Snakes in my hair? It's more likely than you think.

3 days later.

Aspar Hill Boarding School, Aspar Region.

Tu'Rancon.

"So there you have it. Please find the beast that attacked our school! Please find our missing students and staff!"

The principal is on the verge of tears.

The young woman sighs, "I thought the Shadow Beast was still around. You're telling me it's not here anymore?"

"Well, yes it's been a few days since the accident... I'm sorry we didn't contact you all sooner but please, please investigate this case! Please help us find our missing students and staff! Pl-please make sure this beast is found and never attacks our school again, Ah!"

The young woman has a feeling things aren't going to be so simple with the most recent experience coming to mind but nonetheless she says, "I'll do my best. But if it's been a few days I can't promise you it will be easy to find but it shouldn't be a problem for me. My team will investigate the accident thoroughly since it's strange and has to do with the barrier... as for the missing students-"

"I-I know, but I have to, I have a responsibility to uphold. Please find them, even if they're not... alive anymore."

"I'll do my best."

"Thank you! Ah, thank you so much Ms. Moralez! I've heard so many great things about you and your recent case!"

"Anyways..."

"Yes, yes, yes. Sorry I'll leave you to it! I don't know much about how Shadow Beast hunters operate so I'll leave you to it! Ah.."

Once the principal finally leaves, the young woman makes a call.

"Hey? Yeah? This isn't looking like an easy case at all."

"What? Really?"

"It's all too bizarre. If this has to do with more divine nonsense, I might actually lose my bearings."

"Sorry, I can't be there Rune! Just be careful..."

"Yeah. I'll try. It can't be as bad as Azure Island."

"Haha!"

"I still need answers. I still need to do my job."

"Do you want me to come and help you?"

"No, it's fine. You have your own problems to deal with."

"Aha, that's true!"

-

????

Where am I?

A young gorgon girl walks on the sea.

One moon shines bright in the sky.

The other is hidden.

She walks around looking for something, she doesn't know what.

Then she hears softness.

She hears tenderness.

She follows it.

Someone is playing a piano in the middle of the ocean.

The ocean is still.

The only sound comes from the piano.

The gorgon girl can't help but say, "That was beautiful."

The person stops playing.

Her deep gray eyes meet her red ones.

"I'm glad you think so."

"I didn't know you could play so well?"

"Now you do."

She plays again but this time she speaks as well, "I wrote this song for my grandmother. The last time I played it was at her funeral. But now it's truly the last time I'll ever play it."

"Why?"

"I don't think I'll be able to."

"Why?"

"I can't."

"Why."

"Maybe."

The young gorgon girl is still confused, "Maybe what?"

"Maybe someday I'll be able to play you another song."

"Why not now?"

"Because I want to meet you again."

"What song will you play for me, Eve?"

"A song I wrote to cope with the loneliness, the happiness I could never reach but just maybe it will reach you."

"When will I hear it?"

The girl playing the piano, smiles, her eyes are no longer gray but completely blank.

"When you wake up."

????

Juno finally opens her eyes.

Juno finally wakes up.

(☀️ to be continued.)