Everything had a beginning, and everything had an end. Even the Origin. Red and Black were no different. But unlike most, Red and Black were self contained. What began in Red, met its end Black. And what began in Black, met its end in Red. A complete cycle. Just like that of the Origin Sea. And at the moment, the cycle was being reproduced in a Fortune Spring.

  Black met with Red, and Red met with Black, creating a new cycle with each clash. And with each cycle that came, came a new change. What was Red became Black, and what was Black became Red, completing the cycle created by the two men. But the two men were not satisfied with just one cycle. And neither was the world that kept changing. So, they continued, creating the Symphony of Red and Black.

  Red and Black. Black and Red. Red and Black. Black and Red… On and on they went, until they could not remember anything else. But they still did not stop. They could not stop. Not anymore. Not after they became the symphony that they themselves had created. The Symphony of Red and Black. A symphony of the beginning. A symphony of the end…

  “…come back soon.”

  Alnea tore himself away from the Red and Black, before retreating away from his red robed self. Though it was not just him. His other self, the red robed Alnea, who came back to his senses at the same moment as him, also made the same choice. Still, it was only when they had created a distance of over thirty metres between them, that he dared to relax a little, and think about what he had just experienced. The Symphony of Red and Black…

  Black and Red. Red and Black. For most people, the two were the same. Even if they were forced to merge their two sides, they would not experience any long lasting ill effects. Like how it was for the Purplebud woman. From her words, it was obvious that twin nature she had been forced to experience by the Fortune Spring was Good and Evil. And that was probably what most of the people who came to the Fortune Spring would experience. But not Alnea. Not him.

  No, the twin nature that Alnea experienced was different. So much so, that it could not even be called as twin nature anymore. At least not of him. Maybe of a different Alnea… of a different whole, which was not incomplete. That was probably the reason why the effect of the Fortune Spring was different on him. Because it was not acting on him. The side—The part that the Fortune had brought out of him, was not his. But the same could be said about the red robed Alnea standing in front of him.

  Alnea Oathkeeper of the world of Wanderers, and Alnea Oathkeeper of the world of Attuners. Two men, both incomplete. And both existing in one body. Just not at the same time. Like two sides of a coin. It was no wonder the Fortune Spring did not focus on his Good and Evil sides. His current state was indeed much more in line with the world of Red and Black—

  No, the world of Red and Black was not like a coin. That was just how he perceived it as. According to the Purplebud woman, the world of Red and Black was the seed of the twin nature of all things, dead and alive. And his red robed self was confident that she was not telling lies. But if that was so, then what kind of twin nature was he experiencing? Life and Death?

  …On second thought, that did seem like a reasonable explanation. A live Alnea, and a dead one, both existing in the same body. Except, he did not have any dead Alnea in his body. Only a bunch of memories. So, the twin nature had to be something different. Like reality and illusion. Or matter and imagination. Maybe even something that he could not think of.

  Regardless, he was sure that if he dared to forcibly reconcile his two sides like the Purplebud woman, then the side effects he would experience would be not be as simple as just being forced to become Evil. And for a moment, even if he disregarded the side effects, the moment he merged with his red robed self to become a new ‘whole’ would be the moment he stopped being himself. And that, he could not accept.

  Fortunately for him, being forced to face his twin nature was not without its own advantages. It did not matter what that twin nature was. As long as it was in the form of the memories of his namesake… As long as it could be cut down, that was enough. He just had to get rid of those memories, and all his troubles would go away. Just like the Black and Red…

  Alnea bit his tongue to force himself to concentrate, and Clear his Heart. It looked like he had underestimated the Red and Black. No wonder even Mystic Wanderers found it difficult to harness such a force. And that was when the world was still just a seed. He could not even imagine how terrifying the Rules that Goddess Quona came in contact with would be. Then again, how much could a False Wanderer even imagine?

  Slashing away the unnecessary thoughts in his Heart, Alnea shifted his attention back to the man in front of him. The red robed Alnea. His other self. Or was he more like the other half? He did not know. Neither of them did. Or maybe the red robed Alnea did know something. But he did not think that the red robed Alnea would be interested in sharing such information. At least not before he agreed to merge with the latter.

