"So, who's going to come up first?"

"Parents of missing persons."

"Does Portman, the academy's best officer, have any advice for this interview?"

"Keep it clean."

"No poop. But what about the talking points?"

"It's the same as everything else now. We need to determine the timeline, the suspect, the motive. And most importantly, whether this is a kidnapping or a runaway case. ”

"I don't know, from our basic knowledge, the child seems to be very clean. You think he's a rabbit?"

"There are some people you never know. It doesn't matter how smart a person looks. Everyone has an animal instinct inside of them, it's just that you never know how deep it will be buried. ”

"I thought we were talking about runaways, not murderers."

"Fight or run. Running away from home usually begins with some kind of argument with a parent or guardian. ”

"What about the flight?"

"Don't pretend to be cute. Pay attention to road conditions. ”

Carl walked away in a rage, and all I could think about was how much I wanted to be like him.

Not seeing Blake was a big blow to me, even though I already knew it. I think there's a little bit of hope in my heart — like Carl — that Blake will be there this morning. I often bump into him on the way to school, when he just got off the bus, or in class, because we all have the same class on Wednesday. After the first class, doubts crept in.

After the second session, my hopes were dashed.

Blake was really completely gone. I expected it, but I didn't want it. Of course I didn't. Blake and I are good friends. We should play basketball together tonight. Playing basketball in the park on Wednesdays is a common occurrence. Blake is not going to play basketball again.

Carl, I feel so sorry for him. His life will not be easy. If Blake and I are good friends, then he and Carlby are even closer. When we split up at Skyler, Blake kept me looking for Karl for weeks. So much time was wasted, but Blake never gave up, just as Carl couldn't give up on him right now.

As he snaked his way through the cafeteria table, it was clear that he didn't care at all. He nearly knocked down a poor freshman as he went out. I can't blame him for wanting to leave. I would also like to leave if I can. But I'm the leader. I'm responsible. I don't know why it fell on my head. Maybe it was just my bad luck that I was the only one with a car that night.

Whatever it is, in the end, it's up to me. All the decisions were left to me. No matter how old the child was and changed their life, they entrusted them to a child from suburban Oregon. The whole country is crazy. Each one is. They trust me to make tough choices.

Just like now. If Carl doesn't accept Blake's death soon, I'm going to have to make another tough choice.

"Matt?"

My sister's voice woke me up from my stupor. She was still staring at the place Karl had vacated, her face full of worry.

"Really?"

"What should we do?"

I sighed. I wish I never heard about it again. "He needs to vent. Blake was his best friend. One day. We can handle it. It won't hurt him for a day. ”

"What if it hurts someone else?"

I shook my head. "Carl is not stupid. He doesn't attack people casually. He just needed to get over his grief. ”

Je

frowned. "Matt, he's not sad. His anger. He thinks there's still a chance. ”

"Yes, isn't it?"

"Great, Matt!" Her voice was the harshest in a whisper. I was taken aback. What's going on? I don't know how to answer. I don't even know what she said. Jane's eyes narrowed, and her expression suddenly became fierce. "I know, okay?"

Like a battering ram, pounding against the wall of denial in my heart. “… You know what?" I replied, desperately hoping that she was saying something else—anything else. But I knew exactly what she was going to say next

"I was there. in the vestibule. I know why Blake died. She said, her voice hoarse. I froze, doing everything I could not to react. I didn't answer. My eyes were fixed on the wall that was well above Jane's shoulder, though I couldn't see what I was seeing. I try to block everything, everyone.

Jane has been there. She saw what Blake was doing. I did.

After a while, Jane didn't answer, and continued. "I see, okay?" I'm not blaming you. You did what you had to do. Blake and I both understand this. That son of a bitch, who had to die. He deserves to die. But Carl didn't know what was going on. ”

"Explanations didn't help him in any way," I said calmly.

"Perhaps," she said, leaning forward on her elbows. "There's no way Blake is alive, though."

