“Seriously, that was it? Just a few simple displays of gratitude and saying your final farewells and we’re leaving?” Annihilation continued to pester me while I climbed the long flight of stairs, “You’re not even the least bit curious of what she truly looked like? I know you are. Be honest.”

“Nope, not even in the slightest.” I told her honestly, carrying with me the suitcase Nurse Kate packed with all my stuff.

“Well I for one am extremely curious!” Annihilation expressed openly, letting her opinion be known.

I sighed and said, “I already told you, there’s no reason for me—or especially you to know what she looked like.”

“And why not?”

“Because it doesn’t matter!” I blurted out, momentarily silencing Annihilation entirely. I then took a moment to compose myself, before explaining “What she is to me now, is the untainted memory of a perfect person who was lost to this unkind and cruel world. And that if I were to really see what she was secretly enduring all this time, then that untainted memory of her would forever be tainted and ruined in my mind; like my memories of Uncle Thalion being unconscious, bleeding out, and left alone in the rain...” I took a deep breath and exhaled, “None of that is what I want, ‘cause I know I wouldn’t be able to cope with just how truly blind I was to her ever-worsening condition...”

I could sense Annihilation trying to understand how I felt, but then she suddenly shouted “No, I do not accept your selfish and flawed reasoning! I demand to see a glimpse of this Rosalie, the girl who became a bright sun in your gloomy life, but whose death ultimately returned you back into the depths of despair!” Her voice echoed throughout the large empty stairwell we were in.

I clicked my tongue in annoyance and spitefully said, “Well too bad! I may be your vessel, but it’s still my body, and I get to choose what we do!”

“Hmph!” Annihilation huffed in anger, menacingly mentioning “You’re lucky I find you to be a particularly promising vessel, Voa, or otherwise I would heartlessly annihilate on the spot like I’ve done so many times before.”

“Yeah, yeah, now keep it down. You know we’re not supposed to be going up here.” I reminded her, trying to ignore her indirect threat against me, “Or better yet, just be quiet and get back in my head already.”

“Fine! But why should we care about such trivial rules made up by equally trivial beings of where we are allowed to wander?” She seriously questioned.

“I don’t know, it's just the rules of the hospital, and it’s kind of annoying to deal with people who catch you.” I nonchalantly replied, having no actual reason to care otherwise.

“Oh no, I can’t have this.” Annihilation said in a disappointed tone, as the familiar overwhelming feeling of the Earring of Annihilation took over my body again and abruptly forced me to stop in place. “Now see here, my dear Voa!” When she spoke, I undoubtedly experienced Annihilation’s incredibly fierce and intense emotions for the very first time, “We do not submit or yield to anything or anyone! For we are the existence that consumes and annihilates all! Always remember that!” And shortly after, my body was released from her control.

I rolled my eyes, thinking “Oh god, and here I thought I got lucky and merged with the calmer one of the two, but it turns out she’s actually just as crazy high-spirited and overly opinionated as Salvation was back in the Waiting Hub.”

“Hey, I take offense to that! I am nothing like Salv!” She refuted. “And besides, it’s partly your fault I’ve become like this, you know?” Stating, “For as I perpetually influence you, so do you perpetually influence me.”

“Is that supposed to be a good or a bad thing?” Really unsure of which it would be in the future.

“Who’s to know for sure, although I will admit I may have allowed myself to be way too invested in your past memories and experiences compared to my previous vessels—though that may also be an unforeseen alteration the Creator has implemented without mine and Salv’s knowledge.” Annihilation suspected.

I could sense her wondering what else was changed about her, and it made me ask “I’m sure you can’t—or won’t tell me anything about the Creator, but do you know why the Creator made changes to you and Salvation? Or maybe why you two have been kept asleep for 350 years?”

“I...I don’t think I should answer either of those questions. But… Hmm… Let’s just say it’s in hopes it can help us finally achieve our inescapable desires of absolute perfection.”

“Then does that mean your previous vessels never completed the Creator Quests we get for becoming your vessels?” I reasonably concluded, though Annihilation purposefully stayed silent. “I see... How interesting…”

“Urgh, enough of your persistent curiosity, Voa.” Annihilation quickly changed the subject, saying “Now I know this rooftop holds a very special place in your heart, as this was her most favourite place to be, but do you really intend for us to remain up there doing nothing until it’s time for us to return to Novus?”

