Oh the drama... can you feel it? Well, I hope you can, 'cause that was my intention for this Act...

Now, for some of you that will read the first part: no, Nebilim didn't have the foggiest that Verius was the one imprisoned in that tablet. As stated some chapters before, he just came across information regarding to her, as Neran, by chance, but he never knew much about her beyond the little info he obtained. And considering she was sealed after his death...

Anyway, tell me? Have your hearts been hurting or are they well? You will understand once you read the rest.

Chapter 46

Limit Breaks

Alice kicked the door to her room open, her face set in a seething expression. Decus, as always, came right behind her, but no longer using any of his usual pickup lines or declarations of adoration for he knew his beloved one wasn't in the mood for such. Not in the least.

"One month!" Alice started, kicking a nearby stall. It froze as her feet made contact, spreading an spiky, ice formation where her shoe made contact. "ONE FUCKING MONTH AND DEMOTION! All because of one stupid stone tablet?!"

"Well... Lord Nebilim did say that what escaped from it shouldn't have been released..." Decus mumbled, more to himself than to Alice. "And considering the level of power she showed, I'm forced to agree with him. If she could destroy the Hell Knight as easily as..."

"SHUT UP!" Alice screamed at the half-human.

"Y-yes, Alice!" Decus quickly spoke, jumping in fear.

"How many times do I have to tell I don't need your pity?! I don't even need you! You're just here because you followed me like some lost, pathetic stray puppy!"

Decus flinched at her screams, but he knew she didn't mean any of that. Alice was just angry at the punishment Nebilim gave her.

Or, at least, that was what he liked to think.

"Wow, somebody's in a bad mood," a boyish voice spoke, making Decus and Alice turn to see Genis at her door, examining the mangled wood which had splintered from Alice's kick.

"What do you want?" Decus demanded. His Alice surely wasn't in the mood to deal with...

"It's horrible Geny! Lord Nebilim demoted me just because that idiot Richter couldn't protect a measly stone slab."

Decus turned to Alice with a pleading look, tears on his eyes. Why did she open up to that brat, yet yelled at him? Genis even dared to disdain and reject his Alice, but she just kept going after him.

"Yeah, I heard about it. My condolences," Genis said. "It must have been pretty scary anyway. Even I could feel an explosion of power from here."

Genis walked and sat on Alice's bed. The honey-eyed Desian didn't seem to mind, but Decus was seething at Genis' audacity. Oh, what he wouldn't give to impale the arrogant prick with his broadsword.

"Oh yes, it was. So horrible," Alice said with a sad tone and pose. Decus knew it was just an act and he was sure Genis knew it too. "I'm still shaking till now. Couldn't you maybe help me, Geny?" the blonde spoke in her baby voice, pleadingly.

"Alice, we don't need this brat's help," Decus said, shooting a glare at Genis. "I bet you just want something out of Alice."

"You're right," Genis admitted, a superior smile appearing on his face. "But it's not what you might think, Romeo."

He then pointed to Alice and Decus looked to see... her frozen in her previous pose, like she had been petrified. Suddenly Alice was on her knees in the floor, her breathing ragged and behind her stood Genis' aide Reriki.

"Got it, Master Genis!" she said animatedly.

"Good work," Genis said, getting up as Decus ran and passed Alice's arm around his shoulders and got her up. "Thanks for the brief chat. See you all later."

With that, he left the room with a smiling Reriki trailing right behind, not even giving Decus the chance to yell some death threats to him.

"That no-good, son of a... !" Decus started, only to hear Alice mumbling. All of his attention was instantly back to her. "Alice. Alice, are you okay?!"

"What just happened?" Alice asked, seeming a little drowsy.

"That damn, bastard Genis was distracting us so his aide could take something from you!" Decus practically roared.

"Took... something from me?" Alice asked, sounding a little disoriented.

"Yes. That good-for-nothing... Alice?" Decus had a confused glance as he saw Alice's expression becoming an endearing one.

"I didn't know he had that kind of fetish. If he wanted it so much, we could have made an arrangement," her voice was as sweat has honey as she spoke.

Decus took a good five minutes to process what his crush meant with that. When it finally clicked to him, his jaw practically hit the floor as he gaped at what Alice said.

The blue haired man didn't know whether he should kill himself for letting something like this happen or hunt down Genis and skin him alive.

- / - / - / - / - / - / -

Genis looked at the floating, spectral sphere Reriki presented him with; the sphere that contained Alice's memories of her encounter with the Summon Spirit of the Heart Verius.

