81 The Truth (2/2)

It was the babe she held in her arms. She was focused solely on the child that was wrapped in a blanket.

Reed gazed at the blanket and stood there motionless, rooted in the ground like a statue.

It was undeniable.

That blanket bore the symbol —— the same shimmering, golden sun that Lacrima possessed.

He could no longer deny what he had long suspected.

”...Listen, boy. Hear me ou—”

Reed didn't want to hear it. Not right now. All he wanted to do right now was find somewhere quiet, somewhere he could be alone. His heart thrummed anxiously like a drum as he gazed at Her. He could feel his heartbeat slowly getting faster and felt like he couldn't breathe properly.

He stumbled backward and he clutched his chest in pain. The sound of his racing heart pounded in his ears as he struggled to breathe. It was as if the world had come crashing down upon him — he couldn't do anything as he drowned in his own cascading thoughts.

When the elders noticed the abrupt change, they immediately rushed over to Reed and began to support him.

”—————————? ——————!!”

”——!—————!!——————? ——-!!”

”——————! —————!”

Odd. I can see their mouths moving and I can hear them, but I can't understand them. What are they saying? Why can't I understand them?

Reed couldn't do anything and that confused him. His legs had suddenly turned into jelly. The strength in his arms had disappeared. All that was left was the sound of his pounding heart and the unidentifiable pain in his chest.

Suddenly, Lu'um appeared out the crowd of crimson robes and grabbed Reed out of the crowd in a flash. She hurriedly checked his pulse and then the mark on his chest. She looked frightened out of her mind — that surprised Reed. He had never seen her like that before.

”————!! ————! —————-—!!”

I can't hear you. What are you saying? Why are you making that face?

Reed weakly grabbed Lu'um hands and shook his head — that was the only thing he could do. He grasped them with all his strength and tried to say, ”I'll be fine,” but the words wouldn't come out.

”——! ————!! ————!”

”—————! ——! ———!!”

The clamoring elders seemed to be saying something to Lu'um but he couldn't make it out. The expressions on their faces were somewhat hostile toward Lu'um, so Reed raised a single hand to them.

Heaven forbid… they try to threaten her…

It was then that a large spatial tear opened up in front of elders. A tall silhouette emerged from the void and slowly walked toward the Reed and Lu'um.

It was an elderly man who looked old enough that he could have passed off as Velvund's grandfather if he wanted to. He wore a simple, white robe and shoes that looked older than time itself.

”——? ————. ——————.”

”——. ———————. ————.”

He spoke to Lu'um and the clergy as he gestured at both of them with small gestures. Whatever he had said seemed to have worked because both parties calmed down after that.

After that, the old man approached Reed and knelt down beside him. He stared at Reed and said something to Lu'um. She looked hesitant but eventually nodded.

The old man put one of his hands on Reed's head and spoke something unintelligible.

The world suddenly started to grow dim and Reed opened his mouth in protest but nothing came out. He felt his eyelids grow heavier by the second until he could no longer keep them open anymore.

Darkness enveloped Reed and before he could even put a fight, it had consumed him…

And then, he was gone.