Chapter 31
In the meantime, Rosette was dreaming a psychological kind of dream where she was inside a train cabin sitting beside the passengers. "Snow? When did I start to wait here? Everything here seems to be rather vague. Whether it is the passing of time, or the boundary between heaven and earth? Even the boundary between life and death?" Rosette thought to herself deeply and anxiously while looking out of the window. The snow was falling as the train passed by a field filled with an array of crosses. While looking through the window with a long, confused look, Rosette thought "I don't feel anything. My anxiety and regrets should still make me feel uneasy, but I am already indifferent! Up ahead is the final station, the end of the story." Just then, a male train clerk opened the cabin door and walked straight in. "Excuse me miss, can you please show me your train ticket!" The young black haired train clerk demanded and Rosette searched her pocket for it. "I'm sorry sir, I don't have one! I don't even recall when I got on board." Rosette apologetically said to the gentleman as she then got out a picture showing a portrait of herself, Azmaria, Satella, Maria and Chrono. "The cost of the fare for this train is your life story. Please tell me, what sort of life did you lead?" The guy curiously asked while slightly lifting his hat. "My life? It seems like I was always running. My brother Joshua was kidnapped. In order to find him, I persistently searched everywhere. Since I was always running, I was so tired. However, I continued to run regardless of what the outcome might have been." Rosette explained in a somewhat nostalgic manner. "It must have been difficult for you." The man commented. "Actually, it wasn't difficult at all! Because I tried my hardest, I was finally able to get my brother back! For that, I'm very satisfied now!" Rosette answered contently while slightly chuckling at the man's comment. "Alright then, I wish you a happy journey!" The young man said to her as he started to make his way out of the cabin. "While the world never stops turning, you have already tried your hardest. The final destination is a very nice place. It will allow you to finally get a good rest!" The train clerk explained to Rosette and left the cabin. "Is that so? Then I won't need to rush anymore!" Rosette thought to herself in a relieved yet disconnected tone. "I've given it my all. Now I have arrived!" Rosette thought conclusively. "So, that's the way it is Joshua. The world keeps on going. Even if I'm not there, it will still keep on going." Rosette thought to herself while looking at the field from the window. When night time came, the snow had fallen heavily onto the ground and while looking out of the window Rosette heard a female voice call out "Rosette." Rosette heard the voice and turned her head around. She saw a young hooded woman dressed as the Virgin Mary sitting right on the other side of the cabin in front of her. "Who are you?" Rosette curiously asked the mysterious lady. "Are you really satisfied?" The young lady critically asked. "What are you saying? Of course I'm satisfied! For four years, I didn't stop running. In the end, it was all worth it since I was able to get my beloved brother back. Because of that, I am satisfied!" Rosette explained to the lady defensively as she couldn't believe what the woman just asked her. "You are lying to yourself. In reality, you are afraid of the truth!" The lady said as she wasn't convinced by what Rosette told her. "How am I lying? What right do you have to say this to me? I've already tried my hardest! Why are you saying this to me? Everything has come to an end, so it makes no difference!" Rosette angrily said at the young woman as she continued to deny that she wasn't yet completely content. "If that's true, then why do you keep looking out of the window? Who are you looking for?" The young lady calmly yet curiously asked which suddenly made Rosette realize something about herself that she hadn't realized until now. She then looked out the window once again and saw Chrono in his demon form standing right out in the cold, snowy field. Rosette immediately dashed out of the cabin room and began to run across the hallway of the train. "Even though my journey was very hard, it wasn't all hardships, because there was one other person who was always by my side!" Rosette thought to herself strongly as she opened the door that led her outside on the observation deck. She looked straight at the snowy field perplexed. "Chrono is not here. It looks like I came here alone!" Rosette said in a disappointed tone. She slowly began to kneel down onto the deck with her hands holding the deck's rail while the wind howled strongly like that of a blizzard. "The reason