As Pansy's consciousness rose to the surface, she experienced a great deduction, as if her mind itself was being reduced, but not to a more inferior state, rather it felt like it was being forced into it's original form.
As her mind pieced itself back together, so did her consciousness and the world slowly but surely started to take form before her…
Ceiling, walls, bed, chair and-
"Father."
Hearing that, Ernst, who was sitting beside her bed with his head down, looked up.
Pansy tilted her head to the side, "Why are you not wearing your church attire?"
Ernst's back quivered upon hearing that question, and he glanced sideways with a hint of melancholy in his ever-sombre eyes, "I'm no longer a man of the cloth."
Pansy's eyes widened.
"Don't get me wrong, it's not like I'm going to give up on the goddess."
His eyes darted down, unable to maintain eye contact as he said the next words, "It's the goddess who ought to give up on me."
A look of concern shrouded Pansy's face, "Why do you say that!?"
"It's only natural, I failed the one duty I had, I could not guide the people of Merkington."
Pansy fell silent.
Noticing that, Ernst continued in a faltering voice, "Back then, what Mr. Morton did to you, he did to everyone else in Merkington as well. Everyone was broken to the point of losing their minds, so I decided to use the chalice that had been passed down in the church to erase all their memories and give them a fresh start. However, with no memories, in a half destroyed town, they would inevitably fail to stand back up, they would try to prod into their past memories and relive the same despair they previously did, so I prayed to the goddess, to give me the strength to guide them, that was when I obtained the power to 'guide' people, or that's what I thought it was at the time. I used that power to give them a purpose using the visions and voice of the goddess, and made even the mention of their past into a taboo."
"Just as I thought, you perfectly fit the image of an overprotective father."
Ernst returned a wry smile at those words, "You think so?"
"Yes, but why did you not do the same to me then?"
Ernst's face became grave, "I couldn't bring myself to do it to you. Instead I opted to lock just the kind of memories that were painful for you. It left you with much internal turmoil, I know."
Ernst bowed his head, "I am truly sorry."
Pansy shook her head, "That is-"
Ernst's voice shook as he cut Pansy off, "I misunderstood the power I had and selfishly pulled everyone into my delusions, instead of guiding them I have been misleading them the whole time."
An awkward silence fell upon them, crushed by it's weight Ernst opted to say something, but before he could open his mouth, he was cut off by Pansy this time.
"And that proves something?"
As Ernst raised his head to look at Pansy, bewilderment was evident on his face.
Pansy shook her head, "Did you not hear what Mr. Traveler said father? The result is out of your control, all you had control over was your choice."
"I… understand that but that hardly lifts the terrible burden from my shoulders. What I am trying to do now is run away, when I should be trying to get the town back together."
"If the burden is too great, then just drop it, you are about the age for retirement anyway. I will take over your duties."
Ernst's eyes widened, "So finally you see yourself as someone worthy of your position, that confidence is too bright for the likes of me."
"It does not have to be. Unlike you who lamented being given such a role and were forced into it out of necessity, it has always been my dream to tread this path. No one should be forced into a responsibility they do not wish to carry. They must be allowed to pick and choose their responsibilities, and do something they love, so it is not something to be ashamed of, become something that you would love to be."
"B-But, without the goddess, what can I ever be?"
A light blush painted Pansy's face, "Well, to me you will always be a father."
Ernst raised his head in surprise, as a tear rolled down his face, "Is that so… I wonder why it never occurred to me…"
"-?"
Ernst pulled Pansy closer to his chest and wrapped his arms around her, "Even though it feels so obvious now… I see… So this is what I always wanted to be…"
Pansy answered his words, holding him tightly, "Father…"
The door to the room creaked lightly as it was shut from outside, Salvia folded her arms with her back resting against the wall, her heavy eyelids finally had some rest, as she breathed out a sigh, one that had been due for over a decade.
"Eavesdropping eh?"
Salvia kept her eyes closed, not giving in to the sarcastic tone of that remark, "Look who's learned to talk."
"That's something I'll have to admit, it was all thanks to your way of putting things that we were able to stop him."
Salvia opened her eyes now, in front of him with a wry smile painted on his face, was Luke.
She shook her head, "Don't give me that sappy talk, and here I was thinking you had learned a thing or two, seems like you know nothing about keeping the flow. You can't win Pansy over like that you know."
"Oh shut up, but yes I agree, I'll have to work on my speaking skills."
"I hope you do, otherwise you'd get framed for stealing the chalice again."
Luke stifled a laugh, "There's no need to worry on that front, Ernst decided to give the chalice to me, something about the town needing to redefine it's identity, instead of being stuck in the past."
