A chill ran down John’s back as he heard of the recent development. All tyrants heading for the same country at once could only cause a disaster.
He swallowed nervously, turning back to Rania. “B– but with the new forms of essence, we should be able to fight them, right?”
Rania pursed her lips, seemingly doubting John’s optimism. “... If the liquid essence is as powerful as you say, which I believe it is, then it would allow each of us to beat a tyrant. But we are outnumbered more than three to one. If they plan to eradicate us so that they can share Earth between themselves, I think they’ll fight together.”
“... So we should attack them before they organize?”
“No, they all travel by sea or by air, where they have a considerable advantage. Only one weaver might be able to fight them there, and she’s not well-suited for combat. She prefers playing her strings of fate,” she said, smiling cleverly.
John searched his mind for anything that could help, but nothing seemed to jump out. “And there’s also the danger of letting the other portals remain unguarded while you fight, right?”
“Exactly. If the tyrants in the portals come through while we’re gone… I can’t imagine we’d survive.” She waved her hand again, making small black holes appear on the globe. Some were small, some were large, but one in China dwarfed all others.
“These are the portals we know of. The small ones are like the Paris portal you went through, without tyrants. The larger ones are portals with at least one tyrant, and the big one is like the Paris portal leveled up. It has as many tyrants as that world had horrors.”
John studied the placement closely. He saw no portals underwater, but that didn’t mean there were none. “How… how are we able to guard that last one? That’s the one they’re all heading for, right?”
“Yes, that’s where they’re going. We can pray that they plan to leave, but I suspect that’s not true. The strings are too… arbitrary. But as for how we’re guarding it,” she said, as if announcing something. “We have Thrasher!”
John furrowed his brows, not following. “Thrasher?”
“He’s strong. This might be true for all of us weavers, but we would have been eradicated by now without him.”
“... And he’s guarding that portal by himself? Was he in the meeting earlier?”
“No, his follower, Lang, was there in his stead. Thrasher isn’t just guarding the portal; he’s in there right now.”
“What?! He’s going on the offensive in a world like that?” John asked, thinking it sounded mad. He would have done the same, of course, but he had the other forms of essence to help him easily fight off beasts of the same tier.
“Well, we couldn’t stop him, so that’s where he is. Once that portal appeared, he jumped right in. I think he wants to get to the next tier.”
“... It would be great if he got there. Do we have a name for it?” John asked, wondering if that’s the tier Rain was at. The mere thought of her name made him grimace slightly, but he was fine. He was fine.
“Well, it will depend on what powers that will appear. But for now, I think Awakened is the generally agreed-upon name.”
“Mhm… Yeah, that makes sense,” he replied, staring at the globe, at nowhere in particular.
“John, are you feeling okay?”
He looked at her, seeing her stare at him worriedly. “... This is all very important stuff, but… It feels so separated from me. I have no idea what I can do. I know my goal, but the road to get there is so… so infinitely hard to find.”
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The chair John sat on suddenly started gliding toward Rania, allowing her to put her hand on his. “The first thing you should do is rest, John. Go home, heal your mind, then come back stronger. Wherever your goal is, strength will help you get there, right?”
The thought of his cozy village and being back in his mother's arms filled him with warmth. But he was afraid. Serah wouldn’t be there, and he would have to explain why. How he failed to protect her despite all his promises. Not to mention, he was the one who brought her out of that life.
“They’ll hate me…”
“... Why would they?” she asked quietly.
“Because I’m the reason Serah is gone, I was responsible for protecting her, and… Why do you care so much?!” He pulled his hand from under hers, feeling frustration rising to the surface. “You’re a weaver, and the world is in danger! Go do something important instead of caring about me!”
John was entirely unprepared for the look of sadness that appeared on her face. It dazed him completely.
“... I’m…” She collected herself, clearing her throat and blinking rapidly. “...You’re right, John. You don’t know me, after all. I’ll let you leave now, but if there’s anything you need, just ask. You deserve a reward for your contribution, after all.”
‘... “You don’t know me?” Does that mean she knows me? From… before the simulation?’
He stared at her, not daring to ask. He knew there was a life he knew nothing about outside of the simulation. But if they had been close, how should he react? The person she might have known was basically dead now.
‘What a cruel thing it is to erase someone’s memories. Not for me, but for the people I no longer remember… Is that why she invited me the first time?’
The thoughts gnawed at his conscience, making him regret his words. He got out of his chair, watching her do the same. “If… you ever want to talk, I’ll be available. I’m sorry for reacting like that.”
She smiled sadly back at him. “I appreciate that, John. I’ll be in touch… I still think you should go home, though. If they care for you, they’ll understand that you’re the one suffering the most.”
“... Maybe you’re right. Good luck with the end of the world.” He reached his arm out for a handshake, which made her smile uncontrollably for some reason. But then she calmed, taking his hand and shaking it gently.
“See you later,” John said.
“Of course!” she replied, like she was confident they would.
John wasn’t sure he should trust that, but if anyone would know the future, it would be her. And Serah.
He turned and started walking, hoping she would open a door in front of him. Sure enough, the circular white door appeared and was pushed to the side, revealing the hallway he had been in before.
He stepped through without looking back. All he wanted to do now was to find a bed and sleep. And then he would return home. He wasn’t sure it would help, but he could feel himself crumbling inside. Something had to be done.
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She stared at the circle long after the door closed, deep in thought. Then she turned to the side and let herself fall, landing in a soft and comfortable chair of water.
“Haaahh, he’s still so damn cute! If he hadn’t reminded me, I would have hugged and comforted him, tucked him to sleep, and sung him songs! I have no idea how you managed to restrain yourself, Elle.”
A different voice sounded from a side of the room, “I was biting a pillow the entire time! He was so distraught! But I swore I would never approach him first…” A silvery veil of water fell down, revealing the woman who had stood by the counter in the lobby. Tears were streaming down her cheeks. “He’s growing up to look a lot like his father…”
Rania smiled sadly at Elle’s words. “There’s plenty of you in there as well, I can tell… But… what do we do about Serah?”
Elle looked angry as she replied. “Oh, now you care? That’s a first!”
“Well, I didn’t think cutting fate like that was possible! I was sure she would be fine. But maybe it’s not all that important.”
“She’s your daughter!” Elle yelled angrily.
Rania covered her face with her hands, still lying in the chair. “Not this again. She’s whatever resulted from my ‘donation of genetic material,’ not my daughter. I know we were desperate, but I still regret that decision.”
“... Whatever she is, she deserves a loving mother.”
“I gave her two loving parents! They’re much better than I could ever be! Don’t talk about it again, okay? I need to try this essence thing before the next meeting.”
Elle looked both frustrated and sad as she turned to walk away. “You know John will search everywhere for her. Even random portals, if he gets desperate.”
“Isn’t that a good thing? The entire point was to use his incredible talents; now he has the drive to get stronger.”
“... It’s so dangerous, even with your help, which you can barely offer anymore. You were supposed to keep him safe through this all.”
Rania paused, then she replied in a tender voice, “You know I’m doing everything I can, Elle.”
“... That’s the reason we’re still friends, Ran.”