Some would ask why Genis went through all of that work just to extract Alice's memories instead of simply asking for her to recount the encounter. However, if he asked, he wouldn't get the raw information he needed.

Memories were a fickle thing, as they were imprints of somebody's interpretation of an event through that person's perspective. That was already enough to somewhat alter the fact's data. Having somebody speak about it, would only further corrode the information, not giving him what he needed.

Plus, memories could also be used for other purposes. After all, if you managed to access one's mind once, you could do so again.

"And our mole confirmed she won't help them?" Genis asked Reriki as he finished analyzing the memory.

"Yes. Although I'm kinda worried. Are you sure you want to meet somebody that scary, Master Genis?" Reriki asked, showing a worried expression.

"Of course," he said with a smile.

"But, my General..." Rahishi said. "If what our agent gathered can be trusted, that Spirit could read your thoughts through your emotions and immediately know what you plan."

Genis knew that. Oh, he knew. This was a big bet, but if he managed to pull it off, it could greatly pay them in the end. It had all the ingredients he needed, all the pieces in place. Still there was one obstacle that had to be overcome.

Luckily, he, again, had the right resources at hand:

"That is why I want Reriki to put a seal on my heart. You can do that, right?"

That made the two look at him with wide eyes.

"Well... I could. I am a Seal Master after all, but there is no guarantee I will be able to reverse the process right after you're done. You could have your heart on a permanent lock," Reriki said, her tone conveying her... fear?

That was strange. The demoness never felt fear, not like this as far as she could remember. She could at least identify what her fear was; fear of, once the lock being put into place, Genis wouldn't be the same.

According to what she learned about mortals, their beings, their personality was defined by several things, but the most important one was their heart, or so they said. Taking it away was like leaving behind an empty shell. She didn't want to think her beloved Master Genis could end up like that.

Rahishi was of similar thought and she showed it more than her co-worker if her biting on her lower lip was any indication. She didn't want her general to end up like some husk. She wanted him to remain as himself. She wanted him to be...

Wait... why don't I want him to do this? This is for the sake of the mission. Rahishi thought.

She felt conflicted.

On one side, she knew this would be essential for Genis' plan to work. On the other, she didn't want him to do something that could put him in so much danger. What was wrong with her?

"That is why I am entrusting you two with this," Genis spoke, making the two look up at him again. "You are the only ones I would ever trust with something that could potentially destroy me. If anything happens... well, you two are powerful demons. I'm sure you have several options available to you."

The tone of the young-looking General was one of resignation, like he accepted the possibility of what would happen should he fail.

Suddenly, Rahishi hugged him, surprising both Reriki and Genis. He wouldn't have been as shocked if it had been his seductive, flirty aide, but regal and composed Rahishi?

"I promise you, my General, if you don't come back, I'll follow you to wherever your soul goes. And if you do, I'll do everything in my way to ensure your safety," she whispered him in a weak voice, seeming to tremble a bit.

Rahishi could have cried at that moment... but demons couldn't shed tears. They were incapable of doing so.

Genis blushed and didn't know what to do. He knew Reriki was attracted to him in that way, he would have to be a bumbling idiot not to see it, and he knew Rahishi was quite protective of him. But to consider she could have the same feelings as his other aide.

This feels like something out of a corny, romance novel... Genis idly thought, though he was completely at lost on how to deal with this situation. Women were never his area of expertise.

"Hmm... well, thanks... Rahishi," he hoped what he said was right. "And don't worry. Even though my heart will be locked, I will still have my mind and my priorities set."

It seemed that was enough, for his military-inclined aide let him go and offer him... a beautiful smile. Genis was positive his face was on fire right now. He never saw Rahishi smile before. She was always so serious and focused in and out of duty.

Suddenly, he found he wanted to have her smiling more.

Shaking his head to disperse those useless thoughts, Genis looked at Reriki, who was also smiling serenely at the scene. He ordered her to do it, although he stuttered a little on his tone, for Reriki's smile was just as beautiful as Rahishi's.

As his voluptuous aide chanted the spell, Genis had a sudden urge to tell them they were one of his priorities, so he would definitely come back. But he couldn't actually bring himself to say those words.

Guess I am a teenager still...

Reriki then drew the symbols on the air, a runic circle appearing beneath Genis.

And just like that, the world suddenly seemed to be become bleak for him...

