The Core of Evil
The Universe Keeps Turning
{{{ Meanwhile }}}
{{{ Arcadia }}}
His footsteps sounded light, yet were able to fill that empty passageway. The only person who was walking in a dim place was as if it was mourning the passing of someone
He can feel that. He knew what the place was going through at the moment. So he lowered his head, giving him some respect
His gaze was blank, but he knew where the goal he wanted to achieve was. Not long after, but the place still feels very long—unlike usual
Perhaps it was because he was usually enthusiastic about tracing through that passageway. But due to his emptiness at this moment, he did not feel excited at all
...
He could hear a loud bang on the wall, starting to dim the sound of his footsteps. His eyes started to lift up slightly, knowing with the situation that would welcome him up ahead there
Inside a door of the fleet personnel room. Which was supposed to be filled by 2 people per room, but now there was only one desperate moaning sound in it
"Open"
{ACCESS ACCEPTED}
{WELCOME VENIA ARIEL}
And yes. His guess did not miss at all
His guess never misses about 2 people in this universe. 2 people who are big with him, even though they are 1 and 5 years below
He went inside the room, found one of his beloved younger siblings— with his bloody handbooks and a large crack in the wall of the room
He wanted to feel annoyed as usual. But his heart also felt hollow. He knew exactly how people felt in front of him at that moment
"... I'm not sure you gave notice that you're coming here to me, Ariel" the voice that sounded to drive away was directed at him
Ariel was immediately sad. Unusually, Jay, who was always enthusiastic about seeing his presence, suddenly kicked him out
Not discussing, if they had just met after a long time without meeting face to face
The last time they met, Jay tried to...
"Amitha that bastard wants to give me an additional punishment...?"
"No" Ariel finally replied. "I came here because I was worried about you"
"Hmmm!"
Jay laughed as if to mock. He felt as if what Ariel said there was something meaningless nonsense
"You Venians always have a sweet mouth. It's like it's your talent from birth"
"But-"
"Shut up! You have no right to say you're worried about me after what Azure went through thanks to all of you!"
Ariel flinched
It wasn't the first time she was so violently yelled at by Jay, but it still sounded painful every time it happened
His head was again bowed. But this time -
ariel doesn't know what to say
"... I don't need your fake sympathy. So out"
Jay kicked him out again. Just like before...
...
...
...
Yet...
Ariel actually began to step forward towards Jay—still with his head down. That certainly surprised Jay, who began trying to drive him away further by giving a furious face
"Ariel"
The sentence was immediately cut by Ariel who immediately reached for his right hand, then quickly put something on it until the hand felt pushed aside— made Jay aghast in pain
He wanted to scream, but did not want to do it in front of Ariel right now
"Still being tough hm...?"
Ariel's sentence provoked a surprised reaction from Jay. But his tone did not sound mocking. He sounds very melancholy
So did his eyes now, as he continued to stick the cooling module he had patted onto Jay's hand just now
"Azure won't be happy to see you right now" he said again. "Hit the wall until it cracks and your hand bleeds. Doesn't have that lazy face of yours. Then yell at me"
Ariel then laughed at me imagining something. "Perhaps if she sees this, all she'll do after scolding you is take me for a walk"
"The boy likes you Ariel-"
Jay almost fully retorted, but he immediately folded his tongue to stop. His eyes were turned on, not wanting to face Ariel who started to raise her head back to look at Jay
"I know" Ariel replied. "Just..."
Ariel also stopped her sentence by sighing and lowered her head back. "Not so." he said.
He also led Jay slowly so that the two of them could sit on a more comfortable mattress. Side to side, as long as they don't stop Jay's hand healing
"You know. I don't even remember most of what happened after we started fighting the Maledict of Corruption" Ariel started talking again
"When I woke up, Venia Lumia was already sitting with a bluish sole. We don't need to talk about Jun. And when I read that during the fight I was controlled by that man named Tenet, I felt ashamed as a Venia...
I failed to realize every threat. I failed to execute and execute a mission. And I failed as a friend to all three of you..."
"And you failed to see that Amitha was the rotten man you had to get rid of, and all of you got rid of"
...
The atmosphere was instantly silent as Ariel became furious back at him. Jay's eyes widened in shock, especially when Ariel threw her hand filled with annoyance
"We still need Amitha, Jay! He was the only one who knew what he was doing, so even Gunther just looked like a fool even though he was the head of Arcadia!"
"And it is he who will be the destruction of this Armada!!"
They are both strong with their own arguments. No one intends to give up on the other side, due to ego and a sense of resentment for something
No one's trying to see each other's sides. Both also know, if it feels would be very heavy when they can know each other's side...
Even being in their current position was stifling...
...
"You know---?"
Jay began to sob as his tears fell...
The heartbreaking sight made Ariel widened in pity...
"When you saved me on that day from the destruction of our hometown - Then met Azure and Jun-I really thought the four of us would always be family-!"
"..."
"But I can't even save any of you--! Azure is now disappearing-Jun is not-I almost lost you too--! Everything collapses in an instant just because- I can't do anything--!!"
"Jay-jay!"
"You don't understand Ariel!! I can-I can banish Azure from leaving at that time---! I can-Keep Jun's death with so---!!"
"Then exchange your life for Jun?!"
Ariel couldn't take it anymore. Her frustration peaked, until she spontaneously stepped forward and-
*PLAK!*
...
-- Slapping Jay right on his right cheek
...
...
...
"Conscious!" Ariel yelling. "Jun didn't die to make you look miserable like this!"
Jay...
He's not flinching at all. He was silent right in front of the girl who was trying to catch her breath in order to get back in order
Ariel resigned. Knowing that nothing would make Jay happy other than getting myself—O-2507 back, his friend would not listen to him
His friend's heart and ears were closed to every word he said. Ariel wasn't even sure if they could be called 'friends' anymore...
They were now nothing more than superiors and subordinates. Or worse, strangers who give bad impressions to each other
People who don't know each other anymore...
...
...
...
"If there's anything you can do Ariel, help me get out of this place..."
"...!"
A bad word...
That's the worst sentence a single friend can hear at least talk to and listen to him. The friend left for her went through all this
But, the sense of responsibility he had over Arcadia and the humans in Terra, was mixed up with the personal feelings he had. He wasn't even sure, if he did leave Arcadia, he would have a place to live
Terra is his home. Its place grew and developed, so the fate of the planet itself now rests on its shoulders. And the planet loved itself as a human being
It was just that, as a friend or a protector of the universe, he had to choose
...
And he has chosen...
"I can't do it now. But, it will be possible if 3 months have passed"
Jay's eyes suddenly lit up filled with a light of hope. Not one bit did he think that Ariel would agree. And if he's not wrong...
"3 months? That means, until my prison term is over??"
Ariel nodded, so Jay again responded by asking, "Really?!"
But he did not wait for an answer from Ariel. Reflexes because his head was filled with pleasure at that time, Jay immediately hugged the girl without a second thought.Once laughing happily
"You're the best, Ariel! Let's go together!" he called out as the two occasionally swung around like a child
Funny right? Ariel was usually happy when she saw her two younger brothers acting like that. He would usually also jump around like that with enthusiasm
But now...
Of course he's not happy...
He will never be happy again. That, was a sin that he had to atone for the rest of his life...
He had to accept that the world and the universe kept spinning
