The next morning, after playing with the other children, Zidane went to see Zain.
Zidane saw Zain sitting with two people. One had graying hair and the other had black hair. Seeing them from behind, Zidane couldn't quite make out their faces.
"Somehow, I feel a bit familiar with that figure."
While muttering and trying to remember, Zidane finally decided to return so as not to interrupt their conversation.
Charlotte, seeing Zidane again, asked---
"You're back so early?"
"It looks like there are guests with Brother Zain."
"Is that so?"
"Then I'll go somewhere else first."
As Zidane turned to leave, Charlotte stopped him.
"Wait."
"What's wrong?"
"About what you said last night. How about I tell you now?" Zidane's question about Zain.
"May I? But if it's a burden for you, it's best not to." Zidane saw Charlotte's complicated expression.
"No, maybe I should have said it first. You were planning to ask Mr. Zain directly, right?"
"Yes." Zidane nodded.
"It's better to hear both sides to better understand."
Zidane followed Charlotte and they sat across from each other with a cup of warm coffee at the table.
...
Hearing Evan mention the Eternity Project to Zain, Rian was surprised.
"Isn't that classified information? Only the top brass know about it." Rian thought to himself.
Rian looked at Zain, who looked very calm, as if he didn't care.
"Is that research for humans to live forever?" Zain replied.
"You know?" Evan asked, slightly surprised.
"I once knew something similar." Zain's answer surprised both Evan and Rian.
Rian covered his gaping mouth.
"Something similar?" Rian couldn't help but wonder.
Zain's attitude made it seem as if he shouldn't be surprised by such things anymore.
"Does he know something about it?" Rian didn't dare ask.
"What is that something similar?" Evan broke the silence.
Zain was silent for a moment before answering Evan.
"You want me to tell you?" Zain asked.
"Of course," Evan replied.
"Why?" Zain asked again.
"Because I want to know," Evan replied.
"Should you know?"
"Maybe?"
Hearing Zain and Evan's conversation made Rian gape once again.
"Isn't this supposed to be a serious conversation?" Rian subconsciously turned his head toward Zain and Evan.
Zain, who saw him, smiled softly. His jade-green eyes looked deep and captivating. He couldn't see the meaning behind them.
"Should I tell you?" Zain said.
Evan chuckled.
"Ha... You've always been like this," Evan replied nostalgically.
"Is that so?"
"Of course."
Once again, Rian was confused by the conversation between the two men.
...
"Immortal or not, I don't dare confirm those words. Because to me, it's a curse, even for the dead." Charlotte began the conversation.
Zidane was taken aback by Charlotte's words.
"What do you mean?" Zidane asked.
Charlotte took a breath and collected her emotions.
"The first time I saw Mr. Zain was thirty-six years ago. Six years before the destruction of the world began."
"I was eleven years old at the time."
"Actually, I don't really remember how we met. But there's one thing I always remember."
"Beautiful and calm green eyes. A face with a cold expression. A voice that sounded indifferent."
"Actually, if you normally met someone like that, you'd find them annoying."
"But for some reason, not for him."
"The first time we spoke was when I was being bullied by my friends. I didn't know what I'd done to deserve such treatment. Mr. Zain just came over and looked at them. Honestly, his expression was terrifying. I was scared too."
"He just asked me, 'Are you hurt?' Although his face looked cold, his voice sounded strangely warm. But that was also the first and last time I spoke to him. Because after that, he suddenly disappeared."
"Then, six years later, the world was destroyed. Since childhood, I've lived with only my grandfather. Even so, my grandfather loved me very much. I loved him very much too. He was all I had in this world. Because of the monster attack, my grandfather, who tried so hard to protect me, was gone before my eyes."
"I was very sad at that time. I thought, 'Why should I continue living when even my grandfather is gone?' But then I remembered his words."
"Stay alive."
"At that time, my mind was completely dark. I couldn't think of anything. Why should I keep living when even the people I loved were gone? But I remembered his face, and even though I didn't fully understand it, I decided to keep going no matter what."
"I kept going. Even if other people gained power and I didn't, I didn't care. All I could think about was survival."
"Then one day, it happened. A huge orc smashed through everything in its path. The streets collapsed under its stomps. Buildings collapsed under its blows. Debris fell everywhere. It was like a bomb had hit. I was too late to dodge it, and my foot was crushed by the debris."
"It hurt, it hurt so much, and it was so scary. I was so scared at that moment. But I don't know if I was scared because of the pain or scared because I was going to die. I could only try to get out of there, but my head was spinning, my vision was dark, and I was just so scared, so scared. I started to close my eyes and cry."
"But even so, I still begged for someone to help me."
"Then, just as I was about to give up, I heard him."
"Are you going to give up?"
"It was a cold voice. But somehow, hearing it made my heart so calm."
"Then I tried to open my eyes. And I saw him, a face with a cold expression I thought I'd never see again."
"Just from the look in his eyes, I felt like I would be okay."
"He helped me and healed my wounds. I was so grateful at that moment. Even in a world that was in ruins, death might have been better. But my will to live was so strong."
"But then I saw him. Those green eyes that had always seemed so calm looked different from before."
"A Grieving eyes."