“…… No. ”

Carl will continue to work on it until he finds the answer himself.

"Probably," I said, looking away. The cafeteria continued to be busy around us, as if everything was normal. It was as if we weren't talking about those cruel things that I was still having nightmares a week later.

"Wouldn't it be easier to tell him directly?"

"I don't think he's going to believe me," I replied honestly. Carl and I didn't have a very good relationship, even before we left. He's with me because Blake and I are together a lot. I basically ignore him unless he's in my way.

"Well, if the two of us—"

"No," I interrupted him firmly.

"Didn't you?" Jane asked. She looked up a little surprised.

"You shouldn't get involved."

"Matt—" She just spoke, but I stopped her again.

"You have your own life to live. Happy, normal, safe life," I said. "Nothing happened to you there, you're just an ordinary girl," I added in my head.

"I can't go back, Matt," she said, her expression gloomy.

"Why not?"

"Well, first of all, I think my daughter is a very bad person." Or did you forget?"

"No," I replied calmly. "Of course not. This is my responsibility. ”

"Dove?"

"It's my fault, Jane," I said, still adamantly refusing to look her in the eye. I can't stand seeing her face now, even if it's the little sister I grew up with, not the scarred Sylva I later knew

da

Warrior. "All of them. If I hadn't let you—"

"Stop. Right now. Her hand grabbed mine. I finally looked at her, at the face that had emerged from my past, and I felt so desperate that I almost swallowed me up—only her expression was no longer sad or gloomy. She seemed resolute. "You can't be blamed for that. How the hell do you know?"

"But even if we get there—"

"We separated. All of us. What happened to me has nothing to do with you. A few people walked past and stopped Jane. My eyes were wet with tears. I rolled up my sleeves and wiped them off before she noticed. I can't show weakness. I am the strongest and the center of the team. Fearless leader. I have a role to complete.

By the time the kids walked away, my eyes were clear and my expression was in control.

"It's okay, Matt. I am fine. You're good. We're home. She continued in a low voice. I'm back to normal. Ish. She smiled. Well, if I've had a bit of kapa for a while

What about -litashave?" No big deal. ”

"In English?"

"Oh, you." Jane threw another grape at me. "Uh......h Impetusive. Somewhat. This is not a direct translation. ”

I shook my head, thinking it was funny. I have never learned this language. I know a few words enough to understand some of Jane's mistakes, and I also know some of the phrases we practiced. They are useful for quick direction in combat. In a rebellion, the ability to communicate on the battlefield without being understood is invaluable. I also learned how to respond to some insults, like Jane had done the night before. I've heard this phrase too many times, so I asked Jane to explain it to me. This is nothing short of racist. Elves and humans don't get along very well.

Carl kept saying that the language was beautiful and special, but honestly, I didn't really understand what he was saying. To me, Ettolins sounded no different from other languages. I mean, most of the time I can't understand what they're saying, but that's no different than listening to French, Spanish, or Japanese. It's all gibberish, even if not human gibberish like everyone else.

However, the language means a lot to Jane. I got so much. Living with the elves has changed her in many ways. Deep down, I feared that she would never get back to normal. But if I don't try to get her there, hell.

"How are we?" Jane asked. I know everything, but I can tell she's trying. I'm grateful.

"Yes," I nodded. "We're good." I'm eating again, and so is Jane. For obvious reasons, we were all distracted and lunch time passed quickly. I devoured the hastily prepared lunch that morning. It's not my best work, but as the first meal back, it's not bad.

I always put our lunches together. Mom used to be like this, a long time ago, but everything changed after my father left. Jane was too young to remember him much, but I remember him. We are better off without him. Still, our mother got a second job and suddenly, she couldn't stay with us anymore except for weekends. On weekdays, unless we stay up late, we have the privilege of seeing her except for the reluctantly wake-up of her at breakfast.