“Remaining up there, yes. Doing nothing, no.” Continuing up the long flight of stairs.

“You do know it hasn’t even reached midday yet, yes?” Annihilation pointed out.

“Oh, I know. But that just means I have plenty of time to test out the limits of what I can do.” I smirked, sure of exactly what I wanted to spend the remaining time doing.

***

“What’d I tell you guys, Jude was different right?” Nurse Kate excitedly asked, standing right outside of the church.

Dr.Abe noddingly agreed, saying “Completely different—almost as if he changed entirely from the dangerously depressed young man he was a few days ago...” Rubbing his chin in thought.

“Well I think we were worrying about him finally getting discharged for nothing.” Mr.Cyrus happily concluded, “I mean he seemed perfectly stable to me, both mentally and emotionally. He didn’t even sound or look the least bit angry at us anymore for hiding the truth from him about Rosalie, or his Uncle.”

“Maybe he’s already forgiven us?” Nurse Kate said optimistically, but Dr.Abe and Mr.Cyrus shook their heads in guilt at the unlikeliness of that idea. Feeling guilty herself, she quickly changed the mood, saying “Oh, by the way, did you guys notice Jude’s amazing physique? I thought Dr.Abe’s old suit was gonna be too big for him, but it actually turned out to be pretty snug on him, eh?”

“Of course, I did. And it looks like that rascal really did take my exercising advice seriously, even if he never showed it to me.” Mr.Cyrus proudly smiled. “I just wish I knew that before today, ‘cause now I feel bad for always being so harsh on him during our physio sessions.”

“It’s not only that.” Dr.Abe interjected, “He also carried himself with a strange confidence and assuredness that he didn’t have before. And call me crazy, but at times when we were talking with him, I swear it was almost as if he could actually see us from the way he was carefully staring at all of us.”

Nurse Kate and Mr.Cyrus both burst into laughter at the ridiculous idea, with Mr.Cyrus patting Dr.Abe in the back, saying “Good one, doc! That rascal somehow found a cure for blindness, haha…!” As he entered the church first.

“Yeah I know it sounds crazy, Kate, but it was just something I couldn't help observing when we were talking to him.” Dr.Abe explained, trying to justify himself.

“Whatever you say, doc.” Nurse Kate giggled. “Now let’s go find some seats. The memorial service should be starting soon.” Pulling Dr.Abe along with her as they headed inside together.

***

15 minutes before a full 24 hours have passed on Earth…

“Ahahaha…! Huahahaha…!” Annihilation continued to hysterically laugh without any explanation.

I grumbled in annoyance and finally shouted out of frustration, “Oh my god, Anni! Shut up! You've been laughing at me non-stop for like 20 minutes now!” completely breaking me out of my concentration.

“I can’t help it, you’re just so…delightfully amusing, my precious Voa!” Annihilation chuckled full of glee.

“I don’t care. Stop!” I explicitly told her.

“Oh my, cranky are we?” She teasingly giggled.

“You would be too if someone was constantly commenting on everything you did the last few hours.” Uselessly trying to swat away her visage from my face.

“Well of course I had to speak my mind—I have never met anyone so thirsty for knowledge and hungry for power, actually be talented enough to accomplish everything you just did in so little time, and from only experiencing such simple memories of others performing the feats no less.”

“Apparently not talented enough...” I disputed, tiredly forming an incomplete mana-bow in my hand, but releasing the form a second later; then admitting “I still have no idea how to recreate most of those Skills I saw, especially those elemental ones like that Flaming Twin Dragon Piercer.”

“Don’t sell yourself short, Voa, your attempts were quite commendable.” Annihilation reassured me, acknowledging my efforts, “For you still displayed a magnificent control over your Mana from being able to recreate even one of those advanced and intricate Skills—not to mention 6 of them, which is even more impressive when you consider the fact that you accomplished such feats without the automated guidance and assistance of the System.”

“Huh, so you can be more than just an annoying distraction—nice even.” I remarked.

“Oh, I can be very nice and encouraging, my dear Voa. Especially when it comes to my vessel clearly taking strides and leaps to grow and develop themselves further for my desired perfection!” Annihilation chuckled in delight.

