It Just Felt So Unpleasant
High in the distant sky, the blazing sun casts its scorching rays upon the desert, keeping the temperature stubbornly high.
The howling wind swept by, creating a large amount of sand and dust, which mixed in with the high temperature of the desert, making the air in this place seem to be slightly distorted. If someone were here, they would feel that everything in their field of vision was shaking.
In this desert, a petite girl is running and running.
"Ha ha ha ha..."
As she ran, her breathing becoming somewhat disordered, Shana tried to escape the comfort she had been in.
(How annoying...)
Despite being a Flame Haze Warrior and known as the "Crimson-Eyed Flame-Haired Killer," Shana found the surrounding high temperature unbearable at this moment.
(How annoying...)
In the past, Shana would never have cared about her surroundings, but at this moment, she found the endless desert in front of her quite annoying.
(How annoying...)
Even though she usually enjoys this kind of exercise the most in order to maintain her fighting spirit, Shana found the disordered breathing and heavy steps from running very annoying at this moment.
(How annoying...)
Even though she had no idea why, at this moment, Shana felt as if her heart was being tightly ripped out by a hand, and the pain was unbearable.
For this girl who was trained to be Flame Haze Warrior from a young age, having this feeling was definitely a first for her.
For no reason or cause, everything around me felt extremely offensive and annoying.
(Why?)
Why do I feel this way?
(Why?)
Why did it run out from that place?
(Why?)
Why didn't anyone tell me what was wrong?
(Why?)
Why do I feel a vague sense of fear, a fear of what is about to come?
One question after another flooded Shana's mind, forcing Shana to run frantically in an attempt to shake off this unpleasant feeling.
Because, apart from this, Shana had no idea if there was any other way to solve the problem.
Therefore, Shana could only keep running forward.
destination?
have no idea.
How long will it take?
have no idea.
what to do?
have no idea.
Shana only knew that if she stayed in that place and listened to that person continue speaking, then she absolutely should not.
Since that's the case, Shana has no choice but to run away.
Although I don't know what's going on, if I stay there, this unpleasant feeling will definitely continue and even become stronger.
So, there's nothing we can do about it.
In order to stop having this awful feeling, I have to run away.
Shana kept running simply because she had this thought in mind.
Naturally, Shana was unaware of this.
In the past, even if it was something she hated, as a Flame Haze Warrior, she would have chosen to face it rather than run away in order to maintain the balance of the world.
Just like how she clearly disliked Fang Li back then, but because of the Reiji Maigo incident, she still resolutely chose to stay in Misaki City and stay by Fang Li's side.
Just like how he hated fighting alone, but because of Margery Daw's antics, he still resolutely chose to fight her and defeat her.
This time, however, Shana chose to run away instead of facing the situation.
Without being fully aware of it.
If it were just Shana alone, she would probably keep running like that forever.
However, Shana is not the only one here.
After an unknown amount of time, a heavy, thunderous sound finally rang out.
"It's about time to stop."
"————!"
The familiar voice emanating from the pendant in front of her jolted Shana awake as if from a dream, causing her to abruptly stop, her feet scraping against the sandy ground as she came to a halt.
"Ha ha ha ha..."
His breathing remained as erratic as before.
"Tick-tock..."
Sweat dripped down his forehead.
Shana, panting, glanced around in a daze, as if she had only just realized she had escaped, and fell into an indescribable silence.
Shana remained silent until her breathing returned to normal; she simply kept her head down and remained silent.
Alastor had watched from beginning to end, also fell silent.
After a long pause, Alastor finally spoke.
What's wrong with you?
Shana could sense the genuine doubt in Alastor's words.
Clearly, even Alastor didn't know why Shana had suddenly reacted and acted so excessively.
It's easy to imagine how surprised Alastor was, as Shana's contractor and guardian who had watched Shana grow up and always been by her side.
Unfortunately, Alastor was destined to remain astonished.
because...
"...I don't know either."
Shana lowered her head and murmured in a bewildered tone, like a child who couldn't find her parents.
"I just really hate it..."
"I really... really hate it..."
Hearing Shana's words, Alastor fell silent again.
Instantly, a silence comparable to that in the cabin spread around them.
This silence became extremely unpleasant to Shana, making her really want to keep running and escape from this feeling.
Under these circumstances, Alastor suddenly spoke up.
"Do you really hate leaving that man's side that much?"
That's right.
Ultimately, isn't this the reason why we feel such intense dislike?
However, Shana only realized this at this moment.
(I... don't want to leave Fang Li's side?)
At that moment, an utterly incredulous expression appeared on Shana's face.
With that expression, Shana asked the question almost instinctively.
"But why don't I want to leave Fang Li's side?"
This question only resulted in Alastor's silence once again.
No.
This time, it wasn't silence, but utter speechlessness.
Because Alastor knew it.
To know why someone feels this way.
After a long silence, Alastor finally spoke.
There is only one reason why I feel this way.
"That means that for you, the other person is such an important person that you don't want to be apart from them."
One sentence struck Shana as if she had been hit in the chest by an invisible shock, leaving her frozen in place.
Just then, a sound rang out, as if an invisible force had pierced Shana's chest once again, reaching Shana ears.
"What? Have you run enough?"