Azure 0: Rebellion Sequence/A2E6: Obverse Wishes/Transcript

Previously: Episode 5: A Concealed Light
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Arc 2: Children of Sin
Episode 6: Obverse Wishes
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Area: The 4th Exalted City of Naobi 
Disposal Area
Without looking back to see if the others follow, Nex continues to move through the scrapyard, finding a path to the residential districts. He takes quick glances as he hurries through, leaping over piles of broken down machinery and other waste. Although there are no signs of their pursuers, the silver-haired teenager is unable to shake his unease and concern for Nozomi.
(Memory)
Area: Underneath the 0th Rune City of Izanagi 
Outside of the Refuge at the remains of Shukuto district
Among the wreckage of a decaying city in a blight of Seithr, a girl in civilian clothing with bluish-green slightly long wavy hair is humming in sing-song tone as she plucks some of the shimmering objects from a cluster of crystallization in a faintly glowing spot where teal light cracks through the earth and casts a faint greenish blue glow. In contrast to the gloomy area, the girl seems to be keeping herself in a positive mood. Hearing footsteps from behind, a young male's voice reaches her.
Nex: What’re you doing, Nozomi? Isn't it restricted over here?
Nozomi: (Pulls her hand away and looks over, surprised) Oh, Nex... why'd you follow me?
Nex: I got curious what you kept coming out here for, since you’re the one who said we’re not supposed to be in places like this.
Nozomi: (Folds her arms behind her back in guilt) Well... it's true. But I know how to handle myself…
Turning her head, she looks at the distorted spot which has the teal light sprouting from the earth and the solidified base Seithr.
Nozomi: Old Izanagi is full of natural magic deposits, some that haven’t been drained by all the Scourge. They’re a good place for me to find what I need.
In disbelief, the young rebel stares out to the vast area of ruins that the City has become. It's once proud structures that pierced the skies now rubble and decay. Yet this spot the girl has found still has some sign of life clinging on, or rather it has been miraculously returned to it. Lifting his head, he sees the new city overhead, its bluish hue like a glittering veil high above with not even airships able to be seen. A stark contrast to the destruction of the original City underneath.
Nozomi: Is that odd? Old Izanagi used to have history tied to magic, even before the War. My family would often go there too. Before the collapse, there used to be people who performed all kinds of traditions and rituals, it was full of spirit...a place where dreams and reality blurred. No ties to the big Governments either... it was peaceful, like Ishana used to be.
Nex: Wouldn't know. (Shakes his head) Only you’d find something useful out of this barren place…
Nozomi: I'm just saying I sense a lot of magic, a lot of life force, this place is still full of activity, Nex. I guess I’m drawn to it... that's why I come here.
Her voice becomes more solemn, reminiscing over something, she catches herself lost in these thoughts and returns to gathering the small fragments that glisten brightly.
Nozomi: Since we can’t go out to the main Cities to get anything for the pain some of the refugees deal with, I come out here and try to find something to help them.
She takes one of them, putting it to the light and doing something unseen with it. The next moment, something resembling particles are absorbed into it and a wave of warmth radiates from the construct. With a satisfied nod she spins around, extending her arms to the confused male with the brilliant object in her hand to proudly present it to him.
Nozomi: Voila! It can make anyone feel much better now. My family’s special skill. What do you think?
Unsure of how to react, Nex's eyes look at the fragment. His shoulders raise into a shrug with a blank stare.
Nex: It… what do you want me to say? It looks like a crystallized hunk of Seithr. The same ones I saw at the Government.
Moderately disappointed by the teenager's dismissive words, Nozomi sighs.
Nozomi: Oh, don't be such a spoilsport... just humor me. Here, take it, and you’ll see.
She grabs Nex’s wrist and puts the blue and green fragment in his palm before pushing it back against him. The warmth of it radiates through his limb, and he remains silent in surprise. As this continues, his expression gradually shifts to one of curiosity and amazement.
Nex: How do you make ‘em do that? You changed it somehow...
Returning a smile and a shake of her head, a chipper Nozomi replies and waggles a finger.
Nozomi: Nope. I can’t tell you, it’d ruin the magic. (Smiles and looks at the deposit that glows) But I can say that there's always a way the world responds to something. It's a natural balance. If something is harming it, it'll find a way to heal itself, even if it has to create a means when order fails.
Nex: (Looks at the fragment again) Huh...
After taking a few more, Nozomi places the fragments in a bag hanging on her side. 
Nozomi: Alright, that should be good enough. We should get back.
The two make their way out of the ruin, heading toward the refuge as their scenery becomes more modest and the deserted City is left behind them. The settlements of the refuge come into view, and their feet hit grass and stone. While walking there, they spot a male in uniform on his way out. Nex immediately recognizes the slender figure of Serza. Though he's absent of his uniform from the Destroyer's Division, instead he wears his black dress shirt with the emerald accents on its sleeves, his hat is also present as usual. Nozomi extends her arm and waves in greeting as they pass by, and upon noticing them, Serza lifts his gaze.
Nozomi: Hi Serza, checking in on us, huh?
Serza: I was just on my way out. Making my usual reports… sorry if it makes you uncomfortable that I have to come by here, it’s just part of the job to keep tabs on the situation.
Nozomi: No, it’s okay, I don't blame you for it.
Nozomi looks at the two males and then at her bag.
Nozomi: Nex, keep Serza company, alright? I'm going to drop these off.
Nex: Uh, sure...?
He responds with confusion while Nozomi makes her way by the two males.
Serza: It's so rare to find someone so good-natured in our world. Someone like her must have a desire that could save everyone!
This is said in a bit of a joshing tone, but Nex barely holds back a groan.
Nex: Don't start with that... you know I can't follow you when you start talking about that kind of thing.
Serza: Just poking a bit of fun at it is all. (Looks over his shoulder at the refuge) But I still can’t get over the fact this is where you ended up...just outside of the ruined old city where we first found you.
Nex: Yeah, well, it's better than the system's Cities... thanks for not saying anything about me being here though.
Serza: No need. Like I said, I’d rather not see you in a place like that. Being in my situation isn't something I'd wish on you... it wouldn't do anyone any good.
Nex: Your situation?
Serza: Nevermind that. Have you figured anything out while you’ve been here?
Turning his body away from Serza, Nex casts his gaze on the ruined City they'd just returned from.
Nex: Apparently there’s traces of Azure out there… least Nozomi thinks so. Don’t know if there’s any truth to that though.
