Don't Make That Mistake Again

"But I couldn't let go of the fact I was a murderer. I've already lost so many comrades throughout the thousands of years I was on this planet. I didn't mean for anyone to get hurt. But, it's true that during my pilot days in the Congregation, I was torturing the recruits left to right and center."

"Years later, I learned to tone down when I met a match, which was my prime student who survived the harsh training. As for the kids, it was a whole new different challenge and pain. Knowing you caused them to die, you took everything away from them just for a silly dream."

"In the end, I couldn't find Astria anywhere, and I went back to the room filled with the children. There was no way of turning back to normal, so I ended their misery by the Leo Constellation, setting the whole place ablaze," explained Z, ending his story filled with guilt.

We couldn't see his facial expression, but we didn't need to see it to know how painful was this memory for Z. Bryan felt looked sad for Z while I remained indifferent. Sure, it's a tragic story, but I'd known that the members of the Congregation of capable of mass killings.

Call me a psycho or unsympathetic, but that's the truth. I couldn't be bothered about feelings in the past. What I needed now was the present-day information. It's good that I've got some background story for the kid, but I didn't need to know the emotions surrounding the story.

I sighed as I cracked my knuckles and neck.

"I don't see any fault with what you did, so stop acting like you are the villain," I said, pointing right at Z.

Bryan was stunned when I blurted those words out in a scolding manner. And right at the moment, Baldwin was standing at the open doorway to see what we've been doing, along with Raiyen and Mavislin.

"Your back's turned to us while telling the story, which tells me you haven't moved forward from that ordeal. But, listen, I couldn't care less about how you feel guilty about the things you've done in the past because that doesn't matter now!"

"You can't change the past, so stop feeling guilty about it! It's great that you've told me about all the information I needed to know about this girl, but I can't help but feel sorry for you. Sorry that you are still stuck in the past! Stop feeling guilty of a crime you did not do!"

"Are you trying to get a ruse out of me?! Because I can send you flying to the next dimension right here and now with all the pent-up anger I've got in me! I hate people who blame themselves because they can't face reality. It's worse than being in denial!"

"Honestly... You should've never felt guilty in the first place! You should be roaring in anger at that Poisoned Pond for making all those kids suffer! But, you don't wallow in your sins like some sulky teenager. Instead, you raise your head and face another day to make sure that mistake..."

I slammed my hands down onto the table as hard as I could.

"DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN!" I yelled at the top of my voice.

I took a deep breath as I walked towards Z with anger in my eyes and shaking fists. I grabbed him by the collar and shook him without hesitation. My knuckles were going white as I gripped Z's collar so tightly.

"If in the distant future or upcoming battles you face has you making the request... Never feel guilt or regret about the decisions you make. It'll haunt you forever, and you would be bringing dead weight wherever you go."

"Instead, learn to realize that you aren't at fault for the crimes others have done."

"Because what you were innocent of that atrocity. You don't feel guilty for something that wasn't your fault, and you don't blame your dreams for the killing of so many lives. No, you continue and look back at this incident with anger and pride."

"Anger because you failed to learn of a way to reverse the damage and heal the kids. Anger because you couldn't strangle Old Man Pond to make him repent of his sins. Anger because someone crushed your dreams and hoped about making this world a peaceful realm!"

"And why should you feel pride with the decision you've ultimately made? Because there wasn't any choice. You should feel the pride you didn't allow those children to continue suffering under the hands of more torture. You ended their lives, but that doesn't make you a killer."

"It makes you a saint in my book. Because I wouldn't have the courage even to make that choice myself," I explained, releasing Z's collar.