Goodbye to the fool

"Take him away at once," the third elder commanded, his tone stern yet pained.

Hyosung silently watched as Yahohabi dragged Sylzao towards the stairs, not even a hint of remorse on his face. Sylzao put up no resistance, swaying whichever way he was pulled.

"Hyosung slay," the first elder turned his narrowed gaze towards him. "Please explain how you knew about this," he asked, cutting through the dark ambiance left by Sylzao's presence.

Hyosung remained silent at first, using his eyes to survey the Impera until he was assured no one else was prying in, or at least that's what it seemed.

"If I tell you, I want something in return," he replied softly, his voice barely audible.

'That's mainly because I haven't thought up a lie yet. The system doesn't grant me access to my future nor info about myself in this world because I'm still of no value to the overall story.'

The second elder shot up from his seat, bursting out, "We won't be making any negotiations. Tell us who you truly are or suffer the same fate as that traitor!" He slammed his fist viciously on the table, clenching his teeth in rage, his words either a warning or a threat.

Yet Hyosung didn't budge. "Don't flatter yourself too much, old man. I know you won't do squat because I hold something valuable to you," he paused briefly, pocketing both hands. "The truth."

"Is that so?" White spoke with an icy tone, sitting with crossed arms on the cold concrete floor.

Her nose red like tomatoes, tears still moist in her eyes but none were shed as she stared at him with a relieved smile, her emotions puzzling.

She rose, then took a few steps towards him, her stained cloak hiding her figure as it swayed. Shooting a piercing glare at him, she leaned closer to his chest.

"Hyosung slay... you're a 21-year-old spy from Belto. You live in Furthenbur as a formal student, but were abandoned by your girlfriend because she found someone more attractive. Now you're here to exact revenge," she straightened. "Am I right?"

"What the?!" Hyosung exclaimed, leaning backwards in shock, his eyes and fingers twitching. "Where'd you come up with such lies?!"

"Lies?" Her expression stiffened, "Why would you accuse me of such, while being one yourself?" Her tone somewhat frightful now, laced with something malicious.

'I can't tell if this girl's dumb or just acting smart.'

"Since you're unwilling to cooperate with us, we'll leave you in her care," the third elder spoke, calmly sipping his tea with crossed legs.

"Come again." His demeanor froze.

Hyosung protested, but his words were brushed off like worthless trash. He'd been given 2 options: either he revealed everything he knew, after which he'd be returned to his cell until his execution the next day, or...

"We'll leave your life in White's hands, meaning she'll be the one to force the truth out of you by any means necessary," the first elder stroked his beard, his calm demeanor masking his fear quite well.

Both options seemed pretty unfair to him.

"We'll let you decide," spoke the second elder, hiding his trembling feet beneath the table as he exchanged heated glares with Hyosung.

'Shit, I'm cornered. This is worse than what I did to Sylzao, and the system isn't of much help at this point...'

['"Urane," Black's strained voice echoed within the hollow forest. His energy drained, nearly about to pass out as his vision drifted further away...]

'I got cut out from the chapter even WITH the new future I created, what the hell.'

"Well then, liar, we're waiting for an answer," she gazed at him quietly, her stare observant.

'Haa...hh, I'm going to have to pick the option that might guarantee I live longer, that is until the next big event,' his thoughts raced.

"I'll go with White," the words heavy as they escaped his lips, leaving a bitter taste in his mouth. He rubbed his palms against each other nervously.

The third elder sipped his tea, "So be it. White, we give you till tomorrow to extract information from him by any means necessary."

'Wait, did he just say till...'

"Alright, sir," she responded, not even letting Hyosung finish his thoughts. "This will be fun as hell."

Grabbing Hyosung by the collar once more, she launched herself from the Impera, the force breaking the ground beneath her feet and forcing Hyosung along.

He could feel his insides twisting as though they were placed in a washing machine, the ache it produced twisting his gaze mid-air and making him dizzy. Clenching his stomach, he could feel himself about to erupt.

