Agami freezes after hearing Arcadius’ proposition: help him by accepting his power? What will his power grant? Only he and Arcadius are present.

  “Wh– what will happen if I accept it?” Agami hesitantly asks.

  “It’s simple. My physical form will disappear and a new ‘light’ will ignite within you,” Arcadius smiles.

  “Light?”

  “I can't guarantee what it will be.”

  Arcadius’s answer introduces a sense of unease in Agami.

  “How can I be sure…you aren't lying?” Agami carefully asks, afraid to anger him.

  “You can't,” Arcadius answers, “I can only give my word.”

  The offer still confuses Agami. After hearing him, Agami doesn't know whether he is trying to trick him or is truthfully offering his power.

  “Why?” Agami struggles to speak. “Why me? I already have this serious role in everything and… I'm not sure–... I'm not sure if I even want it anymore. Like–... it feels… I ask myself, is the Armament a part of me, or am I a part of it? And now– and now you offer me this. I– I can't understand this.”

  “I understand your frustrations, and I never said anything about it being a gift,” Arcadius replies.

  “Then what is it?” Agami asks.

  “It's a choice.”

  “A– A choice?”

  “Your steps were always dictated by someone else's choices. Doing what others want. Being where they want, when they want. Living how they want. But now, you can decide how this will play out. This can be the first step you make on your own.”

  “But…everyone is counting on me to defeat you. vanquish you,” Agami replies hesitantly, looking down in worry.

  “But do you feel a need to vanquish me?” Arcadius questions. His tone remains careful yet lacks hostility.

  Agami slowly looks back up and answers, “I–...I don't.”

  “So what now? Will I remain your enemy because of others, or will you make your own judgement?”

  Arcadius’s eyes remain fixed on Agami's, curious about his answer. Agami can't help but imagine everyone else's disappointment upon hearing he wants to help Arcadius or Baltro.

  “Will they hate me if I don't see you as my enemy? If they find out?” Agami asks.

  “Who knows. Will they respect your autonomy, or will they shun you for it? What matters is if you can live with yourself after all is said and done.”

  Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

  Agami remembers when Tenmei defeated Phenton previously. Phentons' blood-curdling screams still echo in his head. He didn't know Phenton that well, but what would drive someone to do that, he wonders.

  I don't want to see that. But if Arcadius wants me to stop them through killing, how is this any different from what I am currently doing?

  “Wh–what do you ask of me in return? Do you want me to vanquish them as well?” Agami asks, the sinking feeling in his chest growing stronger.

  “As a last resort, yes.”

  “Last…resort?”

  “Yes. I wish for you to try to persuade them. I will be with you, but I can't let my presence be known.”

  “Why can't you speak to them yourself?” Agami asks, a sense of relief giving him some life.

  Arcadius looks at the moon and sighs, “I have already achieved my Ascension. And for them to see someone who has succeeded before they have achieved their goals, asking them to give up on theirs. It will come across… malicious.”

  “But won't it be weird if I talk to them for you?”

  “Maybe.” Arcadius furrows his eyebrows as he answers. “Nevertheless, I don't want them erased.”

  “Erased?!” Agami stands up and knocks over his untouched teacup. “What do you mean by ‘erased'?! Don’t pass on to the other side?”

  A sad look appears on Arcadius’s face as he answers, “No. For us who have violated the migration from this realm to the next, vanquish is, as the name implies, ‘total annihilation.’”

  Agami feels his heart freeze upon hearing Arcadius’ words, realising he is responsible for killing Phenton. No, worse than that. Erasing his existence.

  “No…” Agami can only say as he slumps back in his chair.

  “From your reaction, I take it Tenmei misled you.” Arcadius stretches his arms, and Agami's teacup is placed in front of him again. A tea kettle pours tea into it. “Please, relax and have some Abysstal tea. Do you take sugar?”

  Agami, struggling to process this revelation, can only answer, “Ye-Yes… uhm– two. I take two teaspoons.”

  Arcadius simply nods his head, and a spoon places two teaspoons of sugar before stirring it. Agami watches as the tea swirls in front of him. Hesitantly, he carefully picks it up and takes a sip. It's sweet, just like how Erina used to make it.

  Unsure of how to go on, Agami can only ask, struggling to hold his anger and frustration. “But why–...Why wouldn't he tell me the truth?”

  “It's because you wouldn't have immediately agreed to it if you knew the truth– especially after the fact,” Arcadius answers.

  “But Sora, Imino, and Gearfried… them too?” Agami desperately asks, unsure of who to trust anymore.

  “I'm assuming you never asked them about vanquishing?”

  Agami remembers his conversations with the others. “I guess I never did… I trusted Tenmei to be honest.”

  “That's unfortunate. Hopefully, he will tell you the truth in time.”

  Agami looks at the armament, which is glowing bright again. A slight exhaustion is overcoming him.

  “It seems Tenmei is getting desperate.” Arcadius snaps his fingers, causing the table, teacups, and tea kettle to fold in on themselves. “Time is running out. I need your answer now.”

  Arcadius stands up and stretches his arm toward Agami for a handshake. “This is the final time I ask. Will you help me by accepting my power?”

  Agami stands up and walks toward Arcadius. Something about what he is saying is strange. He remembers Stella and how she jumped off the building with him. It was the only time he felt all of his problems melt away. This didn’t feel any different

  Arcadius stands before him, his arm still stretched toward him. Was this who the Ascenders worshipped? Agami stretches his hand out and shakes it.

  “I accept,” Agami answers.

  Arcadius smiles and says, “Thank you.” Suddenly, Agami feels a sharp pain in his chest. Chains of light from Arcadius’ chest have pierced through his chest.