Mabel sat in a chair in the arena waiting room and looked out the window.

　At the venue, the workers who could use earthen magic were hurriedly repairing the stage.
　Because of their own flamboyant destruction, I thought that the final would be carried over to tomorrow.......but at this rate, it was going to take place in the afternoon.

　But it was no longer about me.
　I had lost.

　An unspeakable sense of disappointment bubbled up.
　Until now, all I had to do was think about what I had to accomplish. Even if death was ahead of me, I was able to keep my mind strong.
　But now that it's over, there is nothing to accomplish.
　I didn't even know what would happen to me in the future.
　It was the not knowing that worried me.

　A ticking sound came from the table beside me.
　I looked to see a crow that had somehow followed me outside and was walking around on the table. Its claws were clacking against the hard wooden table.

　The thought of this crow beside me made me feel strangely calm.

　Suddenly I thought back to what Seika had said to me.

　It's all right now.

　When he heard those words.
　It's a good thing that you're not the only one.
　It's okay, Mabel. He said that and patted me on the head, the image of his former brother.

　Seika is strong.
　Even when she was fighting herself, she still seemed to be able to afford it.
　But even so........I don't know if I can beat the current Kyle.

　Even though he was a different person, I was always afraid of losing him, even if he had become a different brother.
　But now, as much as I am.
　I was worried about Seika challenging her brother.