As she left, the first elder broke down, his breaths coming in desperate gasps as if suffocated. Tears flooded down his cheeks as he felt his heart ache, as if ripped out of his chest. He couldn't keep his emotions locked in any longer.

"Did we do the right thing?" asked the second, covering his face with both palms in shame, digging his nails deep into his temples, trying to contain his rage. "The cracking skies, our altered memories, Sylzao and Urane's betrayal - just what lie have we been living all these years?"

"Hiccup!" The third fell face-flat on the table, already in cloud 9. His "special tea" was just booze poured into it.

MEANWHILE..........

Yadohabi dragged Sylzao down the long flight of stairs, pulling him like dirty laundry, unable to look at his face. He scuffled a few meters away from the gate, paused to look at Sylzao...then dawdled towards the plateau.

"I'm too old for this," bare whispers left his lips, tightening his grip on Sylzao's arm as he frowned.

"Old man Yadohabi... I'm sorry for putting you through this."

"........."

The air between them was icy thin, about to crack at any moment, but the steps which passed felt quick despite his dawdling.

He stood before the large piece of rock, the sunlight dying at the plateau's pyramid-like structure, shading his face and making his reactions tougher to read.

Yadohabi released his tight grip, letting Sylzao free. His wrinkled hands tensed from the strain, yet managed to swing it 3 decisive times towards the plateau's middle. The sheer power betrayed his withering appearance.

"Bang! Bang!"

Sylzao stood behind, massaging his gripped arm. Light pink fingerprints marked his arm. "I'm sorry, Yadohabi sir, but I won't run. I'll face the consequence of my actions," his eyes held a mix of despair and duty.

"Why would you think I wanted you to run away?" His previously icy tone held warmth. "You're too stupid, Sylzao." Tears rolled down his cheeks as he turned his head towards Sylzao, stretching a pained smile barely straight on his face.

"Ha.... thanks for the compliment."

"I'm just happy you stopped getting how to pronounce my name wrong."

The metallic sounds of twisting gears and screeching iron broke through the sentiment, large dust clouds birthed as a strong push of wind came from behind, forcing its way towards the parting gates. The air now laced with dust.

Sylzao shut his eyes, folding both hands as he watched the parting gates reveal what awaited him beyond, strengthening his resolve and calming his tingling nerves. What stood beyond the gates was what he hoped...or rather what he wanted.

Just 4 steps behind, only one person stood at the door.

"I wasn't expecting you to come this soon, Mr. Sylzao," Helbert remarked calmly, his expression hidden by the shade stretching slantly across his face, only revealing a menacing grin.

"I'll take it from here, Mr. Yadohabi." He spoke smoothly, stretching a helping hand, his posture disguised under the vague purple lights shining within the engulfing darkness beneath.

Something about his vibe felt off, somewhat uneven unlike his usual light and lively glow. He gave off something dark and heavy in that moment, the difference in personality and intent like a red rose in a field of white flowers.

"It's pronounced Yadohabi, if not Sylzao, at least you should know this," he responded with reading eyes, trying to grasp the extent of his intent, narrowing both eyes to gain a better view of him.

"Well, Mr. Yado... This is goodbye." He spoke softly with a bowed head and lowered gaze, "Just make sure to give Oma a chance while I'm away." He scuffled beyond the gates until he was enshrouded by the darkish purple atmosphere.

"Till we meet again," he waved with a straight, warm smile and shut eyes.

As the gate shut, his false bright smile died with the sunlight which snuck within.

"Tell me why'd my brother Ein Hel do to get killed, Sylzao!" He spoke, unbothered at first. "We'll then answer me!"

"......."

"You won't answer? That's just your bad luck. All the other guards, including Oma, are trapped in a distant tunnel. They're alive but unconscious."

"Why'd you do that, Helbert?" Sylzao asked, tapping his fingers on his bruised arm.