- / - / - / - / - / - / -

If there was one thing that Yuan Kä-fei could admit he was bad at was... "relaxing with the family". Mostly because he never really had a family to relax with, so one could say his stiffness and workaholic mindset were justified. He could put up lighter clothes and drop the whole "Lord Yuan" posture like he was doing now, but, in the end, he still didn't consider himself a very sociable person.

Apparently, that was not a good enough reason for Martel to give up on having some time off with her husband. If anything, she seemed to have taken to this challenge very seriously. Even more so now that they had found out their daughter was alive and they had a granddaughter.

"Amelia, do you need anything?" Martel asked their daughter, offering her a piece of cake she had baked.

No, thanks. I'm fine. Amelia wrote in her notebook.

"C'mon mom. It's delicious. Grandma really knows how to cook," Colette said animatedly.

Amelia seemed a little hesitant about accepting it, but conceded to her daughter's insistence in the end. Right now, they were having their family outing (as Martel insisted on calling it) in a secluded shade near the Gaorachia forest. Though Martel would have liked to pick another location, this shade was actually quite sunny compared to the rest of the forest and had a nice flowerbed growing near it. Also, it was near close to the base, so they wouldn't have to travel too much and demon attacks weren't so common in this region, since there was no visible settlement nearby.

The only consolation Yuan had found this time was that his daughter seemed as uneasy as him. When Martel approached Amelia and Colette to invite them to a family picnic, the younger blonde had been ecstatic at the idea.

Amelia, on the other hand, only eyed them with some hesitancy, as if she wasn't sure she wanted to come. But as always like what happened in Iselia, she bent to Colette's will.

Martel and Colette probably couldn't notice, but Yuan could see that his daughter was somewhat unsure if she fit into this family picture Martel tried to capture them all into. He could understand and accept that. After all, he never had parents to spend his time with or show his children to. So, suddenly gaining a family by marrying Martel had made him seriously think about the whole prospect.

Not to mention he literally fainted when Martel said she was pregnant...

On the note of his dear wife; love her with all his heart he does, but Yuan thought sometimes she could be a little pushy when it came to make people interact with each other. He would have given Amelia sometime to adapt to the idea she was now reunited with her biological parents and slowly get acquainted with her and ease her on the idea.

Of course, most of his plans sometimes fell through when his dear Martel decided to act.

Thank Spirits at least Colette seems to share Martel's enthusiasm. he almost found it funny when he thought about that. Amelia was a bit like him, whilst Colette was Martel's spitting image, only younger and blonde.

"By the way..." he decided to get some conversation in order to make his daughter feel more at home. That and so he wouldn't get chew out by Martel by "being so stiff". "Amelia, how have you adapted to the base? I know it's not the best place for a young woman like yourself, so if you wanted, we could transfer you to one of the refugees."

Amelia shook her head and quickly wrote on her notebook. Martel had made sure to bring one for her daughter, since she didn't want to push Amelia's condition by forcing her to speak and activating the curse.

I am fine. I want to be near Colette. Besides, everybody in the base is very nice. The people in the kitchen always ask me for some advice and the female soldiers and recruits are very nice to talk to. she looked at the side, as if deciding on something, before writing it. It feels much like a big family.

"That's what we aim for," Martel said. "In a way, we all are brothers and sisters. Not only because of our common situation as half-elves, but because we are all living beings with a heart," she put her hand over her chest as if to make her point, her expression becoming serene, just like when they tried to talk and plead with the people during the Kharlan War. "We all passed through severe hardships and difficulties, but I like to think this only made us more accepting of each other and realize how unity is important."

"I totally agree," Colette said, sounding pretty enthusiastic. "It doesn't matter if you were born human, half-elf or anything else. Everybody passes through the same hardships in life, so we're pretty much the same. I'm sure if people could see it, they would be more accepting of each other."

Martel nodded to Colette while Yuan and Amelia only looked at their granddaughter/daughter. For Yuan, it was like hearing the Kharlan War-period Martel speaking again. Actually, Martel still retained her views of the world and hopes for the future.

But with the Second Invasion, came also an understanding that acceptance alone wasn't the only thing needed, nor could it be always be obtained.

"You sound just like your grandma, Colette," Yuan said with a smile, making Colette blush a little at the compliment. He then became a little somber. "But you should already know, acceptance can't always be reached. In the end, there will always be conflict. What you can do is mitigate it, so it doesn't take unnecessary proportions."

