Selfishness.

Where does everything even start? The Old World's ancient history, lost within the Seas of Time? Or better yet, this New World littered with unpredictable opportunities and beginnings?

Once he fully contemplated it, clad entirely in shadows, he shook his head against the pillow. August suddenly jumped up and then held his head while groaning. Regardless of how tired he was, he wasn't going back to sleep anytime soon. So, he slipped out from under the sheets and scratched his bum. The moon still lingered above ground, oozing out bundles of white light from its surface and onto his face as he now laid in a candle-lit bathtub with bubbles censoring his genitalia.

Upon sinking deeper into the water, not only did he softly moan, but his damp white strands atop his head separated amidst the tub. His mind lost amid the sound of running water and sweet scents; August reminisced about his present surroundings.

'I still can't believe Kima did that to the battlefield. So many soldiers sacrificed their hearts to our cause. Not because we tricked them, but because we told them the truth. I know things happened the way they did. I can't ever change that, but I can't help but wonder why regardless. Why did that disturbing scenery have to occur--in the first place?'

Staring at his previously submerged hand while debating what happened earlier, August sighed as his thoughts came to an end. Sinking further into the bath, bubbles emerged where his lips would be underwater.

'I should've gone instead. Back then, just one blast from Red or Green would've decimated all the Remnant World.'

He briefly reminisced on her innocent, pale face. Surprisingly enough, just one instance of remembering her red-eyed features sent tears dripping down his face. The first and only girl he ever loved, surpassing even Kristina's freckled appearance.

'I can't believe I've only had sex twice.' He let out an exasperated sigh after this thought.

"And not even with Celine," he added aloud, exiting the bathtub.

Now stark naked in the middle of the bathroom, the towel he'd grabbed rustled around his moistened hair and then completely dried it. Slipping the towel off his head, he looked into the mirror and sighed at himself.

To think that something as convincing as this form was completely inorganic was unbelievable. Despite his reluctance, though, he could hear the unfortunate whirring with every tiny movement his arms slowly enacted. August hung his head, stifling a desperate chuckle. Once more did his attention lock onto his palms, wrinkled from the warm water he so quietly enjoyed.

'Why should I have gone anyway? Does every problem in this world have to be solved by my hand? How am I supposed to rid the whole world of crime? And if not the whole world, even just the Capital is tiring enough. Why should others have to suffer just because of someone else's self-righteous bullshit?'

He wrapped the towel around his waist and walked back into his bedroom. Leaving wet footsteps in his wake, August entered the closet and sorted through his clothing.

'If only none of them had ever been born. Then they wouldn't have to suffer the way they do now as Evolutionaries and Hybrids.'

Then, it hit him.

'If… none of them had any powers then… we wouldn't be the Evolutionary Capital anymore. It'd just be a human city without the Requiem threat. But am I deciding that?'

August unhooked some clothes from different hangers. After stripping the towel from around his waist, he slipped his legs into striped pajama pants. Stretching his arms to the air, August unleashed a yawn from his widespread mouth and walked toward the mattress once more. Sitting against the bed's edge with his hand against his head, he further pondered this complex theory, enveloped almost entirely in shadows.

'What the hell am I even doing? Thinking about stripping the Capital's denizens of their powers—surely, that's impossible. And since it is, that means my only other choice is to continue doing what I'm doing; further perpetuate this putrid cycle of hate, or slaughter everyone threatening us in the outside world. That's what Dad did. He grew tired of the way things were, and he brought the fight to them. Or, in other words: he sent billions of innocent souls to be tortured in Hell for all of eternity. If the path of genocide is the only solution available for us to survive then… I could do it. If it's just me, I can do it. Using Corrupted Bolt and Orderly Thunder in tandem as I did against Kuno, I could massacre the world.'

Touching the tips of his middle finger and thumb together, the other three extremities pointed forward. Just one simple invocation and everyone would die. After all, he was the Requiem Reaper, the one destined to save the world, the one the wind sang about that would assuredly bring about change to this chaotic New World.

But that was just it. For so long, he was the Reaper—Herald of Death. In the end, he'd be the same as his father was to those unfortunate victims: their destined destroyer. While considering the decimation of the world's population, his discolored eyes symbolizing omniscient Eternal Sight gained a weary weight.

'But I… can't accept an end like that..!'

Even after everything that's happened, August was hesitant to commit worldwide genocide. And because of that simple fact, he looked back on what he told Katie. Riverton's destroyed environment littered with disfigured corpses was where he heard her dream for the first time. Out of all the replies he could've given to her, he remembered that one he undoubtedly said in the past without a hitch of unwillingness audible in his vocals.

'I want to fight for those close to me, not the people I can't even see. Whether that's noble or not isn't my concern. As long as my family is happy; that's good enough for me.'

