The room was silent while Serah digested his words. It took longer than anything else he had said, and that was perfectly understandable. It wasn’t something that could be understood with simple logic, nor could it be believed without undeniable proof.

“... Sorry, I’m… not understanding this,” She eventually said, rubbing her forehead. “How is it possible to create a world? Did they build this planet with… shovels? Giant space-shovels?”

“I don’t blame you. I don’t understand it well either, but somehow, they made machines that could think and feel just like us. Perhaps you could think of it as a dream, except hundreds of people have the same dream at once. And that’s this world.”

“Hundreds? I’ve seen more than a thousand people in my life, so how’s that possible?”

John pursed his lips, unsure how he should say that almost everyone she knew only existed in the dream. Or if he should. “... Most people only exist in the dream. In the village, it’s just you and me who are dreamers, or candidates, as they call us.”

Serah shook her head with increasing intensity, and then she scoffed silently. “I can’t believe this anymore. It’s too… too cruel.”

“... Perhaps that’s fine. I only need to tell you what happens, then you can believe it when the time comes.”

“Do you have to be so damn convincing?!” Serah yelled, swinging her arm out to the side and aiming to hit him in the stomach.

John had plenty of time to stop her, but he let it happen, understanding her frustration. He wouldn’t feel much either way due to the essence circulating in his body.

But the arm passed through him and hit the bed instead, proving that he wasn’t really present.

Serah’s eyes shot to him in shock. Then they turned blank with tears. “Am… Am I just a dream? Just a painting?” She pulled her knees up to her chin, embracing them while letting tears fall down her cheeks.

He sat up, feeling the urge to embrace and comfort her. He wanted nothing less than to hurt her, trying to make the truth as gentle as possible. But there was only so much he could do.

“We’re both dreaming, Serah. Both sleeping soundly, dreaming of each other while separated by vast distances. I don’t know how this is happening, but somehow, this was always going to happen.”

Serah kept staring forward, silently crying. “... I dreamt of a different world last night. One of cold metal and giant walls keeping monsters out… It was cold and dark. But then you came over to talk to me, and everything turned brighter… Is that the other world?”

John looked at her in wonder. If the simulation had only started the day before, perhaps those were Serah’s memories from the real world, slowly being erased like mere dreams.

“I… I think so. But I don’t have any memories from before we started dreaming. You were unhappy?”

She nodded, looking like she was straining to remember the dream. Dreams had a tendency to elude you the more you tried to recall them. “I was often alone, I think. Only doing what I was told. But… I don’t remember much of it. Your face looked very young, but I’m sure it was you.”

“... I’m sorry, Serah. I know how hard it is to accept what I’m saying.”

“... Who am I?” Serah asked suddenly. “Why does it feel like I don’t matter at all? That’s the feeling I got from the dream…” She lowered her head so her face was covered by her knees, looking very vulnerable.

His urge to comfort her became stronger, but he felt powerless without being able to touch her. He tried putting an arm on her shoulder, but the sense of touch simply wasn’t there. Even still, he kept it hovering there, trying to convey his feelings.

“You’re the most important person in the world, Serah. At least to me. And that counts for something, right?”

“... It does... Thank you for talking to me…”

John smiled, understanding she was referring to the dream, or maybe the past neither of them remembered. “Knowing me, it was probably because you looked so pretty.”

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She chortled lightly, clearly happy to hear him say so. “I’m just a pretty face, then?”

“You want compliments? I have plenty!" John exclaimed, counting on his hand. "You’re the smartest person I know, the most talented mage I’ve ever seen, and incredibly kind and thoughtful. Your singing is beautiful, your eyes are like glowing sapphires, and Your laugh is the greatest sound in the world—both worlds! And–”

“Stop, please!” she begged, burying her face even deeper into her thighs. What little could be seen of her face turned red.

John was happy with the result, doing precisely what he aimed to do. “It’s not easy to embarrass you, but I’ve gotten a taste for it now. Consider it a bit of revenge!”