Serza: (Raises his brow) I'm surprised she knows about Azure.
Nex: She says her family was once involved with it... supposedly. But I do trust her. She knows a lot about the issue with Seithr and... I think she called it Black Corrosion. Something similar to it happened to someone I cared about.
Serza: Well, a lot of odd things happened there...including a spike of cases of that Seithr disease and wielders of Drive going quite insane and the system does react to that aggressively. No one really knows what it was from in specific, but our Government says that an Irregularity was what caused the collapse of the original Rune City of Izanagi.
Nex: One became that strong...?
He looks back to Serza with a hint of alarm, while the older teenager steps away from the refuge and stops to look out to the city, speaking without looking at Nex.
Serza: Say that were true... let me ask you something. Why do you think it happened? Do you think it wanted to destroy everything for the sake of it?
Nex: (Frowns in bewilderment) Why ask me? I wasn't there.
Serza: Oh, I know you weren't. You weren't even awake yet, so you obviously have nothing to do with this. I just wanted to hear your thoughts. Maybe it did desire the suffering of all those individuals... but something like that reacted for a reason. It appeared for a reason. Maybe it wanted something.
Nex: What’re you saying about it? It just sounds like you're guessing...
Serza: I’m saying that our world doesn’t care for the reason behind an Irregularity’s action or existence... it views them all the same. And this fight with Irregularity our world is in... seems to be causing a lot of suffering for everyone, don’t you think?
Nex: There's a lot of suffering. Just from the refuge I've seen it. Nozomi works hard to help them, someone important to her is also dealing with that illness.
Serza: (Turns around) Right...that's the double-edged nature of Possibility though. You open the door to some of the worst hells while also making opportunities for perfection or peace. As long as someone desires it, it can happen...
Nex: Of course you bring it back to your desires...
His words receive an amused smile from Serza, but it quickly becomes a frown.
Serza: It might seem like that. But my desire doesn’t matter. Our world is eventually going to get rid of all of the Irregularities. That means it won’t happen anyway, you’ll no longer be “Azure 0”, Ophius will become silent... I suppose everything will be as people want it to be.
Unable to figure out his words, Nex exhales and wears an expression of befuddlement.
Nex: Look, I don’t pretend to understand you, Serza. But, if it means that much to you, then I’ll try to use the Azure to prevent Irregularities from vanishing completely.
Serza: You think you'll have the power to do that?
Nex: If I can find the Azure, you said it could give me the strength to. And besides, (Touches his locket) for all I know, she might be one of those Irregularities now. If she can't live in this world because it rejects that, then I have to try to do something to change it.
Serza: (Hums) True... I do believe if anyone will see their will through, and understand what all this is about, it's you.
(Present)
Coming out of his thoughts, Nex notices he's made good distance. Thoughts over Serza still bother him.
Nex: Was it just deceit that whole time? It couldn’t have been… I need to ask him myself. But first, Nozomi.
He hops out of the last of the junk heap and makes his way into the residential district once more.
Meanwhile, back in the heart of the scrapyard, Locke is scouting the debris for any sign of a fault or gap. Finally, the mercenary approaches a heap of melding metals and looks at it, noticing a weak spot in it.
Locke: A-ha! Found a weak spot. A controlled explosion can easily blow all this scrap out of the way. And thankfully, I've got something here.
After he proudly proclaims this, Locke reaches into his pouches and pulls out a couple of grenades, putting them in a tin can and sticking it in a hole in the heap.
Locke: You might want to step back here.
Cerea quickly finds a sheet of metal sticking out of the ground and takes cover behind it, while Locke hides behind a machine carcass and pulls out the detonator, pressing the button. A quick blast makes some scrap scatter away, with some shrapnel hitting the metal sheet. They notice a hole in the heap wide enough to let them through.
Locke: Well, if Spence was with us, he wouldn't be able to climb through this one. You think you can find Nex before he goes too far?
Cerea: (Shrugs) I'll try, no guarantees.
The girl approaches the heap and starts climbing upwards before reaching the hole and squeezing through it, with Locke following her.
Cerea tries to push through the gunk, hoping to catch up to Nex, but he’s left blockades of junk while cutting through other places, allowing him to get by far more efficiently. Locke and Cerea still wade through looking for signs where the rebel might have gone, the cut up junk and Seithr that eats at it is a clear enough sign.
Cerea: Man, all this muck... how did it all end up here?
Locke: The Marshal decided to make the city one of the cleanest in the WOR, but you can't just make all of it disappear overnight, so he decided to dump it all somewhere and recycle it. It takes a long time to get rid of it... plus there's a lot of stuff from the Third War.
At last, Nex arrives at the residential area, once again blinded by harsh light that he covers his face from. He takes a few glances at the streets that cross ways with each other, trying to find the one that he took to the alleyway. Citizens still move around frantically and busily, uncaring of clogging up walking space. The young male looks at them as they stare at him incredulously, confusing him.
Nex: What...?
Citizen A: That’s the guy isn’t it? Who the Destroyer just talked about?
One of them whispers to the other, subtly pointing at him.
Citizen B: Yeah, it is. Lets run him off.
One of the citizens picks up a bottle from a table and throws it at him, causing Nex to dodge it in surprise as it shatters against a building, splashing it with liquid. Looking at the broken pieces of glass with eyes of alarm, he glares toward them.
Nex: What the hell is wrong with you people?
Citizen A: Get out of here! Go on!
They toss some kind of shrapnel at him, indicating they held no intention of stopping. Nex again steps away, noting the building aggression of the citizens.
Citzen B: If you stay here, we’ll leave you a bloodied mess for the Destroyers!
Cerea and Locke find their way out next, but the young male has moved elsewhere. Cerea starts heading for the residential district, knowing it’s where he went to find Nozomi.
Locke: You think you know where he's going?
Cerea: I've been there not too long ago, Locke. I've met that girl. Nex is going there, I'm sure of it.
Sounds of commotion are heard in the distance, but the two manage to slip through all of it and go the other way, straight to Nozomi's hideout.
Nex: Just great...they told the people here about our disguises.
With a disgruntled stare he draws his blade out and abandons the disguise, squinting at the citizens as a aura of darkness begins to burn around him.
Nex: Look, I don’t want to hurt you if I don’t have to, so can you move?
Their angry voices fail to cease. All of them speak, raising their arms and making gestures of fury.
Citizen A: Sinful child, Beast of Sin! You don’t belong in our world!