why I came here alone is because I'm already dead." Rosette said in a quiet, broken tone as she faced the cruel realization of the situation. "No, I don't want to die! There's still so much I want to say. There's still so much I want you to help me accomplish. I don't want to be apart from you Chrono!" Rosette yelled out and began to sob out of despair while the veiled lady walked her way towards her. "The one who is most important to me is Chrono! He was always there for me and he never once gave up on me!" Rosette sobbed in despair while tears flew heavily down onto her face. The fact that Rosette felt she couldn't be with Chrono again emotionally devastated her as she continued crying her heart out. After many minutes have passed, Rosette wiped her tears away and looked straight ahead again at the snowy field. Once Rosette's tears had completely dried away, she took the seal watch from her neck and looked at it indecisively. "Are you leaving now?" The woman asked Rosette once she stepped outside onto the deck from behind her. "Will this be hard? To start walking back now, there isn't much time anymore!" Rosette thought to herself deeply and with hesitation. She began to climb onto the rails and turned around towards the veiled woman with her arms spread out. "After a while, you will eventually fade away and return here. Do you still want to go back?" The woman curiously and critically asked Rosette. Rosette looked at the veiled woman with a bittersweet look on her face and with an intensely emotional voice she answered "Yes! Even so, I still want to go!" Rosette then jumped off of the deck rail and spread out her arms and legs in a lying position and closed her eyes. Just then, the snowy field had suddenly changed into a blank dimension in which Mary Magdalene's nude spirit appeared in front of Rosette which took her by surprise. "That's right, because you are still alive!" Mary Magdalene said to her in a calm, whispery tone as she offered her hand to Rosette. It was then that Rosette had figured out that the veiled woman who was talking to her on the train was actually Mary Magdalene. "It is you Mary Magdalene! You were always here by our side. You were always protecting us." Rosette said as she came to the realization that Mary Magdalene was the one who was always watching over her, Chrono and the others at the Magdalene Order as well as Maria. Mary Magdalene smiled warmly at Rosette and gently said "Let us go back to be by the side of the person we both love!"
Rosette took Mary Magdalene's hand and within a moment later, she woke up. As she slowly lifted herself up from the ground, Rosette saw that she has been taken to the organ room back in Eden. "I can't believe it. I've actually made it back!" Rosette said to herself in disbelief while looking at her hands. "Rosette, thank God you are okay!" Chrono said in an intensely emotional voice and began to hug Rosette dearly. "So, my healing powers have worked after all! Thanks to them, Rosette's consciousness has finally returned!" Maria said with joyous relief while the seven Apostles were watching Chrono embracing Rosette. "I've come back Chrono! While I was dreaming, I met Mary Magdalene. We even held hands together!" Rosette emotionally explained while tears were falling down onto her face. "So you have?" Chrono asked while tears had also filled up his eyes. "This truly is a miracle! I have never been so happy! Please don't ever leave me again!" Chrono said happily while sounding as if he could cry at any moment out of joy. Chrono turned his head around and looked at Maria. "Thank you Maria! Without your healing powers, Rosette would have surely been dead by now. How can I ever repay you for such a miracle?" Chrono thanked gratefully to Maria and she then smiled at him. "Chrono, you really are quite the soft hearted one, aren't you?" Maria commented amused as she could clearly see that Chrono's love for Rosette was extremely strong. Azmaria and Joshua looked at Chrono and Rosette with huge satisfaction and relief and Azmaria began to become teary as well. Just then, Joshua heard a loud rumbling noise from outside which alarmed him. "What's happening?" Joshua curiously asked. Pandemonium began to slowly collapse as the outer part of it had began to break apart. "It appears that Pandemonium is breaking up." The blonde haired girl Apostle monotonously revealed which made all of them deeply shocked. "If the demon matter continues to spread, it will poison the whole world!" The blond haired boy Apostle explained while lifting his glasses. "Since Pandemonium failed to take possession of the holy woman's body and instead possessed the body of an ordinary human, it had no choice but to self destruct. When that happens, all of humanity will cease