My burning belly wakes me up. Sickening yet so relaxing, I can't help but have a headache consume my inwards. In front of my eyes and laid down body, my phone lays flat. It makes sense why the heck my stomach is even burning in the first place.
I let the ape of Naples greet me in all of its red and white glory, but right now isn't the time for music. I don't even have headphones in my ears. Instead, my first instinct is to gaze at the gallery and explore the volley of photos: the old ones, where I was only a pre teen, to the last one, which could be summarized as photos of bad drawings.
Despite all of this, am I the same person as last time? I don't know, these photos, as insignificant as some of them are, like the one with just my thumb or the one with the completely useless list of exercises, are a part of me. I swipe the pictures, letting the little moments recollect in my head, the one time I once went to the theater or the day I tried to learn a new language.
Until I come across the image of a digital piano. No, my digital piano. The yamaha where the clicks of the piano keys were louder than the volume of the actual composition played on it. Damn it, I wish I could go back to it and play for hours and hours on end, let myself forget about this cursed world, and focus only on getting the fingering right and getting completely wrecked by the rhythm of 2/4. And yet, I was called a genius by my teacher.
Genius my ass, teacher I once had. I wasn't a genius, I was only a stubborn guy who wanted to get the money's worth of the thing and played it every single day of the week, even when tests were around the corner, but at least... I'm here, home wasn't so bad, was it? I can only recall fragments of it, so biased, so wrong, and yet a part of me…
I turn off the phone and go back to my ancient habits. My stomach may burn from the intensification of electricity, but I need more of it to bleach my mind from yesterday. I hope, at least, Maribelle (that is her name, right?) isn't suffering more or is somewhere she can escape from. Could I have done anything?
What a bunch of bullshit! You were in the assault and therefore, have responsibility for the bloodbath. Do not lie to yourself and think that you are innocent. You never were. After all, if you were innocent, you wouldn't be here, would you? Call it karma or ironic justice, you deserve the moments of havoc in your mind, of dreamless nights and physical pain. You deserve it all.
I sigh and shrug my head. This isn't going to help much. Or at all. I turn the phone on again and plug the headphones into my ears. Music will soothe my mind a bit, a distraction out of this tiring charade within myself.
But what should it be? The Good Old Halber mensch with the clash of metals, the sole rival the only Chu Ishikawa? Or Perhaps Luzifers Abschied, the sound of hell in the form of music? Nah, something more like Venereology would wake up the body more than creepy noises. Or perhaps...
The choices weigh on my mind, so much to rediscover and relisten, what a paradise in this limbo. Although, there will come a time where I will have finished everything. Will I get burned out from it? I'm worrying way too much. To even be able to listen at all is equal to a newfound joy, even if I technically had listened to all of them before.
I choose a random one. I can't afford such luxuries like being able to choose music. Reflet is a ticking time bomb, a bomb capable of destroying the whole world at any moment. Therefore, I must keep trying to speak with her no matter what. Even if I barely change her, If I can just convince her to stop making plans of destruction, then this will be a win.
It might not change the war, but at least it will be one less thing to worry about. But before such a plan can be put to practice, I must find the person in question.
With the music blaring in my head, I leave my tent and trek across the field toward the fortress once called Themis. I have no doubts the messianic have something planned for it. Someone doesn't just invade a city for no reason, after all.
Throbbing gristle blares in my ears, the fuzzy sound of the electrical instrumentation making me move my hand rhythmically. The ones, twos, threes and fours.
The name of the game/ the game of the name/ Convincing people...
The sky is filled with clouds, no sun in sight. Only the grey sky threatening to rain down on us, my pacing quickening as to avoid any possible spillover of rain to complicate my passage. My objective is the only thing in my mind. As they say back home, "Faça chuva ou faça sol"
So much so, I only realize that I have crossed the main camp. The outskirts of the fortress are coming closer to me as the music changes to something else entirely. What music are we playing now? The gates are closer and closer, how much time has passed?
The gates are wide open, barely damaged from yesterday's battle. The memory of the aftermath being the carcass of those left behind, whose pale faces contrast with the green grass. I try to shrug it off, even though my bile rises up to my throat. I gulp it and let the music serve as a panacea to solve it.
When I come across the gates, they are empty with no one in sight. Just dropped swords on the ground and lances on the stones, the place effectively abandoned. Why wouldn't they try to make at least a makeshift guard, even if only for today? But then again, the battle was only yesterday, they will put someone here soon enough.
