The room, silent as if no one dare to say, seeing the awe, dread of the soul standing there, her hands lingering still on the crown.
Everyone was glaring at her, as if she was stop in time.. Leon gave a nod to release Ender which Ruis and Zack subconsciously did, stepping back both saw him fell to his knees.. His hairs scattered over his face, as he extended his hands, looking at his palms.
"Why can't we react?. Are we weak, hopeless.. No right?. Who are we really?. We're mortal beings who fate was to became an Astran, we awake as an Astran.. Fate doesn't exist to us, anymore. With this power, godhood.. We can change the world, can we?."
He muttered. Everyone went speechless except one, Leon who went towards him, looking at him, his undreadable expression from above.. Leon sigh..
"The thing that fate doesn't matter to us is an eerie lie, we're still bound to it in some ways, in the end even we beings have to follow an order.. We aren't Gods.. We're just high beings who are blessed, yet this blessing is our curse we can't escape, no matter how hard we tried.."
He continues with a pause.
"Going back in past, it'll be useless, it's not about fate that it'll be stop us, it's the entropy.. The cause and effect, we can reverse time, go to past timelines, even change them.. But you know what'll happen next?.."
He went silent for a minute, his tone curled with dread..
"If we somehow defeat the Duke.."
Leon expression frustrated, raged as he roared.. He clenched his hairs, clenched his teeth, spilting things he never meant to say..
"It'll cause change in future, this change in future will ultimately cause change in past!. Then what?. It's same!. No matter how hard you try!. You can't!. You can't win!. Against the order!. The system!. Will power doesn't do shit here!. Only survival!. Only waiting for your time to come!.."
Leon stopped, his words had already pierced through every corner of the room, the air even though everyone.. As he sighs and says now for the last time..
"Then it's over.."
His tone relaxed, tired, dread; hopeless..
The room went silent for a minute, no one dared to say, just glared on both of them.. Lisa lowered her glaze, Ruis leaning to door's frame, his gaze fixed on what was infront of him, his arms crossed, yet anyone could tell, he was lost in thoughts.. In very deep thoughts.. Azon started honing his sword, its sounds echoing in silence..
"Then what?."
Someone spoke, shattered the silence, Azon stopped his work, Lisa titled her glaze where the voice had come, Ruis glared, Ender glanced as finally Leon titled his head aside.. Glaring at Zack who was leaning on the wall, his arms crossed, his face undreadable.. He glared at Leon, his hazel eyes sparkling, his blonde hair perfectly fine.
"If we'll died one day, then all this knowledge, all his might, all happiness, every moment we cherished. Will faded.. We're immortal indeed.. This immortality is our biggest curse you say?. That's why we take risks, go beyond our control.. To the point becoming insane.."
Zack continues with a pause..
"Exploring the unknown, the mysteries.. It's all so that we can distract ourselves, from who?. Ourselves?.. We kill to distract.. We save to distract.. We train to distract.. Going further, maintaining our character.. Our insignificant character.. We despise, so we do it more?.. Again and again until.. Our end."
Everyone's gaze witnessed something they never thought, someone who act so childish.. So innocent.. How could he say it?. He was never meant to say it.. What made him say it?.. Leon glaze startled, Lisa, Ruis, Azon all were shocked.. Yet Ender smile, a faint smile lingered on corners of his lips.. Zack sighs scratching his hair, he takes a step forward towards Leon.. All he could see was empty, dead eyes, both could the dread.. This was their truth..
"But what if?.. We persevere.. Not just our insignificance, our character, our memories, the memories which we never meant to share.. To only ourselves.. But those ones, we spent together, the ones we yearn to feel again, live again.."
Everyone fixed their attention over him.. His silence made Lisa twitches her hands, Ruis shook off his head, subconsciously.. Leon stared at him, vigorously as Azon glared at them. Zack lip corners curved to a faint smile..
