Chapter 15 — The Second Witch

The warehouse was silent, with only the sound of Roland's wife crying breaking the stillness. The sphere of darkness surrounding Roland slowly began to fade.

Greed clasped her hands together beneath her chin, rocking excitedly from side to side.

"Hehehe..."

"I can't wait..."

The black mist finally dispersed.

Standing where the towering Emerald Braver had once been was a small girl who looked no older than sixteen. Her body was frail and slender, almost as though the slightest breeze could knock her over.

Short green bob-cut hair framed her pale face. One eye was emerald green, while the other was a brilliant golden color with a tiny star-shaped pupil. She wore an oversized black sweater that nearly swallowed her entire body, with the collar of a white shirt peeking out neatly beneath it and held together by a green ribbon. A short black skirt was barely visible beneath the sweater, while sleeves so long they hid almost all of her hands hung loosely at her sides.

She stood with her shoulders slumped and her head hanging low. Her eyes looked exhausted, as though she had not slept in years.

A single tear slowly rolled down her cheek.

Greed's delighted eyes sparkled.

"...She's adorable!"

Without warning, Greed threw herself forward and wrapped both arms tightly around the newly born witch.

"My new bestie!"

She squeezed her tightly.

"I missed you already!"

The smaller girl stiffened in surprise.

"P-Please..."

Her voice was barely louder than a whisper.

"...P-Please let go..."

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"...I-It's..."

She lowered her eyes.

"...It's already tiring..."

Greed ignored her and hugged her even tighter.

"Awww!"

"Your voice is sooo cute!"

The small girl weakly tried to push Greed away with the sleeves covering her hands.

"...I-I..."

"...I don't want..."

"...to make you sad..."

"...b-but..."

"...could you..."

"...please..."

"...let go...?"

"...Everything..."

"...already feels..."

"...so exhausting..."

Greed finally released her and proudly placed both hands on the girl's shoulders.

"There!"

She spread her arms dramatically.

"Everyone!"

"I'd like you to meet..."

She pointed toward the timid girl.

"Sloth!"

The small witch nervously looked down.

"...H-Hello..."

"...I-I'm..."

She hesitated, almost as though speaking itself required effort.

"...Sloth..."

"...I suppose..."

Greed clapped happily.

"Perfect!"

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Across the warehouse, Roland's wife stared in disbelief.

"...Roland...?"

The timid girl slowly looked toward the voice. For a brief moment, she seemed confused, as though trying to remember something.

Then her shoulders drooped even further.

She quietly walked behind Greed, hiding almost completely behind her larger companion. Only one eye peeked out nervously.

"...S-Scary..."

She whispered.

"...P-Please..."

"...Don't..."

"...look at me..."

Greed puffed out her cheeks dramatically.

"Oh?"

She gently grabbed Sloth's sleeve.

"That's rude."

She smiled brightly.

"They're talking to you."

Greed happily pulled the reluctant witch forward, causing Sloth to stumble a little.

"...Ah..."

"...S-Sorry..."

Roland's wife reached forward despite the ropes binding her wrists.

"Roland!"

"It's me!"

"Please!"

"You have to remember us!"

"Our daughter..."

"Look at her!"

The little girl cried desperately.

"D-Daddy!"

"Please come back!"

Sloth slowly lifted her head and quietly looked at the two of them.

There was no recognition.

No love.

No familiarity.

Only sadness.

Not sadness for herself.

Sadness for them.

Her small lips trembled.

"...You..."

"...must be..."

"...hurting..."

She lowered her gaze.

"...Humans..."

"...always..."

"...cling..."

"...to hope..."

Another tear slipped down her cheek.

"...Even..."

"...when..."

"...it only..."

"...makes..."

"...the pain..."

"...last longer..."

Roland's wife stared at her in disbelief.

"...What are you saying?"

Sloth hugged her oversized sleeves against her chest.

"...I..."

"...I think..."

"...you're..."

"...pitiful..."

Greed smiled proudly.

"See?"

"I told you she'd understand!"

Sloth slowly nodded.

"...I..."

"...want..."

"...to free you..."

Black tendrils quietly emerged from beneath the oversized sleeves of her sweater. Unlike Greed's violent shadows, these moved gently and lazily, almost reluctantly.

"...If..."

"...there's..."

"...nothing..."

"...left..."

"...to hope for..."

"...Then..."

She looked at Roland's wife with tearful eyes.

"...You..."

"...won't..."

"...have..."

"...to suffer..."

"...anymore..."

The black tendrils slowly reached toward the terrified mother and daughter.

Greed watched with her usual delighted grin.

"Hehehe..."

"See?"

"Sloth is such a sweet girl."

The warehouse echoed with the frightened cries of Roland's family as the shadows closed in.