I pass enter the city without a hitch. The so-called Themis lays bare and destroyed by us. Like from the other side of the wall, bodies pile up in the street. Carts pass around picking them up and leaving in the entrance. The ashes of wood and flesh invade my nostrils.
I stop the music and, in a dash, put my phone inside my backpack. What would happen if they discovered me having such a thing? Wouldn't they kill me? What if they believe the music I have is so heretical it justifies my death sentence? I gulp, while my hands tremble.
I somehow need to get away from them. Are they gazing at me at all? Are the little eyes of Reflet following me down this path? I run away before anyone could see me and my phone. Something or someone else creeps into my mind. I turn my head around, although the spark doesn't illuminate at any moment. I must be going mad, Reflet is the only person who perhaps can sense me, right?
My footsteps stalk the stone ground. That's the only sound reverberating in miles, after the entrance not even soldiers appear, it's just the air and me. The houses have the windows closed, wary of us, the occupiers who destroyed and maimed the place. I look around for any semblance of a person.
My surroundings lack shadows of human form, just the geometrical shapes of buildings and a cold sensation in my belly and my instinct screaming at me to run accompanying me. I turn around as if there is a stalker eyeing me, the same sensation that never ends. I look straight up ahead.
The gates of the place remain open as yesterday, pools of dry blood surrounding the entrance, the sign there was a battle in the first place. The torches illuminating only the entrance as if the void embraced the location, the journey towards the underworld. Will I escape from its influence before it's too late?
I look at my pale hands, the blue veins popping from the white-like skin. How much blood did I lose that day? The bandages on my right seeping tainted brown, more than I should have. I sigh as I enter the domain. Is this anemia or something worse? I stumble on my way toward the void.
The hallways plastered with statues are gone, only the clean square they stood above. I gaze above me, the paintings crossed with black and purple, the streaks of painting hiding the features underneath. The eyes of Grima are plastered everywhere there is a symbol of Naga or Ylisse or anything like that, marking the new administration .
Likewise, my steps played by the creaking marble haunt me. No human voice comes from anywhere, only me and the haunted remains of what we have done. There is no punishment more fitting than this, to hear the emptiness of my own making.
Light pours out from the hallway like the palace in Plegia. The roots of the corruption inside growing into the confines of the border town. I put the hood on as I walk towards the light and look at the ground. I enter and the area unfolds before my eyes.
Vandalization occured with the massive painting in the walls, where the eyes of the dukes are crossed out with black paint. Some surround it, stairs in the walls where the pictures stand in. One of them signals with his hand to go forwards, and part of them goes to the stairs.
While this happens, I see some planks in the ground and I look at what is at the top and where the basilica stands, unmolested. The painted figures are as they were yesterday, but how long will it last? Or shall this purge even succeed in the long run, not even god knows.
I gaze around, checking for any prying eye reacting to my arrival. I walk, putting my head down as the stare comes out from somewhere. I continue my walk, ignoring the piercing glare at my body. The sensation stops once I'm into the stars, but as I reach the top, I tune into the conversation.
"We captured Themis. One of the jewels of Ylisse. How did we do that?" A confused tone comes out from one of the robbed figures, gazing at the other one.
"Remember, the Vessel lead us here. Just like Validar and the Vessel said we would finish them off. It's only a matter of time until their procephy comes true. But they are still not enough, even here, there is barely enough to fill the quota." The voice states the fact coldly.
"True, true. The work has only begun," the other says in a conforming tone while shrugging his shoulders.
"Yes, and that is why we have to eliminate these damned figures from this unholy place. Now get back to work!" The man screams, pointing at the artwork, and the figure runs away from him. Not before staring back at me. I avert my gaze and gulp, passing by as if it's none of my business.
One more mistake and the rope around my neck is going to stop being figurative. Despite this setback, I must focus. Where would someone like Reflet be staying? I doubt she would go exploring that much, a Vessel's work is not the same as an explorer's. Besides, what better way to humiliate an enemy than working in the throne room that last belonged to said enemy, but that would belong to someone else as well...
Going through the corridors, I don't expect much. But life has a way to subvert the little of our expectations. Messianic people remain statics in the hallways, silent to each other, blocking the path ahead. I try to waltz between them , but they move around, always slipping off an arm or leg.
