He didn’t know how much time had passed.
✦ ✦ ✦
He couldn’t even tell what this place was.
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Buuuzzzz—
✦ ✦ ✦
Only the occasional roars of the Holy Sword reminded him that this wasn’t a dream.
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After walking for who knew how long…
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[This way.]
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A not-so-unfamiliar voice dug into Vera’s ears.
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Vera looked up.
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As he scanned his surroundings, he could make out a shadow.
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All-black robes.
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A golden pocket watch hanging around its neck.
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It was Orgus.
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He extended his hand and pointed in a direction. There laid a new path that hadn’t existed until now.
✦ ✦ ✦
[Go ahead.]
✦ ✦ ✦
Looking between the path and Orgus, Vera moved his feet once more.
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Step—
✦ ✦ ✦
Vera heard his own footsteps for the first time since coming here. Along with those steps emerged the thought that this space seemed to be reaching its end.
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There was hope that he could finally meet Renee once he crossed over.
✦ ✦ ✦
His pace quickened.
✦ ✦ ✦
Before Vera knew it, he had shifted from walking to running, and then he dashed forth to that place.
✦ ✦ ✦
But then.
✦ ✦ ✦
Falter—
✦ ✦ ✦
Vera stopped dead in his tracks, right by Orgus’ side.
✦ ✦ ✦
[Go on.]
✦ ✦ ✦
Vera’s head turned back to Orgus.
✦ ✦ ✦
What unfolded beneath the robe’s hood was an infinite abyss.
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As he stared straight at it, Vera’s lips moved a little.
✦ ✦ ✦
“...Lushan.”
✦ ✦ ✦
Orgus’ movements ceased.
✦ ✦ ✦
The inside of the hood directly faced Vera.
✦ ✦ ✦
For some reason, Vera imagined that he was watching him.
✦ ✦ ✦
[Why do you think so?]
✦ ✦ ✦
The questioning tone contained an odd hint of laughter.
✦ ✦ ✦
Vera straightforwardly uttered.
✦ ✦ ✦
“It just feels that way.”
✦ ✦ ✦
There was no reason at all.
✦ ✦ ✦
No, if he had to give one, perhaps it was from the strange nostalgia he felt from that man in the glowing temple before coming here.
✦ ✦ ✦
He laughed.
✦ ✦ ✦
Orgus—
✦ ✦ ✦
—No, Lushan, shook his shoulders while smiling.
✦ ✦ ✦
[Indeed...]
✦ ✦ ✦
The hand that seemed like an old man’s blurred.
✦ ✦ ✦
Vera could no longer discern if he were an old man, child, young man, or woman.
✦ ✦ ✦
[Child, how was your life?]
✦ ✦ ✦
The abruptly asked question was far too playful, allowing Vera to grasp his true nature.
✦ ✦ ✦
Lushan, the God of Oath.
✦ ✦ ✦
A mischievous teaser who was a fervent existence lacking form, taking on tens of thousands of forms depending on how he was accepted.
✦ ✦ ✦
The most mysterious of the nine Ancient Species was another face of his.
✦ ✦ ✦
There was a brief silence.
✦ ✦ ✦
To his asked question, Vera responded with another question.
✦ ✦ ✦
“Why was it me?”
✦ ✦ ✦
[It simply was you.]
✦ ✦ ✦
“Why did it have to be her?”
✦ ✦ ✦
[That too, was simply because it had to be her.]
✦ ✦ ✦
Vera let out a long sigh and glared at him.
✦ ✦ ✦
Lushan’s laughter intensified when he realized that his evasive words that went in circles, seemingly refusing to provide any answers, were truly infuriating.
✦ ✦ ✦
Vera kept his lips tightly shut, glaring at him. Then, he asked another question.
✦ ✦ ✦
“...Why were you like that when I received the revelation?”
✦ ✦ ✦
The first day he went to Elia, and the time when he first received his revelation remained vivid in his mind.
✦ ✦ ✦
How empty had he felt upon receiving the ’Pass’ revelation he was given then?
✦ ✦ ✦
Vera pressed his lips together tightly, wanting to hear the answer to that at least. At that, Lushan’s laughter ceased.
✦ ✦ ✦
[...I meant the literal meaning.]
✦ ✦ ✦
Lushan raised his hand.
✦ ✦ ✦
Thump—
✦ ✦ ✦
He answered while pointing at the center of Vera’s chest and at the soul within.
✦ ✦ ✦
[You’ve already found it, have you not?]
✦ ✦ ✦
Vera’s eyes widened.
✦ ✦ ✦
Seeing him like that, Lushan asked once more.
✦ ✦ ✦
[Now, tell me. What did you live for?]
✦ ✦ ✦
Vera blankly pondered the question before smiling just like him.
✦ ✦ ✦
Then, he turned around.
✦ ✦ ✦
“Love. I lived for that.”
✦ ✦ ✦
Having found his answer, he passed it to Lushan and headed beyond the path.
✦ ✦ ✦
Lushan’s presence started fading away.
✦ ✦ ✦
As his presence was about to completely vanish, Vera heard a soft whisper.
✦ ✦ ✦
[Child, only now have you told me an answer.]
✦ ✦ ✦
That too, was spoken in a tone full of laughter.