So my name is leo not jim i told myself while look to nea with side of my eyes
She collapsed to the ground, sobbing. "I'm sorry, Leo! We shouldn't have done that. I never wanted things to be like this, but we didn't have a choice. The spider was getting closer, and if I hadn't pushed you, it would have killed us all. We would all have died."
Sacrifice. The thought flickered through my mind. I should be furious, but why wasn't I? Wait... I remembered my clothes being torn, all that blood... Was it my blood, or this "Leo" guy?
Then, the other girl looked at me. "Poor girl," she said, before turning to me. "Can't you say something to make her stop crying?"
I hesitated, then tried a small smile. "Look, I know you're sorry. I can tell from your tears. But you did try to kill me, so you owe me one."
The three of them stared at me, a mixture of shock and disbelief on their faces. What did I just say?
Nea shook her head, while the girl, whose name I didn't know, started crying again. The other one, Elef, began cleaning up the broken glass and drying the wet mat. Nea moved to sit on a nearby chair.
I approached the crying girl. I took a good look at her. She had short, light-olive skin, straight black hair, and almond-shaped black eyes. Her face was round. I could see the outline of a black bikini top beneath her white dress shirt, which was paired with a gray pleated skirt and black long socks. "Look," I said gently, "I've lost my memory. I don't remember anything that happened. I wouldn't know any of this if you didn't tell me. So, I... I forgive you. Can you please stop crying? I want to see your beautiful eyes."
Her sobs softened, becoming quieter. I thought my words had helped. Before I knew it, she hugged me tightly. Nea stood up from her chair when she saw her hug me. After she stopped crying, and Elef finished cleaning up the broken glass, we all sat down. The girl sat on floor She curled into a ball, every part of her drawn inward, trying to disappear. , her gaze fixed on the floor, and held my hand tightly. She asked, her voice barely a whisper, "So, you don't remember anything? Maybe... maybe if I tell you my story, something will come back?" She paused, her voice trembling slightly. "You are very lucky you do not remember. Maybe it is better this way. A lot of bad stuff happens that we should forget about." Then, she introduced herself. "My name is Ume Takahashi."
"I don't remember much either," I said, my voice rough. "All I know, as far as I can recall, is that we were slaves...resentful slaves. We were sold to the King's company to work in the mines. One day, they sent us here. A lot of their miners were killed or ran away. That's why they used us to fill their place." Her voice cracked, and when she finally dared to look at me, her face was devoid of hope, her eyes like those of the dead. "Are you happy now, Leo? Now you remember who you are?"
and what happened the day the spider attacked i ask ?
"We were working in the mines, the same grueling routine we'd endured since we were sold. The days blurred together in a haze of dust, sweat, and the constant, echoing clang of pickaxes. But then, everything changed. We broke through into a new chamber, a massive cavern glittering with crystals and rich veins of ore. It was breathtaking, a hidden wonder beneath the oppressive darkness we'd known for so long. The overseers, their eyes gleaming with greed, immediately sent us deeper in, eager to exploit this new find. We were excited, too, initially. The crystals pulsed with a strange energy, and the ore promised a better future, or so we hoped.
We were harvesting a particularly large crystal when the ground began to tremble. A low, guttural growl echoed through the cavern, a sound that vibrated in our very bones. Then, it emerged. A spider, but unlike any I had ever seen. It was colossal, its legs like sharpened spears, its eyes glowing with malevolent intelligence. Panic erupted. Miners screamed and scattered, tools clattering on the cavern floor. The spider moved with terrifying speed, its massive legs crushing those who were too slow. I saw boys and girls , kids I'd worked beside for months, cut down in an instant. There was no escape.
I tried to run, my heart pounding in my chest, the spider's horrifying screeches echoing behind me. I remember the sickening crunch as it caught others. I remember the smell of blood and the raw, animalistic terror that consumed us all. In the chaos, as I stumbled back, I lost my footing. My hand, flailing for purchase, accidentally shoved you. The spider lunged... its fangs dripping with venom. I saw you fall. I ran as fast as I could, blind with fear, not daring to look back. I didn't stop until I collapsed, exhausted and terrified, at the edge of the cavern, where Galya and her adventurer party found me. They rescued me... they got me here eventually ."
"And you, Leo, how did you survive the spider attack?" she asked, her eyes wide with desperate curiosity.
"I got up fast and ran like you, then a Knight found me and protected me, and got me here," I replied.
Galya nodded, her expression grim. "The Knights got to the pink gate after the attack on the Rosala colony, gained control, and eliminated the monsters. Then, they initiated Operation Eshu to secure the pink gate, control it, and close it if possible. You have survived all this time alone. That is very impressive."
I blinked, surprised at the comment. "You think I'm impressive?" I asked, involuntary smile tugging at the corner of my lips.