Dimensional Eclipse – Chapter 14
The Lost Tag and the Return of the Queen
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The sky burned a deep, sinister red, as if drenched in blood. Below, the barren wasteland stretched endlessly—cracked earth, lifeless wind, and the haunting silence of desolation. The air was so dry it scraped the throat with every breath.
And yet, amidst that heavy stillness, two faint voices broke through—their tones sharp and impatient.
Shirou (frowning, voice low and edged with irritation): "So, tell me—who do we go to first? Kaede, or the other students?"
Shru (snapping back, her tone equally sharp but lined with concern): "Obviously Kaede! That poor guy must be running all over looking for us right now!"
Before Shirou could respond, the wind shifted. A faint figure appeared in the distance—running toward them, calling out desperately.
Kaede (voice echoing across the dry air): "Shru! Shirou! Thank goodness… you're both safe!"
He stumbled closer, panting, but when his eyes fell on them, his expression froze.
Kaede (shocked, horrified): "Wh—what happened to you two!? How did you get so badly hurt!?"
The sight was brutal.
Blood trickled down from a cut on Shru's forehead, painting a red streak across her cheek. Her uniform was torn, her arms scraped and bruised. Shirou's lip was split, his right arm wrapped in a deep, bleeding gash. Both their uniforms were soaked and stained crimson. The battle they had survived had left its mark—raw, unfiltered, and ugly.
Shirou (gruffly, brushing off the concern): "It's nothing serious. Don't make a big deal out of it."
Shru (forcing a tired smirk): "Relax, Kaede. We're warriors. Injuries like these? They're normal. We'll be facing worse in the future."
Kaede (still anxious): "But still… you both look really hurt."
Shirou (coldly): "Enough We don't have time for this."
Shru's expression hardened. She elbowed him in the side, glaring.
Shru (angrily): "You idiot! Can't you see he's just worried about us!?"
Shirou (annoyed, eyes narrowing): "And you can't see that we don't have time for useless emotions? You know what situation we're in."
The tension was sharp, the kind that could snap with a single breath.
Kaede (raising his hands, trying to mediate): "Come on, guys. Enough. Let's just calm down and go meet the others."
Shru (snapping her fingers): "Yeah, sure. But first, we should tell them that this idiot—" (she glares at Shirou) "—lost his tag."
Kaede (stammering, startled): "W-what!? Lost… your tag!?"
Shru (sighing, rolling her eyes): "Yeah. But maybe he remembers where he dropped it."
Shirou (thinking aloud, his tone grim): "I'm pretty sure it fell somewhere near where I was fighting Noxy."
Both Shru and Kaede froze.
Shru (disbelieving): "Wait—what did you just say? You two fought each other!?"
Shirou (flatly): "Yeah."And that wasn't some joke, playful fight, or a normal skirmish — it was a serious battle. We used our full powers.
Kaede (confused, frowning): "Why? Why would you two fight each other?"
Shirou (looking away): "I can't explain everything right now. There are things I'm still not sure about."
Shru (demanding): "What kind of things?"
Kaede (firmly): "Yeah, Shirou. Tell us properly."
Shirou's gaze darkened.
Shirou (quietly): "All I can say is this—be careful around Noxy. He's not someone you can trust."
Shru took a step forward, disbelief and anger flashing in her eyes.
Shru (furious): "What the hell are you talking about!? Stop dodging and say it clearly! What's wrong with Noxy!?"
Shirou (snapping back): "I told you—I'm not completely sure yet."
Kaede (pleading): "We understand, but at least tell us something. If there's danger, we should be ready."
Shru (hurt, frustrated): "Come on, Shirou! Don't you trust us at all? After everything we went through together in that battle!?"
Shirou (cold, his voice sharp as a blade): "That battle has nothing to do with my trust."
The silence that followed was heavier than the windless air.
Shru (angrily): "Then why won't you tell us the truth!?"
Shirou (flatly): ""Because there's no point in telling you. You people can't do anything about it right now. For the time being, it's better for me not to tell you."
Shru (furious): "Won't help!? We're all in danger and you're talking about your benefit?!"
Shirou (eyes narrowing, voice low and dangerous): "Listen. I don't care whether you're in danger or not. It doesn't matter to me. I do what I believe is right and what benefits me. That's all."
Shru (staring, voice trembling): "Are you… really that selfish?"
And then, suddenly—
Kaede (snapping, shouting): "Enough! Both of you—stop it right now!"
The echo of his voice rolled through the red wasteland. Both Shru and Shirou froze, shocked. It was the first time Kaede had ever raised his voice like that. His hands were trembling, his expression torn between fear and exhaustion.
Kaede (breathing heavily): "Don't fight with each other… please."
His voice softened, but his eyes carried a deep, desperate weight.
Kaede (looking at Shirou): "Shirou, can't you trust us even a little? If we know what's going on, we can prepare for whatever's coming."
The wind whistled softly through the cracks in the barren ground. Shirou remained silent for a long moment before finally speaking.
Shirou (serious, almost reluctant): "Fine… I think Noxy is connected to this entire incident somehow."
