Advent of the Three Calamities

Chapter 417: Obsession [2]

"Haa."

I took a deep and steady breath to calm my trembling mind. The shock from the situation settled down rather quickly as I analyzed the situation calmly.

"This is without a doubt my phone.'

From the model to the wallpaper-A simple white background with a quote in the middle that read; "Efforts Never Betray you."

It was a quote that came from a book I particularly liked.

"Do you know what this is?"

Unknowingly, Pebble had climbed over my shoulder and looked down at the phone in my hand with a curious look.

"....It's strange. So bright."

Pebble reached out to touch the screen with its paw.

"!"

It displayed a surprised expression the moment it noticed the screen change with just the touch of its paw.

"It changed. How peculiar..."

"Right."

I waved Pebble's paw away from the screen and started to fiddle with it.

'Why is my phone here? And why would Julien of all people have it?'

.... No, before any of that.

I tapped onto the screen again and pressed on the images app.

Would my old photos be there?

I wanted to see them.

'Password?'

A keypad appeared right after clicking the app. I was surprised, considering that I had never placed such a restriction on my phone before.

...And since I hadn't done this before, I didn't know what sort of password I needed to input. 'This...'

Frowning, I stared blankly at the number pad for a few seconds. Then, after a little bit of thought, I decided to try something.

I wasn't certain if it would work, but since this was the keycode I typically used when needed, I hoped it would do the trick.

Click!

And it did.

|| ||

As the screen unlocked, granting me access to the phone, I felt a brief moment of disorientation, unsure of what to do next.

As I scrolled through the pictures I hadn't seen in so long, my lips began to tremble. "Haha."

I tried my best to keep myself composed, but couldn't.

From the familiar yet distant face to the work documents I hadn't looked at in ages, and then... my brother's face appeared.

He looked nothing like me-his soft brown hair a stark contrast to my dark ones, and his face carried a gentleness that mine never did, nowhere near as intimidating.

"...H-haha."

Why did my chest hurt?

I squeezed my cheeks and shook my head.

Then, shifting my attention to one of the videos, I clicked on it.

-Are you recording?

A familiar voice reached my ears.

It was one that I hadn't heard in such a long time.

".....

I pressed my lips tightly to stop the trembling.

-I... am.

-Good.

The video was dark.

However, I could still distinctly recall the scene.

A few flames lit up within the darkness, revealing a small cake resting between two hands beneath it.

-Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to Emmet. Happy birthday to you...

A song followed right after.

I almost lost myself in the sight, imagining myself in the situation.

My chest squeezed.

-What are you doing? Why aren't you blowing the candles?

-Ah, right.

I thought about blowing but stopped myself.

I didn't want to blow it.

...Blowing it would mean I wouldn't see him again.

I...

-Hooo!

"Ah, no."

Darkness plunged the phone, and the video ended.

All that was left was a dark screen.

I bit my lips, scrolling up to look at the next video.

-Good evening everyone-teachers, parents, friends, and most importantly, my fellow classmates.

"Haha."

I looked to my right, toward Pebble while pointing at the screen.

"This... Look at this."

Pebble remained quiet.

I didn't really care and continued.

"This was his high school graduation speech. Look at him. He was all nervous about making a

speech just before. Haha."

He had made me practice the speech over and over again. He kept going on about forgetting

his lines, saying stuff like, 'I don't remember the lines. I think I forgot them. Help me! I'm

going to die!'

"H-ha."

It suddenly started to become difficult to breathe.

....Pursing my lips, I shook my head.

The video had ended. I couldn't get enough.

I wanted to see more.

And so I did.

-Stop recording me! Why are you recording me?

-Mary is a little lamb~ Mary is a little lamb~

-Here, here. Listen to this joke.

-Look at that cow!

-This is too bitter! Arkh!

"H-hah."

The more I watched, the more suffocated I felt.

I couldn't breathe.

I wanted to, but couldn't.

It was as if the videos were stripping me away from my breath.

"Ah, shit."

And yet...

I couldn't stop myself from watching them.

-I want that. Can you get me that?

Something warm trickled down the side of my cheek, slowly tracing a path down my skin.

My eyes started to sting.

Probably because I was forgetting to blink.

But I didn't want to blink. It... had just been so long.

-I'm scared.

I suddenly paused at one of the videos.

'Why don't I remember this one?'

Noel's face was pale, and he sat on the opposite side of a wooden table.

-Why did you have to leave?

"Ha?"

No, that's...

-What am I supposed to do brother?

His voice was frail.

Weak, almost.

I could hardly recognize it.

Taking a closer look, his face was also pale, and his cheeks were sunken.

"W-what? What? Why is he...?"

-W-hy did you leave me brother? I...

Tears streamed down Noel's face as he hugged his face with his arms.

