Genesis Reality III

Chapter III - Arrival for Departure

Rin slowly walked the halls of the Light Palace, running her fingertips along the cold walls and stepping in the center of every tile trying to keep rhythm with her steps.

She stopped walking at the top of the staircase and looked over the edge to make sure nobody was there.

"Rin?" Reborn asked from behind, confused as to why she wasn't downstairs with the rest of The Conscript.

"You surprised me," Rin laughed, "Is something wrong?"

"No, nothing is really wrong... I just want to know something," Reborn asked as he slowly and gently walked down the stairs.

"What is it?" Rin quickly followed.

"When dad went away... I heard some of the guards talking about his PTSD. What really happened?" Reborn asked as he sat at the end of the staircase.

Rin's eyes widened and her face went blank.

"Do I... be honest? He does deserve to know the truth..." Rin thought to herself.

"Your father... You see, the most simple way I can put it is he was wrongfully driven. What exactly did you hear from these guards?" Rin asked before diving deeper into the situation.

"They talked about how he was a monster and fought alongside the bad guys... But you saved him," Reborn explained.

Rin looked down at her nephew and slowly walked to the railing at the bottom of the staircase, "I needed to be strong for my family. I knew that Axel could be saved, and of course, he is dealing with the after-effects of what can happen when your dreamscape is played with," Rin explained.

"I haven't fallen into my dreamscape yet. Is that bad?" Reborn asked.

"Of course not, some people don't care quite enough to channel that part of their spirits at all. You might just fall into it one night when you're sleeping. Lucid dreaming is a practice of astral projection and aligning yourself with your core. It's a lot of work but sometimes your brain and heart can work together to automatically do it when you're sleeping," Rin explained.

"I understand. But back to my dad, what's wrong with him? Can he really be cured of this?" Reborn asked, pleading his eyes and holding his hand to his chest.

"He might always live with this trauma. He was brainwashed, Reborn. But he can still live a happy life. I know he really loves you and your mom... Don't worry too much about it, he is already getting better," Rin explained.

Reborn sighed and crossed his arms, "I guess I'm just glad things are going back to normal again... I just wish... I had a normal childhood."

Rin sighed and closed her eyes, "Trust me, you have it way better than your father and I."

Annabelle slowly turned the corner of the hallway beneath the stairs and was surprised to see the two of them together.

"Oh! Rin we were wondering where you were. Everyone is ready to leave, we were just waiting-"

"I was just looking around, had to see what you guys did with my old room," Rin joked.

Annabelle grinned and looked into Rin's eyes, "I can see your pain, sweetheart. The City will be fine while you're gone."

"It's not just that..." Rin shook her head and turned away from Reborn and Annabelle, "I wish I could step in and voice my opinions on laws as someone a part of the royal bloodline..."

"Take this time to collect your thoughts and confront Axel. Trust me, Eunha and Quain can only help him so much... He misses you guys. It's the reason he planned this entire trip in the first place," Annabelle explained with a cheeky grin.