"I understand that you must be very confused but usually little Layla doesn't transform unless she's been under too much pressure or has drained her Elemental Energy."
"But she is kinda cute in this form, yes? Tickle…" elaborated Sander as he tickled the little Dragoon on her tummy.
"But it's still not normal… You know I've been in this realm for more than the recommended time for my job but I've never once encountered this…" complained the Loplin as he walked up to Sander.
"Yes, but you should've at least known that Dragoons have great hearing and with you yelling so much, her eardrums might've burst. These are beings who can hear the movements of a physical body. Even I would go insane if I had that kind of power," replied the Ankou.
"I thought you were already insane? And you, out of any living thing here, would be able to handle that skill."
"Hey! Why say something so mean yet so true at the same time? Meanie... See, Layla? That's a mean bunny..."
"Oi! She's already upset at me for snapping at her, I don't need you to encourage her to hate me!"
"Stop yelling and maybe she would start to like you..."
The rabbit exhaled sharply as he folded his arms across his chest and looked away. It was taking every fiber of his being not to go up to the Ankou and beat him up until he had zero health points.
"This whole thing wouldn't have happened if you would've kept your mouth shut back there," retorted Matt, refusing to look at the two.
"And it wouldn't have been a problem if you'd just told her the truth... I do not get it; why do you want to hide your identity so much? It's not as if you are the King of the Loplins..."
"Because I have some issues that I don't need to bring out into the light! Not everything is meant to be shared... I've just met her barely a few days ago, for crying out loud! You know as much as I do that I don't tend to team up with people for missions."
"Then shouldn't this be the chance to change that?"
Matt's arms dropped as he started to calm down and listen to the Ankou. At some level, he hated that the Grim Reaper was right. The small Dragoon was still feeling happy, making small gurgles, as Sander continued playing with her.
"I am the Grim Reaper but even I have restrictions on my power. I can see your memories but I can never understand your emotions for I can't comprehend them. Majorly because it isn't part of my job. Call me cold-hearted but it's the truth," replied Sander.
The Loplin slowly turned to face the Ankou and Layla. His eyes were full of conflicted feelings while his mind was racing.
"All I can say, with millions of years of collecting souls like yours, is that you shouldn't be keeping secrets with those that you want to spend your life with. Your close friends to loved ones... They deserve the truth, allowing them to trust you."
"Souls like... Mine?"
"Lost souls. Those who have lost their way to the afterlife, that they regret when they were still living. Or the sheer sadness of not having anyone around them when they have passed would cause them to lose their way. Do you truly want to be alone to the very end?"
The Loplin remained silent, unable to answer the Grim Reaper's question. If it had been a few weeks before, then Matt would've had a straight answer to the Anmkou but... After spending time with Layla and even Teemo, the Loplin found himself at a loss for words.
Little Layla then looked at Matt for a bit before shyly looking away. The rabbit's ears drooped down as he walked away from the duo. He then placed himself on the chair while the Ankou played with Layla on the bed.
"Sometimes, it's better to let go than to hold on to your secrets. Because in the end, it won't change too much of your fate. Remember, your past doesn't define who you are now or will be in the future."
Matt continued to be silent, pondering if it was a better idea to tell Layla about his true identity. However, as he continued watching the duo playing, something seemed to spark in the rabbit's mind… Their faces seemed to morph into someone else in his vision.
The Loplin blinked a few times, but the vision still did not go away. Two Loplins, a larger one with brown fur and blue eyes holding a toddler bunny with white fur and red eyes. Who were they? And why is Matt seeing them in the Ankou and Layla?