-...I can't live like this anymore.

No, what...

-I want to die.

I lost my breath.

I was suddenly reminded of a certain vision in the past.

It couldn't be that...?

-But I can't die.

"Uh?"

I looked towards the screen.

There, Noel took out a knife.

"Ah!"

I almost jumped out with fright. However, before I could even do a thing, he stabbed himself

in the neck.

-Spurt! ".....!!!"

The very words that I was about to scream never left my mouth. I felt entirely stripped of my breath as I stood up abruptly.

My entire body felt weak, my teeth chattering as I stared at the gruesome sight displayed on

the screen.

Noel, he...

-...I can't die.

"H-hu? What?"

I looked at the screen.

Extending his hand, Noel retrieved the knife from his neck.

-Spurt!

He then stabbed himself again.

"Ha!"

My eyes widened at the sight.

-Spurt!

But he didn't stop.

-Spurt! Spurt!

He stabbed himself repeatedly, blood splattering across the screen as I shook my head in

disbelief.

No, what, stop...

The words just refused to leave my mouth.

-Ahhhh!!

A scream echoed across the screen as Noel's eyes turned bloodshot.

-Die! Fucking die...! Die! Let me fucking die!!!

He continued to stab himself.

My arms shook, the weight of the phone growing heavier by the second. It felt like it was

slipping from my grasp, sinking lower and lower as I fought to hold on.

-Die!

"A-ha."

Noel's rampage didn't stop. He continued to stab himself while blood splattered all over him

and the screen.

My chest squeezed tightly.

But I couldn't do a thing.

I was stuck, watching all of it unfold before my very eyes.

I didn't want to look, yet I couldn't tear my eyes away from the scene before me. In particular,

his wounds which were healing at a speed visible to the naked eye.

"T-that..."

-D-damn it, Damn it...

Dropping the knife, Noel covered his face with both of his hands. His body trembled while he

started to sob.

-...I can't keep this up.

I know.

-I want to die, but I cannot die.

My lips shook.

-Y-you told me, you would save me.

I... what?

-You told me, you would look for me.

Look for you?

—....I did everything you asked me to do. I played along. I showed you the game like you told me to. I...

had Camille make the artifacts like you told me to. I....

Noel's eyes flicked to face the camera, his eyes turning completely bloodshot.

-Fucking did everything you told me to do!!!

Wait, wait, wait, wait...

-Where the fuck are you!? Ah!? You told me you would save me! Where are you!? I can't keep doing

this anymore!

Noel's scream reverberated loudly.

It pierced through the screen, reaching me directly.

-...You lied! You lied to me! You aren't coming to save me. If you did, you would've done so before! But

you didn't! And yet... And yet...

Noel suddenly bit his lips, his screams lowering as his chest trembled, his voice growing

hoarse.

-Why do I keep doing what you tell me to do?

Drip!

A warm streak ran down Noel's eyes as he retrieved a small mirror.

Moving towards the phone, he picked it up and inched his face closer to it.

His face was now stained with tears.

—....I don't understand. You never tell me anything. Y-you told me this was for me. For me, but... I'm

miserable. Come back.

Biting his lips, Noel's voice trembled.

-...I may not be able to d-die, but I can still feel pain. H-ha.

Noel swallowed hard.

-When they take my blood. I feel it. I'm like a tool for them. A tool to keep them alive... You said you

would save me from them. Pl-lease hurry. I... can't do this anymore.

I stood frozen, gazing at the video as I tried to process Noel's words.

My mind was blank, but at the same time, several pieces started to fall together.

-...I don't know why you want me to record this video and put the phone inside the Astral Mirror, but

I'll do it. What other choice do I have? I'm stuck, and you're gone... J-just..

Blood began to seep from Noel's lips as he bit down too hard. -Don't forget your promise. Y-you need to come save me. I can't hold much longer. Brother.

Noel took one last look at the mirror before it fell down and the screen turned black.

||||

A still silence took over the space as the video came to an end.

"Hey."

Pebble's voice reached me from the right, but I couldn't pay attention.

As my lips trembled, realization dawned on me.

"The reason why I'm here, into this world, and the one behind everything that is happening to me is...

me.'

Oracleus.

The one who sees the past present and future.

I had seen it all back then. ...Everything that I was doing, was for Noel.

To keep the promise.

To save him.

|| ||

My mind blanked, and I lowered to stare at the phone.

It all suddenly started to make sense to me.

'I don't know why you want me to record this video and put the phone inside the Astral Mirror, but I'll

do it.'

Noel's words echoed in my mind once more.

I understood now.

"I..."

The phone turned off.

"...Wanted my current self to see it. To make me understand."

I knew...

I had planned.

I...

....had seen.

-The Seer.

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