Tales of Undeath: The Von Virtus Chronicles

LII. Emergence

Abruptly reconnected to reality, Virno's eyes flared with an eerie green glow -- the same glow that had burned in Greed's eyes. A surge of viridescent energy coursed through his body, shattering the magical restraints that had bound him and ricocheting upward to strike Ballo's torturous incantation. The sigil above dissolved with a flash, releasing its oppressive grip on Virno's senses. The sheer force of the release sent Ballo hurtling backward into the wall. Yet, with practiced grace, the elder slowed his flight and softly cushioned the impact against it, remaining unharmed.

Virno: "I saw it... I-I still see it. I know where to find the sword..."

He staggered to his feet, muscles aching as he slowly reacquainted himself with the freedom of movement.

Ballo: "What happened, young man? What did you see?"

Virno recounted everything Greed had shown him: the cradle of the world, the vision of Faya, and the locations they should reach in order to find the sword. Ballo listened in silence, his face etched with unease.

Ballo: "Greed... So the curse has taken on your likeness and now speaks to you directly, guiding you toward the sword."

His tone darkened, grave with warning.

Ballo: "Virno, you must not allow yourself to be seduced by its words! For centuries, that accursed spirit has craved release. Now it has found you -- a host, a conduit. It will twist truths and manipulate your deepest desires to achieve its goals. Resist it, no matter the temptation!"

Virno sank onto the edge of the bed, elbows braced on his knees and his head bowed, staring blankly at the floorboards beneath him.

Virno: "He showed me the truth about myself, Ballo. Things I've always known but tried to ignore. He knows I need that sword -- knows exactly what I plan to do with it."

He took a shuddering breath, his voice dropping to a whisper.

Virno: "If there were any traps in his words, I must've already fallen into them. I'll do whatever it takes to claim that blade... and Greed knows it."

Ballo paced the room, his steps deliberate and slow, hands clasped tightly behind his back as he weighed his response.

Ballo: "It's not wrong to feel that way... In fact, it is necessary."

He stopped mid-step and turned toward Virno, his voice heavy with conviction.

Ballo: "To wield the sword of Greed, you must embody its essence. True greed is not merely hunger for material gain -- it is the pure, unyielding force of desire itself. It is wanting something so fiercely, so completely, that you would stop at nothing -- not pain, not fear, not even death itself -- to make it yours."

Virno looked up at him, his brow furrowed with uncertainty.

Virno: "Is that really the kind of person I should strive to be...? It sounds... extreme. I-I don't know if it's right."

Ballo: "It sounds extreme because words distort the truth... They strip away the purpose behind an action and focus only on its cost."

Ballo gestured sharply, as though slicing the air between them.

Ballo: "Let me explain. Imagine throwing yourself into a battle you cannot win,  enduring unimaginable pain far beyond the limits of one's body, still bracing for yet another devastating blow. Imagine wielding a blade to take the life of someone who has their own family, their own dreams, their own future... Doesn't that sound monstrous? Doesn't it sound wrong?"

Virno's eyes widened, his lips parting, but no words came. In those words, he saw a reflection of his own past deeds.

Ballo: "I know, Virno... I know. And yet, would you not do all of that again -- knowing full well the horrors it entails -- if it meant saving the life of someone you love? Isn't that who you are...?"