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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."