The Key to the End of the World

That was everything.

The hourglass was gently turned over. The little remaining sand was kept within the vessel—while the portion that had already run out had vanished like a life that had passed away.

Duncan's figure disappeared into this wondrous "Spirit World Rift." The hall of pools, built from black, white, and gray, fell silent. The Queen Leviathan's immense limbs lay quietly by the shore, while the young woman in a white robe and the two warriors stood silently nearby.

It was time to return to sleep, but there was still a little time left. The life force leaking from the hourglass was not much, but it was enough for friends who had not spoken in a long time to exchange a few words.

"Lillian... I haven't seen you all in a very long time..."

A low, gentle tremor echoed through the hall. The pale limb swayed slightly beside the pool, its voice filled with longing.

The woman in white smiled and slowly sat by the pool, leaning her back against one of the Queen Leviathan's tentacles. "Yes, Gemona, we haven't met in a long time—but Lancelot and the others and I have always remained by your side."

"...Do you still remember those days when the waves caressed the shore and the sun shone brightly?"

"I remember. It feels as though it was not long ago... I also remember the first time I met you. You broke into my dreams and said you were tired of life in the temple and wanted to run away from home for a few days... We went to many places together. Lancelot, Owen, Parnassus, who is standing outside the temple now, and the others from the group—we took you to see the desert, volcanoes, and snowfields, just as you wished. In the end, I