“Oh, Dante. Hello…” Sisi turned around to face Dante.

“Hi, Sisi. I came here because of-“, Dante was interrupted by Sisi’s chuckle.

“Don’t worry Dan. I know…and honestly, I can’t help but to be happy. It’s been a long time since you actually celebrated your birthday as well. Did you also send a note of absence?”

“Yes…rather, mom did for me.”

“Good. She should've.”

Dante angrily frowned. “No, she shouldn’t. Whether my birthday or not, I have a full understanding of everything that exists around me. I was given a position and an objective. She had no right to act on my behalf!”

Sisi let out a sad sigh. “Have you at least gotten…better?”

Dante hesitated. “How do you-“, he was interrupted.

“Dante…everyone is worried. Commander of the Silver Lances or not, everyone knows that you’re not…ok. Given your tasks, it’s only natural.”

“Doesn’t matter. What’s done is done.”

“Stop acting like a soldier for once! Just…be “Dante”, if only for today!”

“Sisi. I’d have to request you stop objecting to my actions as far as my personal life follows. It is within no one’s jurisdiction to do so but me.”

“Damned be this entire system you’ve gotten yourself into…” Sisi looked at Dante with desperation.

“Sisi, I’ll always be here if you need me. So will my big brother. It’s just that…” Dante doubted himself, “I…I can’t. You know that.”

“Ever since mom left abroad…Cecilia had to do all this to you?”

“I don’t…I don’t know why. But mom trained me for a reason that much I can count on.”

“And by no means, she didn't do a bad job. Just that…I missed going around with you and playing like we did a few years ago. I mean, I rarely get to see you and especially your brother nowadays. Since both of you took on the commanding positions of the Golden and Silver Lances, for all these years it felt…that I am alone.”

“I can never return back…” Dante fearfully said.

“You haven’t even stepped into school for the past few days…Dante, are you all right?”

Dante acted out. “Yeah…yeah. Just that…there’s a lot to do. With the rising tension around Victoria, most of the Silver Lances had to be deployed in a perimeter.”

“Dante. You’re not fooling me. Especially since you underwent the creation of the Silver Battalion and even without it, the Silver Lances would have no issues correlating a simple dispatch. Something is off about you. Ever since you heard that break at the world peace and the sparks of war you-”

Dante held back his anger. “I’m fine. The Silver Lances will never break their position at Twin Peaks. It is the only entry point to Dirunon and with all of them combined, it is granted that no failure can come to them. As far as I go…I just…need some time to adjust to my position, not that I haven’t been properly trained for it, but there are still some new circumstances.”

“I just hope…you’ll be alright. Please-“, Sisi was interrupted.

“Sorry…I’ve gotta go.”

“Dante, please wait! I’ve got something important to tell you-”

“Go meet with the others…I may join later too.”

Without saying another word, an anxious Dante hurried down the stairs, trying to completely avoid saying another word.

“Commander? Where are you headed?” King Frederick asked.

Dante panted. “My lord…it would appear as if…I need some time to think about my next move.”

The king let a heavy sigh. “Dante. If you wish to remain under the radar-“

“That won’t be necessary. I-I just need some…time…”

Dante hurried out of the palace quickly, fading through the crowd and ignoring all the comments alongside good-willed hello’s, mixed with good wishes. To him only the criticism would stick, because that’s all he ever knew. Be it himself or the title…he could no longer feel a sense of accomplishment. He could no longer shake off everything he said and done…he could only face incompletion and pain. The searing pain of his heartbeat only helped to extend the pain from his soul to his body. He travelled along the wide fields at the front gates of Dirunon and headed deep within the grassy terrain. A sight was most familiar to both past and future, he headed to the only place he could find solace. The fields had driven him into the same place he had first met with her…the first time he had come across a version of Hikari left behind long ago. A red rose garden spread its arms to hug around one solemn lush green tree that remained. He slowly climbed the small hill up to the tree and looked around him. From the far left to the far right he could only see the solace of the Victorian glory. A glamorous gold-layered city that only reflected the light of the sun's rays, its atmosphere filled with the petals of numerous flowers coming off the palace grounds. The further he looked to the left, he saw the rising sun between the Twin Peaks, coming down to the base of a number of powerful, silver armor-wearing soldiers, standing firm in their position. The might of their lances combined with the force of their spears and their illuminating silver swords only helped to showcase what the peak performance of a dauntless army should be. No clash could break them and no bullet could penetrate them. It was an all-time high. And so there he stood in front of it all. What had given him a place to call home? What had raised him to be him…rather, an image of him projected on others. Where he had seen most and had heard it all. What it had built him up and where he would now fall. It was his memories…a specific one out of many. The one that spiraled it all downwards…

“Mom…dad…” he muttered.