Helbert took a few steps closer, "Because I knew you were coming."

Sylzao gasped!

But he wasn't too surprised. He had sensed the malicious intent of a familiar presence a while ago, before Hyosung's arrival. But how he knew Hyosung would expose him was the real mystery.

At first, Sylzao pondered hard, but nothing his brain thought up quite made sense. The curiosity squeezed him until he let out the words hanging in his mind.

"My last request; who told you I was going to be found out today?" He asked, his tone cold yet serious.

"Found out about what? The cracks or how you're somehow connected to it? I don't know, I don't have any details on that." His grin lessened as he stepped closer, the purple light illuminating on his body like gems. "A little birdy told me to ask you, but White informed me you'd be sentenced today, and that was all I needed to know."

'White? Oh, I see... That's why she had that grin the entire time I was getting dragged. I forgot to keep an eye on her, to keep her restrained. Now the whole world will pay for my mistake.' His thoughts raced.

"It's crazy just how frightening that girl is, how she can plot, predict and corner." He spoke casually at first, waving his hands mid-air like he were waltzing. "Why would you rescue such a monster?" His voice gained weight, seeping deep into Sylzao's skull.

His question gave Sylzao a shred of regret, but he didn't care. After all, Hyosung was just fine, and a small thread of confidence in him formed in his gut.

He'd noticed the change, his new-found courage and strength, which made the heavy loads weighing him down most of his life feel lifted, as though he were free from bonds.

"You haven't answered any of my questions," Helbert's stare hardened, setting up his stance as if about to leap on Sylzao.

"I don't intend to. I did what I did, and my actions speak for themselves even now," he broadened his shoulders, firing a cocky grin at him.

A faint blue pattern extended from Helbert's fingertips, hardening the air around him until it turned solid, but not like ice - rather a brown substance with inclined edges.

"Earth affinity...hand blade." He crouched slightly, aiming for Sylzao's torso, leaning closer to the ground for defense.

"My brother didn't deserve to die, damnit! You should have taken me, not him!" He yelled to the top of his lungs, firing himself towards Sylzao, his body only inches from the ground. "He had a future! I sold my freedom for his! My life for his! I became a convict for him on your orders, so why did you betray me, Sylzao?!"

'Sylzao...I know what's probably happening to you right now, and I'm sorry.... But you made some bad choices that would haunt you....But when it comes to me and you, I wonder if we were born to make bad decisions.'

Hyosung's thoughts raced, still dragged in mid-air, his wandering mind making the feeling of nausea disappear. His body like a flag on White's relentless grip, gazing at the healing landscape from above, the cracked skies still hideously drawn above his head.

'Sylzao, I didn't like you at first, but now...'

CRUNCH!

The sounds of Helbert's blade cutting through Sylzao's flesh and bone filled the entrance, reverberating through the walls and floors within. Sylzao's blood slowly dripped down its edge until it made contact with Helbert's palm.

Helbert pulled out the blade instinctively, trembling intensely, unable to shut his widened expression, helplessly glaring at the flooding down his mouth and left stomach.

Sylzao didn't budge. He didn't guard, he didn't attack...he stood still, anxiously waiting for the blade to snuff out his already hollow existence, standing firm as his blood soaked his clothes and genes.

Helbert's hands and feet couldn't stay still, shaking so much he lost balance, tripping over his unbalanced weight and covering his face with his palm in regret.

"What have I done?" He didn't know what he was thinking at that moment, but it was too late - the damage was done. "What did you make me do, White?" He madly muttered.

"Helbert..." Heavy whispers managed to escape his dying body. "You...did the right thing, for all I've done...I'm happy I went from your hands. Be happy...your brother's been avenged."

The words came in heavy gasps until...

Everywhere went silent.

The fool known as Sylzao was no more.

'I hope to see you again, sir...' Hyosung concluded his pondering thoughts.