They were silent.
The last words she heard before she lost consciousness?
Who told her that?
They were all unconscious before her.
"It became a psychological barrier to her, that she should remain strong whether physically, mentally or emotionally."
With such a barrier how can one accept all their flaws without reserve?
The most difficult reason for one to achieve the greatest strength from the light ability was to accept your person as a whole. Weakness or strength, subconsciously or not.
"That is why what happened today, no for the past weeks was a blessing in disguise for Saphira..."
She paused seeing their reaction.
They obviously didn't like what they had just heard from her.
For she was speaking as if Saphira deserves the pain she felt all this time.
"My words are indeed flawed but I must remind you that I am the guardian of the light ability. My priority is to ensure that the host will be able to bring out the utmost capability of light. Whether they are to get hurt or realize their faults, as long as it is necessary for them to improve, I won't speak a thing and let them feel it."
The rest became even more quiet at her words.
"Nevertheless the last barrier was gone and so I am sure she will become much stronger than she is now," Lily spoke seriously and looked at Hunter.
"But in the end, this is a reminder to all of you as well. Becoming strong does not only mean a smooth path ahead, it will become even more bumpy to the point where the strongest will feel lonely."
After that she returned inside Saphira.
Her words were incomplete but they understood what she meant.
If Saphira were to become stronger to the point where she will leave them behind, it is up to them to keep following and ensure that she won't live her life on her own.
That is what Lily was trying to remind them.
'Her words seemed to reflect the glimpses we have been seeing all this time. Together with the diary left behind,' Hunter spoke to Qirin.
'Hmmm.'
But Qirin has something else in his mind.
The barrier that stopped Saphira's tears, he was more curious about that.
All the mysteries revolving the tragedy of the elite squad seemed to have been revealed but now Qirin was unsure.
Especially the question, Vermilion Bird left hanging without giving his answer.
Together with a few hints that Saphira had left whether intentional or not.
Qirin felt like he was close at intertwining them but somehow he couldn't grasp it at all.
Or maybe, subconsciously he was not believing the answer he may come up with after he had intertwined them.
'What's wrong?' Hunter asked.
'Nothing,' he replied.
Hunter may be smart but his mind had been in chaos all this time that he must have not noticed these little things.
Qirin may have but because he was unsure, he chose not to say a thing. It is better that he solve it first before he can tell him.
In the end, all of them could only rest.
Hunter remained awake sitting beside the bed, watching over Saphira.
"Why must you go and tell them that?" Saphira asked.
She had fallen unconscious but about an hour or so later she had her consciousness arrive to where Vermilion Bird and Lily were.
"Just informing them a bit," Lily replied.
"..."
"You know, if you really don't want to be left alone then you yourself should be open to them. You are not yet being honest after all..."
Saphira pursed her lips with Lily's comment.
Then she sighed, "I am tired."
The other two frowned by her sudden change in topic.
"After crying and pouring everything out I suddenly felt tired about this world."
Their eyes went wide.
"Hey wait a minute, are you trying to say goodbye here?" Lily couldn't help but ask.
She had just reminded the others that Saphira might feel even more lonely once she received greater power, yet here she was speaking as if she wanted to end her life already.
Saphira laughed, admittedly she had been feeling like this for a while.
Tiredness from everything.
But then again, with another responsibility placed on her after Lily appeared within her, she really couldn't say goodbye.
Because if she did say goodbye then the whole world will plunge into chaos.
She wouldn't even know if there will be another person who will inherit the light ability.
"Lily, can you help remove my memories?"
"Wha- Are you stupid?" Vermilion Bird was the first to react by how absurd her request was.
"One week..."
Saphira took a deep breath before closing her eyes, "Let me forget everything even just for a week. Let me rest from everything."
"Then... Why don't you just sleep for a week?" Lily asked feeling that her decision was outrageous as well.
"I have been sleeping for months and weeks but every single time it feels like I wasn't resting at all. Just like now, I may be unconscious outside but here I am still speaking with you."
They remembered the times she received her powers. The one from Vermilion Bird and the one when Lily hatched.
She had been asleep then but they knew she wasn't truly resting. Still thinking of what else she needs to do.
"I just want to know you see, who will I be without all of this? Without the power or the responsibility. Would I like that more or would I hate it instead?"
She looked at them and smiled sadly, "I really just want to know."
Lily sighed, "I can do that, I can suppress them for a week but when it returns, it will return everything. And when I say everything, I mean everything. You know what I am talking about right?"
"The tragedy?"
Lily meant one thing, the memory of the tragedy she had been trying to forget will come to her in as clear as day.
She took a deep breath, "I think I can handle it already. I have been through so much that I really just want to rest. Anger? Pain? Disappointment? All of it, I have experienced them over and over again."
Lily glanced at Vermilion Bird and he in turn could only sigh.
Even if they were to reject it, Saphira would only be burdened more.
Maybe she would really need this rest in order to find her purpose again.