to exist!" The short brown haired Apostle girl explained. "This is because the core has now been completely destroyed. Nothing can stop it now!" The kimono wearing Apostle explained conclusively. "How can this be? There has to be a way out of this." Azmaria shouted out in desperation while Rosette patted her shoulder. "There's still a way! If someone can reach the core, they can stop it." Rosette explained calmly to Azmaria once she turned around towards her. "What are you saying Rosette?" Azmaria asked and Rosette took her hand off of her shoulder. "I've decided to go!" Rosette said determinedly and decisively. "What? Are you crazy Rosette?" Joshua asked out of disbelief. "I saw everything in regards to Pandemonium's memories! If I can reach the core, I can probably think of a way to control it." Rosette confidently explained as she was loading her gun with a few bullets while Chrono approached her from behind. "I know that even if I tried to stop you, you would still go. I'm coming with you. Let me accompany you along this path!" Chrono stated as he gladly offered Rosette his support. "Joshua, please take care of Azmaria and the others. I assure you that Rosette will definitely come back!" Chrono instructed Joshua while simultaneously insuring Rosette's safety. Joshua then gritted his teeth and with an uneasy look on his face said with a strong voice "It's a deal! Now hurry!" Rosette and Chrono started to run their way out of the rumbling room but abruptly stopped when Joshua shouted out "Wait Chrono." "Yes Joshua, what is it?" Chrono asked. "I'm sorry for having called you a monster. Just take good care of my sister!" Joshua apologetically said while Rosette looked at her brother with a huge confident smile. "Don't worry Joshua! I'll be alright, I promise!" Rosette said to Joshua and she along with Chrono began running out of the room while Pandemonium continued to crumble. "Joshua, are you sure Rosette and Chrono will be okay?" Azmaria worriedly asked. "I really hope so Azmaria. I really do!" Joshua said in a worried tone. Chrono and Rosette were running for several minutes across the halls of Eden until they finally reached the edge of it. Right in front of Eden was Pandemonium, which continued to crumble. "It looks like we finally made it! Soon we will be able to reach Pandemonium's core and stop it once and for all!" Rosette commented while breathing heavily. "Are you alright Rosette?" Chrono asked as he could see that the nonstop running was slowly starting to make Rosette tired. "I'm fine! I always seem to be running anyways, so it doesn't make much of a difference." Rosette assured Chrono. "That's good to hear!" Chrono said in relief. "I want us to run together. I want to run with you forever Chrono!" Rosette said in a hopeful tone and continued running on the stair passage way right towards Pandemonium. Chrono abruptly stopped running which took Rosette completely by surprise and she stopped as well. "Chrono what's wrong? Why did we stop?" Rosette asked concerned. Chrono turned around and looked at Rosette with a sad look on his face as he knew what he must say to her. "I'm sorry Rosette, but I have to settle things alone. I believe that once we get there, things will not turn out well." Chrono started to explain to Rosette in a disappointed tone. "What are you saying? That is why I can't let you go there alone Chrono!" Rosette shouted at him since she couldn't believe what Chrono was actually telling her. "It's not just that! Up ahead, there are too many demons and I won't be able to properly protect you. If I go alone, there might be a chance for me to come back alive!" Chrono started explaining his reason for not wanting Rosette to accompany him in reaching Pandemonium's core. "Besides, Aion is also most likely at the core. This battle is between brothers. No matter what, I need to settle things with him." Chrono continued explaining. "Are you saying I'll get in the way? I don't want to be separated from you anymore Chrono!" Rosette shouted at him as tears began to fill her eyes since she couldn't imagine losing him now. Chrono walked towards Rosette and started hugging her and touched her face gently. "Don't worry Rosette! No matter what I have decided, I will always be by your side! I will definitely come back for you and I intend to make that a promise!" Chrono said to her optimistically and started to make his leave. He flew away towards the right at Pandemonium. Rosette watched Chrono take off and tried to smile despite the fact that she was clearly sad. "Chrono, whatever happens, please come back safely!" Rosette desperately tried to hold back the tears in her eyes that had begun to intensify. "In another twenty seconds, the barrier will have reached its limit! There's no way