In the secondary house in Horizon.

Since nighttime had fallen upon the world, and the invasion of giant corrupt vanished with the portals that brought them, two individuals returned home.

*Clack*

The front door closed behind Elliott, while Layla dropped on the nearest chair, exhausted.

"How do you feel?"

"That's the tenth time you've asked."

Layla answered his question with a tired smile.

"I have to monitor everything at the moment. If anything happens to you, it would be my responsibility."

Elliott sat a distance away from her, his eyes glued to her figure. His eyes scanned everything prudently.

The heaving of her chest each time she breathed, the slight movements of her muscles when she stretched, her facial expressions— everything.

"This is... incredibly uncomfortable."

In response to her words, Elliott blinked. He thought about what he was doing before his gaze turned away at last.

"I am sorry. It wasn't my intention to make you feel uneasy."

He scratched the back of his head before heaving a heavy sight of exhaustion. Opening the first button of his shirt, he removed Vanitas' scabbard from his waist before placing it against the chair.

All the while, Layla kept her eyes anchored on him, enjoying the sight of the man she had idolized since her younger days.

Layla's eyes finally glanced away when she had enough, focusing on what had happened a few hours ago.

"Is it really fine? After all I've done, I mean?"

"What are you inferring? Perhaps, you think you are not worthy of being forgiven."

"..."

Layla slowly nodded.

"If this point were valid, I wouldn't be here either. I have caused more tragedies by myself that should not be forgiven."

Elliott's bent his back forward, placing his elbows on his thighs. Then, he counted on his fingers.

"Starting a continental war, slaughtering countless people, eradicating three factions entirely, and causing the human faction to mistreat other factions."

"And I am addressing it lightly. My existence has devastated so many lives that even this life of mine will not be enough to erase the actions I took."

Layla bit her lower lips, causing a small thread of blood to drip down.

"I know what you think. It wasn't my fault, as Miasma controlled my every move. Yet, in history, the one who caused those horrors was me."

"There is no forgiving."

Elliott said it with a resolute tone. His voice carried an intent, as if ready to pay with his life the wrongs he had caused.

But, his tone changed, and his expression relaxed.

"Yet, I was forgiven nonetheless. By the man who suffered the most from my actions."

Wiping the blood from her mouth, Layla looked into his eyes. They were full of compassion.

"It took me quite some time to understand that his words meant more to me than any others."

"Forgive, but never forget. To never let the same happen to anyone else."

Layla nodded in silence.

"Orion forgave me and gave me a place to return to in a world where no such place exists."

"For the first time in my life, I felt free."

Elliott stood up from his chair and walked toward Layla.

"You are given the chance to be forgiven. Will you continue to blame yourself indefinitely, or will you use this opportunity to learn from it and change yourself?"

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"It is a very difficult step to take. Still, because we are now free, we can finally move according to our desires. Corruption will never lead us astray ever again."

He placed his hand on her shoulder.

"For tonight, please think about those words. The first one who needs to forgive you is unironically yourself."

He turned around, picked up Vanitas, and walked to his room, leaving Layla alone with her thoughts.

"Forgiving..."

As she looked at her hands, a sigil representing a stalk of wheat flickered faintly in her eyes.

-

Earlier that day.

After Elliott and Layla walked out of Horizon and stepped on the snow covering the streets of Turric, they immediately noticed the giant monsters emerging from the large portal.

At most, thirty percent of their forces were out of the portal, while the ones who came out marched toward Turric.

"This is worse than I was expecting... How did Miasma come to create such a monstrous army?"

Layla, shocked at the sight of these giant creatures, blinked in disbelief.

Reptiles, arachnids, insects, mammals— the list of giant animals was unending. What showed the mark of the corruption was that their skin, fur, feathers, and scales were all gray, with reddish lines drawn following their limbs.

"...!"

Elliott suddenly took a step back. The shock in his eyes appeared to be completely taking over his emotions.

"I... recognize some of them."

In the thirty giants that came out of the portal, two of them were the giants Elliott killed alongside Nylon.

Seeing the giant bird and the jellyfish fly above the land giants, his eyes opened wide.

As he scanned the entire force, he noticed creatures sent against the previous Hero, which died unceremoniously by his hands.