Hand on his face, August grunted. Did he lie to her face when she told him about a dream anyone else would've carelessly disregarded? Her dream wasn't 'just' in the slightest yet she admitted that truth to him over anyone else. Why? Their bloodlines, threaded by an invisible string, were destined to stand. Whether it be as enemies or allies, that was the unchangeable destiny of their fates. His black-haired niece gifted with that wholesome face, blue eyes sparkling as she confessed her truth… what would she think if she knew he lied to her?

'Wasn't it supposed to end back then? The Old World where we lived with everyone. We're doing the same thing with the Capital as dad did with the Empire. The same mistakes—the same tragedies over and over again. To think that I'm the one who led the reconstruction, too…'

He held his head in his hands with quivering teeth and teary eyes. Looking at the carpeted floor, he shakily sighed with cracks in his vocals. Then, August peeked out a nearby window, noticing the lowering moon. Soon, the night would end. And with it, a new day would inevitably come as the sun supremely reigned over everything surrounding it.

He decided to meet with his son and the others after their school day upon the morning's arrival.

Walking toward them as they exited while waving, a fake smug smile stained his mouth. From then on, everything remained the same. August pulled Ace along so they could spend time together while he silently debated the path they'd inevitably choose. Besides his son, hands in his jacket's pocket, August's shaded eyes stared ahead as that line he spoke echoed endlessly into the Seas of Time.

'Living life to the fullest with acknowledgment and pride of who you are—who you're meant to be, that's how everyone should live their lives, right?'

Ace raced off upon hearing Jefferson's calling voice. Left behind, hands still pocketed, August temporarily watched from afar and finished his words.

'No matter who you are.'

Later that same day, he held that unforgettable expression. Clenched teeth, bloodshot eyes with tears barely squeezing out both ends. Everyone surrounding him curiously wondered why he'd ever make such a face. But for him, it made complete sense. There was no more denying it now. The New and Old Worlds were almost entirely identical—but why? Why did things have to be the way they were and never change, no matter how hard they tried? What point even was there in trying anymore? Or better yet… What point was there in living anymore?

He could never kill everyone beyond the Capital. And sure, that'd solve their problem but what next? The only portion of humanity existing would be those inside the City's cramped Evolutionary walls. After the hatred beyond was extinguished, the hatred within could continue to fester. It was a disaster waiting to happen. And August, for one, couldn't stand being a part of it any longer.

That was when he chose the path of inaction.

But then, his soul felt a familiar presence amid those suicidal thoughts. More than anything he longed for before, there he was—seemingly returning from the dead. Alexander Amara was just resting beyond the walls surrounding the City against a nearby tree trunk. So, he didn't have to do anything. All he had to do… was wait.

'Hates makes people do stupid things. It's the same with love. The Requiem's power would always persist until the end of everything, but I didn't want it to be my merciless bloodline that perpetuated it. Alexander Amara. I'm sure he's the one who can end this. Our Requiem legacy…'

August was punched to the ground by Alex after the conflict between the Evolutionaries and Hybrids. Turning around to stare up at his former pupil, the Reaper chuckled before lowering his head.

'What about your children? Won't they care if you're gone?'

'What're you even talking about? From this moment onward, my death is assured. And even after I die, their lives will continue. I just hope…'

After that night, August and Azazel shook hands under the moonlight at a street corner. Their fair-skinned features brightened courtesy of the moon's irradiation.

'They'll lead peaceful lives…'

Ace conversed with Alex on the couch inside d his apartment. Taking a puff from the blunt they were smoking, Divergence's scarlet coloration peeked out the window.

'Even after my death.'

Following her breakdown in Kim's arms just earlier that day, the trio of girls laughed amongst themselves. Each new step they took down the sidewalk led them closer to that familiar apartment complex.

'Azazel…'

August smiled while lovingly whispering his brother's name. One simple call and the Detective's head raised. Their eyes met. Augustus Rivera spoke his last words, and broke the barrier between time, for even three years in the future, Azazel Karlo remembered what he said… and what it meant.

'Thank you. For everything.'

Hands behind his head, he looked out the window while resting against a bed. It was sunset. The sun descended over the distant mountains and the curtain of night fell once more over the previously bright fiery-orange sky. He turned away and now focused on the ceiling, sighing immediately afterward.

"I hate you… August."

He insulted the Reaper one last time. Before he drifted away to float throughout the sinews of unpredictable slumber, he turned away. A tear leaked out, coursing downstream against his cheek before staining his skin with a wet streak.

As quickly as he'd arrived, the Requiem Reaper had vanished. Dead, killed by none other than his Blackened sword.

No matter the circumstances surrounding August's desired demise, Azazel would have to live with that guilt on his shoulders until his dying breath.

To Be Continued.