One of the slipping legs hits my foot, my face planting into the hard ground, dull pain tingling the nose. I turn my head towards the person who made me fall, they don't react nor say sorry, only glare at me. I don't whisper anything, only focus on getting up, sighing. No time to curse.
Damn it, these bastards will not allow me, right? Well… I look at the front of me, the groups moving to each side. Um, dois, três... um dois três… I move my legs, jumping when their foot goes against the ground, crouching when an arm comes.
A person slams his body against mine. My foot falters but I put my arms forth, cushioning the fall, and return to the same waltz, sweat dripping off from my forehead until that basilica comes within my sight. I look back, only a few people in the room and the corridor leading to the throne is free of them. At least, something good in a messy palace.
I take a puff of air while passing and remove the sweat from my brows as I waltz the corridors. My arms tremble, and I notice my giggle. It's so close, but can I do it? I mean, I will probably screw up. Well, it's either that or seeing the world being destroyed, right? Droga!
I reach into the vitral room's, the one leading into the throne room. I notice broken vitrals in the walls. The face of naga erased by the rocks, leaving only the void between the stone and the air. The other figures don't fare much better, the blue haired figure with his arms destroyed instead of his face. The ground is filled with broken glass.
The destruction of the art makes me cringe. I want to scream at them, this is not necessary at all, their objective isn't their destruction. But, it would be way too naive to think they wouldn't dare to do it. For the destruction may bring only humiliation and the brief moment of control. I shrug my head, I have way more important things to do than ramble about it. Sighing, I cross the room in solemn contempt until I arrive at the door.
My hand trembles at the prospect. What is inside the other room. Gangrel and his lackeys, who will throw me at the jail for not respecting his majestic assholism or the messianc inside it. I should have thought more, I guess I must bite the bullet now.
When I open it a dark grey arm comes out from it, trying to reach my face, the slight touch from the cold fingers making me walk back until I fall with my butt on the ground and my hood falls from my head. A giant man hovers from behind the doors, lowering his head to fit into the frame of the door as he comes forth and casting a shadow over me.
I look up to the person staring down at me, his eyes filled with disgust, while contorting a smile in his face. A tome is in his right hand. He doesn't lower himself to lift me up and remains still and unflinching, although I hear a low whisper from him "It hasn't changed."
Validar, the leader of the messianic, is in front of me. A monster in human form, the fanatic who will lead the world to its end. I don't gulp, I avoid his gaze like he is Medusa. Perhaps it's paranoid, but I feel like If I keep watching him I will die.
I lift myself up from the ground, trying to ignore his penetrating stare. Tension fills up my nerves, making me grit my teeth and grip my fist as to not explode and run. My sweat and belly are gelid, but I see the gap on his right. Perhaps I can pass through that gap.
I put my foot to the right and run toward the gap but it isn't enough. He puts his arm on the side, blocking my path, He creeks his head into me. No grin or anger or curiosity or anything: "What do you think you are doing?" His voice reverberates from the inception, the interrogation to begin again.
"Very simple, just going inside the throne room." A half truth is a truth nonetheless.
"You aren't allowed to do it." He doesn't stutter.
I almost open my mouth, but I shut it myself, only whispering to him and bowing to him, "Thank you."
I turn my back from him. The monster is still throwing daggers with his eyes, but I don't pay them any attention. Despite the palpitating heart and the dread pilling up in my stomach. I'm not mad enough to wish death upon myself. Nobody is that stupid. They may win today, but as goes the old saying, "live to fight another day". And I will win this war from right under their noses.
With Validar's block on the horizon, there isn't much alternative but to wait for the right moment to come and talk with her, since talking back against Validar is equivalent to suicide. I may despise myself, but I'm not suicidal enough to try to mess with the leader.
When I got back, I sensed a stare, like someone trying to watch me from every point and angle. Not thinking about being hidden from it, making me almost run in desperation. The tent now served as the safehouse where I could escape and no one would give a thought. This is now my safehouse… how little we truly change.
I calm my nerves down from the encounter, dousing myself in some songs, humming to the tunes like a practicing musician, savoring every small detail. The instruments like the keyboard in which the sharp chords mix with the droning, the whispering voice that sounds more like it's talking than singing, the not so subtle lyrics, but blunt in a good way.