"Impossible! Did Father return to the past, sending his past army to our present?!"

His words caught Layla's attention.

"Really?"

"There's no mistaking. Those are dead corrupt... or at least, they are in our present."

Rapidly recovering his composure, Elliott looked around him. The people of Turric were screaming in horror at the appearance of an army of corrupt beasts.

"Run!"

Suddenly, a crowd of people ran past them, screaming loudly.

They both listened intensely to the voices, picking up the reason for such an uproar.

"Run, or one of those beasts will catch you!"

"They're inside the city!"

"Where are the soldiers?!"

Without showing hesitation, Elliott took Vanitas from his scabbard and rushed forward.

Layla, quick to react, ran alongside him toward the place under attack.

They ran through the city, crossed a bridge, and found themselves inside the shopping area of Turric, where markets and shops were located.

"..."

Elliott closed his eyes before spreading his energy around. Like a bat, his senses picked up four corrupt beasts.

"Layla, go west; there are two beasts held back by a few soldiers. Go support them."

"On it!"

Layla's body instantly turned into water at his order, splashed on the ground, and rapidly moved toward the western part of the commercial area.

Picking up the pace, Elliott activated Acedia. He rushed through the city, closing on the first beast that was damaging properties and searching for people to devour.

*Swing*

Vanitas sliced through the beast, which appeared to be a praying mantis, slicing its body in half.

The upper half of the beast flew into the air before exploding into ash. The lower half fell to the ground, following suit.

Without stopping, Elliott crossed the rest of the eastern area.

At one point, a three-meter-tall monkey was attacking a couple of people.

'Can I make it in time?'

With the corrupt about to attack them, Elliott hoped to make it in time.

But, to his surprise, the person who was attacked retaliated. Protecting a woman in a working uniform behind him, he caught the punch of the monkey, clenching his teeth to the point of bleeding.

His uniform appeared similar to the woman's, although a little tight for him. His broad and powerful build managed to defend against the opponent, but not for long.

Pushing the arm away, the bald man punched the monkey's stomach, pushing it away very slightly.

'Good!'

Elliott arrived just in time. With the monkey straight in his path, he slashed it into pieces before it found another chance to attack the couple.

Exploding in ashes, the monkey disappeared.

Elliott stopped after scraping his feet a few meters on the pavement. He turned around, focused his aura on the city, and breathed a sigh of relief.

'Layla managed to kill those two other beasts.'

He looked around and confirmed that no other beasts were in Turric. Then, he looked at the man, who was returning to his companion.

'She looks pretty shaken up. It wouldn't be wise to intrude on them now.'

The bald man, whose knees were trembling slightly, managed to pick up the woman in his arms and run away.

But before going, he looked at Elliott and nodded in appreciation.

"Hmph..."

With a satisfied smile on his face, Elliott looked in front of him.

"Really, this world is still full of hope."

...

A few minutes later, Layla and Elliott regrouped outside the city.

Soldiers explained to Layla that those beasts were roaming beasts that suddenly turned into corrupt creatures.

Luckily for everyone, the army coming from the portal and advancing on Turric was still far away.

Now that the situation was under control, they were on their way to report to Eric, the Lord of Turric. It was only a matter of time before the entire army was ready to defend the city.

"..."

Elliott was quiet. Too quiet for Layla.

"Elliott?"

"..."

Her voice seemed to enter one ear and leave through the other. While pouting, Layla walked in front of him.

"What are you thinking about? Won't you share it with me?"

"Oh."

Coming back to reality, Elliott looked at her carefully, still silent.

"W-What is it?"

Layla knew the situation wasn't perfect to feel bashful about his intense gaze, but she couldn't help it. Elliott was everything in her life, even after being freed of corruption. She had an unshakeable devotion to him.

"..."

After pondering for a long time, he finally opened his mouth.

"Let's go."

Without waiting for her answer, he walked around her and continued forward.

"E-Eh? Ah! Yes!"

Troubled, Layla followed, unprepared for the absurd situation that was waiting for her.

...

A fair distance away from Turric, the two observed an army of fifty giants march forward, unbothered by trees, slopes, and other corrupt beasts under their feet.

"Layla..."

"Yes, Milord?"

"Would you be willing to become a Remnant?"

Layla opened her mouth in complete disbelief.