Shun and his companions stood on the battleground in Sila. Alfred Eldran's speech had evoked a profound sense of relief in his heart. For a brief moment, he offered silent respect to the king.
"We must return to Haven immediately to prepare for the upcoming battle," Emilia Cylus declared with determination, her voice trembling slightly.
"Just to clarify, everyone is going to fight, right?" Olivia Skyland asked, concern etching her features.
"Of course we are. We soldiers are prepared for this moment," Joe affirmed with a reassuring nod. Kris remained silent, but his eyes shimmered with hope.
Silver sighed, burdened by her status as the ninth complete ethereal warrior; she felt the weight of dignity and responsibility keenly. Meanwhile, Alexandra Levison stood quietly, lost in thought.
"I'm not," Shun stated calmly, his tone indifferent.
Everyone's gaze abruptly shifted to him, a mix of disbelief and confusion reflecting in their eyes.
"What?" Emilia stared at him in shock, disappointment evident in her voice. She opened her mouth, perhaps to persuade him, but Shun interjected swiftly.
"Did the king not say that this war is not compulsory for anyone? If I can avoid risking my life for a futile cause, I would rather preserve my own life. It's not the most challenging decision I've ever faced." He shrugged. Though Shun possessed one of the 0th complete ethereal arms, few knew this fact, freeing him from the weight of expectation. To most, he was merely an ascended-class ethereal warrior, unburdened by responsibility or blame.
"Silver, you shouldn't go either," Shun urged, his voice laced with concern. "As you've heard, Antonio Valdis's forces are exceptionally formidable, and the likelihood of victory is slim. Let's at least preserve our lives." He then turned to Emilia. "The same goes for you. Even as a soldier, we are all free to choose to live. You are the last of the Cylus family; at the very least, live for the sake of your deceased family members. Above all… you both mean a lot to me. If you died, I—" Shun trailed off, struggling to voice the emotional confession.
Emilia shook her head, her initial anger and disbelief dissipating upon hearing Shun's heartfelt words. "I appreciate your concern, Shun. Truthfully, I didn't expect you to say anything like that, and it brings me joy."
"However, knowing my family, they would be prouder if I sacrificed my life for the peace of Lordrixis," she continued. "You've heard what the king said. Many cities had already fallen to Antonio's forces, and those places were also filled with people who wanted to protect their loved ones, just like you. We can escape the war, but others cannot. The citizens of the borderlands don't have the luxury of fleeing to Haven and reaching the Eternal Dynasty in time. Although we're not from these cities, we've both witnessed the world's pain and misery in our childhoods. Now we possess power—call it fortune or misfortune; we are chosen to save lives that cannot save themselves."
Shun firmly shook his head, raising his voice in protest. "So you remember we have both faced disappointment and hardship. Now that life is finally looking hopeful, you want to throw it all away to save people we don't even know?" His voice held an undercurrent of power, contrasting with the despair in his words. "We are not heroes; it's noble enough for us to protect our friends and families. We can't change the world, Emilia, but we can determine our own lives, and that should be enough. Especially when we couldn't even do that before."
"If Nathaniel Haven had thought the same a century ago, we wouldn't have the freedom to shape our destinies," Emilia countered, her voice soft yet unwavering. "Like us, he could have chosen to live under the Tyrant's rule, but he stood up and revolted, striving to change the world despite the odds. People rallied behind him, including our grandparents. With determination, they followed him because he dared to believe the world could change. If any of them had decided it was sufficient simply to keep their families safe, victory would have never been won."
Shun scoffed coldly, annoyance flickering across his expression. Before he could respond, Otto Morphy intervened. "Enough!"
"Did you two not hear the king's command? Everyone has the right to choose their future," Otto admonished, frustration clear in his voice. "Emilia, you are free to fight for peace. Shun, you can prioritize your own life. Stop trying to invalidate each other's choices—it's not the moment for that!"
Alexandra nodded in agreement. "Whatever path you choose, return to Haven first. I wish you a safe journey. Though short, I'm grateful for your assistance."
"Are you not coming with us?" Kris inquired, confusion in his tone.
Alexandra laughed lightly. "Did you not hear the man? I too have the freedom to choose my own path."
"Just curious," Kris muttered, his eyes dimmed.
"Shun, is the fourth complete ethereal arm still usable?" Silver asked in a hushed whisper, ensuring no one else could overhear.
Shun froze, the memory of the ethereal arms he received from March and August flooding back to him.
Antonio Valdis knew he was the true bearer of the Harvester and understood the implications of his position. Shun had no choice—he could not simply flee to the Eternal Dynasty. He had no choice but to confront this war, for he was one of the target. Antonio Valdis would not allow him to live as long as he possessed the Harvester.
Worst of all, if Antonio conquered all of Lordrixis, the replicated copy of the Harvester would wield too much power, leaving Shun trapped with no escape. He had only one option: eliminate Antonio before he grew too powerful.
"Shun?" Silver called softly.
Lifting his head with newfound resolve, Shun announced, "I will fight in the upcoming war."
Once more, the gaze of everyone turned to Shun, this time filled with renewed disbelief and confusion.
"Really?" Emilia exclaimed, a radiant smile breaking across her face. "Does this mean you agree with what I said?"
Shun shook his head slowly. "No, I still believe it's sufficient to protect the lives you cherish, but I will join the fight."
His eyes turned cold, an indescribable power surging within him.
"But since both of you," he said, turning to Silver with a resigned shrug, "are foolish enough to join this conflict, I can't protect your lives unless I fight alongside you, can I?"
Though Shun's true motives were buried, his words were genuine. It served as an additional powerful push, that propelled him toward the dangerous disaster he had hoped to avoid.