Prologue

Deep down, I knew it would end like this.

She and I.

For one last time.

The slender black haired girl in front of me flashed a bitter smile as she unsheathed her sword.

To think that not long ago we couldn't even stand each other.

Maybe it would have been better if things had stayed that way.

At least now it wouldn't hurt so much.

I drew my magic wand, praying that something, anything, would come to end this moment.

But no one would come to save us.

Inexorably, that strange voice we had come to know ended its countdown.

Our final duel had begun.

My opponent immediately lunged at me with superhuman speed.

For a moment, I remembered the first time I had seen her fight. Her fighting style akin to a lethal dance fascinated me since then.

With time seeming to slow down, a thought flashed in my mind:

"Perhaps letting myself be pierced by her blade is the best thing after all."

But... I couldn't do it.

At the last moment, the fear of death prevailed.

I recited a magic spell.

But it was too late.

That moment of hesitation would cost me the duel and my life.

I squeezed my eyelids shut, waiting for the inevitable.

But the pain did not come.

I opened my eyes.

My opponent was in front of me, very close. Her blade was suspended above my shoulder, as if she were a queen dubbing me her knight.

She had missed me on purpose.

I lowered my gaze. A gaping hole, several centimeters wide, caused by my spell, marred her chest.

«Y-you... I-I didn't...» I stammered.

Her gentle hand brushed my cheek, wiping away the tears that had begun to flow down my face.

«I'm sorry, it was the only way. I knew you would never strike me otherwis-»

Her voice was interrupted by a fit of coughing, and her body seemed to lose all its strength.

I caught her in my arms before she fell.

The blood she had coughed stained my uniform.

«What have I done...»

 The girl weakly smiled at me.

«You finally defeated me. I'm glad I only lost to you in the end.»

«No, no, no, don't say that, please! I didn't want to... You can't do this to me...»I whimpered.

«Then maybe you shouldn't have put a hole in my stomach, don't you think?»

Even at the very end, she wouldn't stop teasing me.

«Since we set foot in this school, it was destined to end like this. But it's okay. If we hadn't come here, we would never have become friends. And I-I wouldn't have...» new fits of coughing interrupted her.

«Stop talking! Try to conserve your strength, maybe...»

But her hand grabbed my wrist tightly, using what were her last energies.

Her sharp green eyes locked onto mine.

«Stop running away from reality! You have to be strong now. Promise me you'll make those bastards who did this to us pay.»

 I sniffed. She was right.

«I-I promise. I'll avenge you.»

«That's the way, now I recognize you. Never change. Or when you die too and we meet again, I'll make you pay for it.»

It was just like her to leave me with those last words.

With my heart shattered but a smile on my face, I gently laid her down on the ground.

«I'll never forget you.»