Little ghost boy let you be my human toy. Death is an illusion. How much I have missed you, how much I have lost from not listening to you, . Despite the contents, I try to dance and make little steps with my legs in rhythmical form. I will be honest, I probably look like a weirdo.
The music is the form that compliments the word. I may have lived in here without the music, but recapturing this little notes, peace takes a hold on me. A part of my being reincarnating,now they can coexist with each other, the books and the music. W
I try to dance away, my mind only focuses on the act. The broken and distorded sound, a relief from this life of messianic hante. The harshness of it serves as a piece to recover me from this place. This is heaven, the rhythm soothing us in this experimental weirdness.
Then the gaze comes back with all forces. Droga! Justamente quando a melhor parte iria ocorrer caramba! I stop the music, pick up the dagger from the backpack and hid it in the cape. It seems a lot of things will not let me have my peace in the end. I get away from the tent, readying my sight for anyone who comes close to me. And, unfortunately, I'm correct.
A tall woman looks down from the outside, a tome in her hands, cringing as she stares down at me. White hair like Reflet, but not pale like her. Tattoos cover her face and torso, revealing clothes of the messianc sect, making me look like the modest one. Aversa.
"Hello." I bow to her, closing my eyes in deference. If I perhaps can avoid any conflict right now, it will allow me to buy some time to survive this mess. "Why did you come here? I barely have anything of interest to you. Unless somehow you are interested in the tent." Stalling the conversation, may be not a good idea, then again it's not like everyday you meet the person whose wrist was broken... because of you.
"No, I'm not interested in such small things. But I have come here to discuss."
Hmm…
"Sure,go on. Do you prefer the tent or outside?"
"Neither option is important, and you know it. So don't waste both of our time with such frivolity."
"Outside, a good choice. So what is it you so desperately want to talk about with me?" I ask while ignoring her gaze and instead focusing on the tome.
"Matters about the Vessel." She approaches me, making me go backwards to not let her reach me.
"Ah, you mean Reflet. Is she doing fine?" I reply, chirping.
"Do you mean the Vessel? If that is the case, I will say she is fine. Doing better than ever, but there are some people pestering her with useless matters that are beyond asinine. Do you understand?" She spits her words, the tome still not in action.
"Oh I understand that. The battle plans to destroy Ylisse, the war's goal and such. Yes, I know them very well."
She stops moving, and refocuses her attention on the tome.
"...You aren't supposed to know, but I can let it slide. You just need to cease talking with her from now on. She doesn't need to attend to the matter of someone so insignificant as a foreigner."
Mocking by exaggerating my accent. I frown for a little bit, but go back to faking a smile. "Cease talking with Reflet? Yeah, I think you are overstepping your line here. You know she is an adult, that it is her choice, right? I'm not even the one who started. She waltzed into the library when I was reading and the rest is history"
"You don't understand. She may have begun, but you are going to cease. Do not meet her anymore, avoid her. Do that and you can go unschated. No violence shall occur to you." She pulls the tome in her face, still looking at me.
"Well, I doubt it will make you think. But do you think someone as powerful as her will care for any rule you make for her?"
"She may not, but it doesn't give you any right to speak with her. You, someone who barely speaks in Plegian."
"And what makes you think you, Validar or anyone from here have any power over her? What gives you the right to stop her from doing what she wants? Shouldn't you understand that she can do the things that she wants and not what Validar wants?"
Her face strains, contorting into a growl. I tap my foot in the ground and my hands tremble. I begin to breathe in and out, I can't let anxiety take over me.
"Shut up!" she screams. "Who do you think you are giving moral lessons about control? You don't know our history together, what makes you think that you can judge it!?"
"I may not know your relationship with her perhaps, but you are best friends with her. Don't you think that maybe you are hurting her by allowing her to be the Vessel and only that? To see your sister as nothing more than that rather than as a person, isn't that a little sickening?"
Her hands pulsate magical energy in the air, My heart palpites as I gulp, trying to calm myself, my body getting ready to run.
Her voice cracks for a bit. "Cease your words! I should have killed you when you were talking with her! What are your final words?!"
I laugh nervously, twitching while she asks confused "What is so funny about it? Or do you care so little about your life?"
"Threats, threats. Where have I heard of this before? Go on kill me already! It isn't hard, you know, just a cast from your spellbook and I will be history. But then again, I'm not the one who is going to suffer from this and you know it."
