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Artist's commentary
Smile in the Dust Cloud
There was a swish of indigo hair—but I think what I saw was the afterglow of the sunlight reflecting off her hairclip. "Have no fear. I will protect you." I can barely make out the words, they are so faint. If anything, it seemed that she was in a far weaker state than even I was, yet she then turned her face up at the sky and smiled so widely that it was a little terrifying. It was a smile that inspired both reassurance and unease in equal measure. (Excerpt from Macherie's Diary)