The crackling of the fireplace filled the silence that lingered after Neron finished speaking.
His words hung heavy in the air, a painful confession of the burdens he carried. Serah and Legris sat across from him, their faces etched with a mix of sympathy and sorrow.
"I never wanted any of this," Neron said softly, his voice almost a whisper.
He stared at his hands, the faint glow of magical energy lingering around his fingertips.
"The power, the fa, the blood on my hands… I only wanted to protect the people I cared about. But sowhere along the way, I lost sight of what that ant."
Serah placed her hand gently over his, her touch warm and grounding. She leaned closer, her blue eyes shimring with emotion as she pressed a soft kiss to his cheek.
"You've carried so much, Neron," she said, her voice steady but tender. "You did what you had to do to save lives. No one blas you for that."
Her words offered a flicker of comfort, but Neron shook his head.
"Maybe no one blas , but I bla myself. I ended an entire race, Serah. The demons… they had hos, families, children. And I destroyed them all. How can I ever co back from that?"
Legris, who had been silent until now, spoke up. His tone was grave, his gaze fixed on the dancing flas.
"I've been thinking about that too. About everything we saw during the war."
He paused, his jaw tightening.
"The destruction, the bloodshed… all because of Magic. It's a force too powerful for anyone to wield responsibly. And the more I think about it, the more I wonder if the world would be better off without it."
Neron glanced at him, his brow furrowing.
"You're not wrong," he admitted, his voice low. "Magic has caused more pain than I can count. But as much as I wish for a world without it, I don't know how to make that happen."
Serah looked between them, her expression conflicted.
"But… Magic isn't all bad," she argued, though her voice lacked its usual conviction. "Think about all the good it's done. The lives it's saved, the advancents it's brought. Can you really say the world would be better off without it?"
Legris turned to her, his eyes hard. "And what about the lives it's destroyed? The wars it's fueled? Magic is a double-edged sword, Serah, and its price is always paid in blood."
Serah opened her mouth to respond but found herself at a loss. The weight of their argunts, combined with her own mories of the war, left her silent.
Her hand fell from Neron's as she looked down, a troubled expression on her face.
Neron leaned back in his chair, his gaze drifting to the set of Arcana cards resting on the table before him.
Each one pulsed faintly with its own unique energy, a testant to the imnse power they held. His mind raced with possibilities, and then a thought struck him—a wild, impossible idea that refused to let go.
"What if," he began, his voice hesitant but growing firr, "we could make everyone forget about Magic? The way the Great Sage and his comrades made the world forget about the demons over a century ago."
Legris's eyes widened, and he leaned forward.
"Is it what you told us about? The one that lady Lilith told you they used?"
"That's right."
"But it could be anywhere, right? I an… all the Arcanas are scattered across the world, so it should be impossible to find."
"Not necessarily."
Legris looked curiously at his friend.
Neron smiled. "If I could gather them, I might be able to use their combined power to erase Magic from existence. It wouldn't be easy, and I'd need to find a way to ensure the change is permanent. But it's a start."
Serah looked at him, her conflict plain on her face.
"You're serious about this? About erasing Magic entirely?"
"I am," Neron said firmly. He looked into her eyes, his own filled with a mix of determination and sorrow. "I know it won't bring back the lives Magic has taken, but it might stop more from being lost. If we can do this, Serah, we could create a world where people don't have to live in fear of its power."
Serah was silent for a long mont, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. Finally, she sighed, her voice quiet.
"I… I don't know if I agree with you. But I can't deny the truth of what you've said. Magic has caused so much pain. If this is the path you want to take, I'll stand by you—for now."
Legris placed a hand on Neron's shoulder, a rare smile breaking through his usual stoicism.
"You're not doing this alone. I'll help you, no matter what it takes."
Neron gave a faint smile in return, though it didn't reach his eyes.
"Thank you. Both of you." He stood, his gaze turning toward the window and the sprawling city beyond. "This won't be easy. But I think I know where to start."
Legris raised an eyebrow. "Where's that?"
Neron turned back to them, a flicker of determination lighting his expression.
"I found all of these Arcanas in the hideout created by The Great Sage over a century ago. I was able to read so of the things he wrote, and they contain a history of his past with his friends…"
"So, you think a hint of this missing Arcana will be there?" Legris asked, causing Neron to nod.
"It's worth a shot, right?"
They all nodded in agreent.
"If we're going to do this, no one can know about our plan… Okay?"
The three of them exchanged nods, the weight of their decision settling over them.
Serah still seed unsure about their actions, but Neron already appeared determined and she didn't want to lose him by refusing to help.
As a result, she chose to believe in him and accompany him on his journey for the mont.
Legris, on the other hand, was all for the plan.
It was evident in his expression.
"Okay, you guys! Let's do this!"
Reviews
All reviews (0)