Part 7

Darkness engulfed him, but a faint light began to seep through. Caught between consciousness and unconsciousness, fragmented memories flickered through his mind. A dream... This must be a dream, he told himself, clinging to the thought.

But it felt all too real. Vivid images flashed one after another—hands desperately reaching but never meeting, his mother drifting farther away, their separation growing. Her tear-streaked face lingered, shattering his heart. I want this to end... No more tomorrows filled with the same pain... No more tomorrows... I don't want to face this—the pitiful self that I've become.

Slowly, Shinre opened his eyes; everything was so blurry. His head was pounding. Ringing sounds, footsteps, indistinct conversations… filled his ears, blending together into one, uncomprehensible. The earth beneath him seemed to spin around, and he felt as if he were drifting in the waves. He felt so exhausted, as if all his energy had been drained from him. His entire body ached; of course, he had just been beaten black and blue.

"Are you awake?"

Shinre heard someone speak and realized he was not alone. Squinting, he tried to clear his vision and identify the voice. He attempted to rise, but a force held him back—he was tightly bound to the floor by chains. Struggling against them was futile, and his frustration escaped in a low groan.

Shinre lifted his head, his disheveled hair falling into his line of sight. Even so, he could make out the figure before him: a man with long, golden hair and an air of elegance. The stranger's regal presence was almost otherworldly, his pristine appearance exuding an untouchable grace.

Behind him stood Maestra Nova, keeping her distance, her gaze watchful.

Shinre had never seen him before. But Shinre could guess who he was. His Excellency Nair, the Pillar and ruler of Runes. Shinre gathered his resolve. He was prepared for the consequences of his crimes. Shinre straightened himself and steeled his courage. Their eyes met, and Shinre had no intention of looking away.

Nair enjoyed this. He had never hoped for this moment, but he did not regret this meeting. He observed the child he had once held, now grown and developed remarkably. Nair smiled as he saw the Cail pendant hanging around his neck. He deserved to wear that protective heirloom.

"My Lord," a woman's voice spoke from behind.

Shinre turned to find Lune from the Northwest Tower stepping past him. In her hand, she held a round magical mirror. Shinre's eyes widened as he realized who had captured him.

"I hand him over to you. Please, my Lord, be nice to him…" Lune said. Nair listened. "What should I tell Albatross?" she asked. "He begs you to pardon him."

"I'll do," Nair replied calmly. "I will fulfill my promise to him."

"Very well." A satisfied smile crossed her face as she glanced at Shinre. Lune then withdrew.

Nair spoke, "Nova, take Senna and Serena with you. Meet with Albatross tonight. Tell him I entrust Runes to him. He has proven himself, and it puts my mind at ease."

Nova immediately turned to Nair, bowing and lowering herself. "Nair... I— I ask for nothing more. But please, make a wise decision for this child. For Hikaru..." Nova then slowly rose and straightened herself. She left the room, leaving Nair and Shinre alone.

Why are these people trying to protect me? Shinre wondered to himself. He was very puzzled. He remembered Elva, then Lune... now Maestra Nova! Alba was no exception, too!

Nair approached Shinre and knelt in front of him. Nair greeted Shinre with a fatherly tone as if they had known each other for a long time, "Ah… Are you okay?"

The impression Shinre had of the ruler of Runes all this time was that he was a terrifying figure. But when he looked up, what he saw in Nair's eyes was a fatherly warmth that seemed out of place.

"You were so small back then. I miss the times when I used to rock you." Nair touched the chains and gripped them, causing the chains binding Shinre to break instantly. Ice shards fell with the chains. Shinre was taken aback. "I understand your confusion. Did you hear them earlier? They all care about you." Nair extended his hand to help Shinre stand. Shinre did not take it. "I won't hurt you."

Shinre couldn't believe what he was hearing. This wasn't what he had expected to happen. He didn't know what to say or feel. This person was unexpectedly friendly. Was he pretending?

"I don't need your mercy! Just kill me!"