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He thought of a time when darkness had befallen even the shiniest of beacons that lit the future for those around them…

“Ceci, you can’t be serious! He’s 8 for crying out loud!” a man yelled.

“Ray, I have no choice!” Cecilia reared up, “If he doesn’t become it then-“, she was interrupted by Ray.

“Then let it be! Their choice, their fall! We won’t have to rest it upon anyone!”

“This isn’t just anyone! You trained him as well, you know the full extent!”

“They’re looking for their goddamn scapegoat! I trained him for fun!”

“Like you trained his brother for fun?!” Cecilia yelled.

“It was what he wanted! Have you ever stopped to ask what Dante wanted?!”

“I’m sure he will understand…” Cecilia paused.

“He will…he will understand what you never did.”

He pondered on those words for god knows how long. He kept jumping from word to word said until he forced himself to another scenario…

“Hreah!” Dante jumped forward at Cecilia.

“Hmph.”, Cecilia stepped forward to counter.

Without realizing it, Cecilia put her full force behind her swing, breaking Dante’s sword in two and severely wounding his arm.

“Ah-ha!” Dante pulled his arm near him.

“You’re out of focus. Keep your eyes on your opponent's movements and sword, not their face. A simple step can betray their entire plan-“, Cecilia looked at Dante.

His tears held back and his hand now is red, he painted the ground in front of the woman who had given in life with his own. She completely stopped all that she was doing and tried to approach the young Dante, her motherly instincts completely taking over.

“God, sweetie, I didn’t mean-“, she got her hand slapped away by Dante.

“Go away! You meant to do that! You meant to make it hurt! And don’t think I don’t know how it feels, I always did! Everyone hates me, and you’re the same!” he got up and ran away.

She could not move but just gaze in awe. In what seemed like forever, the invincible Omnipotent Blade and bearer of hope, the one untouchable in both mind and body had just been mentally shattered and physically hit by a mere child. But not just any child. What hurt more was that this specific child was her own. Inside, up to his room, a strong and robust Dante had held it all in as a caring little sister attended to his wounds…

“Again?” his little sister sighed.

“It’s nothing. This will shape my future-ghk!” he ached from the medicine.

“You keep saying that…ever since dad left off with big sis, you’ve always been-“, his little sister was interrupted.

“Doesn’t matter. Big sis left in order to fill out her tuition in that school or whatever. She’s fulfilling her dream and Dad makes sure of it.”

“Are you…fulfilling your dream?”

“It’s everyone’s dream. And their hope. I just have to carry it along. I’ll be fine-hgk!-don’t worry.”

“That being said I…I need to tell you something.” she finished patching Dante's hand up.

“What is it?”

“I-I…I joined the…Remedy Knights.”, she said between her teeth.

A sudden fearful look came out of Dante’s eyes as his eyes widened, looking at his little sister with utmost sorrow.

“Lil’ sis, please. Don’t…don’t do this to me!” he yelled.

“Big bro…” she hugged him, “I beg of you. Don’t put this on yourself too. It has nothing to do with you. I just want to help everybody…and this is what I have to do.”

Dante hugged his little sister back with all his strength, “Little sis…please tell me then. You “have” to…but…do you “want” to?”

His words met with silence as the grip of her hug grew tighter and tighter.

“Do you?” he repeated himself.

They both met each other’s answers with just a tightening of their grips, as their hug only helped to further tie their love and mystery. He snapped himself back into his current reality momentarily, before bludgeoning himself into further agony as he took himself to another scene…

“Gyahk!” Dante dropped to the floor, rolling to the side.

