“…What do you want to talk about?” Alnea said, staring at his white counterpart with a hint of caution. Although the latter had just answered a few of his questions, that did not make him any less dangerous than he was before. Especially considering the strange world they were in.
“…It is not a strange world,” the white Alnea said. “This is the world of your Heart.”
“…I have never heard of anything such as the world of Hearts, and more importantly, are you reading my mind?”
“It cannot be considered as reading your mind if we are the same person.”
“Then why can I not read your mind?” Alnea said, prompting the white Alnea to turn towards him with a mocking smile.
“You know why.”
“…If you don’t want to tell me, then just say it. There is no need to go through all this drama,” Alnea said, tearing his eyes away from his white counterpart to glance at the world around them. “What about this world? If you really want to talk to me, then you should at least tell me what this broken world is.”
“I have already told you… It is the world of your Heart.”
“…And what does that mean?”
“It literally means what I just said,” the white robed Alnea said, following the eyes of the black robed Alnea to glance at the world around them. “This is the world within your Heart… The world formed because of your—our existence.”
“…You are not good at explaining things, you know?”
“…Tsk. I forgot how cheeky I can be… Anyways, just think of this world as a reflection of your Heart. See how there are no signs of Enn or Orn in the sky? That is because you do not have any sense of security anymore. Naturally, the world will also reflect your Heart, and lose all its light source.”
“Then what about the blood red light?”
“…Since we are one, the world will also reflect a part of me.”
“This blood red light is the reflection of your Heart?”
“…A part of it, yes.”
“I still do not believe it. If this world is really the reflection of my Heart, then why do I not see the reflection of any of my thoughts?”
“…Why do you think that your thoughts are not being reflected here?”
“That is because—
“You did not see them? Tell me, my foolish self, how do you expect to see your thoughts?”
“…Through actions?”
“There,” the white Alnea said, turning back towards the broken lands. “You have your answer.”
“…What?”
“…Do you still not understand?” the white Alnea said, pointing to the world around them. “These broken lands… the dried up rivers and lakes… the bleak air… these are the scars that your thoughts have left behind in their wake.”
“…Do you expect me to believe those ridiculous words?”
“If you do not believe me, then you can confirm it on your own. Just think about things that make you uncomfortable, and everything will be clear.”
“…I—
“Are you afraid?”
“…Why should I be afraid?” Alnea said, glaring at his white robed counterpart, before closing his eyes, and digging into his past. Into the uncomfortable thoughts. Into his weakness and helplessness—
Alnea opened his eyes at the rumbling sounds, staring with wide eyes at the blood red thunder flashing over his head, striking pits larger than entire cities on the ground. Yet the destruction wrought by the thunder was only a small part of the chaos unfolding on the ground. It was as if a giant worm, tens of times larger than the Lost City, was turning over in the ground. Except, there were no worms. Whatever destruction came, came from the ground itself.
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
No, not the ground. The destruction came from his thoughts. From his sense of weakness and helplessness. Even the blood red thunder flashing in the sky was just a reflection of his unwillingness… This world was truly a reflection of his Heart. But if that was true, then…
“You finally understand,” the white robed Alnea said, letting out a sigh, just as the chaos stopped unfolding, leaving behind another set of scars on the world. “Do you see how foolish your actions have been?”
“But… I don’t understand… Is it not natural to have thoughts? That is what meditating and tempering our Hearts is all about. To overcome our thoughts… To overcome ourselves…”
“That may be the case for normal people, but we are not normal,” the white robed Alnea said, turning towards his black robed self. “We are—
“Lost. Lost and incomplete.”
“So, you do remember. That should make it easier for you to understand why we cannot let things go on as they have been. This world may seem stable for now, but with how frequently you fight against your thoughts, we never know when it may collapse. And you do not want to know the consequences of your Heart collapsing.”
“My Heart…” the black robed Alnea mumbled, as he glanced at the bleak world. “Is this really the world of my Heart?”
“Have you not confirmed it already?”
“…Even if all that you said is true, why have I never heard anyone talk about it?”
“You have… Just with a different name.”
“…Infinite Heart?”
“It looks like you are not completely beyond salvation after all. You just need some guidance—
“I thought that Infinite Heart was just a Concept…”
“Why do you think that this world is not a Concept?”
“…But you said—
“I said that this is the world within your Heart, a world formed because of our existence, not that it was a real world.”
“But… then… Even if what you say is true, why do I have an Infinite Heart?”
“…You already know the answer.”
“Do I look like I know the answer?” the black robed Alnea mumbled, but did not expect his white counterpart to answer him. “So, let me get this straight. Somehow, I have gained an Infinite Heart. Yet, this Infinite Heart cannot even bear the pressure of my thoughts?”
“Do you truly think that you have an Infinite Heart just because you can come here?”
“…I don’t understand what is happening anymore…”
“Neither do I,” the white robed Alnea said, letting out a sigh. “You were not supposed to come here.”
“…You said that this world is already on the verge of collapse.”
“It is. And that is why I said that you are blessed.”
“Because I can know about state of my Heart in advance?”
“…Sort of.”
“…What happens now?”
“Now, you have to make a choice.”
“…To save my collapsing Heart?”
“…In a way, yes,” the white robed Alnea said, glancing at the ruined world with a reminiscent look, before turning back to his black robed counterpart. “The main reason for the instability in this world is that its Infinity is different from yours. Unless you accept my Infinity—
“And become one with you?” the black robed Alnea said, with the edges of his lips curving upwards in a smirk. “So, this is what you have been waiting for… All those considerate words, asking me to be careful, and answering my questions, it was all to make me lower my guard…”
“…Think whatever you want,” the white robed Alnea said, smirking back at his black counterpart.
“Do you have anything else to add?”
“…I have already said everything that I had to say. The rest is up to you. Whether you choose to accept this Infinity or…”
“If you are done, then tell me how to go back. I have people who are waiting for me.”
“This is the world within your Heart. Why do you need me to point your way out?”
“…Even in the end, you are still as annoying as ever,” Alnea mumbled, before closing his eyes, allowing himself to drift into his Serenity. Into the calm and peace that came from facing his Heart. And the darkness that came from the knowledge of knowing himself. Of understanding who he was… And what he needed to do.
“…If you are awake, then get up, and stop pretending to sleep.”
“…How did you know I was awake?”
“You should not have smiled like an idiot.”
“…I could not help it. Your lap is just too comfortable to resist.”
“Is it?”
“…Are you angry?”
“You tell me.”
Alnea opened his eyes, and found a stern faced Yuri glaring at him, with brows all scrunched up, and her lips pursed thin. Yet, his attention was not focused on the emotions visible on her face, but on the battle raging in her reddened misty eyes.
“You said that you will be careful.”
“…I did not think that she would be able to pierce through my robe.”
“…You broke your word.”
“…I am sorry.”
“This time, I am not going to forgive you,” Yuri said, and closed her eyes, taking a few moments to suppress and Clear her raging emotions, before opening her eyes once again, Clear as her Heart. Glaring at him one last time, she pushed his head off her lap, and turned towards the rest of the Star Seekers, who were holding a purple robed girl and arguing with a bunch of other Wanderers.
“He is awake. Let him decide her fate.”