"Listen carefully. Your death was never my wish. I've heard everything from Nova and Lune. I understand your motives and am willing to give you another chance. For your mother's sake, go and live well with Albatross–"

"What do you mean? A chance, you say?" He was truly displeased. "How ridiculous. How can I leave after everything that's happened? How can I leave my mother in that state? How can I leave her? You've already made me lose my father… How can you ask me to let go of my mother?!" Shinre shouted. "Where is my mother?! Let me see her!"

Nair warned him. "Don't you realize that sometimes letting go is better than holding on? Don't you see that what you persist in can cause you great suffering? I want to save you from that…"

Shinre gave him a sharp look. "Suffering? Indeed, I suffer... I am shattered in one night just because I learned the truth. But... what does it matter to you?! I never ask you to save me or anything! What right do you have to control and decide everything for me?!"

"Many things will be difficult for you to accept, even if you manage to learn the truth."

Shinre glared at Nair, contemptuously. "Are you underestimating me? What are you afraid of? What do you fear from me, or what will happen that you are doing all this to me?"

Nair straightened his posture. He did not expect Shinre to speak to him this way.

"You don't know what kind of life I've been through to get to this place. For years, I've hoped for this, and I won't back down. I've been in so much pain, I won't retreat! I will finish this. I will face what I must face." Shinre took a deep breath. "I know, with your authority, you determine my life or death. But... the chance at life you're offering me feels like a death sentence. I will never be grateful to you… Instead of telling me to leave, why don't you just end my life now?!"

"You're not listening to me. I never wanted you to die..."

"I'm a Cail. Isn't that a good enough reason?"

"A Cail? What do you know about Cail?" Nair asked, for the first time, with a shaking voice.

"You killed him!"

"Ending your father's life is a mistake I deeply regret! Separating you from your mother and hiding the truth that you were alive is another regret I carry! Don't you understand that I genuinely wanted to protect you, that I truly gave you the choice to live peacefully?"

"What choice? You're not giving me a choice! You're not showing me a way! You're only telling me to run away! I've found my way and won't retreat even if I have to die! I don't need your protection! I don't need you to save me! I'm not afraid of what you're afraid of!"

Nair pondered. Such a stubborn young man. Just like his mother. Not afraid of what I fear? Nair looked at Shinre's eyes, similar to Hikaru's, burning with courage. What am I afraid of?

"Do you know what I fear?" Nair asked after a moment of silence. Nair loomed over Shinre. Suddenly, a long, gleaming sword formed in his hand. It was made of metal and exuded a cold aura. Nair swung the sword towards Shinre's neck. "I fear the moment in my life when I have no other option but to kill you."

Shinre gasped at that threat.

"It all depends on your decision, whether it will happen now or later."

"If so... I will decide. I submit myself to whatever is meant to happen, whatever you are meant to do to me," he said without hesitation. Shinre deflected Nair's sword with his hand and stood up to meet Nair's height.

The morning was nearly upon them, and the atmosphere was still shrouded in darkness. There was no light in some places in Runes and Iron Palace; the power had been cut off due to last night's battle. The fighting had ended some time ago. Now, only silence remained, occasionally broken by distant, faint sounds of people ensuring the safety and control of the situation. Occasionally, the rumbling of collapsing buildings could be heard...

Guided by Nova, who was walking quickly, Serena and Senna passed through the hallway toward the outside of the palace. They looked around with shock and anxiety. The inner palace was so empty—there were no people. When they met people in the outer palace, what they saw was the hectic situation, injured palace guards, and dozens of human bodies. The death tolls were staggering, far beyond what they had imagined. The octagonal walls had been breached and collapsed. Beyond that, burnt and destroyed settlements stretched across a vast area. The world was like hell.

"Nova, where are we going?" Serena asked, glancing at Senna, who was thinking the same thing. "Why are we leaving? Shouldn't we help the guards?"

"No. But use this moment to learn: This is the cost of chaos. You two should never witness this again in your future." Nova's gaze fixed ahead focused on the orders given to her. Her mind was occupied with many things. After a long silence, Nova finally spoke again, "Call your magic animals. We are going to visit someone and stay in his place for a while..."

"What about Shinre? You promised to protect him and ensure his freedom!" said Senna this time.

"If he decides wisely, he will join us soon," Nova replied briefly, without further explanation.

Senna and Serena exchanged puzzled looks. "If he decides wisely?" they asked in unison.