Seeing Orion's body, I almost couldn't breathe.
It felt like someone was choking me to death, like needles piercing my skin and causing bleeding pain until I was numb.
"Wake up, Orion."
"Don't sleep."
"Get up, okay?"
No one answered me.
I held his cold hand and rubbed it constantly, trying to warm it up.
Charlie's eyes were red, and he choked out:
"Elara, I'm sorry. The operation was going smoothly that day, but those bastards actually carried guns. After Orion was hit, they forced him into the woods. When we arrived, we found that he had killed several drug dealers, but he also…"
He couldn't continue. His hands shaking, he handed me Orion's personal effects.
A talisman pierced by bullet holes.
A photo stained with blood.
And on the back of the photo, a line of writing that was penned at some unknown time.
"Wishing my little Ela a peaceful and safe life."
"– Orion."
How ironic.
The one who wished me safety ended up not being safe himself.
I don't know how I managed to get home or how I endured until Orion's burial.
His tombstone bore no name.
Every day, I sat on the steps of the National Cemetery, staring at that square stone.
When I thought about suicide, the system contacted me.
I agreed to help it complete its mission, because—
I wanted to resurrect Orion.
But finding the target for the mission was so hard, so hard.
All I could think about was Orion.
At seventeen, Orion standing up for me in the classroom.
At eighteen, Orion saving me from bullies and carrying me into the infirmary.
At twenty, Orion setting off fireworks for me and wishing me a happy New Year.
At twenty-three, Orion kissing me by the sea and confessing his love.
At twenty-four, Orion sending me flowers despite his allergies to cheer me up.
At twenty-five, Orion smiling at me under the tree at Church.
And finally, at twenty-six, Orion lying in the ground, devoid of life.
How could I possibly forget him?
So when I first met Nathaniel, I decided to choose him.
Only by looking at this face, identical to Orion's, day and night, did I find the motivation to live.
It's despicable, isn't it?
But I was really on the brink of breaking down at that time.
Without seeing that face, I would go crazy.
"So your previous 'licker' behavior wasn't for Nathaniel, "the dormant system suddenly spoke again, "but rather, for Orion?"
I nodded.
Meanwhile, Nathaniel, having learned the truth, began to act crazily in my apartment.
All the photos of Orion and me were torn up by him and thrown into the trash bin.
His eyes bloodshot, he pressed the lighter and watched indifferently as the flickering flame licked at the photos.
I was furious and rushed over to stop him, but my fingers passed right through his body.
"It's useless, host. You're already dead."
Yes, I was just a spirit, incapable of touching physical objects.
In despair, the system gave me an idea:
"I… can self-destruct."
"To give you one last chance at the mission."
I froze, my lips trembling, and asked, "Why?" "Why didn't you accept it?"
It paused before answering, "Because your lover is a hero."
"A hero should not end up as dust and bones."
"He should be living a happy and fulfilling life."
Almost instantly, my eyes welled up with tears.
My consciousness was gradually stripped away, and the white light appeared before my eyes once more.
The system's voice grew distant.
Finally, there was only a whisper:
"Host."
"This time, it's really the last time."
"Wish you all the best."
"Bring Orion back safely."