we'll get near it." Sister Claire reported from her headphones. The Magdalene Order had set up a barrier across their entire air force as a way to prevent having their bodies corrode from the toxins that Pandemonium had released in the air. "Wait a minute! The demon matter has stopped spreading! The spirit energy is increasing tremendously! Is the center the enemy's weak spot?" Sister Claire reported to Sister Kate who all of a sudden witnessed a huge amount of bright energy flowing through the sky that was coming from Eden. Back at the organ chamber, all of the seven Apostles called upon their wings and their powers to activate the Astral Line. They intended to use it to surround Pandemonium which would inevitably weaken the core significantly in the process. Such a task proved to be quite overwhelming for all of the Apostles as they were using the last of their remaining powers to help weaken Pandemonium and to stop the demon matter from spreading further. "Whatever happens, I do hope that all of our efforts were not for nothing in the end." Maria said with uncertainty while using her own powers to support the Apostles. As the Apostles continued to use their last ounce of powers, The Astral Line flowed directly towards Pandemonium and surrounded her entire surface. "I don't believe it. Pandemonium is being surrounded by the Astral Line." Father Remington commented in disbelief with what he was seeing. "Look, it's heading towards space." Storm Valerie said as he pointed at the Astral Line while another exorcist agent was holding his arm around his shoulder. Meanwhile, Shader was in the control room where she saw the Astral Line surrounding Pandemonium. She was now transformed into her demon form dressed in a tube top that exposed the cleavage as well as a long skirt exposing the side of her legs. "Thank you all Apostles! I will have Eden separate from Pandemonium! I wish you all good luck for your safe return to the surface of the earth!" Shader wished the best for all the Apostles as she deep down knew that they, the Sinners had ultimately failed in their dream for freedom from Pandemonium.
In the meantime, Chrono had finally reached the altar room on Pandemonium which had been destroyed while he was battling Aion. Chrono saw Aion sitting on the stairs while holding Pandemonium's head and he assumed that Aion was waiting for him. "So, you've came Chrono. Without my sword, I feel pretty ill." Aion commented at Chrono while he looked at his brother with a serious look. "So, you bore this suffering for the last fifty five years. Isn't that right, Chrono?" Aion asked his brother in a somewhat grudging tone. "That woman, is she the one?" Chrono curiously asked as he was referring to Pandemonium's head. "Yes, she is Pandemonium's core replacement, the unturned human Lilith who is our biological mother!" Aion revealed which definitely surprised Chrono as he was never told of that fact before. "Aion, what are you talking about? Are you saying that Pandemonium was our mother?" Chrono asked in disbelief. "Exactly, you of all demons should have known that. Ten thousand years ago, Pandemonium had crashed onto the earth's surface as it was its final destination after leaving its original home for over 376 days. Along the way, something unusual has occurred within the core. While Pandemonium was in the process of landing, the pressure from the barrier shields shattered the surface, and the core began to experience a malfunction which meant that Pandemonium was unable to proceed along its course and thus had sunk to the bottom of the sea." Aion began to explain Pandemonium's origins. "What does this have anything to do with Pandemonium being our birth mother?" Chrono suspiciously asked. "I am just getting to that! After Pandemonium had failed to land on the surface, The Elder had found out that maintaining the system would be extremely difficult by just relying on non-essential tuned demons. Since they have lost their bestowed leader, three million of the yet unfrozen noble class had been destroyed. From that day forward, the Elders had decided to shield all information from the public and at the same time to restrain the public in order to maintain the system. It was then that a core replacement was needed, and the Elders started kidnapping young women in order to keep Pandemonium alive. Every time a human host died off, a new female host would have to be found to replace the previous one. The last victim was already pregnant with the both of us by the time she was brought here. After she eventually had been turned into the core replacement for Pandemonium, she then became the mother of a whole new generation of demons." Aion finished explaining the history of Pandemonium. "So what you're saying is that