For the first time in a long while…
The sky had finally cleared...
The heavy clouds that had dominated the previous days had vanished, and the sun rose high with an unusually brilliant glow, as if announcing the beginning of a new day after a long chain of darkness and bloodshed...
Inside one of the base's rooms…
Raym slowly woke up...
But it wasn't the sunlight that woke him.
It was that voice...
That strange voice that had become oddly familiar...
The voice of the mysterious woman...
Her words echoed inside his mind as if they were coming from somewhere very far away.
"Raym… stay alive… please… don't die… live…"
Raym slowly opened his eyes.
Those words weighed heavily in his head.
He sat up with difficulty, feeling pain spreading throughout his entire body.
It wasn't only physical pain...
It felt deeper...
As if something had drained him from within.
He let out a quiet sigh while staring at the ceiling.
For the first time in a while…
No one was waiting for him...
No one sat beside his bed...
A strange emptiness crept into his chest...
He whispered quietly:
"If Lance were here… he'd probably start mocking me right now."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"And Lonz… would have forced me out of bed even if I was half dead."
But…
Neither of them were here anymore...
The smile faded.
Raym slowly stood up.
The moment his feet touched the ground, a sharp pain shot through his body...
"Damn…"
he muttered.
Each step hurt more than the last.
Yet he slowly walked toward the door.
When he opened it…
He froze...
In the nearby corridor…
Two figures were talking.
Vail.
And beside him…
Lorian.
Surprisingly…
They seemed to be chatting like old friends...
Raym watched them for a moment.
Then a small smile appeared.
And without realizing how loud he was, he said:
"Well… looks like I wasn't alone after all…
Mr. Vail."
Both of them turned instantly.
Vail's eyes widened.
"Raym??!"
He rushed toward him.
"Raym!!! You're finally awake!!!"
Then quickly added:
"Vice Commander Leo said he'd come talk to you today!!!
And the doctor ordered you not to leave your room!!!"
Raym quickly straightened himself.
"I'm completely fine."
Vail stared at him.
Then smirked...
"Raym… that trick doesn't work on me..."
And in the next second—
Raym nearly collapsed...
But Vail caught him immediately.
"I told you..."
He sighed and helped him back to bed...
But as soon as Raym lay down…
The voices returned.
Cold.
Inside his mind...
"Don't you see you're still a burden???"
"You're weak..."
"Weak enough to run from your enemy..."
"And you needed them just to survive..."
"How many of them suffered… just so you could still breathe???"
Raym's teeth clenched...
"They had lives… dreams… friends… loved ones…"
"But they died… for someone who has nothing..."
"A person with no purpose..."
Raym lowered his head...
Then slowly raised his eyes...
He looked at the mirror..
And spoke calmly...
"That's ridiculous."
Silence...
Then he continued firmly:
"I'm not weak."
"There are people who believe in me."
"And some gave their lives… for me."
He clenched his fist...
"They did it willingly..."
"They chose me..."
A faint smile appeared.
"So don't think your words will change anything."
Time passed...
He didn't know how long...
Then a knock came from the door...
"Raym??? Are you here???"
It was Leo.
The door opened...
"Ah… hello there, bright boy."
He glanced around the room...
"You've made quite impressive allies."
Raym didn't answer immediately...
Leo noticed.
He sighed.
"Ah… well Raym."
He sat down...
"Let me tell you something."
"I'm not trying to be cruel."
"But life taught me many things."
"This camp… and the state of the world… taught me even more."
"There are things no one will teach you..."
"You must learn to put your emotions aside..."
"Even with those closest to you..."
He smiled faintly.
"Emotions… are the perfect tool to deceive you."
"And the easiest way for enemies to turn you into prey."
He sighed.
"I abandoned them long ago..."
"But that bastard Zak…"
"He played both sides perfectly..."
"I suspected him before… but had no proof."
Raym looked at his palm...
Something clicked...
His expression changed.
Leo noticed.
"Good..."
Then he spoke seriously.
"Your element… Pure Light."
"It drains you heavily."
"If you don't master it… it could destroy your body."
"I wanted to teach you."
"But the truth is…"
"No one in this world can."
"Because… no one alive possesses it."
At that moment…
The image of the terrifying knight flashed in Raym's mind.
"But I fought a knight—"
"I know."
Leo interrupted.
"That's why I'm telling you..."
"You can create false light..."
Raym froze.
"By combining fire… and lightning."
Realization struck him...
His punch had hurt the knight...
If the knight had true light…
He wouldn't have been affected...
Leo smiled slightly...
"I see you understand..."
Then stood up...
"There are important matters we'll discuss with your new allies."
Then remembered something...
"Oh right."
"There's someone I want you to meet."
A mysterious smile appeared...
"I'm sure the two of you will get along."
Far away…
A mysterious man stood on a rocky cliff...
His face hidden in shadow...
He watched the horizon...
Troops...
Movement...
The army of SI marching in great numbers...
Preparing for something massive...
The man smiled with excitement...
"Oh…"
"So…"
"It has begun..."