SSS Ranked Awakening: I Can Rewind Time!-Chapter 31: Perfect Moments Of Silence And Calm.

A while later, with aching muscles and hellish agony spreading through our bodies, our hands finally made contact with the dune structure’s broken window. Using it as a force to propel ourselves into the ancient structure, we did so just as the dark mist made contact with the towering monolithic structure.

"Huh, Huh..."

Collapsing onto the floor, our breaths came out in short ragged gasps, the sound echoing through the deafening silence.

I could be said to be the one who had it worse. Gasping heavily, my eyes widened and shrank with each inhalation and exhalation, eyes glued to the large gaping wound in the crimson cracked sky.

"Ha, ha..."

’That had been so... damn exhausting,’ I thought in exasperation.

It was also then that I realized that my ability to ascertain the clock due to the veil of darkness that drowns the world in an endless darkness around sunset, wasn’t as perfect as I thought it to be. It was filled with errors... albeit miniscule ones... but in this cursed and wretched land where a single mistake could spell doom. It could pretty much cost one’s life. Just like it had almost done a few minutes ago.

"Ah..."

Straining my muscles in an attempt to move, I felt every muscle within me contract and expand... as though they were nearing their limits. However, the worst of them all was my lung. It felt like it was burning. Burning hot.

Before long, even my breath started to mimic the rhythmic pounding of my heart.

"Ah, Ah..." My chest also rose and fell with the rhythm.

***

A while later, after we had both managed to recollect ourselves, mind included- from the horrifying encounter with the awakened evil, to the strenuous journey back to the dune structure.

’I wonder," I thought, staring grimly at the bleeding sky. ’When will all this come to an end?’

Clench.

My hands clenched at the thought, a wave of emotions surging through me.

I knew it. Deep down within me, I was starting to get desperate. I was starting to... dread the future.

The future of being alone.

I-I was scared. Scared that I wouldn’t be able to uncover the secrets to my past. Scared of the fact that I didn’t have a family waiting for me beyond the edges of this abyss.

Drip! Drip--!

As something wet trickled down the corner of my eyes, it became more difficult to understand where this sense of fear and dread was coming from, slowly eating its way into the walls of my mind, slowly crawling its way towards me.

But slowly, it dawned on me. It became clear to me.

I wasn’t scared of the horrifying eldritch horrors, the nightmarish aberrations, nor was I scared of the terrifying supernatural creatures. Instead,

"Hahaha..." A dry, hoarse laugh escaped my lips as the glaring truth assembled itself before me.

I-I was scared of the future. Scared of... fate.

***

A long while later, just when I ended the dark and complex mood I had solemnly immersed myself in, Aezel finally ended the recounting of his horrifying encounter to the girls.

’Well... that was what he called it anyway,’ I thought as I walked towards them.

Step! Step--!

Although I could still feel a stinging sensation in my eyes, I simply exhaled, adorned my usual mask of dark broodiness, and then, I continued walking towards them. As a result, I was able to mask the layers of heavy emotions weighing on my chest under a cold, dark facade. Even if only barely.

It was also then that I took note of Mia’s indifferent expression to Aezel’s horrifying tale. It almost felt like she had just heard an... unremarkable experience, and had also wasted her time on it.

Seeing the look of displeasure on Aezel’s face, I almost couldn’t hold myself from bursting into laughter.

’Serves him right.’

It was then that Mia sensed Aezel’s intense frown. She turned to him and shrugged.

"It’s just an awakened evil."

Mid-step, I froze, befuddled by the sheer arrogance behind her words.

’D-Did she just call that horrifying monster... just... just?!’

I was really finding it hard to understand the reason behind that cold arrogance. The reason why nothing ever seemed to faze her.

’Why’s she always like that?’ I couldn’t help but wonder.

Though, I knew with the few clues I had, finding out about that was going to be outright impossible. Hence, I simply labelled it as:

’That’s how she’s anyway.’

By now, I’d be damned if I hadn’t gotten used to it. Anyone who hadn’t, would have the urge to literally strangle her to death.

...Arriving beside Mia, I sat a bit farther away. Aezel forced a smile as he nodded.

"Yeah."

Though the subtle frown on his face betrayed the smile. But he knew he couldn’t afford to dwell on it.

’That was how Mia was anyway.’

And he had no other choice but to cope with it. But still...

’Aah...’

It always left him with this strange feeling. Filling him with a certain strain of thought... almost like choking her to death.

However, considering the fearsome strength that Mia wielded, he could only sigh lightly and shift his gaze towards Livia. He smiled as he said:

"So... how was your day Liv? Did you miss your twin brother?"

"...No." Livia replied blankly.

"Aaagh!!!"

Aezel let out an exaggerated scream, eliciting a light laugh from Livia. Giggling slightly, she used her right hand to cover her mouth. She then said with a smile:

"You should know that I was just joking."

Aezel grinned.

"Of course I do. Who wouldn’t miss such a charming brother?"

’Uh! So they are twins. Well I guess that explains why they seem to be around the same age.’

Seeing the way the siblings interacted somehow sent a strange warmth coursing through me.

’How... weird,’ I thought with narrowed brows.

I shook my head and shrugged it off. But then, a smile slowly crept up on my features. And with time, it widened and widened until... it drew into a wide grin.

"Ah," I said. "I guess I can’t be left behind then."

"..."

"..."