we both have some human blood in us?" Chrono asked intrigued. "Yes. Actually it doesn't matter whether you knew this or not. It's just that I was thinking of at least to let you know on what happened on that coming of age ceremony of mine." Aion answered while at the same time seeming indifferent to Chrono's knowledge on the subject. "Aion, don't tell me that you actually have tried to access Pandemonium's core at that time?" Chrono asked in a surprised, shocked tone. "Why so shocked? This is nothing more than a container for Pandemonium! The truth is that Lilith died a long time ago while giving birth to us. As you should know, the dead cannot demand. To continue moving forward is the purpose of living. Isn't that how it is?" Aion asked while telling Chrono a saying that he had told him fifty four years ago which quickly jogged Chrono's memory. "No matter who it is, not having to rely on others, and being able to reign over the world's end. The system tightly controls humanity, strips them of freedom, and the strength of their wings to fly. Government, religion, society, whether it be God or the Devil himself, it's all just a creation of someone's imagination. All of this is nothing more but a method for binding humanity to society. That is what I hate the most!" Aion said bitterly as he tried to justify his goals and actions. "So that was your main motive to bring about the world's end and to draw in the entire world, sacrificing everything?" Chrono asked. "That's right, unfortunately now it's come to this. I wonder where did it all go wrong?" Aion sighed and lamented on his failure to accomplish his goal. "Rosette Christopher, that girl is not someone I had anticipated. Who would have thought that a brat like her would have appeared?! She is just a mere human, a worthless being who is only part of this cycle of life and death, whose soul will disappear someday. Who would have thought that she would ruin everything I was trying to accomplish for all these years?!" Aion again lamented on his failed goals, blaming Rosette for the reason why his dream goals had failed. "Aion, it is because of Rosette that I'm able to continue fighting! It is because of her that we are here now. That is why I wish to create a future for her!" Chrono said to Aion optimistically as he was facing him while Aion laughed out of amusement. "Is that so? In that case, this here will be our world's end. Because of our opposing objectives, that is why we will finish it here." Aion said as he then prepared for their final battle by transforming his hand into a sword with Chrono also doing the same. "Rosette, I want to help create your future and the future of the world that you live in as well!" Chrono thought to himself determinedly. As the two brothers were prepared to battle each other one last time, Shader was standing by the room entrance and watched the two charging at each other. The cat demon had a bad and worried feeling that their last battle will end with one of them getting killed. In the meantime, Rosette was still at the place where Chrono left her as she was kneeling down and looking at the sky in front of her while wiping her tears away. "Rosette!" Azmaria, Joshua and Maria shouted her name while they were running towards her. The trio stopped running and saw that Rosette was emotionally down. None of the three knew what happened that made Rosette so unresponsive all of a sudden. Maria slowly walked towards Rosette and patted her shoulder as she then asked "Rosette, what happened? Why are you crying?" Rosette slowly stood up from the ledge and with a mildly sad tone, revealed "Chrono is gone!" Such news had shocked Azmaria as she never would have thought that Chrono would leave Rosette all of a sudden. "What? Chrono is gone? How can this be? Chrono would never willingly leave you alone, especially at a time like this." Azmaria stated confused. "It's okay Azmaria! We made a promise! He said that for my sake and for us, he will create our future. But, if there is only me alone in my future, how does that help?" Rosette explained while trying to accept the situation at hand. Azmaria walked closer to Rosette and leaned herself on her as she was on the verge of crying. Rosette turned around, placed her hands on Azmaria's shoulders and with a gentle voice explained "Azmaria, there is no reason for you to be sad over this. It doesn't matter if it's ten years, fifty years, I will continue to wait for him! Because Chrono said that he would definitely return! Furthermore, I made that promise to him." Azmaria however, could not help but bring herself to cry heavily as the situation of Chrono being gone was just too much for her to emotionally bear. She then gave Rosette a huge hug as a sign of sympathy for her. "Azmaria, it's