A brief instant later, the energy sinks down and she refuses to look at me, turning her back around. "Don't think so highly of yourself, you will know the truth very soon. And all of your prosperous thoughts about the Vessel will cease to exist."
She leaves me alone, the tense air disappearing, although the paranoia still remains. I go back to my tent, with my eyes always on my back. There is never a time to rest.
After all the mess of that situation, the simple task of talking with the Vessel was made much harder than finding a needle in a haystack. I must often wonder why. Why I didn't make any plans earlier. Why I kept myself in this state of lethargy where I made my objectives impossible to achieve while at the same time betraying my own intentions at a moment's notice.
In the library, I promised that I would change myself for my objectives, to fulfil them at every single turn, and instead here I am, staying in my tent. My actions have truly begun only now, with the war drums banging up at an all time high, while I try to extinguish a fire that already went out of control a long time ago, my own laziness responsible for destroying any chances of a peaceful resolution, believing it could be a single thing, even if I didn't lift ae finger and kept reading my books as If that was capable of letting me go back home.
Sadly, any chances for me to speak with Reflet today are zero to none. Aversa and Validar are going to kill me when the opportunity arises, but perhaps, there is a way in there that doesn't get me by their sights.
What could it be, what could it be?
The sound of steps makes me look behind, with the time at hand, the Flux is already charged. In front of me, the raven haired dark mage stands with a frown, almost looking down on me.
I break the silence, "Why are you here?"
Tharja lowers her hands slowly, the intent clear within my mind. I disperse the Flux, putting the tome down, but still wide open. She is maybe another agent of the messianic sect, I can't put my defense down when what remains is the enemy in my sight. Even if it stands with a familiar but hated face.
I sigh. "Do you prefer to sit or do you prefer to remain upright?"
"That isn't important, Gabriel."
Huh, almost the same words as Aversa. "I see, please answer my question. Why. Are. You. Here?" I say every word with anger on my tongue, losing almost control of myself.
Her reactions remain the same, just the same old tired frown. "You are deep into it, Gabriel. And yet, you are alive."
Of course, the inner members are going to notice when an item is out of place, huh.
"Yes, that is an obvious fact. You only came here to say that to my face? Don't you have
more important things than speaking with me? Like hexing people or something like that?"
She remains calm, but her frown grows, turning almost into a growl. "Yes, I do Gabriel. The more important things than speaking with you part. But… I don't think you are seeing the same problem I do. You could just stay away from this, away from this danger. And yet, you threw yourself into the deep end of this, when it was none of your business."
"Tharja, aren't you forgetting something? Remember that I was only meant to be sacrificed for your family. You were involved in this, yet when I want to know the truth, to know the details that matter, you people come and try to stop me."
For the first time, Tharja growls, coming closer to my face. "You have discovered this. That part you already know. So why do you keep going inside of it!? Don't you see that it is a viper's nest!? You don't need to get any closer, you already discovered the truth! Or do you value your life so little that you think gazing at the truth is worth your life?"
The words sting at my face. "Yes, I don't care much about my life, Tharja. You know how worthless I am, and If I were to die, then it would be better for the world."
For the first time in a while, her eyes open wide, only for her to lower her head and whisper to herself, although I don't catch the words.
I continue into my pointless rant. "But there is a person stuck in there and I want to get them out of it, no matter what."
Tharja lifts her head, frowning. "You mean the Vessel."
"You are on their side, right? So you are like Aversa from earlier. Do I even need to have the same conversation as her?"
At first, Tharja becomes confused but she spits back at me. "No, I'm not. I may believe in the Vessel, Gabriel, but please don't bring yourself into danger anymore. We are in a war after all, and you are only bringing yourself closer to the grave more than necessary."
I sigh. "Sorry, but I fear that there isn't any other way. So please, don't try to stop me. I already have made so many mistakes in my life, in my world, in this world. Just please, let me correct my mistakes."
Tharja remains emotionless with it. "If that is your wish. I will be going now. Just like you said, hexes are more important right now."
With that, I'm left alone. That may be my own hubris talking, but at this point I need to get her to stop the madness before it is too late. But Tharja's words weigh on my mind like an anvil.
Don't care about your life? Fuck, I'm being way too selfish again, huh? What makes you think that your life has any meaning, beyond being a psycho? You are hurting people by your own martyr complex. Don't you see, Gabriel? In the end, mother is always right. You only make more drama and nothing of worth. Truly, a waste of space and breath.
