Raym laid his arm over his face, and murmured in a cold voice:
"So this is reality... not a dream, then..."
He tried to push himself to his feet, but found no point in it,
and sank back down, staring at his badly wounded arm. He wasn't thinking about the arm itself — he was thinking about what had once been in it...
At times like these... I'd be polishing that sword. I don't know why, but I feel like that sword was more than just a sharp piece of steel. I'm certain of that... well. I was, at least...
Raym lifted his head, then remembered yesterday's incident: Oh — that memory. Was it even real? I didn't feel like it was. But I don't feel like it wasn't, either... I've started thinking about just letting all this go. I'm tired of fighting for nothing. Every time I feel like I've grown strong, someone stronger shows up, to the point I feel like I never even started...
As Raym sank deeper into his thoughts, a black aura began to seep from his wounded arm.
The scene shifts to Daniel, who was in the middle of a discussion with Leo...
Leo said, shock frozen on his face for a moment: "Are you certain???"
Daniel struck the wall hard, his eyes reddened with anger:
"You think I'm lying??? I saw it with my own eyes. I could barely manage to catch the boy — if I'd let go, it would've swallowed the whole place!!!"
Leo looked into Daniel's eyes, and spoke in a voice trying its best to stay calm, though a tremor ran beneath it:
"Daniel — do you understand that something like this shouldn't even be possible???"
He paused a moment, then smiled — an unexpected smile:
"I only admire him more now..."
At that moment, Vail walked in. Daniel and Leo traded a quick glance, and silently agreed not to tell him...
Vail asked why they were gathered???
Leo looked hard into his eyes, and said he was just briefing them on recent developments from while they'd been away. Vail already sensed something was being kept from him, and before anyone could break the awkward silence—
Irene burst into the room, terror filling his eyes, and said loudly:
"Lord Leo, look at this letter — it's him!!!"
Leo's eyes widened at once, and he ground his teeth. "Tsk. Not now."
He began reading the letter, and his expression changed all at once. He straightened, slammed the table hard enough to make it shudder, then pressed his hand hard against his own arm, and said:
"Where's that useless Sephar when we actually need him???"
The moment Vail saw Leo's reaction, he understood this wasn't the time to press, so he left the room and walked off.
Vail went and found Round and Saon already together, on the verge of leaving...
Vail said in a calm voice: "Can't this wait a little? We'll provide you with everything you need???"
Round sighed, and said:
"I'm truly grateful for your generosity. But some things carry a meaning in us that outweighs any material worth. This is Lord Lorian's legacy..."
He offered a small smile before adding:
"Don't worry — we'll be back once we're done."
Vail smiled back, bidding him farewell,
and waved his hand. But his mind drifted to the important matter Leo had received, and unease settled over his face, so he decided to go and ask him about it...
The moment he stepped in, the same expression still hadn't left Leo's face. But the surprising thing was a third presence listening to it all — someone who seemed to appear as suddenly as he vanished:
Supreme Commander Seroh...
Vail was taken aback, and before he could speak, Leo motioned for him to lower his voice. Vail understood at once, and watched them in complete silence...
"So that's what happened???" Seroh said in a level voice, pressing hard on his own arm. He set his hand against his head as though in pain, then said suddenly, as if to change the subject:
"Well — I have some very good news. I'm about to receive support from the town of CORE, though it'll still take some time. We've lost a great deal, so any support at all will be more than welcome."
Leo looked at Vail, and told him he needed to speak with the Commander about something highly confidential...
Vail pressed his hand against his own arm, said nothing, and left the room.
Leo began explaining what Raym and everyone else had gone through, and told him about what had happened to Raym specifically...
But neither of them realized that Vail was listening in from behind the door. His eyes went wide all at once, and his lips moved without his own will, speaking a single name:
"Raym??!"