Serah’s muffled voice sounded close to tears as she replied, “Then you can consider my future teasing as revenge as well!... How stupid is it that we’re both getting back at each other?”

John laughed, realizing the irony. At least this way, they could say neither of them started it. “You’ll have to wait for a while, though… Five years, to be exact.”

“Five years?!” she yelled, looking back up at him, alarmed. “It takes you five years to… John! Ohh, you’re lucky I can’t hit you right now!”

John felt ashamed of his past self, but he couldn’t help making an excuse. “... I was still the youngest champion ever,” he mumbled to the side.

“John!”

“Alright, I’m sorry! I know; I was being stubborn! Again, yell at me when I return instead.”

“You won’t get the raw emotion in my voice in the future because I already know! So I’m telling you now instead!”

“Oh, I think the waiting made you plenty emotional.”

“You’re stupid!”

“I am aware,” John replied, thankful that Serah was so young during this meeting. The older version would admonish him a lot more efficiently. He could put at least some of the blame on the company, but he still felt bad for her.

Her angry face was still wet with tears, adding to his guilt. She dried them with her sleeves, then lay back down on her side, back turned against him. “... So, what happened next?”

John took that as a signal that she was ready to hear what had happened since they reunited, so he took a deep breath.

He told her everything, from the day he returned and broke through the barrier, the date they would have, the way she woke up, their training, the portal, the inversion, Sage Full Blue, Rain, the Aasvedans, Dennis and Kerchak, the desert horror, becoming an aspecter, the fog, the jungle, the necklace saving his life, and then their reunion in the forest.

And Rain’s betrayal, including how Serah went willingly with her.

“... And that’s two days ago for me. And now I’m here, looking for you.”

Serah was turned to him now, still lying on her side. She stared at him caringly. “... There’s a certain comfort in knowing everything that happens up to that point… How are you okay?”

A sad smile appeared on his face. “I came back home. I know what I’m supposed to do. And I’m never going to stop unless I find you. That makes it easier to accept, knowing I can do something.”

“... Well, you did find me. So the bone will probably point you somewhere else after this meeting, right?”

“I think so… But I’m in no hurry, don’t worry.”

“You’re not?” she asked, failing to hide the relief in her voice.

“No, there are still things I have to tell you. First of all… Under the end of my bed here, there is a book. One I wondered who had stolen for a long time. You should take it and practice every day.”

Serah’s face turned bright red at his words, looking like she was unable to even speak.

“... It’s a spellbook,” he clarified, suddenly realizing what it could sound like. He even felt himself turn a bit red at the thought.

A long breath escaped Serah’s chest as she turned to the side, feigning ignorance. “Of course, I’ll… practice, every day. Thank you.”

“And secondly,” John continued, letting the awkwardness escape into the past. “I mentioned meeting Sage Full Blue. He told me that essence can have different forms. And I want you to practice using them as soon as possible. I don’t think it’s possible in our world, but start training as soon as you get out. However, you can’t reveal it before you go away.”

Serah nodded, understanding the importance of learning to use them as soon as possible. “I’ll remember. And since I’m such a genius, I’ll probably master the plasma essence as well.”

John smiled. “You’re joking, but I’m sure you’re more suited for that type of thing than me. I can only take pride in my combat instinct.”

“Don’t underestimate instinct, John. In a pinch, instinct is king. And yours made you the youngest champion in history, right?”

He tilted his head as he looked at her, finding her encouragement cute. “Don’t worry; I absolutely take pride in my combat instinct. And that’s why we make such a great team, right? I can’t wait for us to be able to fight together for real.”

Serah chuckled, looking at him like he was an idiot. “That’s so like you. There are other things I look forward to more…”

“Well, obviously! I’m just sad we never got the chance.”

“We will,” she declared, smiling brightly at him. “Because you’re going to find me, right? And make me part of your future?”

“If it’s the last thing I do!” John replied firmly, staring into her eyes. Not even the fate of humanity mattered more to him, however selfish it was to admit.