Citizen B: That Azure is better used for our world’s prosperity and desire!
Citizen C: Get back into their custody before you destroy our world!
Flinching at the yelling, Nex is left disheartened and upset by the people’s words. Another citizen throws an expensive knife at him, yet another shoots an Ars gun. The teenager dodges these things effortlessly, and the shot blows through a wall. Looking to it, he frowns.
Nex: When the hell did I ever say I'd destroy your world? I did refuse the offer to join the system, but…
When Cerea brings Locke to the alleyway, the seal makes it impossible for her to find an entry right away.
Cerea: It's supposed to be here, but it's currently masked by magic or something.
Locke: Magic? What, that girl knows how to use it?
Cerea: Apparently. She did use some kind of power with those crystals, like those we found at the campsite.
Gradually, Nex becomes unsettled by the behavior of the crowd, and when one touches him he reacts violently, smacking his arm back into them. Another strikes him over the head with a blunt object, knocking him to the floor where the crowd starts swinging their feet into his body, an angry mass of individuals who keep screaming at him. Eventually, it becomes too much for him.
Nex: Get off!
One of the citizens dressed in fancy wear takes the expensive knife that fell in the streets, and he points it at the growling Nex.
Citizen A: Screw it. They can revive you. Shouldn't have come to Naobi, this is our paradise, and you have no place in it!
Nex: I said get off!
With his infuriated growl, darkness bursts around Nex in a pressure wave, serpentine manifestations fly out and first rip through the unfortunate man. Body, arms, legs, all of it fails as an intense pitch spreads through. As it crawls up their hand, the knife slips out of grip and dissolves into Seithr while the attacker slowly becomes a shell of black. After Nex gets to his feet, the manifestation uncontrollably starts to attack the furious crowd. Their anger shifts into terror and horror as the beast’s maws rip through some of the people surrounding him while others get injured and move away.
Within the lower hideout, Nozomi feels something is wrong and frowns upon hearing screams. Getting up, she heads over and begins climbing up the ladder in a hurry and dispels the seal. To her surprise, Cerea and Locke are nearby.
Nozomi: Cerea? What are you doing here again? And where is Nex?
The sounds of terrified civilians fill the air, drawing their attention.
Cerea: We thought he would already be here... dammit, he must've gotten into trouble.
Locke: Lady, if you know about something that would help us escape Naobi, please help us. We will bring Nex and others here... but right now there are Destroyers hunting us.
Nozomi: There is one place...but there's no time for it right now. Something is--
She becomes concerned hearing all the noise, and as she focuses her thoughts on it, something tugs at her with immense malevolence.
Nozomi: (To herself in alarm) No--that’s the Grimoire...just like in the refuge in Shukuto! I can’t let it happen again…
Fraught with worry, Nozomi hurries off through the alleyway, summoning one of the crystals in hand and manifesting a crest on it, patterns of cyan surge through it as a ring of teal light envelops her hand and the crystal in unison.
Nozomi: (To herself) Hold on Nex, this time it’ll end differently.
Cerea: Wait, hold on!
She rushes after the blue-haired girl while Locke shrugs but still decides to follow, concerned about Nex.
Civilians are in a panic over the boy’s outburst, some of them have become blackened husks, others injured by Scourge infesting their bodies. The boy is covered in Seithr, and the regulator on his hand struggles to contain the power flowing wildly in his body. Nozomi heads for the sidewalks and streets clogged up by panicking civilians, at the center of it is the agonized and furious teenager, his irises narrow and red like blood.
Nozomi: Nex, don’t listen to the desires within that Grimoire. They’re not yours.
Nex: ...N-Nozomi…?
Unable to discern much beyond her voice, he looks around, seeing a swaying mob of shadowy masses the the crowd has become in his eyes. There's a dream-like blue light glinting from the crystal that Nozomi holds, so he focuses on that.
Nozomi: (Smiles and nods) That’s right. (Frowns in concern) Try to calm down, these people are just blinded, don’t feed on their pain. Don’t make them part of this world’s regret. They’re all struggling. This is no paradise, but they don’t know anything other than this. So please, don’t use it like this.
A ring of runic magic surrounds him and rotates, meanwhile two more form and shoot out spheres of the energy, striking the small beasts which causes a vertical pillar of the blue light to dissolve them back into Seithr. He appears to recognize her, his unstable Drive starts to calm down but it still hurts him slightly.
Cerea and Locke arrive at the scene and look on as Nex is being confined by magic, having gathered Seithr on his body. The girl seems to be both impressed and frightened by what see sees, while Locke remembers creatures from Taoreta he's faced during his time in the Militia.
Cerea: Nex, try to calm down. You won't see these people anymore, just come with us.
Nex: (Pained) What am I...doing?
Nozomi: It’s okay. I won’t let it overwhelm you.
As the Seithr keeps trying to become aggressive and build into constructs of darkness, the magic continues to restrict its wielder. The main crystallized bit reacts and flies away from Nozomi’s hand and spins around quickly. A build up of teal light surges in its body before it flies out in the form of small comet-like streaks that strike the forming shadowy masses down.
Nozomi: Please, Nex.
The young rebel finally relents. His eyes return to normal as he drops on his knee, breathing heavily. Slowly, the Seithr disappears from around him and the darkness flickers away.
Once the Seithr dissipates, Cerea carefully approaches him and puts his arm over her shoulder, letting him lean on her. Locke looks at the crowd of panicked citizens that are unsure of what to do and keeps his hand on his revolver's handle in case something happens.
Nozomi frowns at the citizens who lost their lives in the struggle with Nex, but she dismisses this sorrow and leads the others back to the hideaway with urgency.
Having watched the commotion, Serza looks over as they leave, staying in the distance alongside Arcius who is more captivated by the carnage that the Grimoire and Azure caused with a small bit of its energy.
Serza: (To himself) Nozomi... I wasn’t aware she survived. How'd she end up here, I wonder...
Arcius smirks and tosses the blood dagger up and down in his hand as he's still impressed by the amount of destruction Nex has caused.
Arcius: Mhm... that was quite an art piece, don't you think? Practically your textbook multi-kill. Gotta learn his tactics.
Taken out of his thoughts by his fellow Destroyer’s boisterous energy, Serza chimes in.
Serza: Well given he is ‘the’ Destroyer… I’d expect nothing less. Still...there’s something I need to see for myself. You can join or not.