  “…Are you really not going to think about it?” the red robed Alnea said, as he restrained his breath, and regained his composure. “From what happened just now, it seems like we are heading in that direction anyway. Why waste all your efforts when you already know the end result?”

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  “…You, of all people should understand why I must keep fighting.”

  “…Indeed,” the red robed Alnea said, and let out a sigh. “So be it.”

  Red and Black surged once again, as the two Alnea resumed their symphony. Except, this time, they did not let go of themselves completely. Instead, they maintained a trace of their consciousness, fighting against the overwhelming force trying to devour their wills, all the while trying to find flaws in the other Alnea. They did not. Otherwise, it would not have been a symphony.

  “…You know, that is not how you are supposed to use your Aspects…”

  “…You are talking as if you know how to use Aspects…”

  Red and Black, Black and Red.

  “…Even if I never Attuned with one, at least I fought with those who did…”

  “…But you still can’t beat me…”

  The symphony continued, going from an end to a new beginning, only to repeat the same cycle once again.

  “…That is because these Aspects are not mine…”

  “…So, you admit that you are stealing my powers…”

  But the two Alnea did not care.

  “…You are talking as if you have not stolen anything from me…”

  “…I have already given up what I stole from you…”

  They kept clashing, barely maintaining their consciousness.

  “…And what about the two Stance that you created…”

  “…It was created with the help of what I stole, but it is not the same…”

  And while they were at it, they did not forget to provoke each other.

  “…Besides, if you did not wish for your moves to be stolen, you should not have imprinted them in my head in the first place…”

  “…You are talking as if I was in control of what happened to me…”

  Both waiting for their opportunity.

  “…Then who was…”

  “…It is not time for you to know…”

  Yet, both were left disappointed.

  “…If you even have to know…”

  “…I have always wondered…”

  Their opportunity never came.

  “…Why can you read my mind, but I can’t read yours…”

  “…You already know the answer…”

  At least not before Red and Black did.

  “…Stingy…”

  “…I prefer being called smart…”

  Coming to swallow their wills.

  “…You wish…”

  “…You are not one to talk…”

  In the end, they were left with no choice.

  “…You do not even know how to hold your sword…”

  “…Give up…”

  If the opportunity would not come to them…

  “…Your tricks are not going to work for me…”

  “…I am not playing any tricks…”

  Then they would create an opportunity for themselves.

  “…Prove it then…”

  “…As you wish…”

  So, the two moved once again.

  “…Watch carefully…”

  “…I am waiting…”

  They moved with the world…

  “…I will show it only once…”

  “…Just show it already…”

  Just as the world moved with them…

  “…The thirty six basic moves of the first volume of the Sword Art…”

  “…That’s it…”

  In perfect synchronisation.

  “…Those are all just some variation of stab and slash…”

  “…Maybe…”

  Creating a perfect beginning.

  “…But it is never the moves that matter…”

  “…You…”

  Only for one of them to fall short at the end.

  “…Always remember, never let your Heart waver,” the red robed Alnea said, with a wide grin on his face, as he let go of the sword in his hand, allowing it drift beside him, before glancing down at the dagger sticking out of his chest and the blood trickling down his robe. Reaching out to pull the dagger out from his chest, he handed it back to the black robed Alnea. “Here, you will need when you go back to your teammates.”

  “…Why?” Alnea said, staring at the red robed Alnea, and the incomprehensible grin on his face. “Why did you let me stab you?”

  “…You asked me to show you how to wield a sword,” the red robed Alnea said, as he began glowing in a black light. “How could I change to a dagger midway?”

  “…That’s it?”

  “…Maybe it is not a serious matter for you, but for a swordsman like me—

  “Stop kidding me!” Alnea said, as he let go of his sword, and grabbed the red robed Alnea’s collar instead. “Do you take me for a fool?”

  “…Is this not the result you wanted to see?”

  “Not like this!”

  “What is difference? You wanted to see me dead anyway. And now you have your wish.”

  “I didn’t need your mercy!”

  “…Mercy? Do you think I went easy on you?”

  “…This—

  “Stop thinking so much. This is just how things were supposed to end.”

  “…No. Not like this. Not until I defeat you with my own hands.”

  “…Farewell, Alnea…”

  “…No… Not now… Not when…”

  “…Till we meet again.”