okay! I can assure you that Chrono will return one day, I am sure of it!" Rosette tried to assure Azmaria who was still crying. "You really think so Rosette?" Azmaria emotionally asked. "Yes Azmaria, I do!" Rosette calmly confirmed and Azmaria then began wiping her tears away. "Alright, let's go home! There's still a bunch of things we need to do!" Rosette decided as she then lifted her arms up in the air while the other five Apostles had successfully reached them. "Look Rosette, the other Apostles have reached us!" Joshua told Rosette as she turned around and looked at them. "So, you're coming with us to the Magdalene Order I assume?" Rosette asked as she knew that was most likely the case. "That's right. We have nowhere else left to go now since the Sinners have clearly failed in their destructive goals. Assuming that one of the Magdalene Order's roles is to help people in need and for those who have nowhere to turn to, all five of us have decided to come with you four!" The blonde haired Apostle girl explained. "That's great to hear! We were actually thinking of taking you five to the Magdalene Order anyways! Considering it's a church organization, it is a perfect sanctuary for those who have nowhere else to go!" Rosette said gladly to the girl. "Rosette, look up ahead. I think it's someone who we know." Maria told Rosette as she looked at a severely injured young red haired woman carrying another young woman with short black hair dressed in maid clothing. Rosette took a closer look at the two women and as the red haired lady walked closer to them, she recognized Satella and her sister Fiore. "Oh my God! Satella, what happened to you?" Rosette yelled in a shocked tone. She ran towards her as she saw Satella barely able to walk. Satella slowly lifted her head up and looked at Rosette and the others. She said with a weak tone "Rosette, I can see that the Sinners have finally lost! For that I am glad, and I am also happy that Azmaria and the other Apostles are alright along with Maria!" "Satella!" Azmaria shouted her name while she was running towards her. "Halo mein liebekind. It's been a while now!" Satella weakly said while trying to catch her breath. "Satella, it appears that you are severely wounded. What happened to you?" Azmaria asked in a shocked tone while commenting on Satella's wounded state. "I impaled myself along with my sister Florette since there was no hope in bringing her back." Satella exhaustedly explained. "What do you mean? You're not saying that Fiore is dead?" Joshua asked confused as he could see that Fiore was not responding at all. "Yes, I stabbed her with her weapon at the same time I stabbed myself. For some reason I couldn't reach out to her." Satella continued explaining in a sad, broken tone. "Azmaria." Satella called out her name. "Yes Satella, what is it?" Azmaria asked. "Although my time is now up, please sing me one of your songs for one last time." Satella pleaded as she then fell down onto the ground. Azmaria at first was hesitant to sing for Satella since seeing her on the verge of death was too much for her to emotionally bear.
Nevertheless, she began singing in a sad, choir like voice "Lo he comes with cloud descending, once for favored sinners slain. Thousand saints attending, Swell the triumph of his train. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, God appears on Earth to reign, God appears on Earth to reign. Those dear tokens of His passion, Still His dazzling body bears; Cause of endless exultation, To His ransomed worshippers; With what rapture, With what rapture, With what rapture, Gaze we on those glorious scars! Gaze we on those glorious scars." While Azmaria was singing, Satella felt much at ease. She closed her eyes in peace, knowing that she will die with her sister by her side. Once Azmaria had stopped singing, she looked at Satella's body and with a broken voice called out. "Satella!" Satella however did not answer as she had died while Azmaria was singing to her. "No, this can't be. Satella, answer me!" Azmaria sadly begged Satella as she lifted her body up and looked at her face. Tears began to flow down Azmaria's face since it became clear to her that Satella had now died in peace. Azmaria hugged Satella's body tightly and with an extremely sad, broken voice, cried out in despair "Nooooooooooooo!" Meanwhile, Chrono and Aion's battle was becoming somewhat intense as they continued to fight with their sword transformed hands as Aion abruptly flew away. "Huh, where did he go?" Chrono asked surprised as Aion took the opportunity to abruptly strike at him and cut his right arm off. His arm started to bleed heavily as Chrono screamed out of deep pain as he then fell down to the ground. "It appears that you have let your guard