Woes

"Don't underestimate yourself, Sakura. You're still the most valuable fighting force of the MOTHs.There are plenty of situations only MANTISes can handle."
"And… it wasn't my idea to assemble you into a separate squad. But I thought her proposal was worth a try."

"Whose proposal?"

"It was me, of course!"
The door opened and closed as Elysia stepped into the room.
"Is there anyone other than me who actually cares about the fate of us MANTISes? What do you think, Sakura?"

"...Elysia."

"Geez, Sakura, I didn't know you were so interested in me. You're making me blush."

"But that stuff is unimportant compared to this proposal that might finally unite us."

"How about it, Sakura? You opting in?"

"..."

"Sorry, I'm used to.."

"Wait, don't turn me down just yet!"

She leaned close to Sakura's ear, her cheery voice turning to a stream of whispers.

"Sakura… The situation is urgent so I won't repeat what I say next. You must put on a poker face, and don't show any surprise."

"There is a reason I traveled those three thousand kilometers. The source of the energy is the next Herrscher, but she wasn't there."

"Currently, only I know the truth of this matter, so we still have a chance. The next Herrscher, she…"

"..."

"...she's your sister."

…
…
…

Sakura showed no signs of astonishment.
She did not even react to those words. She was only able to nod her head numbly to keep the conversation going.
She sat there in a daze, her mind at once frantic and totally paralyzed… until a voice pulled her back to reality.

"Thirteen… is such an unlucky number."

"We're all going to end up dead, aren't we?"

She jerked her head up to see who spoke, but there was no one there.