“Haha! Hell of a commander! What the hell are you even supposed to lead? You’re just a moving pile of shit!” a young Riko approached Dante.

“Hah! Look at him! Mommy gave me fighting lessons, wooh!” another bully approached.

Dante scoffed. “Don’t beat yourself up. It’s fine your dad couldn’t make it past the rank of officer-“, Dante was kicked in the stomach.

“Shut up! You think that just because you dumbass family managed to make some shitty connections with that Frederick bastard it’d make you special?!” Riko yelled.

Dante’s older brother closed in. “It’s called “being better”, Riko. We all know that skill overrules connections in this place. It’s not Reingard, it’s Dirunon.” he approached.

A smirk came across Dante’s face. “Heh. Finally…”

“Ah, the descending brother. The man of the pact.” Riko laughed.

“Wish I could say anything even close to that.” Dante’s older brother scoffed.

Dante’s confidence grew ever so bigger the more his big brother approached the bullies.

“Here,” the other bully handed his brother a training sword.

“Speaking of mentioning anything close to that. Here’s your choice. Imagine this. The brother that strived to become the leader of the Golden Lances, only to have his ceremony immediately overshadowed by the talented younger brother who oh so willingly and legitimately got the lead of the Silver Lances.” Riko laughed. “Y’all have a family operation going on here! I mean come on, both of the highest honors out there?” he menacingly smiled, “So one of them has to prove that he tops, right?”

“What the…” Dante gazed at his older brother.

“What the hell are you thinking?” his older brother turned around.

“What I am thinking about is that you ain’t gonna be close to us for a hangout if you keep pondering on this!” Riko yelled.

Dante’s older brother stuttered. “You’re crazy…”

“Not as crazy as you’re gonna be when the whole school finds out that you wised out on dominance. Oh, not to mention your precious Golden Lances, who I’m sure will be ecstatic to hear that you gave into the newly brought-in Silver Lances Commander.”, Riko laughed.

A long stare came across both of the brother’s eyes. However, that was soon to be broken, so like their bond…

Dante’s older brother almost tiered up. “I’m…sorry…” he tightened the grip on the training sword.

“Wait…what are you-“, Dante looked up to his brother.

“Hyah!”

He could only blackout in the next few moments, as he forced himself back into his then-current reality. He did not cry. He never did. The only thing he would do is to look at the horizon, watching all his problems from afar. He sat for a moment, only looking and gazing at the glory of it all. Letting out a long sigh, he got up slowly again and turned to face the tree. He felt it with his bare hands as he slowly moved around its back. He felt the surface of the trunk, slowly as he scaled along its surface. And then…a sudden sink. He looked up to see the writing on the surface of it. “Remember me when it all goes down. I will always be there”. The writing seemed to be off. He definitely would believe some of it would be his own…but what about the other half? It seemed as if two had carved the message for each other, waiting on that tree. But who may the other be? He pondered on it for a while before returning to the front of the tree, facing the same horizon and the red rose garden. One breathe…then two. Each gets slower and heavier than the last. The sun now raising itself higher than the tips of the twin peaks, he looked at the passing of the day once more, before he had made his young and full of impulse decision…

“Hmm.”, he sighed with a nod, “This too…it shall free everyone that thought they could place their trust in me, only to hurt themselves more!”, he drew his sword.

Firmly placing the sword on his neck, he was then more than ready to turn his pondering into reality and the carvings on the tree’s trunk into a message on his neck. A note he wanted to leave behind, for himself to see hell, for his selfishness was for just this once going to show and the oath that the trunk’s carving would be broken. He kept pressing more and more against his neck, only looking at the horizon, the Silver Lances and the city of Dirunon, trying to constantly avert his attention from the blades pressuring touch. He could only stare and did what he always did under the pressure given…stutter. But not by himself. This time a silent echo in his head, a voice, was telling him the opposite.

“No. Don’t! Don’t! Please!”

The voice kept going and going. Familiar sounding as ever, he could not link it to anything he knew. Hikari? Yuno? Mellistar? Just who was that? Despite his knowledge of the matter he just couldn’t tell who it was. And so he just kept on stuttering before giving the blade the final push…