The SIA official walks toward the residential areas, not batting an eye to the confused citizens while others are in pain from Nex’s assault. He continues to make his way near the place where the girl took the silver-haired teenager, Cerea and Locke. Stepping into the alleyway his jade eyes glance about for a sign of the hideout’s location.
Serza: Somewhere around here... but she’s masking it quite well. If Rythrean were here she could uncover it easily. But she and Faulhier are going after the mercenaries... and getting inside is a different issue.
Arcius doesn't see any blood in the air, as Nex didn't leave any bleeding wounds on his victims. He sighs and leans against the wall, trying to figure out where the hideout is. His crimson eye scans the area, looking for inconsistencies.
Arcius: Hm... from what I understand, that girl has some magic-related potential. Could possibly become a recruit once we get her and "convince" her to join.
Serza: It was outside of logic, that’s why she could engage his Azure Grimoire so effectively... but unlike most horrors who exist out of logic, that girl wields something else entirely.
Serza brings out Ophius and focuses on it, trying to feel the Grimoire’s residue energy anywhere nearby. But what he senses is far different, and he walks around and finally stops on a spot that is by a bunch of objects that have seemingly been affected by the magic energy, gaining a faint aura that is visible.
Arcius: Ah, so she's using it to create an illusion. I see... can you do anything about it?
Serza: We'll see.
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Area: Underneath Naobi 
Secluded Area, Nozomi's hideaway
Nex rests on the grassy grounds, surrounded by the crystalline fragments sprouting from the earth. Blue rings shroud him, keeping him stable. The girl’s two-tone eyes look at Nex and then at Cerea and Locke.
Nozomi: (In relief) At least I was able to intervene in time... that could have ended up much worse.
Locke: Yeah... thanks. I'm Locke, by the way. I'm serving with Imyo, the guy who saved Nex from the NOS.
Nozomi: (Nods) My name is Nozomi... those two both fell down here by accident. I didn’t think we’d meet again so fast. But Cerea did mention that you all were trying to escape Naobi.
She looks over to a gated entrance hidden in the shrubs and stones, a large sigil crosses it and some kind of energy flows through the surface of the strange door.
Nozomi: There is a way, it’s not one-hundred percent safe...but there’s a connecting tunnel to a facility, it goes all the way to Iwatsuchi. I hear the SIA and the people there known as the Council Templar don’t get along, so they might be willing to stop pursuing you so relentlessly if you can make it there. You're more than welcome to use it, I can get you through.
Cerea: Alright, I know Iwatsuchi, so does Imyo. We just need the others to come here as well.
Locke: I've gotta contact Imyo. Nozomi, do you mind three more people here?
Nozomi: I don’t mind at all. I’m happy to meet more people. Besides, you all are helping Nex escape so I’ll try to help you get out of Naobi anyway I can.
Locke then nods in appreciation, finding a spot to set up a contact with Imyo’s group. Nex stirs after calming down and stabilizing completely, sitting up from the grass with a groan.
Nozomi: Are you feeling better?
Nozomi approaches Nex and sits down near him, the young male clutches his head, still dazed from the events. The first thing he seems to take notice of is the power flowing through Nozomi's crystal.
Nex: You used that magic again...
Hearing the subtle disappointment in his tone, Nozomi appears saddened before summoning the crystal to her hand again as the magic runes rotate around it and her. She looks at it solemnly.
Nozomi: Well, I kind of had to. I didn't want it to become too bad, and you’re welcome, by the way.
Nex: I’m glad you stopped it, don’t get me wrong…but the fact you had to use it bothers me. It means I...
Nozomi: Well, it worked didn't it? It didn't end up like the refuge, when I couldn't stop it...
Nex: (Sighs) Nozomi, it--that power almost killed you at the refuge.
Nozomi: It's true that stopping your Grimoire’s power was too much for me there, but that was because you were drawing directly from that gate...and that nightmarish thing that appeared when you touched the Grimoire. That combined power was too--
Nex: (Squints in confusion) ...What thing?
Nozomi: (Worriedly dismisses it) Nothing... it was just something I saw. I was scared it was going to consume you. But you... (hesitates) something protected you.
Nex: (Sighs) I guess I don't know what happened for sure. I didn’t think I escaped the Gate until I woke up and saw everything happening at the refuge... I want to ask Serza about it, but I don’t think he’s going to talk.
Nozomi: (Frowns in surprise) Hold on, Serza is here?
Cerea: (Raises her brow in surprise) You know that Serza guy? Why is he with the Destroyers, then?
Nex: (Furrows his brow) Yeah he...didn’t tell me that either.
Nozomi: I'm... just as surprised to hear that. He was with us at the refuge for a little while, checking up on us. I was friends with him and Nex. But he did act very strangely when the Grimoire connected to Nex... and during the incident... well, he tried to kill me.
Those last words alarm the silver-haired teenager who immediately stands up, his eyes full of disbelief.
Nex: What? Nozomi: (Fidgeting with her fingers) But listen, it was confusing. His eyes were strange, snake-like. I think something shifted in him when he saw me use the power of that crystallized relic to try to stop you.
Nex: And I was powerless to do anything...
Nozomi: It's not your fault. I didn't understand it fully myself... (Troubled) Serza has always been a bit strange, but never like that.
Cerea: So you're saying that something has changed him. What happened there?
Serza: (Offscreen) Didn’t anyone ever tell you that it’s not polite to talk about people behind their back?
The young male’s voice reaches the three, causing them to look over in surprise.
Nozomi: Serza…?
Where Serza is, a faint flickering emerald ember touches the seal, and Ophius pokes through it scattering the rest of it away. Behind him is the Blood Reaver as the two Destroyers stay on the upper ground.
Nex: How did you…?
Serza: Even if it’s classified as an Exitium, it would appear that Ophius is capable of challenging this form of magic too, just like your Grimoire.
Frowning, the silver-haired teenager lifts his head and gives Serza a squint.
Nex: Why are you with the Sequence Destroyers? Have you been with them this whole time? Were you sent to try and spy on Nozomi? Is that the whole reason you were dropping by the refuge?
His questions come quickly, each word filling with a barely-concealed disappointment and fury from Nex.
Nex: Were you the reason that damn bastard showed up and ruined everything?
Nozomi: Nex, please, calm down...
Serza: Maybe I should have expected this many questions, but… yes, I have always been with them. That kind of comes with being one of the first of the ‘Sequence Destroyers’.
Nex: One of the first?
