"I can't believe you actually got it!" Zazu exclaimed, running alongside Shinre, who proudly displayed the centaur in his hand. "How did you make Eagle give it to you?"
Shinre laughed, a glimmer of mischief in his eyes. "Come on!"
"I don't understand what's so enjoyable about all this," Ryuuki said, frustration evident as he tried to grasp what Zazu and Shinre were up to.
"They say the game is called Star Wars," Kotori replied, a smile spreading across her face as she watched them laugh heartily. They were gathered around something. "Shinre just got the idea at the lake earlier. I guess that's why he was so quiet all morning. And... we were foolish to invite him to jump into the lake. He's been calling us childish..."
Ryuuki snorted bitterly. "Are you implying that we're not on his level?"
"Yes! But I love you at this level! Come on! Let's see how the game goes!"
"I'm glad Alba was willing to leave NX-2 and some sentinels for us..." Zazu said.
"Yeah, I'm not surprised. A machine maniac like you begging him for sentinels with that face..." Geo sighed. "By the way, 50 sentinels are not just 'some'!"
"You don't know, Uncle," Shinre chimed in, "We make a thousand of those things in a single day. Just a hundred means nothing to us."
"Really?!" Zazu exclaimed, wide-eyed.
Shinre nodded eagerly, his pride palpable. "We used almost all of them to crush the rebel Marines. I used about a hundred to take down a few towers in Iron Palace. Now I have an idea to make it even more terrifying..."
"You're the terrifying one..." Geo groaned. He felt the workshop was about to explode, just like Alba had told him about the fate of his workshop in Shinre's hands. "Eagle could kill me..."
"I love how this centaur can spin, hover, and vanish..." Shinre continued, ignoring Geo's warnings. "Sentinels can't do that... Ready! We can pit them against each other now!"
Geo looked at Shinre and Zazu with trepidation. Slowly, he backed away, signaling Kotori and Ryuuki to leave the workshop.
"We should get out of here, Kotori. Their star wars is about to begin..."
"Ryuuki! Cover your ears!"
BOOM! A sudden explosion echoed, followed by a piercing clatter of metal clashing painfully, interspersed with laughter. The centaur and sentinels appeared eager to destroy each other. The spinning centaur seemed a formidable opponent for the sentinels. Each laser shot was expertly parried.
BOOM! A series of explosions followed, and holes began to form in the workshop's roof and walls. Geo shouted in distress, "You do realize that your actions mean I'll have to fix this again!"
"Don't worry, I'll help you!"
"Do you do things like this every day in Runes?" Zazu asked, ruffling Shinre's hair affectionately.
"Yeah, I have lots of cool stuff there. You should visit. My brother has a really big workshop. I hear he's going to make NX-3."
"What are you planning to do with stuff like that?" Zazu inquired.
Shinre paused for a moment. "I don't know. Initially, he made it for me so I could leave Runes..." He smiled, scratching the back of his head. "Now I don't know what to do with it. I managed to escape Runes in a magical way!" Shinre laughed.
"So... NX-2 actually belongs to you?"
"That's right! And I'm waiting for the right moment to take it apart! I want to make a few changes..."
"What?! Take it apart?"
Zazu turned his face to Eagle far from them. He grinned apologetically.
Eagle shook his head. "Zazu has really found a friend as crazy as he is. Look, they're having so much fun." Eagle laughed. "Ferio only allows him to play in my workshop. He is forbidden to use magic for three years. But with all this noise, Ferio will definitely call for me soon..."
Lantis watched as Shinre laughed carefreely. Without realizing it, a smile crept onto his face. There was something so amusing about the scene between Zazu and Shinre—the centaur had chosen to chase them, leaving the energy-depleted sentinels behind. Lantis giggled as Zazu attempted, erratically, to reprogram the centaur with his computer—just before he became its victim.
"You're laughing?"
Lantis turned to Eagle. "Their antics are hilarious..."
"Do you see it? His face looks just like yours. But I can't believe you're the type to laugh so carefree. That part's more like Hikaru," Eagle remarked. "Do you really not recognize him?"
Do I really not recognize him? Lantis pondered.
"I know it is hard for you to accept, even to hope or imagine that he exists. I can't stop you from leaving Cephiro, but... at least talk to him," Eagle pleaded. "He would be so happy..."
After a long silence, Lantis finally spoke. "Call him for me." He turned away while Eagle smiled, seeing Lantis soften a little.
Sunlight flooded the entire area around them. The grass swayed gently, and the lake water lapped softly at the shore. Lantis was struggling to shake off his awkwardness. He only gazed into the distance at the lake's edge while Shinre played with the sentinel he had brought. Time passed... There was no conversation between them.
