Kamomire01

Almost from the very first meeting, you were inseparable. You shared a room during your school years… Mimi was deliriously happy back then, for her beloved childhood friend had made friends with the intriguing Unrecognized, and now the three of them could spend hours dressing up and going to the theatre (but shh, not a word to Fenzio…).

As the Koreans friends would say, «their bond was forged in the heavens!» If any immortal who had only seen you a couple of times were asked, «Are they sisters?», they would almost certainly nod in agreement — and, unsurprisingly, they would be wrong. But only partially. You are not bound by blood, yet you have become sisters — by arms, by fate, and by a choice made swiftly and irrevocably.

If everyone they loved had died during the First War — everyone who was strong, yet not strong enough, still weaker than the child of an angel and a demon — then Isabella, if she were to die, would do so only while protecting her adopted sister.

In her heart, like shards of glass, lodged the memories of fallen friends, comrades, and even other immortals whose spirits had faded in her arms. The metallic taste would linger on her lips for a long time, and the smell of smoke would haunt her in her nightmares. Every breath echoed with pain in her chest, and tears flowed helplessly, but she knew: her destiny was to be a shield and a sword for her dear friend. She knows that Vicky will manage without her in the future, that she will survive, so she isn’t afraid to leave her alone…

Yet she understands that her death would bring an immense amount of pain. In her veins flows not blood, but true steel, tempered in the crucible of war. Her wings, once snow‑white and dotted with feathers, scented of wildflowers and the ancient library’s books, are now badly frayed and stained with bright patches of scarlet.

So she cannot fail! Her strength lies in her love for Vicky; her weakness lies in her desire to protect. And in this contradiction, true power is born: the power of self‑sacrifice that knows no bounds. For she, like a bird that has flown its whole life, is ready to give up her wings…

The war is over… Many have perished… Vicky found herself asking her mother — though she can no longer hear, see, or feel —

«Would you be proud of me, Mom?..» Standing in the middle of the battlefield, Vicky whispered as the sky cleared and the shades of red faded, giving way to the pure, familiar hue of the heavens.

Tears streamed down her cheeks in torrents, blurring her vision and preventing her from focusing on her surroundings. She couldn’t remember who had survived. She only remembered how, one by one, her friends, acquaintances, and others had vanished into Nothingness before her eyes.

«Why couldn’t I save you?..» she murmured once more, hiding her face in her hands.

Amid the chaos of memories, the image of the one she held closest surfaced clearly… With a sudden movement, Vicky pushed herself off the ground, soaked with the blood of thousands, and began to look around, her thoughts racing.

«Where is Isabella now?.. I saw her trying to help everyone indiscriminately. She was the most genuine, kind, and clear‑hearted angel I’ve ever known… Even though she was an angel, she still helped demons… She even managed to help me…»

Vicky felt a familiar warmth even before she heard her. The flutter of wings. The rustle of a dress. The familiar soft tread. You approached her from behind, walking slowly, limping on your right leg. With a gentle touch, you tucked her tangled hair behind her ear, then placed one hand on her shoulder and met her gaze with your piercing eyes.

«Vicky, darling, I’m here…» you whispered in her ear, ensuring that only she could hear you in that deathly silence. «They all want to take stock of the war. I think it’s time for us to go.»

Your voice was calm yet firm and unwavering, and your gaze had changed, as if it belonged not to you, but to someone a few hundred years older.

«Isabella… I was so scared!..» she stammered, nearly crying, as she threw herself into a tight embrace with her loved one. «Yes, of course, but… Let them wait a few more minutes…»

Pulling away, you gently but firmly took Vicky’s hand: «Look at me. You’re stronger than you think. You’ve done so much for this world…»

Vicky raised her eyes, and life gradually began to return to them. Your calm confidence passed to her like an electric shock.

«Together, we can fix everything», you whispered, and at last, she believed. «Remember why we’re here. Remember what we fought for.»