But she keeps the money flowing, and in addition to that, she keeps the rest of the house clean and tidy. (Our bedroom is a different story entirely.) On weekends, after she comes home in the evening, we always have dinner together and do some family activities. Watch a movie or TV, or play a board game. When we were younger, we used to go to the park. In the beginning, it was basically just Jen, me and the other neighborhood kids playing on the swings and playground. As I grew up, I spent more time sitting on the bench with my mom watching.

We have nothing to talk about. Mom was always there to listen to me complain. She'd listen to the school, or whatever else came to mind, whatever it was. At one point, I started complaining about the problems I was having in a video game for more than 30 minutes. About how I struggled to figure out how the enemy made a particular move, and how I couldn't defeat them. I can't remember the specifics, but my mom just sat there quietly and listened. When I was done, she asked me if I had finally solved the problem, and I still hadn't.

She told me with a smile, "Sometimes, solutions come where you least expect them. Never forget that everyone fights for a reason. Everyone wants to think of themselves as good people in the end. ”

This doesn't apply to video games at all. I don't know if she didn't hear what I was saying and thought it was a book or something. Her advice was completely useless at the time. However, in Serraville, this simple advice saved my life more than once and helped me build an army. It saved the entire kingdom more than once.

I hope that one day I will somehow express this to my mother. But I never will. If only my mom had never heard of that place.

"Hi, Jen."

“Mmmph ?” Jane stuffed her mouth with pretzels and muttered in her mouth.

"We should do something for mom."

She swallowed, then thankfully replied. “A

ala ?” I started to remind her, but she held back. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Like what?"

"I don't know yet."

"We can bake her a cake," she added, her mouth slowly opening and smiling.

“… You just want cake. ”

"That's not no," she retorted.

I sighed. "Good. We'll pick something up. ”

"You're going to have to check it out, Matt."

"You don't even try anymore."

"Marsal," she said with a giggle.

"You never change," I complained. "Speaking of which, where did your accomplice go"

"Oh." She frowned. "She has something to attend to at lunch."

"Ah," I said noncommittally. Actually, I was a little disappointed. When I walked over, Sara was sitting next to her, and the moment she turned to look at me, I remembered clearly why I always wanted to ask her out.

We've been chatting for the last week or two until last night, when Blake called and everything went wrong. She's been Jane's best friend for years, but somehow, we've never crossed paths much. Jane never seemed to invite her; They are always hanging out at Sarah's house or somewhere else. But lately, I've started noticing her more. She's smart, confident, and most importantly, she's beautiful. I wanted to ask her out, but I was always hindered by something. It could be caution, or it could be a fear of rejection.

It looks silly. Sarah is worth the risk. Even better, she's normal. Ordinary.

Mankind.

"What, what's wrong?" Jane asked.

"Nothing," I replied quickly. She seemed suspicious, but the bell saved me. Lunch is over. Jane glanced up in disappointment and began to pack the rest of her lunch back into her bag. "You should finish it. It's going to be a long day. ”

"Do you still have a headache?" She asked as she zipped up her bag.

I nodded. "Leftovers, but it's there."

"A bunch of lettuce." Jane stood up and pulled her bag.

"Seriously, Jane. I warned her, but she just grinned and walked away.

The last thing I need is for Jane to babble in a language that doesn't belong to this world. I suspect no one will treat it like anything other than gibberish, but the more she says, the more likely she is to keep talking and the more attention we will get. Black is missing bad enough. I still don't know what to do.

I watched Jen leave, meet Sara at the other end of the cafeteria, and disappear into the hall. My only plan now is to pretend we don't know anything. How else could I do it? No one can prove that Blake is missing. All the evidence is safely hidden in another dimension - or whatever the hell it may be called

aveil。 Without any clues, and we go back to normal life as if nothing had happened, any investigation will fall short.

With this comforting thought, I finished my lunch and set off for the next class.

