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Choosing where to go and who to help. How to allocate his limited time and power. These were becoming increasingly important things to think about, and he was starting to get the feeling that this was--in some small way--how the big, famous warriors and influential people throughout history must’ve felt.

No matter how good his intentions or how powerful he grew, there was only so much he could do at one time.

‘But that’s all the more reason why we have to keep going,’ said Garovel privately. ‘And to keep pushing, too. It’s important to remember that, no matter how crazy things might get, there are plenty of other people out there who are trying to do the same things we are. Trying to protect the world. And yeah, maybe we might not all get along or agree with one another, but ultimately, there’s still a certain level of solace to be taken in simply knowing that it’s not all on our shoulders alone.’

‘...Do you think Sermung feels that way?’ asked Hector. ‘I mean... if anyone has the weight of world on his shoulders, it has to be that guy, right?’

The reaper paused. ‘I can’t claim to know how the Crystal Titan thinks or what he ultimately believes, but I suspect it’s different from what most might expect of him.’

‘Why do you say that?’

‘Well, take this war for example. We’ve been paying close attention to the news from all over the continent, even deploying scouts to collect our own information and corroborate others’. And yet we’ve heard neither hide nor hair of Sermung’s whereabouts. Conventional wisdom would tell us that Sermung should’ve popped up by now, at least when Morgunov made his move on Sair. But no. He’s still quiet.’

Hector had to bob his head a little. ‘Yeah, I suppose that’s true... Do you think he’s... busy with something else? Or that he just, er...?’

‘...Or that he just doesn’t care?’ finished Garovel.

‘I didn’t want to put it quite like that, but... yeah. I mean, if he’s really like six hundred years old or whatever, then I guess I could understand if he’s gotten... disillusioned with keeping up the fight. I’m sure I’d be different, too, after living that long.’

‘You’ve hit on quite a popular subject throughout history,’ said Garovel. ‘And not just in regard to Sermung, either. Whenever there’s a definitive “strongest” in the world--and they’re not an evil son of a bitch--those types of questions start cropping up without fail.’