Chapter 26: Echoes of the Past
The silence that followed Reiji's declaration was almost suffocating. As the Guardian of Fate's presence loomed over them, the air around them seemed to grow heavier, charged with the intensity of the decision Reiji had just made. It felt as though time itself was holding its breath, waiting to see if Reiji would truly follow through with his choice.
The wind howled through the cracked stones of the Lost Realm, carrying with it a sense of finality that made Reiji's stomach churn. This was it. The moment where everything would change, for better or for worse. The weight of the world hung on his shoulders, but he couldn't falter now.
"You have chosen," the Guardian intoned, its voice resonating with a power that sent vibrations through the ground. "But know this—once you begin the process of mending this world, there is no turning back. The cost will be paid in full, and nothing will remain the same."
Reiji nodded, unable to speak. His throat felt dry, his heart pounding in his chest. He had made his choice, but the fear of losing everything—the people he cared about, the life he had known—still lingered in the back of his mind.
Aeris, ever the protector, stepped forward, her fiery gaze fixed on the Guardian. "You say there's no turning back, but that doesn't mean we should go blindly into this. We need to know everything. The truth. The full extent of what he'll have to face." Her voice was sharp, demanding, a stark contrast to the uncertainty Reiji felt.
The Guardian turned its gaze to Aeris, its ancient eyes shimmering with an otherworldly light. "The truth, you ask? Very well." It paused, as if considering something for a long moment before continuing, its voice shifting with an eerie resonance. "The mending of the world will not only erase Reiji's presence here, it will erase the traces of the Fateweaver itself. His very existence will be wiped from the fabric of reality. Every bond, every memory, every connection he's made in this world will disappear as if they never happened."
Reiji felt his breath catch in his throat. "But... that means—" His voice faltered, the gravity of the truth settling heavily upon him.
"The ones you hold dear will forget you," the Guardian continued. "The family you have fought for, the friends you've made, even the very world itself—it will all forget your existence. No one will remember your name. And you will no longer exist in the way you know yourself."
The Guardian's words echoed in Reiji's mind, the finality of its tone sealing his fate. His heart felt heavy, as though it was being crushed under the weight of the decision he had made. How could he let go of everything he had fought for? How could he erase all the people he cared about, all the moments that had shaped him?
Aeris's voice cut through his turmoil. "That's... too much," she said, her tone softer now, filled with an unexpected vulnerability. "Reiji, are you sure? This is a price beyond anything we imagined."
Lyra, who had remained silent until now, stepped forward. "You don't have to do this alone," she said, her voice calm but determined. "We're with you. If the price is so high, we will help you bear it. Together, we can face whatever comes next."
Reiji turned to look at them both, his gaze flickering between Aeris and Lyra. In their eyes, he saw something he hadn't expected—something that made the heavy burden feel just a little bit lighter. They didn't want him to sacrifice everything. They wanted to fight alongside him, to help him carry the weight of his choices.
"I..." Reiji began, his voice thick with emotion. "I don't want to lose all of you. I don't want to forget the people I care about, and I don't want to be forgotten. But I have to do this. This world... it's falling apart. And if I don't fix it, there may be nothing left for anyone to remember."
Aeris stepped closer, her expression softened, a rare moment of understanding passing between them. "We understand, Reiji," she said, her voice gentle. "We'll help you. You don't have to carry this alone. You don't have to forget."
Lyra nodded. "We're not going anywhere. Whatever happens, we'll face it together."
Reiji took a deep breath, feeling the weight of their words settle into his chest. For the first time since making his decision, he felt a small glimmer of hope. The price of saving the world was steep, but maybe, just maybe, he didn't have to face it entirely by himself.
The Guardian of Fate remained silent, watching the exchange between the three of them. When Reiji turned back to it, he could feel the pressure mounting once again, the reality of his choice coming crashing down on him. He had made his decision, but now, there was no escaping the consequences.
"Very well," the Guardian said, its voice cold once more. "You have chosen your path. The world will be mended, and you will be erased from it. But remember, Fateweaver, the echoes of your actions will remain. They will not fade entirely. Even if the world forgets you, the seeds you've planted will grow in ways you cannot foresee."
Reiji nodded, swallowing the lump in his throat. "I understand."
The Guardian raised its hand, and the very sky above them seemed to tremble. The wind howled as the ground beneath Reiji's feet began to crack, the energy of the Lost Realm swirling around them in chaotic, unstable patterns.
"You have made your choice," the Guardian said, its voice now laced with finality. "Now, let us begin."
With that, the Guardian extended its power, and the world around Reiji began to warp. The colors bled together, reality itself bending under the strain of the Guardian's will. The Lost Realm shuddered, as if waking from a deep slumber, and the very air around them seemed to vibrate with the power that surged through the fabric of existence.
Reiji felt his body tremble under the immense pressure. He had no way of knowing how this would end, but one thing was certain: there was no turning back now.
And as the world around him collapsed into a swirl of light and shadow, Reiji made one final vow to himself—no matter what happened, he would never forget those who had stood by his side.
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End of Chapter 26