What should I do?

It was complicated . I just found out why Agrita kept on dying, but that didnt make me feel any better, instead, it made me feel worse .

If my speculations are correct, there are no other solutions .

The only way to solve this problem is to get Shin Ari, whos currently residing in Agritas body, safely back to her own world .

But how?

Wait . If Ari returns to her world, will the original Agrita come back?

I understand the current situation, however, I dont know the answer . The thought made me furrow my eyebrows .

Even after knowing what was going on, it felt more like I was trapped in a labyrinth .

No, this is much better than when I didnt know anything

Just then, Agrita was waving her before my eyes .

Sis .

?

Is there a pond here? This is a garden after all .

Agrita asked as she slightly lifted her dress revealing her feet .

The moment I found out you were Korean, although its your previous life, I got a little too excited that I forgot to wear my shoes

Agritas feet were covered with mud and grass . Come to think of it, the shoes she took off earlier were still lying on the grass .

I should put my shoes back on, but not when my feet are like this . I should wash them . So wheres the pond?

Its probably in there

It hasnt been long since the new pond was built .

So, I reflexively pointed at the direction where the pond is . And then when I realized it, I hurriedly tried to stop her .

Wait! I called out in panic, but Agrita was too fast . I was so surprised by how far she was that I started running after her .

Wait a minute, Ari!

Huh?

I dropped all the formalities and at this point, I didnt really care .

I could hear her answering me from afar .

I mean, just when did she get there? Is she faster because shes barefooted?

Come back! Its dangerous! I shouted while I chased after her .

What? Is the pond dangerous?

To you, it is!

Is there anything that doesnt pose a threat to Agritas life right now?

What if she was suddenly bitten by an ant while walking barefooted? Some ants contained venoms .

Ah, I must be out of my mind for telling her where the pond is .

Oh, Im just going to wash my feet . Agrita replied with a calm and peaceful voice .

Ill fetch you some water to wash your feet with, so just come back

And I know how to swi Kyaa!

SPLASH!

Shoot!

I wanted to swear . I ran as fast as I could, but I was too late .

I couldnt catch the falling Agrita in the nick of time and ended up grabbing the air .

The pond isnt really that deep, but it was deeper than a persons average height .

Agrita began to splash around the pond .

And as Ive said earlier, everything was considered dangerous to the current Agrita .

I clenched my teeth, took off my shoes, and jumped into the pond .

Since I also knew how to swim, I jumped in without any second thoughts, thinking that Ill be able to save Agrita .

However, I think I made a little mistake .

Pfft, pffpft!

Agrita, guah, stay sti

Mpfpft!

I shouldve saved her from drowning . However, Agrita, who said she could swim, was flailing around struggling to float .

Far from getting her out of the water, I was about to drown with her .

Agri, pfpft!

Water flooded into my mouth as I called out to Agrita .

My vision was turning blurry due to the water .

Ah, this is insane . This is crazy .

It was at this moment that I remembered someone saying .When you want to save a drowning person, wait til their exhausted before jumping in .

Damn it

Gradually, my body started losing strength .

My initial confidence to save Agrita began to fade away .

I shouldve waited before jumping in . No, I shouldve used the marble instead of jumping in .

Regrets and numerous curses whirled around in my head .

It was then that I felt a strong hand grasping onto my arm and pulling me up instantly .

!

I was fished out of the water and landed on the grass .

I violently coughed my lungs out and the water that I swallowed was coughed out as well .

My chest heaved so much as I tried to catch my breath .

I barely managed to see the person with my hazy vision .

Ash?

I could glimpse the bright shade of yellow in his eyes .

Am I just imagining things? The familiar face before my eyes has an expression full of rage .

Then I realized that I was the only one pulled out of the water .

I was still out of breath and my eyes were hazy, but I somehow managed to get the words out of my mouth .

Agrita Save

I raised my finger that felt like lead and pointed towards the pond .

Did he get what Im trying to say? And while I wondered about it, Ash took out his sword without a word .

Sword?

Wait, what is he doing?

What are yo

The words I wanted to utter never came out .

Did I drink too much water? Or did I spend too much energy trying to stay alive?

I suddenly felt the world spin .

Ash, with a sword in hand, jumped into the pond . That was the last thing I saw before I lost consciousness .

***

!

