Silence ruled the scene for several long minutes after (Raym) unleashed that strange light from his sword.The gazes of Vail, Daniel, and Arvela met—each face reflecting the sheer horror of what they had just witnessed...
How much time had passed???Ten minutes??? Fifteen? Thirty???It no longer mattered... Their expressions alone told the story...
Vail finally spoke, his voice trembling, words struggling to form:"Th… that light… Is it what I think it is??? Did you both see it??? Or am I imagining things???Did Raym truly manifest the Light Element???"
Arvela tried to respond, her breath shallow, her voice barely audible:"I knew it… from the very first moment…Raym, you—"
Her words faded as she lost consciousness, collapsing into Daniel's arms.
"Yes, Vail… it is exactly what we think," Daniel said solemnly."That boy carries the will of the great ones... He is our hope… our last hope."
A cold, gentle wind swept through the ruins, as if announcing the birth of a new era—one unlike anything that came before it...
Vail raised his head, his eyes filled with something long forgotten.Hope...
"We must inform the Commander," he said firmly...
They carried the survivors back.Vail bore Raym and Lyra, while Daniel supported Arvela—despite her weak protests, insisting she was not a burden...
With every step, Vail felt closer to a dream he had once believed impossible...Victory...
Yet the closer they came, the heavier his steps grew.Was it the shock of what he had witnessed???Or the exhaustion of endless wishing for an end to this nightmare???
Still… this time felt different...
As they walked, Raym murmured in his sleep:"Me…??? I have to… live… for you…I will become… stronger…"
Vail couldn't help but smile...
"Yes, Raym… you will," he whispered."From this moment on… you are our hope."
Daniel slowed his pace until he walked beside Vail...
"Do you truly think it's wise to let everyone know???" he asked seriously."Wouldn't it be safer if this remained a secret???Only you, me, the Battalion Commanders, the Commander-in-Chief, and his deputies should know..."
Vail hesitated... The excitement drained from his face...
"…You're right," he finally said..."No one else must know..."
When they returned to the camp, crowds quickly gathered.Daniel shouted them back, forcing them to disperse...
The soldiers whispered anxiously:"What happened???""Where are the others???""Where is Lance??? He's behind you, right…???"
Vail turned his gaze away...
They understood...
Grief spread like wildfire...
Later, Arvela regained consciousness after receiving treatment...
And then—The dream returned...
The woman again.Alone this time...
"Raaaym!!! You must survive!" she screamed."Don't die—live for me!"
Raym awoke abruptly...
This time… no one was there...
Tears welled in his eyes as he lowered his head...
"Lance… I swear your sacrifice will not be in vain," he whispered."I will destroy them all.I will leave none alive.I will make them beg for their lives..."
His fists clenched until blood seeped from his palms...
A man entered his room carrying food...
"Oh, you're awake," he said kindly."I heard about your bravery, (Raym). You're quite popular now.Who would've imagined you could stand alone against an SI Knight???"
"I envy you," the man added.
"What good is envy," Raym replied bitterly,"when I couldn't protect the ones I love???My friend died because of me. I couldn't do anything..."
He looked up, eyes burning...
"Did they tell you???If not for Lance, I'd be dead.I turned my head for a second—and a dark-charged axe was coming for me.He took it instead..."
His voice cracked...
"Three others died… and I stood there helpless.So tell me, Mr. Lonz—what exactly are you jealous of???"
Lonz turned toward the mirror... Tears filled his eyes...
"…You're right," he said quietly...
Raym froze."A-are you okay??? I'm sorry if I—"
"No," Lonz interrupted gently."If you can stand, Vail wants to see you...It's important..."
The camp felt eerily quiet as Raym prepared himself...Whispers echoed behind closed doors...
On his way, one sentence echoed in his mind—words Lonz always repeated:
"Strength is not surviving…It is standing up after falling—and refusing to remain at the bottom."
Lost in thought, Raym collided with Vail's door...
He hesitated...
The weight in his chest grew heavier...
After a deep breath, he raised his hand and knocked...
No answer...
"Oh… he must not be here," Raym muttered, turning away—
Only to stop dead in his tracks...
"Commander Irene???" he said in shock...
"You're late," Irene replied calmly..."Come. Everyone is waiting for you..."