Colette nodded to her grandfather with a serious expression, understanding what he meant. Martel then asked Amelia what she thought, trying to include her daughter in the conversation. The older blonde thought for sometime before start writing:

To be honest, I never gave it much thought. The condition of the world or the roots of all our problems... I just never stopped to think on any of this, so I can't give you much of an opinion. I'm sorry.

"It's alright," Yuan said. "You were to busy protecting Colette and taking care of her well-being to really pay it some mind. Besides, not everybody has the time or power to change something like this, so you shouldn't bother yourself with something you can't do anything about. And I personally think you did more than enough, for if it wasn't for you, Colette wouldn't be here today with us to enjoy this marvelous cake."

Yuan smirked at seeing Martel and Amelia's blush at his compliments and had to give himself a pat on the back:

Yuan, you still have got it. Let it never be said that he didn't know how to woo somebody with words when he wanted to.

"Alright, mister smooth talker," Martel said, recovering, her tone now playful. "Since you seem to be in such a good mood, how about you show us some of those cabbage rolls you prepared?"

"Of course. By the way, you brought the medicine, right?" at Amelia's worried face and Colette's confused one, Yuan quickly amended. "Just joking..."

As they continued to make small talk, Amelia seemed to open up a bit more and grace them with her smiles. She now looked so much like her mother that Yuan had to wonder what would happen had they had a son. Would he look like him or be more like Martel?

The green haired woman in question looked to her right at one time and suddenly her expression became closed and unreadable. Yuan looked at her and was about to ask if everything was alright, but before he could Martel got up and excused herself.

"It's nothing serious," she guaranteed them when the little family seemed to get on guard. "I just want to take a look nearby. I heard there are some rare herbs nearby that I have been looking for."

It was a more-than-obvious excuse, but Yuan decided not to call her on that. If it were anything important, Martel would have told him. They might be a couple, but they also had their secrets like anybody.

As Martel left, silence descended and Yuan felt that he needed to break it. He then turned to Colette:

"So... how are you and Presea doing? Do you need a talk about it?"

Colette blushed a scarlet tone now and Amelia could only look at him as Yuan started to sweat at realizing what he said.

"We're... fine. Not doing anythinginnapporpriateifthatswhatyoureasking?!" Colette said in a rapid tone, her face so bright one could see several shades of red on it.

"Uhhh... alright. I wasn't exactly... asking about that. I mean, I do know you didn't do anything... but you're both teenagers and..."

He felt like kicking himself. He was the older one here, for Spirit's sake! Why did he sound like a little, shy boy?! He should be giving the lessons in this.

Amelia then started to write on her notebook and showed him:

No need to worry, Mister Yuan. Me and Colette already talked about it and I like Presea. I don't see any problem on it.

"Oh... right. Well, if you say so... I too don't have a problem with the fact Colette is a lesbian... I mean... I'm just glad you two are alive, so, putting that into perspective, this is only something minor." Nice save there, idiot. Yuan berated at himself.

As Martel came back, Yuan realized he still had a long way to go before calling himself a good father/grandfather.

Damn! How does Kratos do it?!

- / - / - / - / - / - / -

"ACHOOO!"

"Bless you, dad," Lloyd said while looking to his sniffling father.

"Thanks... anyway, what was it that you wanted to ask me again?"

Lloyd was sitting in a chair in Kratos' room in the Mizuho Base. Ever since the group had that discussion about Kratos' identity as a Summon Spirit, things had somewhat calmed down. They still had to figure out their next step and what to do about Verius' declaration.

Ratatosk said they should leave her alone, as it had been her decision. Sheena, however, went on to berate with the Summon Spirit about how inconsiderate she had been and what a jerk she was to Colette. Zelos, surprisingly, kept quiet and only said he was going to check on his sister, who he had left on the base before going on their mission, since he didn't know if she would be in danger by being near demons.

But the auburn haired man suspected his son didn't want to talk about it.

"Dad... I..." Lloyd started, seeming embarrassed at it. "I would like to ask you something."

"Yes?" Kratos refrained from imagining anything that he heard most parents imagined in this situation. Like Sheena being pregnant.

Granted he never pried on the two's sexual life and he wasn't sure how being Summon Spirits would affect that, but...

"Have you ever had a woman after you while you were with mom?"

Kratos' thought process stopped and he did a double take.

"I'm sorry. I think I didn't quite hear you. What did you say?"

