Perfect Avatar
Chapter 176: Last Goodbye

Chapter 176: Last Goodbye

The bright sun was high in the sky, casting a warm glow over the room where Dora, Malia, Wendy, and Solaria were enjoying their lunch. The room was quiet and peaceful, except for the sound of spoons clinking against the plates as they ate a hearty meal of potato and meat stew. This delectable dish boasted tender chunks of meat and flawlessly cooked potatoes, all immersed in a savory and aromatic broth.

Solaria had already finished her third plate. Even though she was feeling quite full, Malia continued to offer her a fourth plate, but Solaria politely declined, shaking her head.

"I’m stuffed, I can’t eat another bite," she mumbled with her mouth still full.

The woman smiled at her and set the ladle down.

"Have some tea then, there’s some fruit in the fridge if you’re hungry later."

The princess gave a quick nod, tightly gripping her fists on her knees and avoiding eye contact, a sense of contentment filling her chest.

Malia’s warm smile lit up the room as she glanced at Dora and Wendy’s plates with fondness.

Enjoying his meal, Dora stayed alert to everything happening around him. He took notice of Solaria’s glances, the carrots pushed aside by Wendy, Malia’s gaze out the window, and the activity outside the door.

His muscles tensed up momentarily. Feeling everything past the walls, he glimpsed a recognizable silhouette in the garden. Taking a brief pause, his thoughts raced as he analyzed the circumstances. Dividing his focus once more, he readied himself to make a move.

Marie sat on the doorstep, her mind consumed by a whirlwind of thoughts. The world around her seemed distant as she fixated on the ground, her gaze unyielding. Time passed, and in her contemplation, a subtle transformation in the atmosphere caught her attention.

A gentle shift, almost imperceptible, stirred the air around her. Intrigued, she lifted her head, her eyes searching for the source of this change. And there it was, a shadowy figure standing silently behind her.

"You finally came, Idiora," she exclaimed as the shadow transformed into a human figure before her eyes.

In a silent exchange, their eyes connected, delving into their separate reflections. He struggled to decode her sentiments, eager to grasp the workings of her mind. Without uttering a word, he moved forward, disrupting the stillness that enveloped them.

The shadow slowly morphed into the form of a young boy, his vibrant blue hair standing out against the dimming light. He settled himself down beside her, his presence both intriguing and enigmatic.

"Why do you think coming here is a good idea?"

Marie’s fingers instinctively reached up to scratch her ear. She responded with a small smile.

"Maybe because there’s no other way? I haven’t heard from you in too long and I doubt you’ll come to say goodbye."

"... I understand, but, Marie, if it was my mother, it could have gone terribly. Well, now that you’re here, we should separate properly, so... Good luck?"

He was met with a displeased expression from the young girl as she looked at him.

"Really? Just like that? You know we could die there, right? Maybe we’ll never see each other again..."

"Marie."

With a grave tone, the boy’s words shattered the fragile mask the girl had carefully constructed. His head shook in disappointment as he cast his gaze downward.

"You understand I’m not the one you knew, right? I may be a Dora with his memories, but I’m just a vessel. I know you’re here to try to convince me to join you on the expedition, but It’s simply impossible. I always wanted a normal life with a family and we did everything we could to stop sin. All so I could return to my mother and Wendy. Is it too much to ask of all of you to just... leave us alone?"

An intense quiet settled in the air around them. Dora averted his eyes, choosing not to meet the girl’s gaze directly. He remained motionless for a brief moment, feeling the earth sway beneath him. Marie, tears streaming down her face, wrapped her arms around her knees. A faint smile appeared on her lips as she gently dried her eyes.

"What a cruel thing to say... Aren’t you supposed to have Dora’s memories? Don’t you consider how close you were to me?"

An irritated look crossed Dora’s face as he peered up.

"I may have memories, but to me, it’s just someone else’s life. I... I don’t blame any of you, but this game has lasted too long."

"So you want to run away? You want to leave us in this hell and go somewhere with Madam Malia and Wendy?"

He eventually shifted his focus towards her, wearing a weary look on his face.

"Marie, what exactly do you want? First, you said you wanted a monster, so you made him murder people, then you decided Dora wasn’t a killer and agreed to erase the sin and give this body to his mother... Why do you all blame me now? Why do you always change your mind?"

With a fierce expression, he locked eyes with her, causing the young girl to quickly avert her gaze, a subtle grin forming in her mouth.

"I see... I understand."

Rising to her feet, she brushed off the dirt from her shorts with a gentle pat. As she did so, a remarkable transformation took place on her face. It appeared as if a weighty burden had been lifted, leaving behind an air of tranquility and ease.

"I understand, it was so simple... you’re not Idiora, you’re a complete stranger. The real Dora doesn’t exist anymore... I’ve heard that so many times and I’ve also been in denial. It’s been a long time, I just couldn’t accept it."

As she gazed softly into his eyes, the corners of her lips curved into a small smile, and with a subtle nod of her head, she began to walk. Each step she took seemed to exude a sense of joy, and her movements were slow and deliberate as if savoring every moment of the experience.

Meanwhile, the boy’s gaze remained fixed on the ground, his thoughts obscured by a veil of introspection. Perhaps he was lost in contemplation, or maybe he simply didn’t know what to say. Whatever the reason, he seemed to be in a world of his own, completely unaware of the world surrounding him.

"Oh, but let me tell you something," she uttered with a lightness in her voice. "You’ve got it all wrong. I never intended to turn you into a monster or erase any of your sins. My sole desire was to reunite with Dora once more. I suppose that’s the reason why people flock to this place. But don’t worry, I won’t trouble you any longer. Never again."

Dora’s gaze remained fixed on his companion as she witnessed her retreating figure, fading away behind the sturdy walls of the inn. A bittersweet feeling washed over him as if a part of her had been left behind. With a heavy heart, he bowed his head, blending seamlessly into the darkness, he became one with the shadows once more and silently slipped away through the door.

Marie halted outside, joining her friends from Shining Sword. They stood together, their gazes alternating between the vast expanse of the sky and the solid earth beneath their feet.

Marie broke the silence, urging them to move forward.

"Let’s go, there’s no point in staying here," she declared.

The rest of the group exchanged worried glances, their concern palpable. However, Lilith couldn’t help but voice her apprehension in a hushed tone.

"But... what about Dora?" she whispered.

Marie smiled warmly as she retrieved the mobile device from her pocket, a gift from Dora 2 years ago when they went their separate ways.

"I talked to him and looked him straight in the eyes, there’s nothing like Dora in him. We should go now, we can always take the train."

Guiding the way, she watched as her friends relaxed their shoulders, obediently trailing behind her.

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