"…What… did you say?"
Revy's lips moved slightly, as though trying to speak—but no words came out.
"Strange, isn't it?""But Revy, you already knew. Teresia had a severe case of Oripathy—it had already affected her vision, her hearing, even her ability to speak."
Revy lowered his head and nodded silently.
Teresia's illness had never been a secret within Rhodes Island. Even with Kal'tsit, Terra's finest doctor, working to keep her condition stable, years of overusing Originium Arts—especially through self-sacrificing, high-output casting—had pushed her to the brink.
"But… if Kal'tsit had focused on treatment, maybe…"
"Maybe she could've bought herself some time? Yes, that's true.""But Revy, did you ever stop to think about what she wanted?"
"…Her Highness…"
"Would she rather spend the rest of her days lying helpless in a bed or wheelchair—reduced to a burden and a symbol? Or go out as a martyr, passing on her beliefs, her ideals, and her hope?"
A sharp pain pricked at Revy's chest.
A possibility he had never dared consider suddenly surfaced in his mind.
Why had Amiya taken Teresia's place as leader after her death? Why had she inherited Teresia's Originium Arts?
Was it all a coincidence? Or was it… destiny?
What once seemed like an absurd theory now felt hauntingly plausible when paired with this version of "Teresia's" calm explanation.
"…You're right.""That's the truth behind Teresia's death. And the reason why Babel collapsed—and Rhodes Island rose in its place."
Revy clenched his fists.
This may have only been one side of the story—her version of the truth—but every detail fit. It was logical. Convincing.
He believed it.
At least… mostly.
"Then who are you, Teri?""Why are we both here? What happened to me back there? What was that thing…?"
Faced with Revy's barrage of questions, "Teresia" didn't answer.
Instead, her expression turned distant… and a little sad.
"…Time's up."
(Time? What time?)
Just as Revy tried to respond, his mind grew hazy—his body felt weightless.
A powerful force began dragging him out of this strange dream-world.
"Wait! I'm not—!"
"Looks like we'll have to talk again next time, Revy.""Don't worry. I'll always be here… waiting for you."
Her voice was soft—almost hypnotic.
Revy's awareness began to fade.
"For now… please, rest."
A gentle kiss landed on his forehead.
And with it—Revy's consciousness went dark.
——Scene Break——
"Amiya. I think you need to see this."
Standing beside the young Kjerag girl was Kal'tsit.
Since returning from Chernobog, Amiya had nearly shut herself off from the world—abandoning her duties as leader and locking herself away.
She blamed herself. Her recklessness had cost lives in Chernobog.
Scout and his entire squad were lost. Ace's unit had taken heavy casualties. And most important of all—
Revy was missing.
Regulus Harvey—Codename: Edge, former Babel elite, legendary Catastrophe Messenger.
His name meant everything to Rhodes Island.
To Amiya… even more so.
But none of it could be undone.
She feared looking at the casualty report, afraid to see familiar names followed by cold, red-lettered status markers.
"DEAD. M.I.A."
There was little difference between the two.
"I'm fine, Doctor Kal'tsit… I just want to be alone for a while."
Amiya forced a smile and accepted the folder.
As expected, Rhodes Island's operators had begun combing the battlefield—recovering gear, identifying the missing and the dead.
"…Unidentified Originium spires at the battlefield center?"
Amiya's ears twitched slightly as she read.
Her brow furrowed.
"Is this… Reunion's doing?"
"No.""According to witnesses, the Originium formations were stained with blood—Reunion's blood."
"…A natural Catastrophe, then?"
Reunion had apparently been hit by an indiscriminate, chaotic strike.
Normally, that would be something to celebrate.
But Amiya couldn't find the heart to feel relieved—because Revy had been there too.
If Reunion had been hit that hard… he may not have survived either.
"There were also traces of Reunion's withdrawal.""Our analysts believe they suffered a heavy blow and had no choice but to abandon the contaminated battlefield. No Rhodes Island casualties were found on-site."
Amiya perked up slightly.
"You mean…"
"Regulus Harvey… I don't trust him, and frankly, I don't like him.""But I can't deny it—Edge has a miraculous talent for cheating death."
"He's slippery. And lucky."
——Scene Break——
"…You're awake."
When Revy opened his eyes, he didn't see Talulah.
He didn't see Amiya.
He saw someone else entirely.
But someone he knew very well.
"You should be grateful. If I hadn't dragged you out of that rubble, you'd either be dead from the collapse or suffocated under it."
That teasing voice, mixing jokes with truth—so familiar.
The blue-haired Sankta girl smiled faintly, her eyes calm, gazing at Revy still lying on the ground.
Revy exhaled.
Then, at last, smiled.
"Still the same as ever… In any case—long time no see, Mostima."