"Well... Sheena keeps insisting that Raine has... a 'thing' for me. But I don't think it might be true," Lloyd said, regaining his confidence. "I mean, I do know things like this tend to happen to people... but I don't think she is attracted to me. I mean, she's pretty nice and good-looking and mature. But I like Sheena and..."

"Lloyd, she's right," Kratos interrupted his son's monologue.

"What?"

"Sheena's right."

"But..."

"Lloyd..." Kratos started, his tone turning into the one he used when teaching his son. "I'm going to talk to you as a man, so I hope you will listen. Women have a... way of knowing things we, men, tend to ignore or even be oblivious to. So, believe me when I say she's right."

His son only looked at him with a confused look.

Kratos couldn't blame Lloyd. He himself had only learned this lesson after another woman tried to take him to bed. He could still feel his ears ringing from when Anna came, chased the woman away and proceeded to yell his ears off at disregarding her warnings about that.

However, it only made things even more complicated if what his son's girlfriend said was really true. Kratos tried to think on everything he saw from Raine's interaction with Lloyd.

Most of the time, the woman didn't act any different than how she did with everybody else, being considerate and polite. It was really hard to tell what she felt or thought most of the time (unless you were close to a ruin or water) and she guarded her secrets with an almost jealous zeal. Although, according to Lloyd, she had started to open up.

He tried to think harder and remember something. Small sings, minute changes on her demeanor and pose. It mainly happened when Lloyd complimented her and he even caught her looking away, her cheeks a bit pink...

Kratos felt like slapping himself.

He should have noticed it sooner. A woman like Raine doesn't act shy or avoid other's gaze for nothing.

Anna was right, I'm completely oblivious to other women's feelings. strangely enough, he felt more connected to Lloyd at knowing his son also had that same obliviousness.

Lloyd still looked at Kratos with an unconvinced expression, so the older Aurion told him all of his observations. It took Lloyd sometime to link the points, but once he did, he gasped. As realization finally dawned on him, Lloyd asked his father what he should do, but Kratos could only say:

"I'm sorry, Lloyd, but this is something you will have to figure out for yourself. Whatever you decide will affect your relationship with Sheena and Raine, so I suggest you think and reflect on the subject.

"Remember, this decision doesn't affect only you, but two women that have feelings for you."

"But... I don't... I don't even know if Raine feels for me what I feel for Sheena or..." Lloyd started.

"Then ask her. There is a difference between an adventure and an affair, Lloyd. Though both could be considered harmful for any relationship. There is also your... position to consider."

Lloyd knew his father meant his Summon Spirit status, but he didn't see how this could change things. But he definitely needed to talk with Raine and Sheena about this. He just hoped this wouldn't make the two women try to kill each other.

- / - / - / - / - / - / - / -

Weak. Filth. Rot.

That was what she could capture from most of the hearts in this world. They were slowly decaying and affecting those around them, like in a last act of defiance, a middle finger for a world they considered unjust or unworthy unless they were on the top.

Verius knew this situation. It was the same as that at the end of the Kharlan War, when she was hurting...

Now, though, she felt much better. In fact, it was like she could see clearer now. She didn't know if this was an effect of the demons' presence or what, but she could definitely see how their hearts were hurting.

She was walking along the path that took to Ozette, a city that she felt was brimming with hearts embroiled in hate, arrogance and fear. Normally that would have sickened her, but now she only saw them with indifference.

Because, really, what were a bunch of weak hearts when you saw the fragility of the Heart of the World?

She then felt something approaching her, but the presence was... off. It was like they were stale or something. Turning, the fox-tailed woman saw somebody coming in her direction. A little boy looking no older than fifteen, but his eyes... they shone with knowledge of somebody way older.

They're kinda familiar... Verius thought, though she couldn't say who. If only she could read his heart.

"Greetings. You must be Verius, right?" the boy said, his voice completely neutral. It was the most neutral tone Verius ever heard.

"Do you have a lock on yourself or something?" Verius asked, her closed eyes and face making a confused expression. Maybe she could lift the lock, but she couldn't do so without this boy's permission. That would be interfering in a heart when it didn't want to be interfered.

"So, you can sense it?"

She nodded. She couldn't even read him. If he didn't feel, then his aura wouldn't change, it would remain vibrating the same way.

It was starting to bother her.

"Do you want me to remove it? It's kinda bothering me," she spoke.