The morning comes like all others, unchanging as always. But the sun doesn't come up from the sky, stuck in this flick flock of madness with the clouds. Almost as if rain is coming down on me. The tent served almost as my own defense against the probable raindrops. Like usual, hunger strikes back. I leave on my way toward my meal.
Tharja's words are still weighing inside my mind. "Or do you value your life so little?" A headache as always, how many weeks have passed after that day? One, two, or even three? Nobody knows, even with the smartphone. It seems even the dates are blurrying right now. This is the date 23, right? But it is 19. Or perhaps neither. The migraines get worse from it.
I go toward the castle, every small attempt isn't a wasted opportunity in the end. After all, even if for a single second, I can maybe convince her, right? Right? I shrug the thoughts, I need to make it work or else? The city remains empty, perhaps even emptier than usual. The stares gone for the day. Not sense of sharpness comes on me, just myself walking down from the streets, not even a single grimleal. The entrance remains empty, no soldiers or guards on watch, the place almost stuck in time. The wooden platforms remain there.
Even in the central area, only the sounds of my footsteps exist, going toward the same path. The crack on the floor, and the glass windows painted in black and purples, the eyes of grime in exchange for naga, but for a moment, I open the door to the throne room. Even with the snapping of the door, the silence remains the sovereign of the situation, seeing only the throne in front of me, but nobody on it.
A change of situation for once. But it leads to perhaps a way worse question. Where is everybody? Something wrong is happening in the first place. What is it? I run back toward the gates in a daze and then toward the walls. Something bad is happening, my senses are tingling from it. Crossing the stones, passing through the empty place, where only blood from the battle remains, but after some time during which only I can hear my steps, I see soldiers with bows ready for an attack outside. Our army is front and center. Another march. Why didn't they wake me up? I see a reflection in front of it, There she is! I waste no time, like a bullet I run from the locale, returning from the same route and circumventing the fortress.
My steps get slower as sweat comes to my brow. What is happening? Then Reflet gazes at me, while I sneak my way to the dark mage. Henry looks down at me, while Tharja remains indifferent. "We got some reports about a situation. It seems that-''
Before Reflet can finish the sentence, a march is heard. Thunderous war cries coming from the hills in front of us, and with it a man standing in front of them. Blue haired and with a sword in his hand. The Shepherds have come, to reclaim what is theirs and to pay what we are due. Who is going to win the pile of potatoes?
Well, this was another chapter of the fic. First of all, I must apologize for the bad quality of the last chapter. It seems that people didn't really enjoy and I can't blame them, after all, you can't win every single time. I hope this chapter was better than the last one, but I don't really know, in the end, it's up to you to decide not me.
Well, this will be the last chapter that I release this year. I'm working hard to finish the second arc in the meantime. There is a lot of stuff ahead and I hope it's worth the wait for everyone. But once it finishes, the third and last arc will not take as long to make as this one. this year was a complete mess to me, hope the next year is better than this one, because this one felt like a wasted year.
Anyways, thanks everyone for reading and special thanks to Cavik for keeping beta reading this fic. Reviews are always appreciated. Hope you have a great Christmas or Hanukkah or whatever holiday people commemorate at the end of the year and a great new year!
lastly, there is a server in discord where I participate alongside other writers and readers. Feel free to join. Here is the link, discord . gg / 9XG3U7a
DannyPhantom619: Hope this chapter has answered this. But if it didn't, sorry for the bad writing first. But his objective right now is to make Reflet not destroy the world, but he still wants to get home somehow.
2010si: Glad you liked his first victory, although I wouldn't put him as Reflet's terminator, there is way more effective people than him. Glad that you liked the introspections, although Gabriel would disagree hard on him changing as a person, more than anything else, he feels stuck. I see, I'm surprised that you were surprised, then again, I write Gabriel. Thanks for the kind message, got over Final so I'm free to write again. Well… A lot of people died, but I guess you can always try the next time.
Galeiam: I doubt you are going to read this, but here I go. Well, Gabriel freaked out because everything he has planned in his head is lost, and he has no idea how to cope with it. in the second part, there is no clone robin. There is only Reflet, basically don't take this as the awakening timeline and more of it's own timeline without future children and all of that jazz. Hope this has answered your questions.