Serza: The Genesis Destroyers that came before us led to the formation of Sequence Destroyers... us four are some of the first to come of that. As for the other question, no. I was sent for other reasons, I didn't even know about her. (Rubs his temple with a finger) As for the General being there... that was...
Cerea: Ah, shit...
Locke abandons the contact, quickly turns around and pulls out his revolver, pointing it at the Destroyer, the noise draws his attention away from Nex.
Locke: If you've got other reasons, do you mind getting out of here? We're in the middle of something here, namely running away from you and your buddies.
Serza glances to the revolver pointing their way and sighs without a hint of worry.
Serza: Nex, if you wanted to talk, having your friends shooting people certainly isn’t the way to do it. Why not tell this novel and genius mercenary to put the gun down before he gets someone killed?
Nex: Is there anything to talk about? Nozomi told me you tried to kill her.
His voice trembles with hostility, to which the jade-eyed male responds with calm certainty.
Serza: Yes, Ophius did. It had a reaction to her, one I wasn’t even expecting at the time. But she knows exactly why this happened, whether she tells you that or not...that remains to be seen.
Nozomi: I wasn’t even aware you came to have that weapon... that last time I heard of it, it was broken in the War.
Serza: It's not what it used to be, no. Marshal gave it to me. I’m not sure where he got the materials to ‘fix’ it, but apparently the family taking care of me had its remains. That's the only thing I'd thank them for too.
He takes a few seconds to look at the clearing.
Serza: Seems your 'leader' isn’t around.
Locke's gray eyes peer at Serza while the gun in his hand doesn't tremble. He seems certain that he will have to shoot if the jade-eyed male makes a move.
Locke: Thanks, but I'll keep the gun. Makes me feel a bit safer here. As for our leader, he may be just around the corner.
Cerea slowly puts her hand on her sword's hilt, not certain of Serza's intentions.
Serza: I doubt it if Faulhier and Rythrean are near his location. But you and Nozomi can talk with me all you want, away from your violent friends. No one has to hurt each other either. After the refuge I think you’ve had enough of that.
Nex: Tch. We can talk, but I'm not moving.
He summons his blade and takes it in both hands, glaring at Serza, but he keeps its tip in the ground. Slightly disappointed with the teenager’s response, the SIA official closes his jade eyes but maintains composure.
Serza: You know, of all people I was hoping you would be understanding of my desire.
Serza decides to walk forward, but he keeps Ophius drawn. Locke still keeps his finger ready to pull the trigger when the Destroyers join them on the lower level, hoping down.
Serza: You’re someone who lost something to this system, who has had their possibility ripped away from them. Let me ask you this: Why do you think she was in hiding at the refuge, Nex?
Keeping a close eye on Serza's movement, Nex holds his sword's hilt, following him with his eyes as he listens to his question.
Nex: I already know why she was there. She told me about all of it.
Serza: She did? Well, I realized the truth of why she was at that refuge, and why she has that magic and the conduits for it. When Ophius revealed that to me, I began to see why it wants her gone. It can effect you too you know, even something you care deeply for.
Nex: I don’t care what that damn thing ‘showed’ you. It doesn’t matter to me.
Serza: If only you knew. Unfortunately, Ophius isn’t so polite like myself... I won’t give you the answers that it shared with me. Regardless of what you desire...her fate will effect yours, and not in a good way. I’m not saying it to be spiteful, it’s just reality.
Nozomi: (Frowns) I’m well aware of it, Serza. That is why I lived in hiding...you already know why I tried to hide. I won't allow this to be used for...
Noticing Nozomi's face shadowed by sorrow, Nex interjects sharply.
Nex: It doesn't matter, I said. So stop feeling guilty over something out of your control. I trust Nozomi, Serza, she'll use it for a reason she chooses, not this world's will or anyone else's.
Arcius: Well, that's all fine and dandy, but I've got an interesting offer to you, girl. Are you willing to hear me out?
After remaining in silence, taking in the background history of their targets, the Reaver seems content enough and slowly pushes himself off the rocky wall and approaches Serza, standing beside him.
Arcius: You may want to listen. It's a trade offer that will keep everyone alive.
Locke keeps his thumb on the hammer, while Cerea is ready to draw her blade to defend herself. While instinctively, Nex’s hand touches the hilt of his weapon, but he doesn’t pull it from the ground yet, casting his gaze to Nozomi to listen to her response.
Nozomi: What 'trade offer'…? Arcius: You see, I can tell you have a lot of potential here, so why let it go to waste?
He keeps a calm expression on, trying not to drive Nozomi away as he speaks the next words with gentle composure.
Arcius: Why not join us...? That will guarantee that you'll survive past this encounter.
Offended by the offer, Nex growls and almost lifts his sword. A hand from Nozomi touches his shoulder and he looks at her. Hastily, the girl answers the Reaver with a wary frown, but firm resolve.
Nozomi: I have no place among that agency, and neither do my abilities. I can’t trust them with it. They’ll repeat the same mistakes that occurred in the war. Nex: You heard her. So back off, she isn’t interested in it.
Serza: Not even for an alternative path? A way to escape your fate, Nozomi?
Nozomi: There is no alternative path in that place.
Serza: (Tilts his head incredulously) What makes you say that? So you think everyone in the NOS is after the same thing…?
Nozomi: They’re still after a World of Eternity...and they don’t understand what that would mean.
Serza: While, yes, the system still seeks that...not everyone is interested in repeating history. And I’ve already told Nex, I’m not someone who desires the end of Irregularities. The conversation leaves the silver-haired teenager at a loss, as it contradicts everything he previously knew.
Nex: Isn’t the Destroyer’s whole purpose to remove them? What the hell are you doing if not that? You are a Destroyer.
Serza: Let me just say this... Nozomi’s power is part of the possibility they seek, one of no ‘Irregularities’, that could be a reality. That’s partially why Ophius reacted so violently…but if she was to choose another path, then I think we could come to a compromise.
Disgusted, Cerea chimes in.
Cerea: Yeah, so you could use her in some horrific shit? Putting her through some "trials" that will traumatize her?
Arcius: Don't judge our actions that quickly. We treat our recruits with a degree of decency, so whatever "horrific shit" you're talking about is probably false or exaggerated.
Nex: It can't be that exaggerated when I've experienced firsthand what the NOS is capable of. I can only imagine the SIA is worse when it needs to be.
Arcius: (Shrugs with a sigh) And here I thought I was getting through to you... oh well, that's your choice.
