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"Hmph. You're not the most pleasant to talk to, either," said Hector. "It's like you've just decided on everything for everyone everywhere. You're not all-knowing, Sermung. That much is obvious. Even if you are the strongest person in the whole world, you're still just a normal guy, too. Feels like you've forgotten that."

Heh. This feeling. Oh, wow. How absurdly nostalgic. "Perhaps I have. And what of it? You intend to remind me?"

"...Maybe I do."

And when Sermung felt the first blow arrive, he was in equal parts annoyed and amused. Surprised and yet not.

The old masters, Osgar included, had often spoken of this. Of how some things could not be said with words, nor even with auras.

Only with ability.

-+-+-+-+-

'WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?!'

Hector had been anticipating that reaction, but even now, he wasn't sure how to respond to it. He wasn't sure how to articulate a lot of the things that he was feeling, right now. Words. Aura. It didn't seem to matter.

But he was at least thankful that the reaper was keeping his rage within the echo of privacy. That was a good sign, he felt.

'He needs me to do this,' he tried as he soared through the air, building up speed and summoning all of his focus. Sermung was obviously giving him quite a bit of breathing room on purpose, and Hector intended to make use of it. That first strike, as expected, had done absolutely jack shit, to the guy in his gleaming crystal armor.

'What? Why?! Please explain to me why we are currently doing the stupidest thing we have ever done! Which is saying a lot, by the way!'

Hector stayed focused on the "fight" even as he tried to bring Garovel ulp to speed. He He knew there was no point in trying to ease into things when it came to someone like the Crystal Titan. Holding back was just a waste of time. 'It's like his soul is dying, Garovel. I'm trying to help him.'

The orbital technique revved up quickly, perhaps faster than ever before--and in large numbers, too. And as soon as he could, he just let it fly. Cube after cube, filled with molten lava, firing in a machine gun burst.

And Sermung just sat there in there and air took it.

Which was not a very encouraging sight, Hector felt.

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It was too dangerous to answer that, he told Hector. Not something for you to be worrying about.

Dangerous how, exactly? Dangerous because you're worried I'll betray your trust? Or dangerous because just knowing the answer will invite disaster to me?

Sermung paused again. Astute questions. Perhaps a bit too much so. Why do you ask such things? You are too young to have experience with knowledge of that sort.

My reaper isn't.

Your reaper is a non-factor.

Whoa. That's kinda rude, don't you think?

I didn't mean for it be so. But you must understand that reapers have been manipulated for Ages. Lied to, toyed with, used as pawns and then wiped of their memories.

Manipulated by who?

By things that are not for you to worry about. And you are dodging my question.

Primordials?

Some. There is connective tissue there. Now please stop asking me. For your own sake.

I'll stop when you stop trying to put the whole world on your shoulders.

Sermung's aura rumbled with a silent laugh. And a silent cry. He was trying to do too much? A sentiment he'd heard countless times in countless ways. The speakers were always right, too. And yet they were also always wrong.

You possess knowledge that you should not, Hector.

Yeah, well, maybe you do, too.

Hah. Indeed. But some things cannot be unlearned, can they?

Would you really want that, if it was possible?

I honestly do not know.

You don't know? What's the point of the Vanguard being the first through the breach if the things you find there just end up forgotten?

Hmm. That was one way of looking at it, true. But too reductive, no doubt. If only things could be so simple.

Maybe they are, Hector told him. Maybe you're making them more complicated than they need to be.

And maybe you have no idea what you are talking about, young one.

Eh, shut up, old man. Why don't you go take a nap? Seems like you need it.

Sermung blinked. Both inside his aura and out. Their conversation in the physical world took an abrupt turn as he suddenly felt the desire to cease this double talk in favor of one, singular subject.

"...I must admit, Hector, you have surprised me. I didn't realize you could be such a mouthy little shit. You concealed that part of your nature quite well."

Next page on the 21st

Thanks, everybody. Sorry for the delays.