down Chrono. How disappointing, to think that you are almost as powerful as I am and yet you've allowed yourself to be maimed like this." Aion said in a sarcastic yet disappointed tone while walking towards the maimed Chrono who was still lying on the ground. Aion grabbed Chrono by his neck and lifted his body straight up. With a sinister smile he said "This is the end Chrono! It is now time to put an end to your misery." Just as Aion was about to impale Chrono right in his stomach, Chrono suddenly grabbed Aion's sword transformed hand. Such an abrupt act on Chrono's part had taken Aion completely by surprise as he didn't expect him to have the strength to even strike back. Just then, Aion's arm began to freeze into stone as Chrono had used his time freezing powers on him. "No, this can't be! Chrono, what have you done?" Aion asked in horror since he could not believe that his body was actually in the process of being frozen into stone. "You've underestimated my strength Aion! Even if I am badly maimed, I will defeat you one way or another." Chrono calmly explained to his older brother. "You bastard!" Aion cursed angrily at him. "Die, Aion!" Chrono shouted out determinedly as he further activated his time freezing powers on Aion's body which made the process of it turning into stone much faster. Aion started to scream in agony while his body continued to transform into stone rapidly. Within just a few moments later, Aion stopped screaming as his body was now completely frozen into stone. Shader was totally shocked and speechless with what she was seeing. Chrono then ripped Aion's frozen hand which was still around his neck and charged at his stoned body. Chrono quickly lifted up his remaining arm and scratched Aion's stoned body with his claws. Aion's body began to crack to the point that his entire body broke into a thousand pieces onto the ground while dust had then accumulated around Chrono which caused him to cough. Once the gusty dust had disappeared, Chrono stopped coughing and saw Shader walking slowly towards Aion's remains. As she reached his remains, she knelt down to the floor and asked Chrono with an overly emotional voice "I guess it's all over for us now, isn't it Chrono?" "What do you mean Shader?" Chrono asked. "Since Aion is now dead, our goal of accomplishing our dream for freedom is ruined! And it's all because of you Chrono!" Shader answered in despair while clearly blaming Chrono for the Sinners loss. Just then, Shader broke out into sadness as she began to cry heavily at the fact that the Sinners could never have gained their freedom from Pandemonium and the fact that all of the Sinners expect her are now all dead. "What am I suppose to do now that Fiore is gone? Where am I supposed to go now that Aion and all of my companions are dead?" Shader continued sobbing heavily while Chrono suddenly felt weak and he knelt down to the ground. Shader stopped crying as her attention turned towards Chrono. "Chrono, are you alright?" Shader worriedly asked while running towards him. Once she had reached him, Chrono asked with a grunting voice "Shader, can I ask you for a favor?" "Yes Chrono, what is it?" Shader curiously asked. "I am now far too weak and injured to return to Rosette and the others. There is also the fact that I am most likely confirmed dead by the Magdalene Order." Chrono began to explain to her. "What are you saying?" Shader asked confused. "What I am asking for is can you please take care of me for a while?" Chrono finally managed to ask. "To take care of you?" Shader asked surprised. "Yes, until my wounds are completely healed and until I finally gain my strength back, I am unable to meet up with my contractor again." Chrono revealed. "I see, so in other words you need my help so you can return to your contractor one day, am I right?" Shader asked while offering Chrono a helping hand. "Yes, that is correct!" Chrono confirmed and took her hand as he got up from the ground. "Alright, since we are the only Sinners left alive, let's support each other in whatever way we can, okay Chrono!" Shader optimistically agreed since she always had a soft spot for Chrono. "Yes Shader." Chrono agreed. "I must say, I sure am going to be missing Fiore. Who knows if she is even still alive?" Shader curiously wondered. "Shader, don't tell me you have feelings for Satella's sister do you?" Chrono asked in disbelief while Shader started to blush out of embarrassment. She turned around and asked with an embarrassed tone "Now then, shall we both leave this area and see what I can do in treating your wounds?" "Sure Shader, whatever you say?" Chrono said indifferently and they both walked their way out of the destroyed altar room. This was the beginning of both Shader and Chrono's new life.