＊＊＊

I didn't have any issues with my other courses. After a messy lunch, I barely noticed the rest of the day was ticking. I've been worried about what Carl will do. I wasn't lying when I told Jane that he might have a better day, but he had lost more than I had lost. Can I really understand how he feels?

When I got home, I put the matter behind me. Mom was still outside, although she didn't go to work for the first time. She has a special day off today, and she only needs to work tonight. But she promised to go home for dinner. Wondering what she was doing, I tossed my bag into the room, grabbed the keys from the table, and went downstairs to the garage. I gently turned on the light, and my father's relics were there.

It's in perfect condition and runs better than you think, but it does look like a pile of scrap metal. The paint in the car was falling everywhere, the door on the driver's side was badly scraped, and the door to the bed had been closed for fifteen years. Still, it's mine. After Dad went missing, Mom found all the documents in the car locker with her signature on them. She had her own car, but when I grew up, she taught me how to drive a truck.

Why am I ashamed of this all the time? This is a very useful tool. I shuddered to think how I avoided using it out of resentment towards my father and fear of what others would say about its appearance. Why do I care so much? I was such an idiot. I'd rather walk an extra 30 minutes to watch a basketball game and then go home than let anyone see my beat-up truck. I even just drove it with Jane to go shopping or do a little errand. Plus the trip to Serraville Park.

Now, it looks more like an old machine to be trusted. It may not have won any games, but it doesn't deserve to be hated. I put one hand on the hood and felt the hard metal under my fingertips.

For a moment, my memory flashed back, and instead of cold steel, my hands touched the warm mane of Haldama, who snorted loudly and clawed at the bloodstained grass with his claws, and the stench of decay filled my nostrils, and the sound of the battlefield filled my ears, filled with the smooth sound of female voices and swords piercing into the gaps in my neck and armor.

Then I came back and my finger touched a small notch in the paint on the side of the hood. I got into the car and opened the garage door. Looking through the rearview mirror, I saw Jane hurrying in the rain with her backpack close to her chest. She ran in through the front door and came out of the garage a few minutes later and jumped next to me.

"Do you remember how to turn this on?"

In response, I turned on the engine and reversed into the street, as smooth as yesterday. Jane raised her eyebrows. “Oookay。” When I pulled the car onto the main road, she leaned over from the side of her seat. Suddenly, she disappeared from the corner of my eye. “Daphut !”

"Are you alright?"

"yes," she murmured. "I've forgotten how nervous it was." Jane returned to my edge vision and slowly shifted her seat to a reclining position. Her eyes slowly closed. "I'm going to take a nap, okay?" When I arrived, I was asked to wake up. ”

"Fifteen minutes by car......"

"There's time."

I shrugged. I glanced at her, and she did look tired. In my memory, music always helped her fall asleep. I leaned forward and fiddled with the radio, trying to remember how to use it. I parked my car neatly between a minivan and a delivery truck waiting for a red light. I set up the statics, and then after some experimentation with the dial, I started playing some pop music. I wanted to change it right away, but I vaguely remember it was one of Jane's favorite songs.

With a cacophony of rhythms coming from my useless speakers, I hit the highway and accelerated. The truck made a female voice as it slowly crossed 55 miles. I held the steering wheel with one hand and rested comfortably on the open window with the other, letting the breeze blow through my arms. The clouds cracked from time to time, wisps of sunlight pierced through the rain, and I looked around and saw a rainbow in the distance.

Without any warning, the music was turned off. I thought it was the truck's stereo that had been hit particularly badly, but a second later, when I looked back at the road, I saw Jen's retracted hand.

"What's wrong?"

Jane just shook her head and closed her eyes again.

"I thought you liked that song."

"I don't know," she replied, eyes still closed. "I guess I just can't feel it."

For the rest of the journey we drove in relative quiet, filled it only with the roar of trucks and the roar of engines as it drove along a poorly maintained highway.

＊＊＊

"Jane".

