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My blade to sever fate rests in my hand as I wait within THEIR domain. This is the other shore where souls I have guided come to rest. This is the river devoid of life and meaning. This is where all of Nihility gathers, under the cold gaze of the black sun before me. My role in the coming resistance has been decided, but I have time before it is to be fulfilled. Until Stelle graces me with her presence here.
Stelle…even thinking of her name sends a pulse through my aching heart, coursing through my veins to bring a needling sensation to my fingertips. I grip my sword for reassurance, taking a deep breath as I gaze at the starlight above. It’s been less than a system hour since we’ve awoken from Ena’s dream, and the heartbreak is still fresh in my mind. It seemed as if I had only just begun to accept the possibility of loving someone again, and now it had been torn away from my grasp without warning.
I begin to wonder how much I even dreamed. Did I even dream…no, it doesn’t matter. Whether I saw those two or not does not truly matter. I know what their answer would be for me. To push forward, for all that is beautiful. To win her heart in reality, as she won mine in my dream. I can practically hear Elysia humming in approval.
Before I know it, time is up. I hear footsteps approaching in the darkness, softly parting the waters as a girl with gray hair comes running towards me in this expanse. My, my, so eager, my beloved Stelle. I half smile to myself, knowing that the eagerness is her anticipation of what's to come and not to see me. That's okay, however. When we're done here, these stars will be forever etched into her mind.
“Acheron!” She shouts and waves as she approaches, and I turn the rest of the way to face her head on. When she gets to me, she stops to catch her breath. “Sorry for the wait! I'm here now, and ready to finish this fight.”
So earnest, this girl. Restraining my arm from the urge to reach forward and caress the younger girl's cheek, I simply nod in approval. “Welcome to this side of the river. I only hope I don't have to guide you from this place again…” I turn and start walking, gesturing for Stelle to follow behind. I can tell she's scanning the whole of the area, trying to get a feel for this place.
After walking for a few moments in silence, I'm met with a question. “Is this, like…your domain?”
I take pause and simply nod. “It's a bit simplified, but I suppose the analogy works. This is where all souls who meet Nihility’s end come to rest, at this horizon of the black sun.” I gesture broadly in the direction of the black hole that gazes silently upon us. “This is the place that haunts my dreams. The final resting place when we are gone.” Noticing that my companion is already somewhat bewildered, I offer a small giggle. “It's okay, Stelle, you don't have to be so stiff around me.”
She seems quite taken aback by this, and hesitates before speaking again. “I'm trying not to, but you've got this whole mysterious cool beauty vibe going on and it's making it really hard not to hang on your every word! Plus we've barely been able to spend time around each other so this is…a lot, before we even get into how you've undergone a makeover!” Her words are like a needle to my heart, a sharp and glancing pain. I have my confirmation that our time together was mostly fabricated by my dreams.
“I suppose that's true. At least, for you, it is.” Before I know it, I'm saying and admitting far too much about my own experiences. Noting the quizzical expression that now paints her adorable face, I close my eyes and inhale deeply. “Stelle. As you may know by now, I am a Self-Annihilator. One who has been steeped deeply in THEIR abyss of nihility and lived to tell the tale…for now. This has stripped me of memory and function, and I will continue to deteriorate as long as I live.”
Stelle gasps in surprise, and I find my heart wincing. Somehow, it's much harder having this conversation the second time around. “Does that mean…you're going to die because of this?” Her question gives my heart all the more reason to ache, and all I can do is nod in response. “That's far too cruel!” She cries out in protest, gesturing towards the black hole. “Has it not already taken enough from you?”
“A question I sometimes ask myself.” I give her a small smile, but it does not seem to calm her down. How funny that this girl who has barely known me can react so strongly about my life. It reminds me of a certain scene on a school rooftop, many years ago…I continue with my story. “I have been searching all this time for a way to sever myself from this fate. Whether it is to kill IX THEMSELF or to go beyond Nihility to whatever lies beyond…” I turn away from Stelle to face the pale light of the black hole. “Whatever lies beyond it must be dazzlingly bright. I will make it there someday, but first…”
I trail off on purpose, prompting a somewhat awkward silence. All intentional, of course, as I steel my nerves for what's to come. Stelle breaks the silence once more with yet another forward question. “But first we have to kick some other Aeon's butt?”
I can't help but chuckle at her comment, nodding in approval. “Yes, of course there's that, but I had something else in mind first…” I turn to face her. “Stelle. We all were given sweet dreams by the Order, were we not? You asked me what my dream was…and I could not reply. Because even I sometimes dream of impossibly bright futures…and this one being taken from me was all too harsh for all I have already lost.”
Stelle shifted and cast her gaze downward, scratching the back of her head. “Acheron…I'm really sorry to hear that…but you and I both know that waking from a false dream is what is right.”
“Of course. I wouldn't dare suggest otherwise, not after….what I've seen happen before.” I take a step towards her, and then another. “I'm simply going to do everything I can to get that dream back.”
Her eyes meet mine, and I hear her gasp at how close the two of us are. “A-ah. I'm glad to hear you've bounced back so quickly!” She seems to try to regain her composure quickly and respond with as much stoicism as she can muster…how cute.
I smile genuinely at her, and then ask her one final question. “Stelle. Are you ready?”
She perks up and clenches her fists, pumping one into the air. “I'm ready! Let's take down the Order and kick some bad guys out of town!”
“Good.” One more step forward and I'm far within her personal space. Before she can react, my hand reaches around to hold her by her lower back while the other unsheathes my sword. “Stelle. I want you to know something before you go from this place.” My white hair drapes across my face, shielding my red eyes, as my blade to sever fate is once more relieved of its shackles. I can see the fear and confusion in her eyes, but I press forward.
“In my dream, we went from perfect strangers to walking hand in hand. When I awoke, I realized I still loved you.” My blade comes down in a flash, red light streaking across this world of black and white and gray. Stelle’s beautiful amber eyes widen in shock at my words, but I have more still to say. “I will love you until every star burns out in this beautiful sky.”
Before she can respond, my lips are upon hers. Her lips are just as soft as they were in the dream, I realize with glee. For a moment, I feel my ashen heart flare with fire and heat. Knowing our time is short, I release her and push her away. My strike holds true and shatters the sky behind us, the tide rising to take Stelle away from me. She reaches out for my hand, but I simply turn and walk away.
We will surely meet again, on the other side. Good luck, my beloved Stelle. Bring back reality for everyone, so I can show you just how beautiful you have made my world.