The Same as Ever

"When I was young, whenever Count Risban told me about it, I always thought it was nothing more than a legend."

"It couldn't be any more real than the Queen of the Sky or the statues of the gods in the temples."

Moral gazed at Tales with an expression Tales had never seen before.

Tales recognized that expression.

It was the same expression Little Quill Barney had worn after Semir failed to swear his oath just now.

Disappointment, emptiness, pain, regret.

And a trace of confusion and helplessness.

"Yet the story passed down through our family for generations is true..."

He stared fixedly at the youth, slowly shaking his head as his chest heaved.

As if he no longer recognized this companion who had briefly shared life and death with him and gone through countless adventures by his side.

That Foreign Prince who had shared his fate.

Facing Moral's crossbow, Tales could only bite down hard on his lower lip.

At that moment, it seemed that even the pain in his chest no longer mattered.

What could he say?

What should he say?

"...Calamities are people, or monsters that look like people."

Moral's eyes never left his target, and the crossbow in his hands trembled slightly despite himself.

"They breathe like us, eat like us, walk like us, and live in every corner of this vast world. In every movement, in body and spirit, they resemble us completely."

He muttered unconsciously, his tone distant.

As if he were reciting some ancient tale from long ago.

"But they are ultimately not us."

"They will eventually tear off their masks, reveal their true forms, and begin to destroy and slaughter."

Tales unconsciously tightened the fist against his chest.

Moral's brows slowly drew together. He took a step back, as if he could