Shru (eyes widening): "Wait—what!? What do you mean!?"
Kaede's body stiffened. His eyes widened in realization as memories began to flash in his mind like lightning.
The time inside the cave—Noxy's strange behavior.
The broken houses—it was Noxy who told them to join Fernando's team.
The mansion—it was Noxy's idea to go inside.
The hidden basement—it was Noxy who found it.
And then suddenly… he vanished."He disappeared without telling anyone anything, as if he already knew about the danger beforehand — that's why he left before it even arrived. But wait a second, we didn't even touch the hidden artifact, yet its guardian activated on its own. How could that be? Wait.....Could it be ?
Each memory snapped into place like pieces of a puzzle he didn't want to solve.
Kaede (whispering, horrified): "It… can't be…"
His face turned pale as the truth sank deeper into his mind.
Shru (shaking her head): "No… no way! You're wrong! You must be mistaken!"
Shirou (quiet, calm but cold): "That's why I didn't want to tell you. I knew you wouldn't believe me. You'd just panic."
Shru (angrily, near shouting): "How can I believe that!? He's one of us! Why would he do something like that!?"
Kaede (slowly, voice trembling but firm): "Shirou's right."
Shru stared at him in disbelief.
Shru (hurt): "Kaede… you too?"
Kaede (sadly, but resolute): "It's the truth, Shru."
And then, Kaede told her everything—every memory, every detail that had started to fit together.
By the time he finished, the three of them were already near the cave where the others had taken shelter.
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Inside the cave, the atmosphere was tense. The air was thick with fatigue and fear. A few students sat near the walls, tending to their wounds, while others guarded the narrow entrance.
Jessica (nervously glancing outside): ""It's been quite some time since they left
Fernando (checking his device): "Yeah. It's taking longer than expected."
Noxy (leaning back, smirking): "Relax, guys. They just went to look for Shirou. Maybe they haven't found him yet."
Emma (frowning): "Still… they're our friends. Of course we're going to worry if something happened to them."
Just as Emma's words faded, someone at the entrance noticed figures approaching.
Fernando (relieved): "Looks like they're back."
Jessica (smiling faintly): "Thank god. I was starting to get really worried."
Noxy (with a quiet chuckle): "Well, well… looks like they actually found Shirou."
But as the figures drew nearer, Jessica's relief turned into alarm.
Jessica (gasping): "Wait—look closely. They're hurt!"
Fernando (grimly): "Yeah… they look terrible."
Jessica, Emma, and Fernando rushed toward them.
Kaede (forcing a smile): "Hey guys, how are you holding up? Everything okay here?"
Fernando (staring at the injuries): "What the hell happened to you three? You look like you went through a war!"
Jessica (concerned): "Shirou, Shru—how did you get so badly hurt?"
Shru (exhausted, sighing): it's a"Long story…"
Shirou didn't reply. He brushed past them, his expression distant and unreadable.
Jessica (calling after him): "Hey! Are you okay?"
Jessica (slightly embarrassed): "I asked because it seems like you got hurt quite badly."
Shirou (glancing over his shoulder, voice flat): "Are you talking to me?"
Jessica (rolling her eyes, crossing her arms): "Yes, idiot."
Shirou (dryly): "Do I look okay to you? I'm tired. I need rest."
Before anyone could say another word, a voice cut sharply through the tense silence.
Noxy (with a faint smirk): "Hey, did you guys forget why we sent Shru and Kaede out to find him? Ask him about his tag."
Shirou turned to him slowly, his expression unreadable—then, a sly grin curved across his face.
Shirou (mocking tone, eyes glinting): "Oh… that? Seems like I might've lost it somewhere."
The air in the cave shifted instantly.
Silence fell.
Jessica's eyes widened. Fernando's jaw tightened. Emma's face turned pale. And Noxy… froze.
The tension was thick enough to choke on. Every heartbeat echoed like thunder in the stillness.
Something was very wrong.
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[ The Argument Over the Lost Tag ]
Fernando (confused and alarmed): "What do you mean by that? What are you saying?"
Jessica (eyes wide, staring at Shirou): "What do you mean you lost your tag?"
Noxy (frustrated, voice sharp): "Shirou, if this is some kind of joke, it's a really bad one!"
Shirou (coldly, irritated): "Of course I'm not joking. My tag really fell somewhere."
The words hit everyone like a sudden shockwave. The tag was their last hope — the only way to signal extraction.
Fernando (in disbelief): "What do you mean 'fell somewhere'? That tag was our last chance to get out of here! How are we supposed to find it now!?"
Kaede (raising his hands, trying to calm the group): "Relax, everyone. We need to think clearly. Maybe Shirou remembers where it fell."
Noxy (quickly, with intensity): "Where exactly?"
Shru (narrowing her eyes at Noxy): "You don't know? Noxy?"
Noxy (defensive, snapping): "How would I know?"
Before the tension could explode, Kaede stepped between them, his expression calm but firm.
Kaede: "Enough, both of you. Fighting won't help. Shirou, take us to the place where you think your tag fell. You must have some idea."
