As time slowly went by, Lysander and Orion find themselves in the midst of a dangerous mission to save Eron from his own power. Meanwhile, the arrival of the royal guards in Bloem adds another layer of tension to the unfolding events at the Exchange Circle.
Lysander and Orion, despite the imminent danger and everything that Eron did, decided to venture into the heart of Eron's illusions. Their shared sense of justice and refusal to let another life be claimed by tragedy fuelled their determination.
Orion, who was initially reluctant, found himself admiring Lysander's resolve once more. They understand the risks involved, including the very real possibility of not making it out alive. However, they also know that if they don't try, they would be abandoning Eron to his fate, something they cannot bear.
As they plunge into the swirling smoke of Eron's illusions, they feel their senses being tugged, trying to pull them into Eron's twisted reality. If it were people with a faint of heart, they wouldn't even dare to push forward. But these two kids were something special, they were guided by unyielding resolve and the faint glimmer of hope that they could make a difference.
…
Simultaneously, the royal guards disembark in Bloem, their faces set in grim determination. Tasked with maintaining order in the city, they became well aware that their mission is about to become much more complicated from the screams they heard from the residents of Bloem.
The Exchange Circle, a hub of activity where information and goods flew freely, was now a potential powder keg with Eron's bounty hanging over their heads.
As they march towards the Exchange Circle, they prepare themselves for the challenges ahead. They are the city's last line of defense and are ready to do whatever it takes to protect their people. How long until they reach the Exchange Circle?
The minimum time it takes one person to move from Aether Port to the Exchange Circle, was approximately 15 to 20 minutes. However, with the palace guards' speed it will take them about 10 to 15 minutes if they continue marching at the pace they were marching at.
…
As the smoke continued to swirl around them, thickening with every passing moment, Lysander's resolve solidified even further. He felt an overwhelming urge to reach out to Eron, not as an enemy, but as someone who understood the weight of grief.
Orion, despite his reservations, sensed and grasped the gravity of the situation and prepared himself for whatever was to come next. "Stay close," Orion instructed, gripping Lysander's hand tighter.
The illusions that surrounded them were shifting, morphing into visions of Eron's past and they were fragments of happiness intertwined with despair. They could hear whispers amidst the chaos, echoes of laughter turning into cries of anguish.
"I think that Eron hasn't mastered this technique yet, so as it is swallowing him whole… it leaked pieces of his past. With what I saw on their ship, connecting the dots will not be hard at all." Orion claimed.
"Eron!" Lysander shouted into the swirling mist. "We're here to help you!"
To their surprise, the smoke began to clear slightly, revealing glimpses of Eron's form suspended in mid air, his eyes closed as he battled his inner demons. The illusions shifted again, now showcasing the moment of his parents' tragic accident— a vivid depiction of the explosion that had claimed their lives, the fear in their eyes, and Eron's own horrified expression as he stood helpless.
Orion clenched his jaw. "We need to bring him back to reality. We have to break through!"
As they stepped into the heart of the Kemuri Juu(where Eron was situated), the memories intensified, flickering like a broken film reel. Eron's anguished cries filled the air, a sound that pierced through the smoke like a dagger. "I didn't want it to happen! I didn't want to lose them!"
Lysander's heart ached at the sight. "Eron, listen to me!" he called again. "You're not alone anymore! You don't have to bear this burden by yourself!"
Suddenly, the illusions snapped, and Eron's eyes flew open, now glowing with a fierce intensity.
"You don't understand kid! I can't control it! I can't let anyone get hurt again!" His voice was a mixture of rage and despair, echoing through the smoke.
Orion pulled Lysander back slightly. "Lys, we might have pushed too far. We need a plan."
"No!" Lysander shook his head vehemently. "This is our chance! Eron is lost in his pain, but if we can reach him, we can help him find his way back."
With that, Lysander stepped forward, forcing himself into the thickest part of the smoke, which began to swirl violently around him. "Eron!" he shouted again, his voice steady despite the chaos.
"I know what you're feeling! I lost someone too! But you can't let your past define your future! Just live in the present."
In response, Eron's form began to tremble, the smoke reacting to his inner turmoil. "You don't know what I've done!" he shouted, his voice breaking. "I'm a monster! I'll hurt you too!"
"No, you're not!" Lysander pressed, his heart racing. "You're a person who has suffered, just like all of us. You have the power to change, to heal! You don't have to be alone in this fight."
Orion watched in awe as his only friend Lysander continued to press forward, a beacon of hope amidst the swirling darkness. He could see the conflict in Eron's eyes, the fear battling with the flicker of hope that Lysander's words inspired.
"Lys, be careful!" Orion called out, knowing how volatile Eron had become.
Suddenly, a powerful wave of smoke surged towards Lysander, threatening to engulf him. "Stay back!" Eron shouted, his voice now filled with anguish. But Lysander stood firm, unwavering.
With every ounce of strength, Lysander shouted, "Eron! You can choose to fight this! Remember your parents, is this how you want to honour their memories!? They wouldn't want this for you!"
In that moment, the smoke began shake violently that it caused some buildings to shake and fall. I guess it was an earthquake, but it wasn't that wide in radius. But the buildings in the vicinity that weren't well maintained, crumbled and fell to the ground.
Suddenly, there was a surge of wind that came from Eron's direction. 'What crazy power, just how powerful will this bastard be in the future?' Orion asked himself the question, internally.
Suddenly, the smoke started to dissipate, revealing Eron's face, streaked with tears. The illusions crumbled around him, exposing the raw pain that lay beneath.
"I… I don't know how," Eron whispered, his voice breaking.
"Yes, you do! You've already taken the first step by facing your past. You just need to believe that you can move forward!" Lysander urged, stepping close.
As the last remnants of the smoke faded, a surge of light emanated from Eron, who was now descending slowly to the ground. The illusions vanished, leaving behind a silence that echoed with the remnants of their shared pain.
"I… I'm so scared," Eron admitted, his expression was one of vulnerability. "What if I hurt you? What if I hurt someone else?"
"You won't," Orion interjected, stepping beside Lysander. "We'll help you. You're not alone anymore. You have your crew, and on the plus side you have us."
Eron looked up, finally seeing the two people before him and this time not as enemies, but as allies.
"You… you really want to help me?"
"Yes," Lysander affirmed. "We believe in you, Eron. Together, we can overcome this."
Just as a sense of hope began to blossom, the ground trembled beneath them, and the distant sound of marching feet echoed through the air. The Royal Guards, having docked in Bloem, were now approaching the Exchange Circle, drawn by the chaos and the words of the villagers they asked as they were approaching.
Orion's eyes widened. "We don't have much time! They'll be here any moment!"
"We can't let them take him!" Lysander exclaimed, a sense of urgency rising within him.
Eron, still shaken but now resolute, nodded. "I won't let them take me. I want to fight for my future."
Lysander nodded, but then he remembered a promise he made to a certain someone. "But first Eron, I have got to do one thing for Lucy. And that is to punch you in the face," Lysander proclaimed and used the last ounce of his strength to punch Eron on the face.
He had bullet wounds all over his body, and the effects started kicking in. After punching Eron, he fell to the ground. "And Eron before I pass out, I want you and everybody here to know that I will become a Crownbearer!"
He raised his right hand, and after this he fell straight into deep slumber. Eron was knocked out by Lysander's punch, and Orion started to feel the pain of every attack that was inflicted on him. He too passed out, and now everybody who caused all the damage in the Exchange Circle was passed out in the middle of it.