Salvia raised an eyebrow, "That's quite generous, although I guess it's only natural considering what that chalice is capable of."
"Where did you find the chalice anyway?", Jack's voice inquired from further down the hallway as he approached them.
Luke turned to face Jack, "You done?"
"Yes, you and Ernst explaining things to them seems to have worked out, I allotted them some rooms in the church quarters."
"Good, wouldn't want them returning to their half destroyed homes. As for the chalice, it was in the same room, just moved to one of the dusty shelves without anyone noticing. Turns out, it was actually quite damaged from the years of use, it just kept it's pristine look due to Ernst's delusion."
"Is that so? But then how did you find out that old and decrepit chalice was the real deal?"
Salvia chimed in, "Rose told us before leaving?"
Jack widened his eyes, "Wha-?"
"You two were in your own world, so you probably didn't know, he released himself from that delusion just before you two destroyed that world and escaped."
"That is not what I meant… I mean… Why would he just tell us that?"
Salvia sighed, "That's the kind of guy he is, he said something about how a loss is a loss and spilled everything."
Jack sighed, "After going so far as to rob people of their identities, it was that trifling a matter to him?"
"I don't know about him, however I can certainly see it is not such a trifling matter to you.", Ernst said as he walked out the door.
Jack looked at Ernst then back at Luke with confusion in his eyes.
In response Luke just smiled meaningfully and placed a hand on Jack's shoulder, "That is precisely why you are fit for this job."
Jack tilted his head quizzically, "job?"
Ernst nodded, "What do you say, want to become the mayor of Merkington?"
--- --- ---
As a town that has moved past it's religious roots, Merkington needed a mayor to guide the people, and who better at that than Jack who was good at everything. Finally, Luke thought, Jack had also found his purpose in life.
With dinner wrapped up, Luke was returning to his room in the church quarters to get a night's rest. He needed it badly after the long day.
As he was about to ascend the stairs however, a voice called out to him, "Mr. Traveler!"
Turning around, he saw the same face that had been in tears a little while ago, now adorning a bright smile.
"What's up, this late at night? I thought you'd be asleep already."
"I already had quite a bit of sleep earlier, so I don't really feel sleepy."
"Is that so? You slept well?"
A blush painted Pansy's face, "Y-Yes, I had a strange dream though…"
"A dream?"
Pansy must have thought of the events in the delusion world to be a dream, after all it happened after she had lost consciousness.
She shook her head, "A-Anyway! There was something I wanted to ask you!"
Luke smiled at those words, "What a coincidence, I had something I wanted to ask you too."
"I-Is that so?"
"You go first."
"Then…", a warm smile spread across Pansy's face, "Please tell me your name."
That smile was all he needed, that was enough proof that she understood his intention in not telling her his name, and so he replied with vigor, "I am Luke Aleister, nice to meet you."
Pansy rolled the name around in her mind, as if savoring it's essence, "Mr. Luke…"
"Pansy…"
Pansy nodded her head with a smile, "Your turn."
Luke held her arm out with one hand, and with the other hand, produced something from his coat, before placing it in her palm, "Pansy, will you marry me?"
Pansy's eyes widened in surprise before darting down to the floor and her cheeks flushed red. She opened her palm to find a flower patterned locket inside, "Pretty…"
"I'm glad you like it."
Pansy finally raised her eyes and looked into his, the tension was palpable, she could almost hear her rhythmically beating heart, "It makes me really happy, but… please give me some time… yes, until tomorrow. I need to prepare my heart."
"I'm happy that you would consider my offer."
Unable to bear it any longer, Pansy turned to leave, "Then, if you'd excuse me."
"Pansy!"
She turned around at her name being called, "…Yes?"
A smiled appeared on Luke's face, "Good Night."
Pansy returned the smile, although awkwardly, "Good Night, Mr. Luke."
--- --- ---
A Dazzling light and an uncomfortable warmth, such were the sensations Luke awoke to, looking outside the window to greet the day that was their source, he let out a yawn.
The ruined cityscape that spread in his vision was the very image of hopelessness, however the little sunlight that pierced through the clouds and illuminated the streets made him think otherwise. This was a town that would rebuild itself, he could envision it clearly.
Setting aside such thoughts, Luke got up wearily and snuggled himself into his overcoat.
"Time to leave…"
With those words, he closed the door to his room.
Luke walked out of the church's living quarters and into the main building.
"Umm… Excuse me…"
Just as he had stepped past the goddess statue, a feminine voice called out to him with concern in her voice.
He answered without turning to look, "Yes?"
"Are you leaving? We are going to have a sermon soon you know?"
