroken?”
Kagura’s voice remained steady, soft.
“I don’t think you’re the kind of person who wants to see everyone suffer the way you have… who wants to spread loneliness and pain, right, Miss Sirin?”
“I don’t care! I don’t believe any of that!”
Sirin turned away bitterly.
“Humans are just arrogant insects! They’re nothing but fools who keep making the same stupid mistakes!”
“But… during the battle in Siberia, back in 2000, didn’t you accept Miss Cecilia?”
Kagura continued without rushing.
“Would you say she was one of those foolish, worthless humans too?”
“She… she was! So what?!”
Sirin hesitated for a split second—then snapped again.
“No—Cecilia was different! But she was still a liar! She promised she’d stay with me forever! She said she’d never leave me… But she did! She lied! All lies!”
“…At the very least, I believe Cecilia truly cared about you.”
Kagura didn’t try to deny Sirin’s hatred. She didn’t try to force her to forgive.
“And deep down… you cared about her too, didn’t you?”
Sirin’s hatred of humanity couldn’t be unraveled in a day or with a few comforting words.
But those days she spent with Cecilia in the illusion—the time they shared together—had driven a crack into the wall of hatred inside her heart.
A crack where light could still pass through.
‘Bzzz…’
A soft glow lit up Kagura’s golden eyes.
The Mind Gem activated quietly—but she didn’t use it to control or influence Sirin’s mind.
That kind of forced agreement meant nothing to her.
That wasn’t the connection she wanted.
And within her vision, she could see it: golden threads—just like the ones she had seen with Benares.
Threads of thought and emotion, reaching out from Sirin's soul… and connecting to the one glowing thing in this cold, desolate world:
The fire burning quietly in the cabin’s hearth.
The only warmth.
The only light.
So that’s what it is…
Kagura turned her gaze to the flames.
“Sirin… even in this world of your own making, this cabin still exists. And in this cabin, there’s still a fire burning.”
“That warmth… that light… It’s the last remaining hope left in your heart. A warmth someone left behind for you, isn't it?”
“…I don’t know what you’re trying to pull!” Sirin snapped, her voice trembling.
“Are you here to take that from me too? My last bit of warmth? Do you want me to freeze to death alone in this frozen hell? Is that what’ll satisfy you?!”
“The warmth Cecilia gave you… became this fire that never goes out.” Kagura’s voice softened.
“And me… I don’t want to take that away. I want to stand with you beside it. Not just to warm ourselves by the flame— But to help you turn it into a sun.”
“A sun that can light up your heart… and this entire world.”
“Hmph… All you humans ever do is talk. Sweet lies and empty promises—your specialty.”
Sirin glared at the fire, though the warmth dancing across her face betrayed a flicker of emotion.
“Cecilia was the same. A fool who couldn’t do anything… but still dared to make promises she couldn’t keep… What a joke.”
"So… do you think I can do it? Can I fulfill Miss Cecilia’s unfinished promise?"
"You? I don’t even know who you are…"
Sirin’s voice remained sharp, her body still tense with resistance and hostility.
"You’re just a stranger who barged into my mind—don’t think just because you got in here, you can get into my heart. I won’t surrender so easily!"
"That’s true… but someone has to come here, into this frozen world of yours."
"Someone has to bring you warmth—don’t you think?"
Kagura’s voice was gentle, patient.
"Sirin, would you be willing to trust humanity again? Just once more? Would you open your eyes… and try to see the beauty this world still has to offer? Would you let yourself be a part of it?"
"I know… your hatred, your resistance—it's all rooted in fear."
"You’re afraid of being hurt again. Afraid of being betrayed by humans again. Afraid of losing all your warmth and love… again."
"But this time, things are different. Because the person standing before you—is me."
Kagura stood, walked toward Sirin, and knelt down before her, extending a hand.
"If you don’t take that first step forward… how will you ever know what kind of tomorrow is waiting for you?"
At that moment, Kagura noticed—the snowfall outside was beginning to slow.
The gray skies started to clear, and faint rays of sunlight began to peek through the thick clouds above.
"You…"
For the first time, Sirin looked up—really looked—into Kagura’s eyes.
"Ka…gura… Kagura…"
“…Big sister Kagura…”
Her golden eyes trembled faintly.
In Kagura’s gaze, she saw a flicker of Cecilia.
That same gentle warmth—so unlike the cold cruelty of other humans. It wasn’t exactly the same… but it felt just as real. Just as safe.
If Cecilia had been the flickering flame that lit up the endless darkness of that bitter Siberian winter in 2000…
Then the silver-haired girl before her now—she was the sun itself.
Warm, soft, radiant. And yet carrying a power far greater than any Herrscher…
A presence that made Sirin feel at peace, for the first time in years.
Maybe…
If it’s her…
Just maybe…
"...I'm not really human, you know…"
Sirin mumbled, trying to lift her hand—then hesitated, letting it fall back into her lap. She turned her face away again.
"My personality’s terrible… I’m not easy to deal with..."
"I know~" Kagura replied playfully. "I’ve heard all about your glorious achievements."
"But that doesn’t matter. I’ll accept you. And I’ll help others accept you too."
"I… I’m a Herrscher! I’m supposed to be eliminated by humanity…!"
"Relax. You’re not the only Herrscher on the Hyperion, you know."
A faint blush bloomed on Sirin’s cheeks.
"I-I’m also super picky with food, you know?! Most human food tastes awful to me!"
"You’ll like what Mei cooks."
"Then… Big sister Kagura… will you stay with me? Always?"
"Mm-hmm. I’ll always be with you, Sirin."
Kagura smiled warmly.
"I’ve already decided—no matter where I go, even if I leave this world, I’ll take you with me. We’ll travel together."
"Really…?" Sirin’s voice trembled.
"Really."
"You better not lie to me! If you do, I’ll… I’ll kill you!"
"Don’t worry. I won’t lie to you."
"I…"
Outside the window, the last clouds drifted away.
The snow stopped.
And golden sunlight bathed the land in a warm, radiant glow.
After a long pause, Sirin finally spoke again.
"I… Big sister Kagura… I want to… go outside and see the world."
"Then welcome to the world of humanity, Sirin."
Kagura pulled her into a tight embrace.
"Let’s get along from now on, okay? Sirin."
Ah…
So warm. So soft.
It was a warmth I hadn’t felt since that winter in Siberia, back in 2000…
So this is…
The warmth of the human heart?
Maybe…
Maybe going back to the real world wouldn’t be so bad.
Maybe…
As long as big sister Kagura is by my side…
I won’t be alone again.
I believe in her…
I want to believe in her.
Yes—
Let me believe in humanity… one more time.
———————————————————————
Meanwhile, on the surface—Siberia, 2000.
Kiana stood wounded, bloodied, yet tall and unshaken.
Behind her, a pair of radiant, angelic wings unfurled in the frozen sky.
Her expression was firm. Though she had endured fierce battle, her will never wavered.
In her hand, a handgun.
In front of her, the Herrscher of the Void had fallen to her knees.
"It’s over," Kiana said, her voice unwavering. "My nightmare ends here."
"...Yeah. You’ve grown strong, Kiana."
The Herrscher of the Void gave a faint, satisfied smile. "Looks like this power… won’t be wasted in your hands after all."
"You’ve won, Kiana."
"You’ve defeated a god—on your own strength alone."
"Rejoice."
"From now on… the power of the Herrscher of the Void… belongs to you."