"If you don't talk, I'm going to sleep..." Shinre announced, yawning. He leaned against a tree trunk on the opposite side of Lantis. "Is this really your nature... Terrible... You can't talk..." Shinre murmured in a sleepy tone. "Lucky me, I'm not like you... I've spent... almost my whole life talking and laughing... Half of it yelling and screaming... A quarter of it..." Shinre fell silent. Crying… and weeping.
Lantis waited for the boy to speak. "Why are you quiet?" Lantis tilted his head, staring at the tree whose branches and leaves swayed gently. "Are you asleep already?"
"No," Shinre replied. "Just pretend I'm not here. Maybe that way it will be easier for you. I'll listen..." Shinre remained in his position. In truth, he was trying to hide his feelings.
"Eagle asked me to meet you. Honestly, I don't know what to say to you. Maybe I just wanted to say goodbye because, after this, I will leave Cephiro." Lantis waited for Shinre's reaction, but he remained silent. "I also want to thank you. You've saved my life." Lantis felt he had said enough.
"Can I say something?" Shinre suddenly asked.
"Go ahead..."
"Take care of yourself... Father," Shinre said timidly.
Lantis was taken aback. Shinre called him with that word.
"I-I'm sorry. I'm sorry," Shinre quickly stammered. "I-I've just always wanted to say it, even once in my life..." He buried his head in his knees. "I'm sorry."
Lantis was deeply moved. My son...
"Please don't be mad at me. I promise I won't say it again. I don't want to stop you... Now you can go... I won't look for you or anything... I promise..."
Lantis listened to him with a heavy heart this time. Isn't having a family the most meaningful thing in life? Lantis wondered. Being always alone, he couldn't truly understand. It was something he once wanted but buried deep alongside his heartache, and that was how he managed to survive. Now, that opportunity had come, but ironically, what he was about to do would only pass down the suffering of solitude he had once experienced onto this young man... Wouldn't it be wrongdoing?
Lantis knelt down and gently stroked Shinre's hair. "Hey, lift your head." He tapped his son's shoulder.
Shinre shook his head. He didn't dare to see his father's face this close. His heart would burst with emotion. He didn't want to be seen with tears in his eyes.
"It is okay. Lift your head, and look at me. I am sorry." Hearing that apology, Shinre immediately lifted his head. He met his father's eyes. "I'm sorry for making you feel this way..."
Lantis patted Shinre's head again. "I should be the happiest person to have you as my son. I should embrace you easily, but I don't know why I can't treat you that way... Can I be a father to you? I lack the confidence."
Shinre was silent. He didn't know how to respond. Tears flowed down his cheeks, this time for a different reason that stirred his heart... because he felt he was no longer the rejected son.
"I lived without hoping or ever imagining for even a moment that you were here in this world. I never knew you. How can I be your father? I might not be able to give you what you expect from me. Do you mind me being like this?"
Shinre shook slowly. "I won't force you. Knowing you exist in the same world as me is enough for me. I won't ask for more. I already feel satisfied..."
Lantis smiled. "I know you enjoy staying here, but I feel like taking you with me—"
"I'm coming with you!" Shinre exclaimed quickly, even before Lantis finished his sentence. "Please! Let me accompany you! I want to be with you!"
Lantis's eyes widened, realizing how much Shinre wanted him. He then stood and extended his hand to Shinre. "Stand up. We're leaving now."
"Now?" Shinre couldn't believe they would be going so soon. "I haven't finished my duel with Zazu..."
Lantis started walking away from him. "You can stay, then."
"No, no, no!" Shinre hurriedly got up and ran after Lantis. "I'm going with you."
"Then prepare yourself. Take your belongings..."
Shinre struggled to keep pace with Lantis's long strides. "Aye, Captain! By the way, where are we going to go? What are we going to do?"
"We can travel around and see the world..."
"I know nothing about Cephiro..."
"You'll know after this..."
"How about we have a duel again?"
"I accept your challenge."
"They did it..." Eagle said. Clef and Nova stepped closer and joined him. "They will be okay." Eagle smiled, watching Lantis and Shinre walk away, their voices growing fainter, before turning to Nova. "What about you, Maestra?"
Nova continued to watch Shinre, and after a moment, she replied, "There's nothing I can do. Hikaru and His Highness Nair hope Shinre can join them to live together, but... Shinre will be better off like this with his father. Is there any news about them?"
"We have combed the North, but none of them are seen there. Is there any other place besides what you've told us?" Eagle asked Nova.
"I don't know..." Nova shook her head sadly. "I don't know any other place they would go. The North is his coffin."
"Coffin?"
"The only place with the coldest ice that could preserve his body, allowing him to live longer."
Clef directed his gaze toward the horizon. "Maybe they are afraid of us. They are hiding from us."