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"Manager?"
You turn to Officer Zhu Yuan next to you and give her an inquiring stare.
"If… someone isn't who they say they are, are they still your friend"?
You still and turn to gaze at the sky. Has she found out? Does she doubt something? Did you slip up somewhere?
Yet, you still answer.
Well, I think that person must value your company enough to keep up a farce.
"I see. Is that what you think, Wise"?
You turn and give her a reassuring smile, to provide a bit of levity. You owe her that much at the very least.
You shouldn't worry Zhu Yuan, I don't think anyone is bold or insane enough to lie to the Captain of the Criminal Investigation Special Response Team.
She puts her hand to her mouth yet you know her well enough it is hiding a smile, a smile worth a million Dennies.
"Manager, thank you. I know it isn't noticeable at a first glance, but my squad and obviously myself of course, greatly enjoys you company and-."
You smile at her and continue to listen, relieved that you seemed to assuage any suspicions about yourself.
Yet, the well of guilt within you continues to grow.
This isn't good. You're getting too attached to them.
You begin to wonder, how long do you have until you lose her company?
Until you lose your tea chats with Qingyi under the plum blossom trees.
Until you lose Seth's friendship and his unconditional trust.
Truth is the most highest of virtues, Wise.
A familiar feeling claws at your throat.
Normally, those thoughts only surface in the dead of night. They disappear with a glass of water and a pill. One of the many you take.
Phaethon and Wise. Two Twin faces. Two identities. Both dancing on strings like the Twin Marionettes doomed to dance forever in the Ballet Twins Hollow.
A Janus in human flesh.
You remember.
Wise, listen to me. Evil is nothing but an absence of empathy. Without empathy, how will we actually live and not just survive?
What is evil? Is it within you? Is it the crimes on your record that you hopefully will never see? Or is it what Teacher has always told you?
You hesitate, a part of you almost wants to confess. To tell your friends everything, from the day you lost everything, from the rise of Phaethon-
You just wanted then to understand. To know that this friendship, that is shrouded in lies, half-truths, and deception, is still genuine. That-
Despite everything, it is still you.
You are firm in your beliefs. Just as Zhu Yuan is firm in hers.
(But still, doubt clings to you.)
Are you doing the right thing?
You wonder at times to what lengths are you willing to go to discover the truth, and avenge if need be, your Master.
A memory comes to you unbidden. The day Phaethon was created and Wise and Belle Arna ceased to be.
Belle, this is our last chance to find that Ethereal. Our only chance. I know you're worried about the risk involved. But… we have to find her.
Ok bro, but promise me that you put yourself in danger. I- I can't lose anyone else.
You remember the screaming of that day. The fires burning alongside you, the Hollow erupting and consuming everything, the ash and dust cascading as you took Belle and ran.
A lovely day turned into a nightmare. Terror raptors attacking your home. That horrible hand ethereal grabbing your mother teacher.
The look on Carole's face, the fear in her eyes yet still telling you to run is the last memory you have of her.
Automatous Tactical Attack Units behind you, Armored Hati and Goblin Ethereals to your left. No time to get the car. You have to get Belle out before corruption happens. Before you both die.
You have to run.
You ran and ran until you had no energy left. You couldn't breath, Y O U C O U L D N ' T B R E A T H E, W H E R E I S S H E ? W H E R E I S C A R O L E ? W H E R E I S T E A C H E R ?
Master, your epinephrine and cortisol levels are rising rapidly, I will administrate a controlled shock to re-calibrate your nervous system.
Fairy. You still don't know how to feel about her.
But she's useful, so she can keep her secrets. For now.
"-nager?! Are you alright? You were spacing out-
That's right. You weren't in the Hollow. You were in New Eridu. On the rooftop of your videostore. Belle is downstairs tending to the store like every Thursday.
Today is Thursday. Phaethon's anniversary is approaching.
We must, for Master, for the ones that perished. We cannot let them sully what we-, what Helios Academy has always stood for.
You want to be selfish, just this once.
There have been many points where you wanted to be selfish, to confess everything, for someone to understand.
Charon could have understood. Your connection, however brief your time was together, was second only to Belle. You wonder from time to time, where is she… Has she been resting? Is she happy? But your chance has long since gone, buried under sheet music and a harmonica, a final gift to you.
Yet you're here, with Zhu Yuan fretting over you. And for a foolish instant, you feel safe. You don't worry about hidden identities and well-meaning officers.
Even if your situation is akin to a fly hanging out with spiders.
You make your choice. You decide to give Zhu Yuan a piece of yourself.
Zhu Yuan, If you ever need someone to confide in, I'm always down for a chat. I'll always be your friend, no matter what.
She looks at you. You think something twists on her expression, but you aren't sure if it wasn't just your imagination.
"Manager…, you're a good person. I guess there are some things I'm not really sure of. Things I can't-
Can't tell to a civilian?
"…You could say that i guess, but it's really about trust. I love my job but sometimes…"
You understood. Of course, you did.
Sometimes, you don't want to be Phaethon. You want to be Wise, but Wise is in what remains of Eridu, he's buried below thousands of worries and burdens of a Master who has been long since missing.
Wise is just a simple videostore owner on Six Street. He's a documentary fan with great friends. He's a fan of Astra Yao. He's the brother of the best little sister in the world.
Wise has nothing to worry about.
Phaethon is faceless. A phantom. Phaethon is relentless. Chasing after a goal with no end in sight. No leads. Nothing.
But…
Are you willing to use any means at your disposal?
You swallow.
You know you are running out of time.