"Don't worry about me, you concentrate on the sermon, it's your first time delivering one is it not?"
The woman responded with a bright voice, "Yes, I'm nervous but also excited, this is something I've always looked forward to."
"Haha, you have earned it, be proud. Congratulations… Pansy"
"Thank you!"
With that, Luke walked towards the door, as he did though, a silhouette appeared through the church door, walking towards Luke.
As he got closer, Luke recognized him to be Jack.
However, instead of acknowledging Luke, Jack passed him by with but a single side-glance.
Luke walked out of the church.
Jack approached Pansy who was preparing the altar for the sermon, "Why is he leaving before the sermon?"
Pansy shook her head, "He must have somewhere to be. We can't force anyone to attend, everyone has their own struggles in life… But it's strange really…"
"What is?"
"I have regained memories of everyone in town, yet I just can't seem to remember him. Do you know his name?"
"Sorry to say, I have never seen him in my life."
A tinge of gloom enveloped Pansy's voice, "Is that so? I wonder why I can't remember him, he even congratulated me…"
"Well, it is also possible that this was your first time meeting him."
"Huh?"
"His getup was that of a person frequently on the road, he could have been a traveler you know."
"Ah, indeed, that's what he looked like."
Jack sighed, "Let us concentrate on what comes next, I have my speech right after your sermon after all."
Pansy smiled, "Yes let's do our best."
Outside the church, Luke snuggled further into his overcoat, it was a cold morning… a terribly cold one…
"Stop."
Ernst's voice resounded behind Luke and so he stopped in his tracks.
The voice continued firmly, "At least listen to the sermon before leaving."
"I'm sorry but I'll have to decline."
"Why? Is it because it hurts too much?"
Luke turned around with a hint of surprise in his eyes.
Ernst sighed with a melancholy expression Luke had no idea his face could produce, "Well? Luke?"
"Why do you remember me?"
"So this is your affliction, you are forgotten by everyone after a day, not a pleasant experience surely…"
"Answer my question."
Ernst shook his head, "Have you forgotten about my powers? I am capable of peeking into people's memories, all I had to do was peek into yours to see that something was off."
"But you shouldn't be able to do that now, it was all a delusion after all."
Ernst returned a wry smile, "Well, how do I say, somehow I still have some of my power left."
"..."
The only explanation Luke could think of was that Ernst was subject to the same effect as Luke or Jack, he had seen far too many unbelievable things and could now believe in anything. Since his power is based on delusion, it wouldn't be surprising if he were able to control it to some degree because of that.
Luke heaved a sigh, "So you're the same as well."
Ernst tilted his head, "Hm?"
"It's nothing… Now that I think about it, that must be how you came to know about my existence yesterday."
"No… I wouldn't have known to check someone's memories when I'm unaware of their existence in the first place, why did you think Rose tried to make me think he was dead?"
"I understand, but then how did you- Ah, it must have been Jack…"
"That's right."
Jack had retained Luke's memories even on the second day, that was something Luke hadn't expected. But thinking back it wasn't so difficult to figure out why, after all Luke met up with Jack right after midnight, when the moon was directly overhead, all it meant was that Luke's affliction comes into effect at midnight.
Luke murmured under his breath, "Guess I need to better understand my affliction."
"Is this what you do in every town? Leaving on the second day I mean?"
"Yes."
Ernst shook his head, "So in the end you got nothing out of coming to this town huh…"
"That's not true, I did find a purpose to my life."
"Oh? Let's hear it?"
"Couldn't you check that by yourself?"
"Come now, conversations would start to become terribly stale if I could know beforehand what the other person was going to say, so I'd rather not."
Luke chuckled, "Anyway, this affliction of mine you see, is of the same nature as your power of delusion."
"Don't tell me…"
"Yes, it's the result of having a wish of mine granted by the goddess. As a result, I am incapable of forming any lasting bonds, no matter how big of an impression I make on people, it all gets erased by the next day."
"And so you can never stay for long in a single place…"
Luke nodded, "I am destined to walk the path the goddess has set for me."
Ernst put his hand on his chin, "It's as if you are damned… to providence."
"..."
Luke scratched his head, "That's a unique way of putting it, but you're right, and this might be a bit blunt to be told to a priest but that is why I can't help but hate the goddess."
Ernst shook his head, "I understand your feelings… I can somewhat agree to that as well, however people need a faith to follow, to live their lives…"
"However, what if that faith is replaced with something equally potent?"
"-?"
"I once read a book. I can't remember the name of the author or the book but the message has stuck with me all this time, it was a book about failure. The protagonist in that novel lamented his state and proclaimed that because he had failed so much at every turn in his life, he had failed in the very act of becoming a human."
