Gematrail — Echo Observer — Lævateinn Chapter 21: Echo19 – The Hidden Entrance

🎶🎧 Spotify 🎧🎶 track Num : 30 — Sana’s Residence “…And what, precisely, is the nature of this call?” Shouko pressed the receiver against her ear and kept her voice level and cold. “Consider it a favor between old allies, Shouko-chan~” “…Your organization’s involvement with The Tower of Babel has already been confirmed through our own investigation.” “Hmm~… well then. One question: good news first, or bad?” “…Your preference.” “ The Church of the Broken God will be temporarily withdrawing after the disaster they’re about to trigger. In other words — all you have to do is survive until then.” “…And the bad news?” “The damage is going to be severe. Unavoidable. I saw a vision — catastrophe after catastrophe, one after another. Not a pleasant feeling.” A cold current moved up Shouko’s spine and lodged there. “Your Spiritual Sight has helped us navigate crises before — I won’t deny that. But why now? Why this moment?” “Because I confirmed that they’ve been expelled from Niibaru High School.” “Impossible.” “Exactly as impossible as it sounds. Which is why I’ve decided to lend my help.” “…I’ll consider your previous debts cleared.” “Wonderful. Until the end of days, then — Student Council President of Meiun High School.” The line went dead. Shouko set the receiver down — her palm was damp — and immediately relayed everything to Sana. “Sana-senpai… what do you think is going to happen to the world from here?” “We look at the historical record.” The two of them entered the archive — a dim room where the smell of mold and aged paper had settled permanently into the walls — and began working through the dust-coated materials one by one. Fingertips went dry against the texture of old pages. “…This might be it.” Shouko pointed to an old passage. The text was dense with archaic numerals and symbols — a translation of something much older — and it matched their current situation with an exactness that was deeply unwelcome. “If this is accurate… we’re in serious trouble.” “The moment they withdraw, we have to be gone. I’ll start loading the essentials immediately!!” “And Ichika needs to be contacted as well…” They hauled boxes and canned goods with burning arms, stuffing the car in controlled haste. — Around the Same Time — Yuki’s Perspective “Whoooa — this is INCREDIBLE!!” Maya leaned out over the dragon’s side, eyes wide. “ Please don’t fall off—!!” Anna grabbed a fistful of her clothing and pulled. The wind at altitude was violent and relentless, stripping the warmth from our bodies without apology. “Going to Mt. Fuji means… The Tower of Babel has actually started moving, doesn’t it…” “Anna — when the enemy appears, don’t hesitate. Focus on protecting yourself. That’s all.” “Yes… I understand, Nee-san…” Maya looked at Anna’s darkening profile, slapped both palms against her own cold cheeks, and tried to manufacture something lighter to say. “I mean — most people never get to do this, right? We should take a photo for the memory!” “We’re not on a sightseeing trip. Could you manage some tension for once.” Yuka’s mouth pressed into a thin line. Maya scratched the back of her head. “I know that, I just — it’s one photo, it’s not a big deal—” “Come to think of it — Anna, why don’t you take dragon form? Isn’t that something Dragon Maidens can do?” “Um — that is — well—” The tips of Anna’s ears went scarlet in the space of a heartbeat. She looked down and pressed both fists into her skirt. “…? What’s wrong?” “Why does he have to ask things like that ~” Maya’s expression was sliding in a direction that looked distinctly like disappointment-on-someone-else’s-behalf. “N-no, it’s not — I mean it is, but it isn’t — it’s complicated!!” “Yuki. Don’t say things that put Anna in a difficult position.” Yuka delivered the warning with the precise aim of someone who knows her sister well. “I’m sorry…” “Why is Anna apologizing?” “You’re the worst,” Maya said, in a voice like frostbite. “I haven’t done anything—” “Uwuu, Anna-chan, please don’t cry — I’l