TBATE | Emergence Beyond the End

Chapter 2 The Friend-Foe Dilemma

CAERA POV

we were going around the tunnels gathering the remaing survivors.

I didn't do much, i was following Arthur as he was leading everyone, while we were heading toward the sanctuary we were able to gather the few who managed to survive , prince Curtis Glayder and his sister Kathyln Glayder.

I was in deep thought while were were walking and I couldn't help but reflect on the events that had led them to this moment.

Flashback:

Grey and I had finally found refuge after our harrowing escape from Agrona.

The journey had taken a toll on us both, but it was particularly hard for Grey after fighting Cadel and godstepping away of the area.

I was shocked by the recent turn of events and had many questions about who Grey was and what had happened to him.

we hid in a small and empty room, Grey looked at me, somewhat anxius i felt like he was about to open up to me about some of his secrets.

But before he took that step, i asked "Who are you Grey?".

He took a deep breath and began to answer my questions one by one.

"I'm not Grey," he said "I'm Arthur Leywin, from Dicathen."

He told me about the fight with Cadel and Nico back in Dicathen and how he had been teleported to the Relictombs.

He kept going and explained how he had pretended to be dead, and i had assumed he was a woman with a shattered mana core.

As he spoke, i saw how the exhaustion from the journey and the drain on his ether core had on him.

He told me that he needed to rest, and that I would explain more after.

After a brief respite, he continued explaining.

He told me about his origin and that he was from another continent.

He emphasized that i shouldn't view him differently, and that he valued the trust we had built.

Our friendship was founded on a foundation of lies, and he didn't want to keep the truth from me any more.

I wanted to know everything so that i could make my decision about whether i wanted to continue our journey together or go my own way.

I listened intently, i felt a mix of shock and empathy.

When he finished, i took a moment to digest everything.

My mind was consumed by Grey's confession. 

He was Dicathenian, an enemy, yet I couldn't help but feel drawn to him. I couldn't deny that I was intrigued by his mysterious demeanor and the way he seemed to understand Aether on a level that no one else ever had.

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to calm the confusion swirling inside my head.

 How could I reconcile my loyalty to my cause with my newfound feelings for an enemy?

Memories of my past flooded my mind.

 I had never had a real family. My adoptive parents never felt like a family to me , leaving me alone and vulnerable in a world controlled by Asuras.

And now, here was Grey, an enemy who had offered me to join him with his fight Against the High Sovereign himself .

 I didn't know what to think. I couldn't deny the pull I felt towards him, but I also couldn't ignore the fact that he was an enemy.