His tone doesn't indicate any kind of disappointment, but he reaches for the naginata, sensing that the talk is falling through.
Nex: The fact you'd even try to drag her into this is enough to piss me off, so we're done talking.
Clasping the blade's hilt, Nex takes it from the ground with both hands and readies to fight the two SIA officials, glaring at them. To this, Serza looks away with an amused smile, before straightening his gaze to the male.
Serza: ...Always have to solve things with violence, don't we? I was so hoping we could all come to an understanding...
He flourishes Ophius and it engulfs itself in a burning emerald and crimson aura that solidifies into its blade, the vertical row of bits of solidified Seithr Scourge along its center remain inactive. Standing at an angle, Serza adjusts his weapon and allows Ophius to dissolve into a strange emerald and crimson shroud that snakes around his body at a constant. Nex watches this intently, never seeing his weapon shift its form until now.
Serza: But while you’ve just discovered your strength, I’ve had Ophius for years. See how far your Azure gets you against it.
Concerned, Nozomi goes to the young rebel's side and shakes her head, touching his wrist.
Nozomi: Nex, you shouldn’t fight them, you need to focus on getting away from this city.
Quickly, Nozomi makes a gesture and summons the crystal to her side, and an immense build up of natural magic is felt.
Nozomi: I can fend off Exitium, you and your friends can use that door I told you about.
Nex: (With intense dissagreement) And just leave you behind? Hell no.
Locke: (Readies the gun) We can't have you risking your life for us.
Somewhat shocked by their response, Nozomi is unsure of how to respond.
Arcius: Well, she's signed her death warrant anyway, so we will have to deal with her either way.
Serza: She's been helping you, so by becoming involved with her you’ve sealed her fate, mercenaries. General already warned you of that...so you have no one to blame but yourselves.
Cerea: Bunch of bastards...
With a growl, the silver-haired teenager moves forward, stepping in toward Serza and brings the weapon around into a wild slash sending a flurry of Seithr that becomes a vague construction of a claw which rends at the same angle. Before it can even touch him, the jade-eyed official slips by it with a sense of falsified concern while the shroud of his weapon still flows around him. Then, with his swift motion of his hand, a snake-like manifestation flies off the shroud and encircles Nex in a serpentine pattern confusing him as it flies and twists, making him instinctively swat the phantasmal aura, but it doesn't do anything to make the manifestation go away. Without warning, it strikes him suddenly, staggering him with a groan escaping his mouth, but the worst of it is the weakening feeling it sends through his body briefly.
Serza's eyes notice Nozomi summons a ring of the teal light which rotates before it sends a sphere of energy out. Ophius then reappears in Serza’s hand and he stabs it into the ground, a miasma of emerald and crimson snakes through the floor and then emerges, ripping through the sphere.
Serza: (To Arcius) Try to make this fast...we don’t want the leader showing up.
Locke fires a shot at Serza which gets absorbed by a snake and fired back at him, forcing the tan man to duck under it when it whistles by. After Cerea sidesteps the miasma and draws her blade, she looks around to determine the situation. Seeing an opportunity, Arcius creates and tosses a volley of blood daggers at Nex, and the young male defends himself by blocking with his sword, but the blood-wielding Destroyer closes in and delivers a powerful punch to his chest.
A second after impact, a blunt pain fills his chest as the young Nex gasps into a growl. The heavy hit rattles his body, knocking him down back-first against the grass before standing back up partially and shaking his daze off. His hand is engulfed by violently swarming particles of Seithr, turning it into a claw. Dashing in, he then jumps up and swings it down on Arcius, clashing against the blood-red gauntlet to push him away. But before he can react, the Blood Reaver finds a hail of crystal bits pelt their position, Nozomi standing near the field with the main crystal moving around her. Looking to it, Arcius creates a blood barrier to defend against the light before condensing it into a discus and tossing it at Locke who is knocked away by it and lands on the ground. After seeing this, Cerea makes her way towards the Reaver and slashes at him in a powerful rising swing, but he weaves out of the way and sweeps her legs.
Arcius: Don't interfere, girl. You're too powerless to stop us. Stay down, and you'll live.
Just as he says this, Arcius is knocked forward and past Cerea by a maw of darkness that roars. Nex holds his arm that has veins of crimson moving throughout, attempting to control the flow of the volatile energy, before he then sends another toward Serza. But much to Nex's dismay this is again made pointless when it is absorbed by the shroud around him as he dodges at the same time. He then channels it, the shroud coils around his arms causing emerald and crimson veins to fly through as he readies to launch a devastating strike when serpents appear and hiss as they ready to lunge. Nex looks at it in slight alarm, noticing the similarities of it to Akuhei's power and Nex's Grimoire's. However, before he can land the attack, a ring envelops Serza and traps him in it, dispelling the shroud around him, forcing Ophius back into a solid state.
Serza: Tch... That really is a problematic power… but you won’t suppress Ophius so easily.
Nozomi: Serza, stop using Ophius... it was kept dormant for a reason.
Serza: I could ask you to stop using that thing, but you won’t listen either, now will you?
He swings the weapon into a wide horizontal slash, but before it can land a clean hit, Nozomi’s crystal creates a wall of the crystallized construct to defend her from it. Seeing her struggle, Locke fires several energy shots in Serza's direction, trying to distract him from Nozomi. When he runs out of ammo, he rolls behind a ruined wall and opens the drum, ejecting used cartridges and loading new ones in.
After being flung back by the beast, Arcius right himself mid-air and lands on his feet, quickly releasing some blood from the gauntlet to create a whip. The sound of cracking rends the air as the Destroyer swings his weapon at Nex, hitting him across the chest. As the young male gasps in pain, the whip wraps around his arm and yanks him towards the one-eyed man.
Arcius: Get over here!
While Nex struggles against the pull, Cerea gets up from the grass and runs towards Arcius, tackling him to the ground and striking him in the face.
Cerea: Just get lost, will you?
Although Arcius takes a punch to his face, his hand grips and tosses her aside while he returns to his feet. Intending to make a follow up on the downed Cerea, the Reaver suddenly feels the young male’s sword cut across his back infesting the wound with Seithr, but no kind of corrosion occurs to Nex's confusion. Groaning as he feels searing pain across his back, Arcius still manages to compose himself and draws his naginata, twirling it over his head and rushing at Nex with a flurry of slashes, swinging wildly at his before ramming him with a shoulder check. Each swing of the naginata is deflected by Nex on instinct alone, red darkness flares around his body. But the tackle from his foe knocks him over.