She didn't need to lie. She never lied. What was the point in lying when you could detect the truth coming from all those around you or simply call their lies to their faces? It would make her look like a hypocrite if she lied and she didn't like that.

"Why do so? What would that accomplish?" the boy asked.

She tilted her head, looking at him curiously.

"Tell me, what does the world looks like to a being like you?" he asked.

Now that was something she never heard. Nobody ever asked how she perceived the world. This boy was becoming quite interesting.

... but that lock was still bugging her.

"This world is... decaying," she said, deciding to humor him. Maybe he would say more interesting things. And it was nice to talk to somebody that wouldn't keep saying they were not somebody when they clearly were. Reincarnation was so confusing. "It has been ever since the war. People stopped thinking and let themselves be led by other people's passions and desires. They gave up on their own dreams and followed any other they picked up, or none at all," Verius continued.

"You mean they were wrong in following their leaders?"

"Nobody can follow another's heart's desires and achieve them. They simply saw an illusion they were told with words and their greed became excited in their hearts. That can only lead to disaster."

"Do you want to know what I see?" the boy asked, eying her with that serious gaze, never wavering in any of his questions. There was no passion on his tone either. "I see a world... hurt."

"Hurt?" she repeated.

Now that she could agree with. No matter what people felt and how much corrupted or weak their hearts became, the end result was always the same: pain and hurt. She knew that oh-too-well.

"People, monsters, fauna... everything is suffering. Hurt with the state things are now. I wonder... wouldn't it be a lot more merciful if they were released from this pain?"

"What? Are you telling me I should do that?" Verius asked, interested.

"Well, think about it, isn't it in the instinct of every being to seek a way to ease their pain? Isn't it something they wish on their hearts?" the fox tailed woman nodded to the silver haired boy's statement.

That Verius could attest to. Hearts couldn't live in pain, so they sought ways of easing this pain or even stopping it. The Heart of the World was no different.

It was then the two heard a commotion coming from Ozette, the light of some fires coming from the small plaza of the village lighting the twilit skies.

"This is where I take my leave. If you want to see what I mean, you should take a look. I'm sure a being like you would have no problem walking undetected," with that the boy turned to leave.

However, Verius had one last thing to inquire:

"Is that seal intentional or what? It seems like you didn't want me reading you? Do you actually know who I am?"

And that was why that seal had been bugging her, for the free-spirited Verius didn't like being played at or cheated by anybody.

Even more so now...

"Does it even matter? The facts should speak by themselves if you actually see what the world has become like, so what is my intentions' importance in the face of things?"

Oh, well played... well played indeed.

Whoever that was, he knew how to play his cards right. She had no doubt in her mind that he knew exactly who she was and what she would respond to. Maybe she would try and find him later.

As the young-looking boy left, Verius turned and entered the city of Ozette... that city full of discriminating, spiteful hearts. Honestly, they were better than that in the past, now it seemed that getting the protection of Cruxis - was that their name really? That was so silly. – made them arrogant and even more self-conceited.

As she walked, she found most of the city in the plaza, where a small stand had been set up and a man in armor was talking, besides him where three people in handcuffs, half-elves judging by their appearance, and in front of them were stone blocks. There were three other soldiers in armor behind each prisoner, obviously to keep watch.

Verius walked among the crowd, phasing through them as nobody saw her. She wouldn't be seen by mortals unless she chose so. And, really, why would she want to be seen by them? She looked at the man, an agent of the Purge Inquisitors originated from this city, and caught onto his speech while reading him at the same time:

"... as such, for the crimes of theft and disruption of public order..." Nobody wanted you here, you filthy, non-humans. Why don't you leave us alone? "You are hereby sentenced, in accordance to the laws of the Faith..." Who gives a shit about the Faith? I'm only in this so I can have an easy life and kill these damn half-elves. "to be executed on this very day!" Finally! The good part. It would be better if we could just sell them off like during the War. That made a good profit.

To say Verius was surprised would be a lie. Really, that guy's reaction was pretty much standard by looking at other places.

The armored speaker then drew a blade as his companions put the half-elves in their knees, shoving them on the chopping blocks, so the executioner could have a clear shot at their necks. The crowd started to edge him on and Verius could see he was basking on the attention like some sort of street performer.

The first to be beheaded didn't even try to fight. His heart was resigned and hollow from years of torture and hopelessness coupled with depression. He even saw that as a mercy when the blade came down and separated his head from his body, ending his life and silencing the depressing, sad existence he had lived. The second tried to struggle, but it was useless for he too was silenced in the end. The third...

