[Music Recommendation: "Dreamy Shards" by Yasunori Mitsuda (Chrono Cross OST)-available in Youtube or Spotify] ~ Please listen to it in a loop while you read this part to experience the utmost beauty of this chapter ~

[Please note: We're still in Hora's POV - continuing their discussion about Senara and the world's balance…]

"If it's not Kaiden… do you mean that in order not to cause anymore disruption… t-that they should… separate? And not be together?"

'This can't be. Sena will definitely be hurt. She's so in love with him right now. And Kaiden feels the same. How are we supposed to separate them?! We can't! And we shouldn't! But then… if we don't do it, Sena will be in danger from the Fatum.'

"Yes, my dear. Especially that Kaiden's family is a highly influential family. Maybe that's why the effect of their meeting was so apparent to the point that it affected the world's balance."

"I don't understand… So what if Kaiden's family is highly influential?"

"I'm afraid it matters so much, my dear," Aunt Vora answered. "Because every decision that they make, whether in the business world or their personal lives, everything will affect other people's lives as well."

"What do you mean?"

"Let's take the life of Kaiden's destined person as a sample. Instead of her, Senara took her place. Together, Kaiden and his fated person could have accomplished lots of things in the future but Senara—who's not supposed to be in that position—took that position. Therefore, all of those things they were supposed to do—let's say it's about business—from the employment of people under them, their career growth, up to the country's growth, will be affected. And since they're the biggest company in the East, we're not only talking about a handful of people but millions, or even billions."

My mouth fell silent from Aunt Vora's words. I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

"Not only that," Aunt Vora continued. "Since Senara took that position, she too, will start creating a future that wasn't supposed to exist. And if she somehow does something that will also affect the lives of millions of people, the world balance will shift more. And when that happens, not only the Fatum Praeses will take action. Even the world itself will take action. And that is the last thing we want."

"Why?"

Aunt Vora held her chest and clenched her hands.

"Because… just like how a human's body protects itself from sickness, the world will also protect itself."

Another moment of silence.

"So… if not the Fatum, the world will try to eliminate Sena? Like a virus that's not supposed to be there?" I asked again, like a lifeless doll, despite my wretched expression.

"That's why we will do our best to prevent that," Aunt Vora tried to encourage me. "First, we need to separate her from Kaiden since he's not her fated person. And next, prevent her from doing things that may affect many people's lives. What course is Sena taking in college? If it's something along the line of doctors or lawyers, or a course in technology, or business, too—there's a high possibility that she'll affect many people's lives."

"She's taking Creative Writing."

"I see… If she's going to be a popular author, there is a high chance, too. Especially if her books will be turned into movies, or series. The people working on creating those, and those that will watch—"

"Yes, her first book is being turned into a movie."

"In that case, the second will be to stop her from doing that as well."

"Ha-ha-ha-ha!" I laughed hysterically. "So basically, we need to separate her from her happiness! How amazing! It's either the world restores its balance in exchange for Sena's happiness, or Sena will continue to be happy but then the balance will be disrupted and she'll be eliminated!"

Tears fell from my eyes as I laughed out the wretchedness and unfairness that I'm feeling. How very cruel… In the end, she's still not allowed to be happy!

'I can't take this. I can't do this. I can't take away Sena's happiness. Without love and dreams, how else is she supposed to live her life? Like a soulless doll just existing and not living? NO!'

"Auntie, why don't we just let the world suffer? Why does it matter if other people's lives are affected? I don't care about them. I only care about Sena."

"Hora, my dear. Please don't say that. Everyone's lives matter. And even if we decide not to care about others, the Fatum or the World will still try to correct the mistakes. So we should—"

"NO! Auntie, do you understand what you're asking me to do?"

"Hora… please."

"You're asking me to kill Sena! To kill her happiness! How can she be happy without love and dreams? Without pursuing her passion? Without the one she really loves?"

"... It's for the best."

"Who's best? The world? I don't care about the world! Fu*k them!"

"Hora—"

Deep rage burned inside my heart again. Next thing I knew, I was storming outside of Aunt Vora's house, running away and crying my heart out. This was one thing I had in common with Sena. When frustrated, we run and run and run… until we couldn't do it anymore… and until all the tears were dried by the wind.

When I reached the lake in the village, I let myself shout with all my might since there was no one around.

"Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!! How could you? You darn Fate! H-how could you be so cruel to Sena! Let her be happy! I hate you! I hate you so much! Sniff… sniff… hu-hu-hu-hu…"

I cried and cried and cried… until a few minutes probably turned into an hour. Then, I heard light footsteps coming closer to me.

"Hora," a gentle and kind voice called for me from behind.

Along with it, the wind blew hard and petals of flowers and leaves from the trees scattered through the surroundings.

I turned around to see who it was.

And there stood, an unfamiliar woman dressed in black. I couldn't see her face for it was covered halfway with a large but beautiful hat, with her hair tucked inside. I could only see from half her nose to her mouth and chin, then her body.

Despite her suspicious appearance… I didn't know what got into me but… for some reason, my heart told me that she's not a bad person.

"Who are you?" I asked her.

"I am the only one… who can truly help you."