pearl of wisdom

[Season 2] Chapter 49 - Tactician's Grit

". . . Ah, so this is what it is." The King's voice was stern and cold, not like the sea's that could bask in sunlight, but like space, like eternal nights that had never known warmth, "Alright, since we're both buying time, I'll entertain you."

"Narcissistic aren't you?" You crossed your arms over your chest, as though unfazed by the king, "So, what are you, a near flawless being, so frearful of?"

"Did you know? When you begin to see all causes and effects from the same height as God. . . I began to play around with fate. I now seek to place even fate under my control."

". . . There's no denying it. You're insane. For a human to play God, do you really think you can do it?" You closed your eyes, surpassing the shivers down your spine, voice weary like wavering tides, "You. . . you haven't even transcended from yourself."

"You already know my forces are currently escaping after destroying the mirror as we speak." You opened your eyes, "Ah, is that so? Then right now, as you may already know, I'm. . ."

". . . done taking this." And in front of him, in a flash of blue light was the bracelet Gustang wanted, "Interesting, so you deemed that to be more important than killing the boy who's existence you don't understand."

"The boy, if he is worthy then he shall appear before me again in the future." In an instant, before you could blink or think, before you could even see, there was a hand wrapped around your throat, "Or, I can start by killing you: the exception to destiny."

A luminescent tail flickered violently, horns and scales glowing on and off akin to broken streetlamps. It's only when a sea resounding crack could be heard did their glow no longer prevail, now as limp as tattered petals.

Was it because it was the last moment that a miracle was possible? Or was it because a miracle had occured that the last moment had come? Zahard didn't know, but then what he also didn't know was the irony of his own words: for how could someone subject to destiny be an exception to it?

Alas, nothing seemed to go his way for the corpse in his hand vanished into luniscent drifting bubbles and fishes escaping from sea, and the bracelet by his side had vanished into the wind. Along with his vanishing surroundings, as though eaten by white light— was himself, who was devoured as well. That's the treasure-eating stingray. Gustang. . . !

— —

"I have a lot to tell you," your voice fell into a vulnerable whisper, "so please listen closely."

"If you want," a gentle smile, "then it will be done."

The two of you lingered in comfortable silence for a moment, basking in the other's presence as you gathered your words and thoughts. Before the moment could end, you spoke, "I predicted all possible futures I could. In most of them, none of us will be able to exit the Hidden Floor alive. So, I constructed this core before sun and moon with help to prevent that. This is a very meaningful place to me."

". . . When Baam fights Zahard, there's a chance you'll be roped into some trouble. Please, stay strong and have heart." You shook your head and pressed your lips together, you shouldn't say much more, lest your hard work shall crumble like a tower of dust to the wind, "Anyways, I mustn't say much more but know this; I may be away for a while. But you mustn't lose faith. Have heart."

"[Name]. . . why are you. . .?" Khun mumbled, words barely coherent, "That sounds too much like—"

"Don't worry," voice as soft as tender bubbles, you brought a hand to his head, smiling through the silvery light, "we may not be protected after this, but we'll still have everything we want to protect. So there's no need to be scared."