“… He said, "I don't know who you are, I don't know who you are." She's talking in her sleep. The only word I knew was Naef, her friend

aeffi

Abbreviation. I tried to tap her on the shoulder as much as I could. She snapped ake, a hand flying down and grabbing my wrist at lightning speed. In less than a second, she let go, blinking angrily. "To Sunana?" Oh wait. I'm sorry. Stupid question. She looked around. After adjusting for a while, she reached for the unbuckle and realized that she had never been wearing one. “…… Oops. Why don't you remind me?"

I glanced down and realized that I wasn't wearing both. Je

Giggled. After a few seconds, I laughed. We sat there, turned off the fire in the parking lot of the grocery store, and laughed for over a minute. It's a small and stupid thing to do, but for whatever reason, it us both off. Maybe it's just too tired. Anyway, when we got out of the car and walked into the store, this sentence greatly lightened our emotions. I finally regained my composure, but I was curious to know what she was muttering in her dreams before I woke Jen up.

For as long as I can remember, she has always spoken in her sleep. This part is not new. It's always written in English, though. She seems to have replaced it wholesale with Etoli

E, this annoys me a lot. I can reasonably tell myself that this is to be expected, but it brings her one step closer to reality.

I don't want to just take it away from her. I can see how important it is to her identity. At times, I felt as if she had become an adopted foreigner, with a completely different culture and upbringing than mine, despite the fact that we had spent 16 years together on Earth. I could never comprehend what she was going through, or how she became the huntress I ended up reuniting with me at the negotiating table in the secret cellar of a tavern in a border town.

When I walked behind her, she looked like a very normal high school girl. What's more, she looks like the girl I grew up with, spent every Christmas together, bought gifts together, watched TV together, and cooked together almost every night. She's my sister.

I started walking down the aisle and, following my normal cycle, picking up the usual stuff. Jane was in the other aisle, presumably taking her to decide what we would eat for dinner. After all, I promised. It was impossible for her to forget that.

But to my surprise, I packed everything before she came back. I wandered aimlessly until I spotted her, who was staring intently at the bread on the shelves.

"Did you find what you were looking for?" I shouted, and walked up to meet her. Jane didn't answer. Her head slowly moved to the next loaf of bread in the aisle. "Uh, Jane?"

“Se develd。 I'm here to study. ”

Out of curiosity, I bent down with a basket under my arm. "What are you doing?"

She turned back, her face flushed. "Learn. Or...... Re-learning, I guess. ”

I checked the bread. It didn't seem strange at all – until I noticed that they were all upside down and Jane could read the ingredients there. "Name?"

"Forgot the word bread, one. or cinnamon. Wheat, nuts, raisins, peanut butter. Jane sighed. Don't make fun of me?"

"Can I honestly guarantee it?"

She snorted. "Well, you're right. Anyway, do you mind if I walk a little longer? You'll be amazed at how useful this can be. ”

I shrugged. "That's good. Remember, we had to rush home to cook before Mom came home. ”

"Yes, yes." Jane waved me away.

I suddenly remembered Jane's request at lunch. I can't deny that I also really want to eat cake. This store has a bakery, right? I thought about it for a moment before I remembered where it might be, then gave up and began to wander around the outer rim. I knew I was going to end up encountering it.

Instead, I found something else. Others.

She came across the corner of the aisle and I almost bumped into her. Oddly enough, I almost knocked her over because I was distraught by the sight of the deli and the thought of fresh ham for dinner. There are no pigs in Serraville. I rushed to her feet, shocked to realize that it was Sara again.

"Oh, hi," I said awkwardly. "Uh......h I'm sorry. ”

She shook her head. "It's totally my fault. I didn't pay attention to where I was going. ”

"Well, I'm not really really. Let's take it as a draw, right?"

"Of course," she said with a smile. Her face was the kind that would completely light up when she did, with a big smile and sparkling eyes. It rekindled every spark of my fascination with it, from a smoldering ember to the flame it once was, and it was extinguished over the years when my mind was distracted by endless other things. This time, I decided to fan it into a real fire.