Shirou (annoyed): "Are you guys crazy? Look at us first. Me and Shru are barely standing. We should rest a little before going anywhere."
Noxy (tense, anxious): "We don't have time! What if another monster shows up?"
Fernando (worried, glancing at Shru's wounds): "Still, their condition isn't good. We can't just keep moving like this. Let's rest a bit before continuing."
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Moments of Rest
Reluctantly, everyone agreed. The group retreated deeper into the cave, searching for a secure corner.
Narration: The deeper they went, the quieter it became. The sound of dripping water echoed from somewhere unseen, mingling with the soft rustle of cloth as they settled down. A faint, cold wind crept through the cracks, carrying the scent of damp stone and blood.
Emma knelt beside Shru, her eyes filled with worry. Shru's body trembled slightly, her aura flickering like a candle on the edge of dying out.
Emma (softly): "You should rest properly, Shru. Your aura's unstable."
Shru (smiling weakly): "Yeah… I'll be fine."
Around them, the others sat in silence — their whispers fading into tired breaths. For the first time in hours, there was stillness.Shirou and Jessica
Outside, near the mouth of the cave, Shirou was sitting with his back against a rock. Silence stretched in all directions, and a strange fragrance lingered in the air. Shirou sat there, staring at the red sky, thinking about everything that had happened to him inside the rift.
Narration: His mind was restless — replaying every moment from the battle. The ground still carried the smell of charred soil and monster blood, but his thoughts were elsewhere.
Shirou (thinking): "I didn't expect something like this in a standard rift exploration… Everything feels wrong as if this place itself is watching us."
Soft footsteps echoed behind him.
Jessica (calmly): "Show me your hand."
Shirou (confused, turning slightly): "What?"
Before he could react, Jessica grabbed his wrist, pulling his arm forward. The sudden pain made him wince — a thin cut along his upper arm still bled faintly.
Shirou (irritated): "Hey! That hurts! What the hell are you doing?"
Jessica (focused, serious): "Don't be stupid. I'm bandaging it. If that wound stays open, it could get worse."
Shirou (dryly): "Don't you know? I'm an Aura user; I don't need these things."
Jessica (gently smiling): "I know. But you still bleed." "Even if you are an Aura user, Aura users still need treatment, and your Aura isn't stable yet. That's why your wounds aren't healing quickly. So stay quiet and let me help you."
She reached inside her uniform and pulled out a handkerchief a clean, pink one, adorned with the image of a flower. Its fragrance was pleasantly delicate.
Shirou (raising an eyebrow): "Where'd you even get that?"
Jessica — trying to ease his worries — spoke softly: "Don't worry, this is perfectly clean. Actually, my mother gave this to me. It's one of the few last keepsakes I have from her. I always keep it with me and make sure it stays spotless. It's made of really good material, and they even infused it with pure Aura so that bacteria or anything unhealthy can't affect it. When I was a child, I used to be allergic to certain smells, so my mom gave this to me."
Narration: A faint floral scent drifted toward Shirou. The softness of the cloth, the subtle aura embedded in its threads — everything about it spoke of refinement.
Shirou (thinking): "She's right… the fabric's woven with light-grade aura fibers. Enough to purify minor toxins.Basically, such things are quite expensive. As far as I know, only nobles usually use items like these.
So she really is from a wealthy background."
Shirou — his brow slightly furrowed, eyes narrowing with curiosity — asked, "Then this handkerchief must be really important to you. Why are you helping me with it?"
Jessica — a faint blush coloring her cheeks, her gaze dropping for a moment before meeting his again — replied softly, "I don't know… I'm just doing it because it feels right to me."
Shirou said nothing after that. He remained silent, his mind churning as he sat still, lost in thought. The faint rustle of the wind and the distant calls of the forest seemed to fade around him as he tried to process her words, his expression unreadable yet tense with introspection.
When she finished wrapping the wound, she smiled faintly.
Jessica (quietly): "Done."
Shirou (flatly): "I'm not thanking you."
Jessica (sad smile): ""That's fine. I just didn't want anything bad to happen to anyone before we left this place."
There was a pause. The silence between them grew heavier.
Jessica (hesitant): "Also… about earlier. I'm sorry. I should've understood what you were thinking. You still saved me, even when I got in your way. So… thank you."
Narration: Shirou didn't respond. He simply looked at her, unreadable. His expression didn't change — but for a brief moment, his eyes softened.
Shirou — thinking to himself — wondered, "How has her behavior changed? Is that thing not affecting her anymore? No… it used to affect her before, and it affects everyone, yet looking at her now, it doesn't seem like it's having any effect. Does she have some hidden abilities, like Kaede? No, that can't be it. If that were the case, it wouldn't have affected her before either. That thing did affect her before… but not now. Although its energy doesn't affect people as much as it used to, even now it still has some effect. Yet, with her, I can see that its influence is slowly, gradually fading. Why is that?"
The question lingered in his mind as quiet filled the space again.
Chapter 14 part 1 ended here