I quickly sprang up . Sitting, scanned my surroundings .

The room was dark . I stretched out my hands to feel my surroundings until I get used to the dark .

I could feel the soft mattress and blanket with my hands .

A bed .

I wasnt wearing a soaked, filthy dress . Instead, I was wearing loose, comfortable pajamas .

Once I could grasp the situation, I asked myself .

What about Agrita?

I felt uneasy at the thought of it .

The last scene I witnessed was absolutely outrageous . Ash unsheathed his sword and

Gasp .

I held my breath .

There was someone else besides me in the room .

My eyes have more or less adjusted to the dark . I looked around the room, only to spot a person sitting beside the bed .

I blinked my eyes once more . My vision, which hasnt completely adjusted to the dark, was becoming clearer and clearer with each passing second .

At last, I could see the person sitting there .

Ash?

I called out to him, but he didnt reply back .

With his crystal-like eyes and sharp nose, there was no doubt in my mind that he was Ash .

Ash didnt move a single inch and continued to sit still .

Then, he suddenly moved, raising his hand and placing it on my forehead . He pushed me back down the bed .

?

As I laid down, I turned my head to face Ash .

I was about to ask what he was doing there, but once again, he pushed my forehead to the bed .

Sleep more . Ash said .

His big and warm hand gently slid down to my eyes as if he was actually trying to put me back to sleep .

My vision, which has just gotten used to the dark, could only see nothing once again .

Ash .

Wheres Agrita? I asked without attempting to remove his hands that were covering my eyes .

I was curious about Agritas condition . Even more so after witnessing such a scene before I lost consciousness .

I heard Ashs voice after a few seconds of silence .

If its something you really want to do, I dont care whatever it is .

?

Youre free to do anything if thats what you wish for .

However, this time

He hesitated a bit before continuing .

It infuriates me . He said with a low and deep voice .

Thats when I suddenly thought that perhaps, the real reason he was covering my eyes was not to put me back to sleep, but to prevent me from seeing his face .

So I wasnt really imagining things .

Ash really seemed angry when he saved me from the pond . It wasnt just an illusion .

I wavered for a while before I tried to speak .

Sorry .

Im not stupid enough not to understand why Ash was furious .

I made him worried . I knew that .

Its just that, I felt something weird in my chest .

Im his sister, a person he gets angry with because he was worried

But I am also not his biological sister the one who is fated to die by her own brothers hands .

My heart sank from the thought .

Ash stayed silent after hearing my apology . I also didnt speak a single word after that .

I immediately knew that no answer would come from him if I asked about Agrita right now .

Yeah, lets sleep . Ill wake up then afterward Ill check on it in the morning .

And after a long time has passed

Ash eventually removed his hand from my eyes and left the room .

I didnt notice him doing those things as I was already asleep as it happened .

***

I automatically opened my eyes .

I turned my head to check the bedside . It was empty .

Was it a dream?

I have a memory of talking to Ash .

But I dont know whether it really happened or if it was just a dream .

Maybe I was just confused because of the darkness and wasnt fully awake then .

I stopped thinking and sat up .

It was bright outside . I have no idea how long Ive slept, but it was probably morning .

Agrita .

I remembered Agrita again . What happened?

I wanted to check on that first, so I kicked off the blanket .

And suddenly .

Sis!

The door flung open and a doll-like person came running in .

It was only then that I realized that the person was Agrita herself .

AgritaAri?

Milady!

Youre awake .

More people popped in one after another . It was Bessie and the doctor .

How are you feeling? The doctor inquired, adjusting his glasses as he walked towards me .

I lent him my arm for him to examine my pulse .

Im fine I answered blankly .

Sis, sniff, I was really scared .

Agrita muttered with her face buried in my chest . I looked at her hugging me and thought,

Shes alive .

Agrita was alive .

I could feel the warmth of a living person from this fragile, thin girl .

Did Ash save her?

Then what was the sword for?

I dont get it .

Agrita lifted her head from my chest while I rack my brains to looking for answers .

Sis, that pond Is it cursed?

Hmm?

I shouldve listened to you when you said it was dangerous . I wish I had known it was that kind of pond .

She said that her legs had cramps as soon as she fell in the pond . Thats why she tried to float to the surface by flapping her arms, but there was something holding onto her ankle . It was just seaweed though .

I really thought I was going to die .