Chap OST- The Blessing by YOASOBI

Two figures silently tread the path in the dark of night as the older one led the younger by firmly holding her hand, eyes and ears vigilant to any foreign movement aside from theirs. The path they took seemed familiar, Amelina thought, and her questions were finally answered as she and Aguero arrived in front of a giant door, one she had forgotten over the course of time.

"Uwaa…!"

Right, this was their father's treasure room, one Amelina had seen when she was way younger. When she was still scared stiff just by being alone with that father of hers.

With eyes full of awe, Amelina turned to the smirking Aguero, "That's amazing! How did you know this place? Even I've forgotten about it!"

The boy only shrugged as he took out the very key they'd discovered and unlocked the giant door, the creaking dragged on as they pushed on as if they were to enter a whole new world.

"I've been eyeing this place since a long time ago- way before I even met you, so it's a good thing you had the key. It saves me the pain of having to steal it," the boy snickered as he gestured to the hall inside. He didn't even question as to why the key was with Amelina, already having a rough guess. "Let's claim it, our horde of treasures!"

As they entered the dungeon (though it mostly looked like a massive warehouse), their eyes sparkled seeing the various displayed items as they ventured further inside. Aguero really didn't hold himself back as he grab one thing after another while randomly giving out random trivia and the use of the items he grabbed. He really did his studies well. Amelina on the other hand, in contrast of her first time, had finally see the warehouse through a different light. As long as Aguero was happy, she too felt content.

"But Aguero, with that much things we're ravaging, how are we going to bring it all?" Amelina tried to stop the excited half-brother of hers before he went too far.

"Oh yeah, there's one important thing we should procure first! Wait here for a while," Aguero pushed the many items into her arms as he scurried away. Not long after, he came back while proudly waving a suitcase, one that made Amelina doubted her eyes for a second.

"A-Aguero…? Is that the important thing?" Amelina asked, her voice almost quiet as if she didn't want the boy to hear her.

Whether he heard it or not, he didn't show any reaction and only proceeded to take one item that Amelina instinctively handed.

"Wait for it," the boy grinned. Then, to Amelina's disbelief, he began to drag one thing after another- big or small- into the suitcase which seemed to have an infinite amount of space inside. After all of it had been put (and sucked) into the brown bag, Aguero snickered as he closed Amelina's gaping mouth with his free hand. "Come on, there's more we can ravage."


"Looks like we got a whole lot of things now," Aguero sighed contentedly, patting his full Manbarondenna.

From all miscellaneous things they had ravaged, there was one part Amelina particularly enjoyed. There was a whole five shelves of rare gems and jewels, as well as suspendium stones. There, Amelina watched in awe while cheering as Aguero used his arm to slide all those pieces into Manbarondenna, gliding from one end to another before continuing with the lower shelves and the rest was history.

While they were at it, Amelina remembered a certain blade she'd spotted years before in the corner, and true to her memory, the sword was still left in the same place.

"You're taking that?" Aguero questioned from behind her. It was as if Amelina could hear the unspoken question. 'Why not a spear?'

"Yea, I feel like," Amelina traced the hilt of the sword, silently admiring the craftwork. "-it's been calling out to me even from before. And it looks so lonely alone in this corner…" the girl then realized something as she flailed around. "Hey, it might seem dusty and old, but since it's still amongst all of this collection, it might have more use than it seems!" Amelina rambled, trying hard not to flush. Compared to Aguero's choices, hers seemed naïve and childish after all.

Much to her surprise, her brother chuckled as he ruffled her blue hair. "You can take whatever you want from here. It is 'given' to us, so might as well as take as much as we want!"

Amelina couldn't help but grin at his statement and nodded as they went to another side which featured a lot of weapon inventories, where Aguero pondered for a while, choosing one for her.

It may feel like a long time has passed, but with Aguero's swift decision and action, the two were soon back to the entrance of the dungeon, Manbarondenna safe in Aguero's two hands.

"As much as I would like it for us to be lounging around in this mountain of treasures, we have no much time left, dawn is inevitably approaching," the boy turned to his sister, suddenly switching to a more serious tone. "Amelina, I will be frank. Tomorrow is the day I will be exiled from the family."

The sudden revelation hit her like a ton a of bricks, and Amelina found herself unable to retort anything back, her small mouth opening and closing repeatedly like a fish. She knew it. Deep down, she knew it was related to Aguero's recent endeavour while she was away, but to think it would lead to this result.

Right… even his branch was no more, evident with that empty and cold mansion.

"I will go back to the mansion and hide away there until someone comes to drag me out. I can act the part like I'm struggling against the exile while holding onto Manbarondenna, so-, " the boy looked directly into Amelina's big eyes. "Why don't you hide in the Manbarondenna? You can hide starting tonight, which marks the end of your life in this place."

'The end,' Amelina perked up. 'I'm finally leaving this place-! This place… this…?'

A vivid image of one man appeared in her mind.

"It will be a long farewell to this place. But of course, I'm not forcing you. It might not be the most comfortable in here, and I can always devise another plan for you," placing down the suitcase, Aguero patted Amelina on the head. The girl stared down at her feet in thoughts, clenching and unclenching her skirt.

'Right… that must've been the best plan as of now, but…' Amelina finally returned Aguero's gaze with eyes clear of any doubt. "I can't leave as it is. I…"

Hiding his disappointment behind a smile, Aguero then ruffled the girl's hair. "I got it. You still have things to do, right?" He was met with a silent nod and flushed cheeks.

"Also Aguero," Amelina took off the hand on her head and gently held it over her cheek. "I don't want to add anymore burden to your hand. It might not make any difference with me inside but… please don't push yourself too much."

Aguero raised his eyebrow for one second, and hid his surprise well. 'How did she even notice that, tch.'

In no more than five minutes, Aguero had already laid out his not-so-meticulous plan (as he claimed) which sounded pretty simple but Amelina knew better than to simply think that things will go so well.

A one-shot plan with no back-ups. Yes, there was no room for failure, Amelina realized.

"Honestly, this is the simplest yet the riskiest plan I've ever thought of…" The boy in front of her paused for a while before searching inside his suitcase for something, handing it to the clueless Amelina after finding it. "Once you've crossed the gate, wear this necklace."

"This?" Amelina received the accessory, nodding right after, showing how much she trusted him- her brother and his plan.

"I guess, this will be a short goodbye for both of us," Amelina softly sighed, but soon her pout was replaced with smile. A smile so wide, so sure that this parting wasn't like she had before. It was no more than a short break from each other. Why, she even survived three whole years without him (and plus the tyrant Maschenny).

Gripping both of Amelina's shoulders, the older Khun sternly reminded her of what she needed to do, "Remember, just do as what I planned, and after you crossed the gate, use the necklace and run as far as you can. No matter what happens, I will find you no matter where you go."

The words rang repeatedly in her head as she sniffled, suddenly feeling sentimental all over.

"Oi, we're already at this point, why are you crying now?" the surprised boy questioned, but he still let the younger girl envelop him into a hug. Though it was a little awkward and stiff, Aguero returned the hug as he rubs Amelina's back. "This brings me back. The first time we met, at that lake… you were also crying your hearts out."

"It's just, " Amelina paused between her sniffles, "-it's not 'wait for me'."

Hearing that, the older boy closed his eyes as he relaxed into the warm embrace, one he'd only ever blessed with only when he was with her. His blessing, the little sister he'd first swore to fight for.

How could he have forgotten about it?

'Always so naïve, pure and…'

"-silly crybaby."

The two then parted ways, Amelina waving goodbye to the fading Aguero's figure as she braces herself towards the very place she grew up.