Chapter 1458 (2/2)

“I’m trying to remind you why I disagree with your method.” Lyra hands tightened on her opposite shoulders as she held herself. “Because of the forces arrayed against you; the System was designed for people like you. No matter what new image you manage to develop, the Nexus will just throw another test at you. There is only one way to accomplish your goal: to become more powerful than the maker of the Nexus.”

Looking at Lyra, Randidly couldn’t help but recall that immense mountain range of crystalized Aether that he had briefly sensed as Elhume had moved. Even now, some part of his spirit stilled before the echo of that immense display of power. Even considering his the Aether that was gradually condensing as part of his physical body, Randidly doubted he could generate eight or nine drops of liquid Aether.

How many drops would it take to make a crystalized mountain range?

“...You aren’t wrong to say that that the task is almost impossible.” Randidly admitted. But as he spoke, he could hear the rustling of leaves, the scream of an all-devouring void, and the cracking of a monstrosity’s spine adapting. All three of his images stirred with unwillingness. But you also… give up too easily.

But ultimately, Randidly didn’t verbalize that thought. Instead, he stood in front of the table of empty dishes and considered Lyra. Inwardly, he was becoming even more confused; did she truly want to use the same arguments against him now…? “Is this what you brought me here to say?”

“No. I just...well, let me ask you something. I need a reminder. Are you going to to do it, Randidly Ghosthound? Become even more powerful than the maker of the Nexus?” Lyra asked, still embracing herself. In her red-violet eyes, Randidly could see the answer that she begged him to give her.

It was not the answer he had expected her to want.

First, Randidly blinked. Then he laughed aloud. Even more than the weight he obtained from watching the tournament, his Nether Nebula rapidly grew in density as he felt his lips and tongue shaping his next words. Truly, a reminder. “Yea. I am going to become that powerful. I’ll keep climbing until I stand atop the Nexus. I’m going to reach the Pinnacle. And then I’ll burn everything to the ground.”

Lyra smiled. Her face was so objectively lovely as she looked at him that the same physiological weakness in his heart constricted. In the face of that expression, Randidly had a single gut response: that she adored him. She had cursed him out, attacked him, and sold out the Earth, but she also adored him in a way that he couldn’t quite understand.

Divining her motivations from her expression reminded Randidly of the sea. He could see how the tides would rise and fall, but there was some part of his brain that just wasn’t capable of understanding how and why water needed to flow to make that happen. Her fluttering eyelashes were the crash of waves against the shore, filling the air with the scent of salt.

And Randidly found it immensely difficult to look at the vulnerability and gentleness in her features. The lines around her nose and mouth were soft and expressive as she considered him. All of her snark and emotional defense mechanisms had been stripped away. It was an expression that Randidly could never remember seeing on Lyra’s face in the past. “I believe you, Randidly. So… good luck.”

Then Lyra spun around and continued talking while facing the wall. “My mind still cannot fathom how you will manage it… but you’ve gotten this far, haven’t you? So I guess what I’m saying is that my heart is convinced. Thanks for the reminder. Tonight… yea, tonight is about honesty. Oh, Randidly, did I ever tell you about that first night that I saw you fighting?”

Randidly’s gaze was on Lyra’s bare shoulders. Her fingers were still tight on the navy blue fabric of the shoulder straps. Without speaking, he shook his head.

Whether she sensed the motion or just didn’t care, Lyra continued to speak. “It was back when the monster hordes came for Donnyton. But… ha. Can you believe that was considered a horde? There probably weren’t even a hundred those first few nights. But you… it was night on the field of grass around the wooden palisade we built. There was a half-full moon. And you shot out Mana Bolts and Arcane Orbs like your Mana Pool was endless. The lighting of the Skills meant that half of your face was constantly in shadow as you fought. It was… magical.”

“Lyra…” Randidly began, but she interrupted him.

“I cannot be like you. I cannot even be like Hank Howard.” Lyra said, still talking to the wall. She lowered her arms from her grip of her own torso and clasped them behind her back. Her knuckles were white. Her nails were unpainted “But… I also don’t believe that my Path is wrong. This isn’t something that- that I can accomplish alone. Allies and connections are how I grow. So I’m going to go look for help.

“That’s where the disclosure comes in. Donnyton has been a source of many high-quality images for the Nexus. It isn’t just this tournament that they dominate. As the Village Spirit of this lucrative Village… I’ve earned some privileges. I’ll also soon be heading into the Nexus. Rather than simply becoming the most powerful person in the Nexus, with information and allies… I will be able to accomplish the same thing as you. I’ll save the Earth” Then Lyra hesitated briefly.” And I just… didn’t want us to run into each other there and you to think…”

Think that you had sold Earth out again? Randidly thought, but he quickly erased the thought before it could show on his face. He continued to look at Lyra back. Without even relying on Grim Intuition or Revelation energy, he could feel the immense loneliness that surrounded Lyra. For a weird second, Randidly would have believed that the sword and sheath connection that had originally been between them had reemerged.

But then Randidly realized the source of the sensation was something else entirely. Randidly could feel how isolated Lyra was due to his increased sensitivity toward Nether. The Nether around her radiated her immense sadness and lack of connection.

Randidly licked his lips. And I”m supposed to do… what? Comfort you?

No, that’s not right. All I’m supposed to do… is what I want to do. So…

He released a breath and smiled at Lyra’s back. “Then good luck, Lyra.”

Allies and connections are how you grow, huh…?

Lyra swayed but otherwise didn’t respond. Silence hung between them like Christmas lights left along the eaves as January stoically transitioned into February. Lyra looked at the wall, Randidly looked at her pale shoulders.

It wasn’t that there was more to say, but that the saying wasn’t everything that was at play here. Knowing about the two fundamental energies meant that interactions were even more complicated than they were in the past. So while Randidly could have stopped it, he ultimately allowed some of the ambient Nether to catch an invisible current and spiral out toward Lyra.

Congratulations! Your Skill Nether Sensation (L) has grown to Level 302!

Then grow, Lyra. This time, I won’t be able to watch you. But if you manage to succeed and save the Earth without sacrificing our freedom… well, that certainly would make me happy.