"Yeah some memories can never be created.. Good or bad.. They're just preserve in heart, in soul, engraving a line to let known it's presence.. Deep within us.. If some memories made us want to give up, fall apart then it doesn't mean life is meaningless.."
He continues without a pause..
"The beauty of life is never the destination we want to go, rather the journey.. We – All have a long way to go, right?. Then should we.. Stay together till the end, so that we can die, without regrets.. As one.."
Zack cheeks curved to a smile.. An exaggerated smile..
"As a whole.. As a family.."
Oh our cursed prophet, you bear your knowledge with your sins.. You see the world through your sins.. You pay your knowledge with your sins.. Oh the burning knight.. Oh the sinful archangel.. Who are you?.. A messiah.. Or a fool?.. Zack. D. Roy..
His words made Leon lowered his head, sweating in cold sweat, his body trembling, everyone was stunned, as if they never expected to hear these words.. From him.. A fool who they thought knew nothing, yet he was the one who knew the weight of his sins.. Smiling like a fool.. Leon's lips quivered..
~ Family.. Family..
He placed his hand over his head, scrubbing his hair.. Vigorously..
~ I'm a sinner.. A monster.. Family.. Fate will punish me before this, thinking of it is a sin.. My breathing is a sin.. My walking is a sin.. My every act is a sin.. My existence is a sin.. I wish I hadn't exist.. Maybe I don't exist right?.. Just end this.. Nonsense..
Leon skin turned pale, breathing heavily.. Zack make his steps towards him, slowly, slowly until.. He embrace him.. It was warmth.. It feel warmth, right?..
None of them watched them.. They're lost in their thoughts at this moment, time had itself paused.. It's okay.. It'll be okay.. Right?...
***
[ Anastasia's Past Memories ]
The sun was heading towards the horizon. Red, yellow canvas painting the sky gold by the clouds, engulfing it, It feel like a painting came alive from fantasy.. As on the streets of Escrole..
A young lady, wearing a long sky-blue beige dress, her both hands occupied by her little ones, her siblings.. All of them had a cheerily smile on their faces, bantering with each other as they went into a ice cream cafe..
They picked their seats up before picking their favorite ice cream cups.. Chocolate and chips for the younger ones as they loved it so much.. While Anastasia takes a vanilla cup.. They enjoy, chattering their precious moments..
"Sis!. You got some over your chin.."
Her brother exclaimed, pointing towards her.. The younger sister keep her mouth shut.. Biting her lips..
"Huh?."
She touched her chin, but it was nothing there.. Surprised, she looked at her brother with a smirked.
"Hahaha!. Got you!."
He exclaimed with excitement, his little finger pointing towards her, she just giggled.. Heart fully..
Some Days Later...
It was about time, to do her mission. Anastasia had to step on this task.. This tragedy.. Waving her little siblings good bye as they embrace her before leaving, crying, as if they didn't want her to go.. She kneel to her knees, hugging them..
"Sissy!. I'll be bored.. Please come back early.."
Her brother mumbled as her sister scrubs her face on her dress.. Her shoulder..
"I promise!. I'll cook your both favorite Lasagna and Kebab when I get home.."
She kiss their forehead, as behind them was Elizabeth, her friend.. She had told to take care of her siblings while she's not here. As she opened the door, before him was Ethan waiting outside, leaning onto the carriage, his arms crossed..
"May the Greatest loved blessed you with His love."
He wished her good luck, she waved her hand at him with a warm smile. As she gets to the carriage. The rider whipped his horse as it snorted.. Started her journey.. Her last journey..
After One Day..
Anastasia had arrived to Riven.. She was staying in hotel in these nights, funded by her Order.. Today was the day, her meeting with Mr Warner had been taken place.. In his mansion..
It was a sunny day, afternoon. As she knocked on the big doors of mansion several times.. Wearing her red yukata..
Checking the time on her watch which was 2:34 PM..
As the door opened.
CREASE!
A lady wearing a maid dress greeted her as she entered, closing the door gently..