"Please! Please, I have a little boy! I only wanted to get food to him!"

It was a woman. A mother. The pain and desperation was oozing off her in waves as she was worried for the life of her little boy. Verius momentarily searched for him and found his heart. He was being held on the root-like walkway above, some boys holding him and keeping him quiet so as to watch the execution. Those boys seemed to be delighted at his suffering and struggling as he tried to get to his mother.

"You should have thought that before robbing from us, half-elf," the executioner said in a sneer, contempt written all over him. Who cares for another one of your spawns? You all should just die and leave us humans alone.

The woman begged, pain escalating enough that it could have made Verius sick... before. Now, she only observed with a serious expression.

The sword came...

The sound of flesh being cut was heard.

The boy stopped struggling...

The man smiled to himself...

And the cries of pain ceased.

Verius couldn't feel any pain coming from that woman's heart anymore. Not even the Heart of the World seemed to have reacted like it normally would when one of the beings whose heart was linked to it would leave this world. In fact, there was nothing, but silence.

They were in peace...

The peace was then shattered when the boy finally wriggled free from his captors' hold and shouted at everybody reunited, fat tears falling from his eyes:

"WHY DID YOU KILL MOM?! SHE DID NOTHING WRONG! YOU HUMANS ARE ALL EVIL! YOU SHOULD JUST DIE!"

The boys previously holding him didn't seem to like that for they kicked him from the walkway. The boy hit the ground below head first, dying from the trauma.

His cries of pain and hate were now silenced too. He was in peace...

Verius could capture it all.

Hate. Disgust. Fear. Hate. Indifference. Desperation. Hate. The pattern kept repeating itself on and on, like a never-ending spiral crawling over all Aselia...

Until they were finally silenced by death and even the Heart of the World seemed to feel relieved that their suffering on the mortal coil ended.

I see a world... hurt.

Those were the words of that wise boy. True words. The facts and the hearts around her confirmed that. They suffered and hurt.

Isn't it in the instinct of every being to seek a way to ease their pain?

True again. The heart always sought peace. But it seemed Aselia had become a place were this peace was unattainable. Not with the amount of hatred, fear and desperation emanating from all hearts and affecting the Heart of the World.

However, it was when they left this mortal life, when their spirits were released from the mortal realm, that they finally silenced their cries and left with a sweat, peaceful silence.

Isn't it something they wish on their hearts?

Yes. Wish.

The heart wished for peace. The Heart of the World longed for the relative peace it once had before the Kharlan War. A peace that was now impossible.

At least in life...

Well, seemed like she would grant the wish of a single heart after all. But thinking on it now, didn't many other hearts wished for the death of others too? Some things never changed...

Her aura was released in an explosion of power so strong that the pulse created threw the humans around her away into the air. Some impacted with the roofs, fences and even other people, crippling some and hurting others. Humans were always fragile, though they liked to appear tough.

Of course, by attacking them that meant she now wanted to be seen.

And as the humans looked at her and felt her power, a primal urge to flee awakened on them, however, her sheer power, her crushing aura, kept them in their place, brain functions paralyzed at her presence. The one on the stand took a step back at feeling her power and seeing she effectively threw a whole crowd into the air without moving a single muscle.

"A-a-a d-d-demon?!" he let out.

"Please..." Verius said with her typical smile, turning to look at him with her closed eyes, which caused the Purge Inquisitor to lose the control he had on his bladder. "You wouldn't be able to tell a demon and Spirit apart even if they paraded in front of you with signs."

The people were now taking some steps back. They could run, she didn't mind. Not that she wouldn't be able to catch them later.

Verius' eyes then opened for all present to see.

"Anyway..." suddenly, it was like all light around her died out, leaving only a dark silhouette with shining, golden eyes, a insane, slash-shaped smile and nine tails behind her back. "It's time to give peace to your hearts."

What Verius never saw was that those souls that departed were being collected by Trevnairs, the soul carrier demons, as soon as they left their bodies. One of the first things these demons did was to sever the connection between theses souls and the Heart of the World they once lived in and put them into a statis-like state for easy transport.

But Verius was never the one in charge of the living being's souls' passing and destination. That was Origin's duty. She only watched over their hearts, so why would she bother looking at the destination their souls would take or what happened with their connection to the Heart of the World once they departed?

Well, she could have, but now she simply didn't...