After sending Clarice off, I sat down alone by the tree next to the campfire.
It’s kind of them to worry. Everyone was anxious, in case I was troubled or hurt.
I adamantly shook my head telling them not to worry. I’m fine. It does me no good to trouble others or to show weakness.
What I need to do right now is ensure that this campfire lasts as long as possible by adding more fuel, poking the fire with a stick, and pre-cooking the meat I had prepared.
I threw in a few more logs, taking deep breaths of the early summer night air.
Then, an unmistakable weight pressed at my back.
There’s no need to look behind.
The sensation of blood trickling down my back is palpable.
Lying on the opposite side of the tree trunk, pressed against my back, was the figure of that troubadour that I’ve seen several times.
Resting her life in peace, she lay there, leaning quietly against me. I braced my back against the weight, and tossed more logs into the fire.
By the rules, she would have died anyway.
I tried to save her because I couldn’t just leave someone facing their death unaided.
There are countless reasons I could give for failing to save her.
The last time I traveled back in time was a rushed attempt. I had to move quickly with each moment to run as far as I could, which meant I couldn’t afford to save Adelle first.
From Clarice’s perspective, there would have been no way of knowing where Adelle was. Knowing that Adelle’s starting point was in the Gluckt House corridor was a fact known only to me. Being pressed for time, I couldn’t convey this beforehand.
Moreover, I couldn’t have predicted that Adelle’s divine energy and life would be spent after this last return. Having projected a manageable escape once more, I assumed, like always, she’d head toward the academy cathedral. After all, that’s what happened in the dozens of times I’ve experienced this.
But these reasons are merely self-defense mechanisms, and I am aware of that.
Regardless, Adelle Ceres has met her death. Even if it was with a smile, the fact she has met her end is unchanging.
My relationship with Adelle wasn’t especially close. My attempt to save her was simply due to my conscience. While that may be true…
The fact remains, I tried to save her but could not.
I resisted the pressure on my back and continued to throw logs onto the fire for a long time.