"Hmm. If you don't mind, I'd like to see you again sometime. ”

"Oh?" There was a glint of curiosity in her eyes, even though she couldn't hold back a smile at my bad lines. So I've never been the best at that, no matter what it is. I don't care anymore, though. All I know is that I want to spend more time with her.

"Are you busy Friday?" I asked, and the plan was already in my head.

"Nope. I don't think so. Yes and no. I'm free. ”

"Want to get out?"

Sara smiled and nodded at me. "Of course, Matt."

"Cool. I'll pick you up then. ”

"Hmm," Sara began, glancing around. It's not part of the script in my head. A cloud of anxiety began to form in my head.

"What's wrong?"

"Oh! Nothing. I'm going to walk home with Jane anyway. Why don't you see you at your house? She hastened to say. Was she embarrassed by something? Her eyes kept glancing. Something to avoid. I don't know how to interpret it.

"Okay." I laughed and tried to tell him it wasn't a big deal. She returned it, and the whole world seemed to be a little lighter.

"So, you're cooking dinner?" She asked nonchalantly.

"Jane told you?"

Looks super excited. It's like exaggerated excitement. Are you a super chef?"

I shrugged. "I'm dabbling."

"Ah, pretend to be cool. Choose wisely. Sarah grinned. Maybe I'll have to come over and try your cooking sometime. ”

"I don't know if I can handle the pressure of cooking for someone as beautiful as you."

Sarah's gaze froze for a moment. Her face flushed. "Leave something for Friday," she murmured.

I grinned. "Don't worry. I've got to go home now anyway. I turned to leave, but Sara grabbed my hand. Even though her tone had suddenly changed and her tone had changed, there was still a spark on my skin and I felt that touch.

"Wait." Her voice changed. It's a tone that makes me feel scared, worried, and serious, full of fear and confusion. It is a sign of panic and terror to come, where terrible things are bound to happen. "Listen, Jane told me not to say anything, but I'm worried about her."

My fears came true. People outside of our group learned things they shouldn't have learned. I tried to suppress my panic. Jane is not an idiot. Usually smarter than me. She must have a reason to let Sarah join us, and we'll discuss it as soon as we get home. On top of that, I don't know what Jane told her. I had to play carefully.

"Worried?" I asked, not in a casual tone. I'm just an older brother who cares about him.

"Have you noticed anything lately?" Especially today?"

I shrugged.

Sarah frowned. "Oh, come on, don't tell me that. The two of you are super close. As intimate as a thief. ”

"Occasionally, they actually steal."

"Huh?"

"Nothing." It's not a story I can share with Sarah, although it's a pretty good highlight. Carl's armory guard didn't see us coming. "I mean, yes, she's been a little bit different lately. But people change. Nothing stays the same forever. ”

"Since you say so," she sighed.

"Talking about me behind my back?" It's a shame. Jane whispered from somewhere nearby. Sara and I were startled, but we didn't see her anywhere.

“…… Jane?" I asked about the thin air, not sure where she was.

"Now," she replied, poking her head out of the shelf in the side hallway.

I frowned. "Are you standing on a shelf?"

"Don't worry." Je

Grinning. "By the way, you two are so cute. After many years of dating, we finally started dating. ”

My cheeks are on fire. I'm sure my face is as red as Sarah's.

"Jenny, I---"

"Jane," we involuntarily corrected her.

Sara shook her head in disbelief. "You're all crazy."

"Also smart, insightful and visionary," Jane added. "And, Matt, shouldn't we go?"

I nodded, grateful for the excuse to leave. "Have you figured out what to eat tonight?"

In response, Jane held up a plastic bottle. It hit the light of the lamp above, illuminating the translucent amber liquid inside. She threw it over and I caught it. A bottle of maple syrup.

"It's pancakes."