Ernst shook his head, "That is… a despair all too familiar…"
"However, I have to disagree… you must know if you peeked into my memories, but due to the goddess' grace, I was not even allowed the privilege of failing."
Luke's fists shook, he had in the end never heard Pansy's answer to his proposal, he could never attain words of rejection…
He continued with his eyes on the floor, "If perfection is the proof of divinity, then failure is the proof of humanity, one who's not even allowed to fail is… no longer human."
Ernst put his hands inside his cloak.
Luke looked up and straight at Ernst, "The goddess grants wishes, she grants people completeness. Having an absolute, unchallengeable meaning in life is impossible for humans, for humans are imperfect by nature, to remove such imperfections is to rob people of their humanity itself."
"But do you not think living in this temporary fantasy of completeness eased their anxious hearts?"
Luke nodded, "That may be so, however it also made them terribly weak in the face of meaninglessness. Humans trudging into the realm of the divine, from reality into fantasy, is something that would never happen normally, it is human to aim for perfection, but it is also human to never get there in the end. The goddess plays with such human lives and indiscriminately grants those wishes on a whim, damning everyone to a life they are not capable of enduring… yes truly, damning them to providence."
"What can we do about that though? This is a system that has been engraved deeply into our culture, our society- no, you mean to replace it with something right?"
"Like I did in this town, yes. That is my purpose in life, to protect the imperfections of man, to protect man's humanity."
Ernst widened his eyes, "If I'm not wrong, you are… Luke Aleister… Aleister, that is the title that was bestowed upon the savior of Protea, do you know what it means?"
"What?"
"Protector of Humanity."
Luke scratched his head, "That's quite the coincidence but in my case it's more like I got the title before earning it though."
Ernst chuckled, "Quit complaining… Now, I've kept you long enough…"
"I'm sure you're in much more hurry than me.", Luke gave the church door a side-glance.
Ernst flashed a wry smile before adjusting his posture, befitting one who represents the holy church, "I shall pray for your success Luke."
Luke turned around unflinchingly, and started walking. Without looking back, he marched ahead, and with a wave of his hand, he was gone…
--- --- ---
Rose stood ominously in the middle of that ruined city. The place, marked with graves, was the Merkington cemetery.
"Flowers for the dead."
With those words, he bent down to offer the flowers in his hand to one of the graves. The man raised his eyes to the gravestone, more specifically to the epitaph engraved on the gravestone.
"Here lies Morton Leven Eustache, the guardian and destroyer of Merkington."
Rose readjusted his monocle before uttering, "It should be about time…"
With that the soil in front of the grave burst open, and piercing through was a single hand, reaching for the skies.
Gradually the soil began to unravel and revealed was…
"Even in conditions unimaginable, life can endure! People don't have to die!"
The crazed man shouted after appearing from beneath the earth. However his eyes widened in surprise soon after, for what was presented to him was…
"Flowers?"
Rose nodded, presenting another bouquet of flowers, "Flowers for the living. Congratulations on being born."
Morton snorted, "I was not dead to begin with, there's no point in offering that to me. I wonder how I came here in the first place…"
"You were deluded into believing you were dead, but since the one who did that lost most of his powers, your curse was lifted. Even without that though, you should've died of starvation or asphyxiation down here. I knew you were alive beforehand, but how exactly did you manage it?"
"You knew I was alive yet you don't know how? Bah, it's obviously because I had made my body directly produce and ingest the necessary nutrients and air needed to stay alive, beforehand. Enough talking, I want to continue with my experiments."
"Wait, don't be hasty, you shall have enough room to do that and more if you come with me."
"You mean it?"
"I do… but in return, we want a look at your research."
--- --- ---
Pansy worked on the altar, cleaning it off with a smile on her face.
The church was empty of people, except for her and Salvia.
Salvia approached her and put a hand on Pansy's head, "Good job with the sermon Pansy. I believe the people now see you in a new light."
Pansy turned around, "Thank you sister! I couldn't have done it without the years of guidance father gave me."
Salvia raised an eyebrow however upon spotting the locket she had been wearing, "That's a pretty locket you have there, you only ever wear your nun clothes so seeing you wear something new is actually refreshing."
Pansy held up the locket, "Ah this… I just can't seem to remember who I got it from… Strange really, also this floral design on the locket… I wonder what it is? It's neither a Pansy to match with my name, nor a favorite of mine…"
"..."
"Sister, do you know what it is?"
Salvia folded up her arms, and with a terribly serious expression, responded, "It's a forget me not…"