Aezel glanced at me with an incredulous look that said, ’What’s this fool talking about.’

It was then that I turned to face Mia who was still staring incredulously. Probably wondering what was going on in this cynical mind of mine.

I smiled at her. "So.... did you miss your darling, handsome guy?"

Mia simply stared at me for a while, her face unreadable as always. Though I already expected a dejected answer.

’Just come already...’ I was already waiting for it.

But then, she smiled and said:

"A little."

Startled at first, I found myself shell shocked by her words.

However, the disappointing fact to it all was that I didn’t know what to say, nor how to follow up with such a line of conversation.

But nevertheless, all that solemn sense of disappointment was completely overwhelmed by a strange feeling. One that rose within me, spreading and rooting itself deeper and deeper into me.

Scratching the back of my head in an awkward manner, a light shade crept up my face.

Aezel threw me a crooked grin, a light chuckle escaping his lips. ’Hehehe.’

’What a bastard!’

I thought with a dark grimace marring my features.

’...Fool.’

Gritting my teeth, I felt like shoving the bastard down the statue. But unfortunately, I couldn’t.

...At least, not yet.

After all, as much as I hated admitting to it, I knew the bastard’s archery skills were going to be needed in a few upcoming battles if we ever wanted any chance of surviving.

’How... unfortunate,’ I thought in disappointment.

...Soon, everyone grew quiet, a thick, tense silence stretching between us.

***

Some time later,

"Wait a minute," Aezel’s brows furrowed tightly. "Aren’t we going to have dinner?"

The hunger pangs were now starting to get really uncomfortable.

"We will," I shrugged. "I guess."

...Right about then, a thought settled in my mind. Before long, it was accompanied by a smile that slowly turned into a wide grin.

Meanwhile, while the bizarre transformation was occuring, Aezel suddenly had a bad feeling about this.

I grinned widely, then said:

"Since no one is willing to take care of the meal, how about I show you guys my godly cooking skills then?"

’No... no way!’ Aezel’s eyes widened in fear.

’Yes way.’ I laughed inwardly.

Mia laughed, and said with a tone almost mocking, "You? Cook?"

I threw her an intense stare, a dark expression marring my features.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Uh," Mia shook her head. "Nothing."

I stared at her for a while before turning to face Livia. I smiled at the blind girl.

"Liv, are you ready to see my godly cooking skills."

"Yeah... I guess." Livia replied with an awkward certainty. But it didn’t matter. That was all I needed.

Already on my feet, I grinned.

’I already have the theoretical knowledge from Garren, how hard can it possibly be?’ I comforted myself as I walked towards the makeshift vessel.

Bringing out a darkenstein fruit and a shell of aelive oil, I gathered together some woods we had with us and slowly poured the aelive oil onto the wood. Right about then, I could almost see the spark burning within the depths of the woods.

’All it needed now was a catalyst.’ One which I brought out with a smile.

I knew the best effect would have been to squeeze the liquid out of the fruit. But alas, I dared not do such. The liquid within the juice had a rather nasty and corrosive effect.

I shivered at the memories.

And trust me, I had every right to do so. Especially when considering the fact that I wasn’t sure if my reset by death ability still worked, nor was I crazy enough to confirm if it actually did.

’Perhaps only a mad man would. However, I was no mad man. Well perhaps... a little bit insane. But even then, I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Perhaps in the past I would have. But now...’

After being alive for so long, and now developing some sort of relationship with other humans. People that brought with them a sense of comfort and relaxation that I had always yearned for, the thought of dying now scared the hell out of me.

’...I didn’t want to die. I really didn’t want to.’

I stood there for a few seconds or so, and calmed my rapidly beating heart. Grimacing, I threw the fruit into the center of the wood and then-

Flick--!

In the blink of an eye, the combustion reaction took effect. A wild, blazing spark ignited in a small corner of the vast, almost unending expanse, of wretched and cursed regions.

A while later, with the scent of roasted meat lingering in the air, mixed with the smell of ash and burnt wood, I was finally done with the "heavenly" steaks.

"Four heavenly barbecues coming up!"

My voice sliced through the hollow silence, silencing the rumbling stomachs and the desolate quiet that permeated the surrounding.

As everyone ate and as I savored the taste of the barbecue, a strange mixture that sent me wanting for more coursed through me.

With a smile, I glanced at the cohort and asked, "So... how is it?"

"It’s great!"

Livia replied cheeringly. Licking her hands and mouth as she took deep mouthful bites of the meat.

’Girl! Where are your table manners!’ I thought, laughing inwardly at my thoughts.

"It’s okay," Mia said, throwing me a light smile.

Hearing her words and opinion, I somehow felt... great.

’Seems like all my hard work was well worth it then.’

I turned to face Aezel. Sensing my gaze, Aezel smirked and said evenly:

"Not bad."

"...Like you could do any better," I said with a light frown.

"Um- I." He tried to refute. But of course, he couldn’t. I had made sure of that.

...The truth was irrefutable after all. That I had learnt from Mia.

I smiled at the thought. It was also then that Aezel harrumphed coldly.

"Hmph."

...At the end of the day, he could only harrumph.

"Weakling," I said as everyone bursted into a wave of laughter.

We all happily ate our meals as we chatted, indulging in the perfect moments of silence and calm while they still lasted.

’...And somewhere deep within me, I knew they wouldn’t last for long.’