That night, I sat atop a solitary mountain. The cool air nipped at my skin, and the moon hung low on the horizon. Its soft light bathed the expansive landscape below in warm tones, yet my eyes did not leave it. My soul craved solace. My mind ran through guilt and regret, reliving the havoc I had created. The quiet was shattered by the sound of footsteps. Without needing to look, I sensed that it was Silvia’s presence.

Her voice cut through the air. “You’d better give me an explanation for what you did.” “I’d rather not,” I replied flatly, keeping my gaze fixed on the moon. Her fury erupted instantly as the sharp scrape of her sword left its sheath, slicing through the stillness of the night. “Fucking Coward!” she cried out, launching herself at me.

I barely flinched, effortlessly evading her slash, and flipping backward into the air before landing with grace. “I’m ashamed of myself,” she murmured, her voice quaking with rage. “Ashamed that I didn’t make a stronger effort to stop you earlier.” Her sword was shining brightly, covered in a glowing aura. Before I could even react, she moved towards me at a blinding speed.

I sidestepped her strikes deftly, barely avoiding the razor-sharp edges of her blade. She had become faster since our last match. Using my Earth Magic, I crafted a metal sword to deflect her strikes. Yet, the instant our blades clashed, mine shattered like fragile glass. “Aura cancels out magic, and you know that,” Silvia coldly stated as she unleashed a flurry of aura-infused slashes.

The atmosphere around me crackled with their fierce intensity. I danced and twisted, narrowly evading each strike, her onslaught unyielding. Her strength and speed were almost equal to mine, forcing me to set aside magic and meet her fire with fire, conjuring an Aura Sword.

Our blades clashed, striking in shockwaves that quivered through the air and tremors that shuddered the earth beneath our feet. The mountain quaked beneath the force of our clash. Each blow sent sparks cascading, with neither of us yielding an inch. Silvia’s rage was tangible, her determination unwavering. “I’m going to bring you down until you give me a reason for what you did!” she cried, her voice slicing through the tumult.

Gritting my teeth, I sprang back and summoned a host of floating Aura Swords that surrounded me. With a deft flick of my hand, I sent them soaring toward her. She met them with unwavering resolve, her blade a blur as she effortlessly shattered each one. “Damn it, she’s my counter,” I acknowledged grimly. “I can’t wield magic and aura at the same time...”

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In a whirlwind of movement, Silvia turned my technique against me, executing it far better than I ever could. She kept pounding at me with relentless strikes that soon overwhelmed me, leaving slashes crisscrossing my body. Pain ignited as her blade sliced deeply into my flesh and a sudden sting seared my left eye, blood cascading down my face. My strength faltered, and I crumpled to the ground, powerless to rise.

Silvia towered above me, her sword aimed directly at my face. “Now tell me!” she insisted, her voice chillingly resolute. I released a weary sigh. “Fine, I’ll tell you,” I replied, my tone soft yet steady. “But first, do you understand what the word ‘pedophile’ means?” Her demeanor transformed into one of bewilderment.

“No. What is it?” “It’s a person who’s sexually attracted to children,” I explained, my voice laden with disdain. “The term may not have a place in your world, but in mine, there are far too many individuals like that.” Her confusion only intensified. “So that’s why you fought him? But he’s the same age as—”

I quickly cut her off. Anger bubbled up within me. Staring at her with one eye, I yelled, "He's from my world, Silvia! In my world, it is a goddamn crime! He should be sent to hell for eternal damnation!” I spoke on, my voice cracking, "He's mentally sixty! Old enough to be my grandfather! And he's marrying this child! Screw that! I want him to die a billion deaths. I want him dead! Do you hear me?!”

I screamed until my throat was burning, and then, to my surprise, tears began streaming down my face. Silvia froze, stunned. It was the first time she'd seen me cry. Her eyes softened, and without a word, she put away her sword and gently placed a Health Potion on the ground in front of me. She walked a few steps away, sat down on the ground, and stared at the moon, intently absorbing the silence.

As I drank the potion, a gentle warmth flowed through my body, mending my wounds. Driven by curiosity, I rose to my feet and moved closer to her, finally settling down beside her. “I was waiting for you to calm down,” she said in a soft voice. “So… would you mind sharing your past with me? Perhaps it will ease the burden in your heart.” I hesitated, the memories clawing at the edges of my mind.

At last, I let out a sigh. “Alright,” I murmured. “In my world, there was a girl named Anne. She was my friend's younger sister—only a year younger than us. She was…” My voice trailed off. “She was my first love.” Silvia looked at me, her expression a mystery, as I compelled myself to press on. “One day, she was raped by a pedophile. The following day, she took her own life. And the fucker responsible? He received just one year in prison. One damn year.”

Silvia’s shoulders drooped, and she murmured, “I’m so sorry…” I shook my head. “It’s alright. Speaking about it really brings some relief.” Rising to my feet, I inhaled deeply and declared, “I’m ready to go back. I’ll face whatever punishment they impose on me.” “Except execution,” I added with a playful smirk. “I’m quite difficult to kill.”