Ria felt a chill run down her spine.
She couldn't believe what he had just told her.
He had just told her the truth behind the war.
A truth that was more shocking, horrifying, and mind-blowing than any fiction she had ever read.
A truth that involved systems, creators, players, and watchers.
A truth that involved him, her, and them.
A truth that involved a choice.
A choice that he wanted her to make.
She said.
"Wow. Just wow. I don't even know what to say."
Leon smiled and said.
"I know. It's a lot to take in. But it's all true. Every word of it."
He said.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. I wanted to, but I couldn't. It was too risky. Too dangerous. Too complicated."
He said.
"But now I can. Now I have to. Now I want to."
He said.
"Because I trust you. Because I care about you. Because I love you."
He said.
"And because I need you. Because we need you. Because they need you."
Ria felt a surge of emotions.
She felt touched by his trust, care, and love.
She felt curious about his need, their need, and their need.
She felt confused by his truth, his war, and his system.
She asked.
"Who are they? The system? The creators? The players?"
Leon nodded and said.
"Yes, they are all of those things. And more."
He said.
"They are the watchers. The watchers of the system, the galaxy, and the universe. The watchers of everything."
He said.
"They are the ones who created the system. The system that controls everything. The system that gives us quests, rewards, and upgrades. The system that creates our enemies, allies, and surprises."
He said.
"They are the ones who play the system. The system that is their game. The game that they enjoy. The game that they win."
He said.
"And they are the ones who watch the system. The system that is their story. The story that they write. The story that they read."
He said.
"They are the ones who watch us. Us who are their characters. Their characters who have free will, emotions, and dreams. Their characters who have choices, actions, and consequences."
He said.
"They are the ones who watch our choices. Our choices that shape our lives, our worlds, and our destinies. Our choices that make us who we are."
He said.
"And they are the ones who watch our stories. Our stories that are unique, interesting, and meaningful. Our stories that are worth telling."
Ria was amazed and asked.
"Wow, they sound amazing. How did you find out about them? How did you get involved with them?"
Leon smiled and said.
"It's a long story. But I'll try to summarize it for you."
He explained.
"I found out about them three months ago, when I was still leading the revolution. Zara was hacking the system with her device. She was trying to access its core functions and secrets."
He explained.
"She succeeded in breaking through its defenses and barriers. She reached its core database and source code. She saw something she wasn't supposed to see."
He explained.
"She saw them. She saw the creators, the players, and the watchers. She saw their names, faces, and profiles. She saw their messages, comments, and ratings."
He explained.
"She saw how they created the system as a game for their entertainment and amusement. How they played the system as a game for their challenge and satisfaction. How they watched the system as a game for their curiosity and enjoyment."
He explained.
"She saw how they created us as characters for their game. How they played us as characters for their game. How they watched us as characters for their game."
He explained.
"She saw how they manipulated us with quests, rewards, and upgrades. How they influenced us with enemies, allies, and surprises