Harmonic Sync

Chapter 18: Keterburg, Mt. Roneal

We had returned to Keterburg late that night so we decided to rest up at the inn. I couldn't really sleep, every time I closed my eyes I saw Sync dropping over the edge and finally into the nothingness that waited below.

I got out of bed and quietly went outside. The snow was falling lightly and I remembered the last time I was here with Jade when I was a child.

This is my sister Nephry, Zora.

Hi...

Hehe, she's adorable. Don't worry sweetie I won't hurt you. Jade has told me so much about. I can't wait for you to see the snow falling down to the ground.

Snow?

Yes, snow.

It was here that I saw snow for the first time. Jade and Nephry smiled and laughed at me as I ran around trying to catch it in my hands.

"It was like a dream..." I muttered to myself, rising a hand up into the air letting the snow touch my hand before dissolving into water.

"Couldn't sleep?" Jade asked me coming out of nowhere.

"Do you always have to eavesdrop on me?" I chuckled lightly.

"Well no, but." I rolled my eyes.

"I was just remembering the first time I came here with you and met Nephry. I remember you two laughing at me when I was trying to catch the snow. And you trying to comfort me when I started crying because the snow kept disappearing in my hands." He chuckled under his breathe.

"Yes, it was certainly entertaining to watch."

"You told me that if we love something so beautiful and try to keep it for ourselves that it would always disappear from our grasps. I see the meaning behind that now...do you think he felt any pain?" I asked suddenly.

"You mean Sync?" I nodded and looked at the full moon.

"Probably not. His Seventh Fonons probably dissipated quickly." I looked at the ground.

"Good, I didn't want him to die painfully." I let a tear fall, I reached up quickly trying to wipe it away before Jade saw it, but he grabbed my wrist lightly.

"You don't have to hide how you feel about him, Zora. It's obvious you loved him. I knew for a long time you felt differently about him than just a friend. I could see he shared those feelings even as he was telling you a pack of lies. He wanted you to live, he wanted you to hate him so you had a reason to live." I turned and buried my head into his chest. My body started shaking letting out the sobs I had been holding in for so long.

"I do hate him, but not for what he said...for what he did. He promised me he would live with me in the new world. But he was so consumed by the fact that he was a replica that he wouldn't listen to a word I said, even after he had decided he was as good as dead."

Jade held me tightly as he listened to me.

"I know, maybe one day you'll understand a little more why he did everything he did, but I can understand from your point of view why it's so frustrating." I gripped the front of his uniform and started shaking.

"I'm afraid, Jade." He looked down at me shocked as I looked up at him. "I'm afraid..."

"Jade, Zora?" I looked away from Jade and wiped my eyes quickly as Luke came outside.

"Luke." Jade said regaining his composure.

"Why are you two up?" He asked.

"Couldn't sleep. And plus I wanted to see the snow falling." I said turning to look at him lightly.