Extra's Descent-Chapter 370: White Christmas [4]

Evelyn walked through the snow covered streets.

Despite the bustling activity, in her mind, the city had never felt so lonely.

Snowflakes drifted down, settling on her dark-purple hair. The cold bit at her skin, but she barely noticed.

The abandoned building loomed ahead, its structure still standing but lifeless.

No one came here. That's why she did.

Because there was no one else that would come besides her.

Her steps felt heavy, the silence pressing down on her.

It was her birthday, but it meant nothing.

Just another day, another bitter reminder of everything she had lost thus far.

Reaching the door, her fingers brushed the cold handle.

"...."

Her voice faded into the quiet.

It was Incandescent Flames–guild building. ƒгeewebnovёl.com

The place she had once considered home.

She soon made it all the way up, taking the flight of stairs.

Each step felt heavy as she recalled the past.

When the guild was still around.

These stairs she took….

She couldn't count how many times she had climbed these set stairs.

Soon, she made it all the way to an empty room.

Memories of her time with the guild.

And,

"Big Sis Jihyeon…."

The words slipped out, her voice barely a whisper.

Memories of her old mentor—Yi Jihyeon—flooded her mind, a person she could well consider her family.

Every teasing word, every smile, every moment they had shared.

Now, Yi Jihyeon was gone.

Evelyn stopped at the top of the stairs, staring blankly at the room where the guild members used to gather.

She was alone.

The snow outside continued to fall, but in that room, all she could feel was the weight of her loss.

And today, of all days…, her birthday.

She let out a shaky breath, but it wasn't enough to stop the sob that followed.

"Hic."

The tears fell, quiet but endless.

Maybe there were others, such as Vanessa and Reina, who could share her sorrows.

But they were unaware of the news.

Evelyn didn't have the strength to tell them either.

Flick—

She lit up a cigarette and took a long drag.

For today, all she wanted was to be—

Creaaaaak….

Alone?

The door creaked open. Wiping her tears, Evelyn turned her head.

"Smoking again? What happened to the lollipops?"

There stood a man, looking as if he was about to collapse from exhaustion.

"Brandon."

Why was he here?

How did he know she would even be here?

However, despite the fact that she had acknowledged his presence, Brandon remained quiet and walked towards her.

Feeling a bit bothered, Evelyn managed to utter the words out.

"....Could you please go? I'd like to be alone for today."

"Why?"

Before she realized it, Brandon was already beside her, looking down the window, taking in the sight of the cold city.

"No one should be alone on their birthday."

"...."

Birthday?

How did he know?

She had never told any of her colleagues about her birthday. Explore stories on novelbuddy.com

There was no point to it after all.

"I just want to be alone. "

She insisted, her voice quieter now, almost pleading.

Because being alone felt right.

Why connect with people when they were going to leave in the first place?

It hurt.

People hurt.

"You've been alone long enough."

Evelyn wanted to argue, but couldn't find the right words.

She felt like she was drowning, suffocating.

She clenched her chest once more. It was tightening for some reason.

"Miss Jihyeon wanted you to know something."

Finally, he had caught her attention. Evelyn turned her head, but Brandon didn't look back at her.

"But before that, I want to ask something."

"...?"

"You pushed her away, because you were afraid weren't you?"

"...."

"Afraid of getting attached to someone."

Evelyn bit her lip.

He hit the mark.

While she told herself otherwise, her heart knew the exact reason.

She was afraid of people leaving her.

And so, before she could even form a close bond with them, she pushed them away.

But of course, there were stubborn people like Vanessa, who just wouldn't leave her alone.

Yi Jihyeon was the same.

"What are you trying to say?"

She asked.

Brandon stayed quiet for a moment, still staring out at the falling snow.

His breath fogged the glass, and for a second, he seemed lost in thought.

"You forgot something important."

He began.

Evelyn's eyes narrowed.

"And what's that?"

He finally turned to her, his expression soft but firm.

"People leave. They die. But the memories, the moments—those stay. Even when it hurts. That's the whole point."

She clenched her fists, her chest tightening even more. The weight of his words settled heavy on her shoulders.

"I didn't want to lose her."

Evelyn whispered.

"I didn't want to lose anyone."

Brandon nodded, understanding.

"But you did. And now you're hurting alone, which is even worse."

Her breath hitched, tears threatening to spill again.

"Miss Jihyeon wanted you to know that,"

Brandon continued, his tone gentle.

"She knew you were afraid. But she loved you like family anyway, even when you kept pushing her away."

Evelyn's heart thudded in her chest, the words cutting deep. She had pushed Jihyeon away, thinking it was for the best.

But now, it felt like a mistake she couldn't undo.

Brandon placed a hand on her shoulder.

"You don't have to face everything alone, Evelyn. No one does."

She looked up at him, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"Then why does it feel like I'm always losing people?"

"Because life's like that,"

Brandon said quietly.

"But shutting yourself off? That's not living. Miss Jihyeon wouldn't want that for you."

Drip.

The tears spilled, and the room became quiet.

The occasional sobs broke the silence, but Brandon remained quiet, hands in his pocket as he continued looking down.

"I want to let you know, she's not completely gone."

"...."

Evelyn raised her head and turned towards him.

"....What?"

Brandon removed his right hand from his pocket and extended, palms faced up.

At that moment, magic power began to coalesce around his palms.

Evelyn tilted her head in confusion.

She could recognize the mana signature.

It was eerily familiar for some reason.

Cr… Crack!

And then, a flower made of frost materialized in Brandon's palm, a chilling mist seemed to wrap around it.

"What are you trying to show me?"

There was nothing odd about it.

Brandon was just being cryptic as always.

Wasn't that just his [Ice] affini–

No.

Her eyes widened, and her breath caught in her lungs, gasping.

She couldn't believe it.

There was no way she could believe it.

"It's Miss Jihyeon's power."

"...."

So her suspicions were correct.

But….

'How is it possible?'

"She entrusted it to me."

Then, he looked back at her, finally meeting her gaze.

"And most probably, she wanted you to help me master it. As the person closest to her, you know this ability like the back of your hand."

"...."

She could understand that.

It was just like Yi Jihyeon, who always passed the work to someone else.

"Give me that."

She insisted, and Brandon gave her the icy flower which closely resembled Yi Jihyeon's power.

It was the same one Yi Jihyeon used to make.

The flower Evelyn always found beautiful.

The one she'd ask for whenever she was feeling down.

"Hic."

Her vision grew blurry once again.

Drip.

And for some reason, there was a liquid sensation in her hand.

"Ah."

Before she realized it, the tears poured down once more.

Drip. Drip…!

"Happy Birthday, Evelyn."

It was the greatest birthday gift she could ever ask for.