When more shots come from Locke, Serza clicks his tongue as he deflects the energy shots away with his blade, before Nozomi’s eyes glow as she creates a diamond-like construct surrounded by runes of light that pulsates with teal patterns, and it is fired at Serza. To his surprise, it strikes him right through his defenses, piercing his body and he growls in brief pain.
Serza: Gh--my, you certainly are putting everything into stopping Ophius. How much harder are you going to try? Do you want me to disappear? It sure seems like it with that hit...
In this moment, his eyes turn crimson and become slits. Feeling something crawl through his mind, he touches his head and looks at her.
Serza: I see now… so even that thing is seeking to alter itself. The power of possibilities and desire is just that strong, it affects more than anyone could anticipate...that’s incredible. But you won’t find your reconciliation easily...
Lying on the floor, dizzy from the tackle, Nex lifts his head and is left baffled as he notices the shift in Serza's words. Although, he quickly recalls it.
Nex: That's just like when he first met me... he had those eyes....
Nozomi: I... don't understand. What are you?
Serza: I’m still myself. Ophius and I just connected... it’s how I become aware of things like you, and those possibilities.
Unsettled by Serza's shift, Nozomi notices it becomes far more taxing to keep the Exitium held back. The eyes upon Ophius' blade open and look at her with a piercing sensation while the shroud of miasma expands around him once more. As the construct piercing him dissolves, he seems to ready to attack. Upon seeing this, Locke tosses a shock grenade from the cover, and it lands next to Serza's feet, ready to detonate in one second in the hopes to prevent his advance. The grenade detonates under the Destroyer, but the shroud absorbs electricity and he is unharmed.
Locke: Son of a...
Serza: You and I, our desires will never coexist. They're simply worlds apart... different realities.
Gasping in surprise, Nozomi notices the tip of the weapon is suddenly against her, right below her throat.
Nozomi: S-Serza? Put Ophius down, you can't handle it, no one can...it's not meant to be here.
Serza: You say that like I need to be saved from it.
Nex pushes himself off the floor with a growl, then jumps up to his feet. He runs in after Serza, the regulator opens further releasing a plume of darkness that envelops Nex as Seithr is drawn to him. Although the Blood Reaver chases after the young rebel and attempts to knock him down with a powerful front kick, his opponent's reflexes are too quick for him to land the blow.
Nex: Don’t even think about it!
Eyes a deep red, the silver-haired teenager throws himself past Arcius and at Serza forcing his attention off of Nozomi. Seeing the boy from the corner of his eye, Serza turns and defends himself from Nex's blade, a beast which follows just misses him as he weaves from it.
Serza: I wasn't going to kill her... no need to get so upset.
Nex: Shut up!
Nozomi, gasping as she watches, feels something resonate from Nex.
Nozomi: Nex! Stop, you don’t need to!
She holds her chest, feeling something straining her, the crystallized bits around her disintegrate as she pants in pain. Suddenly a harsh familiarity washes over her as she stumbles in her weakening state.
Nozomi: No, not now... I can't fail again...
Nex defends himself from the serpentine energy streaks that fly off and attack him when Serza's shroud returns, before Nex decides to try and break through. In response, Serza manifests Ophius in the form of his blade and makes a series of slashes throwing out a green and red coiling miasma, and Nex avoids one twisting away while using his claw to make a reaping slash and force Serza back, throwing him away. However, the final slash still lands, sending Nex tumbling.
Nex: Dammit...the hell is with that Exitium?
Landing on his feet, Serza clicks his tongue, brushing off his uniform.
Serza: Well, you’re making this a lot more difficult than it needed to be… you don't get it at all do you? Then again, I guess I should expect that. You don't listen to the Grimoire much.
Nozomi attempts to bring the crystal back, but the instant she does, Arcius quickly swings his whip, creating a cracking sound that startles her and makes her stop.
Arcius: Wouldn't do this if I were you.
Nex gets to his feet once more, slower than last time, his eyes still glaring toward Serza. Their red eyes stare each other down for a few seconds.
Serza: I think you’ve lost.
Brushing off his pain, Nex retorts strongly, lifting his weapon.
Nex: I can still go, now come on!
At this aggressive display, Serza sighs with a shake of his head and points to Nozomi with his finger.
Serza: But can she?
Nex turns his head. The aggression in his eyes melts when he notices the worsening condition of the girl who struggles to stay standing. When Nozomi sees him looking her way, she tries to put on a brave smile, but pain twists it into a frown of exhaustion.
Nozomi: I’m sorry, Nex…I thought I could hold it back this time. But between you and Serza I...
After hearing her, Serza makes the Exitium disappear from his hold and stands with the shroud around himself, looking at Nozomi and Nex in contemplation with his red eyes.
Serza: Ophius alone is difficult to hold back, imagine your Grimoire on top of it. We can keep going, but it won't end well. She’ll feel every bit of it, trying to keep those powers from bursting out of control. It takes a lot of willpower to do that, and it's straining to her. You know that. She almost bit the dust when she tried to stop the Azure Grimoire in the refuge.
Nex: (Lowers his head) I...
The strain of holding back Ophius appears to have worn on the girl who drops to her knee, strange patterns of light move through her which match the primary crystal's.
Nex: Nozomi...
Serza: Pushing yourself any further might result in an outcome I doubt he wants to see.
Arcius: So just give it up. Nobody will get hurt any more than necessary.
Unwilling to accept Arcius' words, Locke fires several shots from behind the cover, one of them is skillfully deflected by Arcius' naginata and hits just a few inches left of where Cerea is lying. The girl is startled by the shell landing in the ground, and quickly crawls backwards in shock.
When he hears the shot, Nex gives a squint to Locke in concern.
Nex: Locke, don't! He gestures to the hurt Nozomi in urgency.
Nex: Stopping Serza's Exitium will push her over her limit. Stopping me will be too much as well. I hate to say it, but Serza's right.
He throws his sword to the ground, driving its tip to the earth.
Nex: (Reluctantly) We lost.
Coming to an understanding of Nex's plight, Locke sighs and lowers the weapon with a sigh.
Locke: Alright... I'm ceasing fire.
Once he holsters the gun, slowly, Locke comes out of hiding.
Arcius: (Chuckles) If only things were always that easy...
Serza: A mercenary wouldn’t want the death of an innocent girl on their hands anyway.
