Chapter 12

Moving underground where the sun cannot reach, has me unable to tell what time it is.

I raise my wrist out of habit, wanting to look at the digital analog watch on my hand, before I remember that I left it in the castle. Still, if there isnt enough UV rays, the fluorescent paint on it wouldnt work. I cant even see my own hand, exactly how dark is this place?

Even if Im in the absolute darkness, I still would care about the time on the surface for a while. Since I dont have a watch to refer to, I can only rely on my level of weariness or hunger, or start counting how many steps I take.

But after a while I slowly stop caring about all those things, I dont even have the desire to rest or eat. Everything has become trivial.

I just keep moving my feet and walking.

The right foot, then the left foot, step with the left foot then the right foot. All my brain wants is to walk carefully and not fall. I have to walk to the end of this tunnel, head to the facility and tombs at the other end of the desert. Im just being obedient, obeying the things I decided in the past.

And I will always make sure I have one hand on the wall, thats something we must do when feeling our way through the dark.

Suddenly the air stops moving, and I realize that Saralegui, who was walking ahead of me, has vanished. If I lose him in this darkness, what would become of me? He can see in the dark, so he can see his way even without firelight. But without moonlight or sunlight shining inside, I cant see a single thing.

Alone I definitely would not be able to walk out of this tunnel. The road has been straight up until now, but if theres a junction ahead, I might get lost, and end up starving by the roadside. Its just that, compared to my fear of an end like that, right now my heart is filled with nothing but self despair.

I think, This cant be helped, either.

As for Saralegui, who had vanished ahead of me, he stops now, as though waiting for me to catch up. When that feeling unique to him floats up to me, I hear his familiar voice,

You really cant see anything, huh.

I nod wordlessly. Even if I dont make a sound, he can probably see me nod.

It cant be easy for you to walk like this, Ill hold your hand then.

As soon as he says that, he grabs my left hand without waiting for an answer and starts walking ahead briskly.

I didnt think people really couldnt see in the dark, seems like everyone has been living a pretty inconvenient life. I always thought this was normal, I thought everyone could see. No wonder the lady officials would always call me, who could see even in the darkest place, weird names.

Weird names? Honestly I feel Saralegui should have a different name too.

So sorry, Yuuri. Im just not considerate enough with things like this.

He swings our joined hands like a child, adjusting his pace so he can walk side by side with me. The way were walking now is just like a long time ago in kindergarten, how we would walk on long trips out, so I can tell hes in a very good mood.

I should have done this a long time ago.

And Im just moving my feet, walking. This is the only way to advance, so I move my feet.

I say, Yuuri, you should have done this a long time ago.

Done this a long time ago? I should have done what?

But I still dont change what Im doing. Just walking for the sake of it, to find a way out of this tunnel. I want to find the facility those two children are in, and head for the emperors tombs. I want to follow the decisions I made in the past, because back then I still had the ability to decide.

I walk, rest, continue to walk.

And I thought that a journey like this would be hard on Saralegui, who grew up in the palace, but it turns out neither side made a noise of complaint, and the two of us walked until we couldnt walk anymore together. We slept together, woke up and then started walking again. I dont say a thing and rarely open my mouth, but Saralegui has always been in a good mood. Thats something to be grateful for, at least.

On what should be around noon on the third day, Saralegui gasps like a child,

Yuuri, look! The ceiling, the ceiling, theres a hole in the ceiling.

Hearing his words I raise my head. Somewhere really high and really far away, there does seem to be a vague white circle.

Hole?

Thats right. Oh, yeah, youre used to the darkness now, so thats why you suddenly cant see. The ceiling here is really high, a lot like an impluvium in the castle. Oh, yeah, it was always narrow tunnels before, so it feels so much more relaxing to be in a wide open space like this How is it? Yuuri, are you slowly getting used to the light now?

I raise my head until my neck even begins to hurt, staring at the white circle with the light coming through too. Since the light is so strong, logically it should be brighter here too, and I should be able to see my own hands and Saraleguis face soon.

Yuuri?

The blur white figure is staring at me. I rub the corners of my eyes with my index fingers, staring at my palm,

Sara, are my eyes open?

Yeah, why?

I cant see your face.

I can sense the light and the shadows created by the light. But that face and these hands, the stones and the ground

I cant see.

And I dont know whose names I should call.