Serza’s eyes return to their usual jade coloration.
Serza: Let’s just try to be reasonable here. If you two both come without any fuss, we’ll pretend we never saw these mercenaries. Or, you can run away with them again, and leave Nozomi behind. We'll just find you again though.
Nozomi: (Frowns and looks at Nex) Don’t worry about me, Nex. They don’t scare me... you should focus on getting out of here with your friends.
Serza: The likelihood of them getting out is slim to none, Nozomi… I’m trying to spare him the trouble of watching them die.
Nozomi: (Closes her eyes in defiance) Oh, who cares what you think about their chances? Take me if you want, Akuhei won’t do a thing to me.
Serza: So what’s your choice, Nex? Do you want to keep running around the Marshal’s cities and let her meet whatever fate awaits her, or are you going to try to change it?
Those last words are spoken with a daring tone which the silver-haired boy picks up on.
Nex: Are you saying that something will happen to Nozomi if I don’t agree to this...? What do you know, Serza?
Serza: I never said anything. But I can’t predict what the General or the Marshal will do. If you want to take the chances, that’s on you.
Nex: (Grinding his teeth before responding) Fine, I’ll go. I'm not leaving her alone with all of you bastards.
Taken aback by his words, Nozomi looks at him in subdued horror and sadness, frowning in a plea.
Nozomi: Nex, no, please. You don’t have to… go with your friends. I'll be fine, I promise. Don't waste your freedom on me.
Nex: (Looks at her) No. I’ve caused enough trouble for you. It’s my fault you’re in this situation at all...
Nozomi: No, you don't understand, I'm already--
Serza: Well, he made his choice, don't try to sway him now. You know how stubborn Nex is.
Locke shakes his head as he refuses to accept Nex's words, when Arcius goes to Nex to put binds on him and Nozomi, the tan mercenary shoves his way between and looks at the teenager.
Locke: Nex... you can't go there with them. Imyo told me to keep an eye on you, and I'll be damned if I disobey his orders. Words spoken in a steely resolve, Cerea tries to talk some sense into the fellow mercenary.
Cerea: Locke, we can't fight them. It's suicide. Just look at this, we couldn't do anything against these Destroyers!
Locke: I know... (Looks at Arcius) but I'm taking my chance here.
He refuses to let the Destroyer touch Nex, only for Arcius to view this boldness with amusement.
Arcius: Your chance? (Scoffs) Sadly, that's not gonna work out for you. I can simply kill you here and now, but it'd be a waste of my time.
Serza: See, there is a line between normal people like you two...and ourselves. You have no part to play on the grander stage. Staying involved with him... it's going to kill you.
After the jeering remarks, Nex glances to Locke and is disapproving of his persistence.
Nex: Just stay out of this, Locke. I can take care of myself. I won't leave Nozomi behind again. Imyo means a lot more to you guys, so don't waste your lives on this.
Locke: I'm not leaving you, that's my decision, whether you like it or not. I'm standing by my orders.
Arcius: Tch, ain't that melodramatic.
Following these words, Arcius quickly creates several blood chains and wraps one of them around Nex's torso, binding him and restricting his arm movement. Then he does the same to Locke and Cerea, yanking them closer.
Nex: Wha--?
Serza: Hmm?
Arcius: (To Serza) Well, whatever, we can take them all. They'll be interrogated, and any info they give up can be used to rat out any other potential threat.
Feeling the chain crush his chest in, Nex groans in alarm toward the Reaver's suggestion. After giving it a second of thought, Serza sees the Blood Reaver's reasoning and approaches Nozomi. She weakly looks at him, unable to stop him from taking her hand and bringing her up to her feet.
Serza: I suppose having Imyo's personal squad alive for now could work out. (Glances at Locke) If you're that loyal you can suffer for your leaders' crimes against the system.
Arcius: Signal the others that we got 'em. I got my hands full here.
While Arcius handles the mercenaries and Nex, moving them with the blood chains, Serza opens a voice contact with the other Destroyers as they begin to leave the area.
Serza: Faulhier, Rythrean, we have Azure 0, along with the others who were with him. We're bringing them to Iwasu.
Rythrean: Affirmative. We haven't located the leader, only that they're within the military district.
Serza: The military branch, huh... they’re close to the connecting entrance of Iwasu. Don’t tell them we have the others hostage, understood? They can figure it out on their own, I'm sure.
Rythrean: Alright, we’ll keep them occupied on our end if we spot them.
After that affirmation, Serza closes the contact and looks at Arcius, walking in front of him.
Serza: Seems like the cat and the rest of the squad are running around the military district. But since he doesn’t know that the rest are captured, his efforts are probably meaningless.
Arcius: Well then... let's have them run around for a while while we can just by on our way.
----
Area: Naobi 
Naobi’s Military District
Imyo touches the contact device, trying to get through to Locke after the last attempted calls, but it remains unable to get a signal. Smacking it with his paw in frustration, he rests it on his muzzle and breathes in to calm himself.
Imyo: Something went wrong... Locke would always answer.
Ears drooping in concern, Imyo turns off the device for the time being and joins the other squad members as they try to stay out of sight in the vast military zone. Watching the district from a bit higher up on some of the roof platforms, Faulhier sits lazily with one leg crossed and one eye shut while Rythrean holds perfect posture and remains vigilant, scanning the area.
Faulhier: Well, that was short. Already got the brat, maybe we can go back home.
Rythrean: Never get lazy during the job, Faulhier…
Faulhier: (Waves it off dismissively) Oh come on...they’re going to Iwasu. They’re absolutely screwed. Unless the Marshal wants them to get out... they’re never leaving that place.
----
Area: Naobi 
Residential District of Kanpeki
When Arcius tugs the chain bringing the captives out of the alleyway, Nex growls in annoyance as Nozomi looks at him from a bit ahead, her eyes filling with sorrow.
Nozomi: (Softly) Why would you do exactly what he expected you to do? I didn't want you to...
Nex: (Frowns) Huh? What are you talking about?
Nozomi: (Shakes her head) Don't be naive...it's sweet, but open your eyes and realize whose City you're in.
Nex's confusion only deepens, looking behind him to see the mercenaries getting tugged along. Straightening his gaze, the young male sighs and prepares himself to enter the Marshal’s main city, but he can’t help but shudder once at the thought when that realization begins to sink in.
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End of Obverse Wishes
Continues in: Captives of Choice
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Category:EvoBlaze
Category:Rebellion Sequence Transcript