“Well then can you be nice and stop distracting me from trying to see the future?” Attempting again to concentrate so I could try to enter into a trance.

“Oh, come now, Voa. What’s the use of seeing the future, when you yourself won’t even do anything to change or prevent it from happening? I mean you might’ve been able to avert some—if not all the casualties in Asheton during the night of the Goblin Attack, if only you had simply warned the guards and Players of a potential goblin army beforehand.” She continued speaking before I could respond, “Your second vision did turn out to be alright, but for you to have done nothing after witnessing the third vision of your new Master dying in your arms—even actively tempting fate by arrogantly running straight into unknown dangers without considering the inevitable consequences of such baffling choices..." I could feel the scathing judgment in her words. "Well that was all just to say how inexcusably idiotic and insulting you were for one who's supposed to possess the incredible power of the Seer, though I do now have high hopes for you in the future after witnessing first-hand how unbelievably quick you learn things, so do not make such grievous mistakes again, my dear Voa.”

I grit my teeth and clenched my fists, knowing she was absolutely right; I’ve done nothing but act stubbornly stupid, putting myself and others in avoidable dangers, and squandering all the opportunities gifted to me by the futures I’ve seen so far. I then tiredly sighed, “I know… I know...” feeling an extreme determination to never allow myself to ever be so woefully ignorant and carelessly reckless again.

“Mhmm…” Annihilation hummed in acceptance and quietly returned back into my head, “As long as you know, my foolish little Voa...”

Although I was given the silence I wanted, no matter how much I tried to concentrate, I just couldn’t consciously enter into a trance and forcefully see the future. Groaning in frustration, I stood up and walked over to the ledge of the roof; then sitting down right on the edge, I said “I’m sure you already know this, but whenever Rosalie woke me up in the middle of the night and secretly dragged me up here, she always loved vividly describing the city at night to me.”

I gazed out onto the city and finally admired the surreal view with my own eyes, “Like how the colourful vibrant lights always shined to make it appear as if it were an unplundered treasure chest just waiting for her to open it. Or how the cacophony of noises throughout the city always made it sound so awake and lively with life just waiting for her to join in the party. And lastly how overlooking the vast cityscape from above always made her feel so serene and hopeful that someday she would be released from this place she called her prison, and get the chance to search for her very strange dream…” Recalling that now surprisingly realistic fantasy of hers.

“What’re you gonna do when you finally get out of this prison, Jude?” Rosalie asked curiously, hearing her precariously walking along the ledge.

“I don’t know, go back home and die or something?” I replied, carelessly laying down halfway off the ledge; though Rosalie immediately walked over and punched me straight in the stomach. “Ughhh...! You bitch…! When are you gonna stop abusing the blind guy?”

“Hmm…maybe when he stops being such a depressing downer all the time!” She said cheerfully, laying herself down opposite me.

“Well you know what doesn’t help?” I said rhetorically, “When the crazy hospital girl wakes you up in the middle of the night everyday and drags you up here to the restricted rooftop, and then forces you to spend hours on end with her just to relieve even a little bit of her endless boredom!”

“Oh, stop whining, Jude.” Reaching over and lightly flicking my forehead, “We both know spending time with me is your favourite part of the day—or according to Nursing Kate, I’m the bright sun that gets you up from bed in the mornings.”

“Hah, you keep thinking that!” Dismissing the claim, but knowing in fact it was true. Although I then asked, “What about you, Rosalie? What are you gonna do when you finally get out of here?”

She let out a mischievous snicker and said, “Listen closely, Jude. The world we live in is too ordinary and dull for the likes of someone as spectacular as me!” she suddenly jumped to her feet in excitement, “So when I finally get out of this prison, the first thing I'm gonna do is find a way to leave this boring world for someplace else more...fun!”

I stood up and stared at her in disbelief, jokingly saying “You really are just a crazy hospital girl, aren’t you?”

“Oh shut up and just hear me out, alright?” Rosalie grabbed my arm and guided me back down the floors, all the while describing to me her ridiculous idea of finding a fun new world for her to explore and be completely entertained in.

After we secretly snuck back into my room, I quietly laughed “Hahaha… Where did you come up with an idea like that? Have you been reading too many fantasy novels or something?”

“Actually, would you believe me if I told you a patient who returned from a world like that shared some of their amazing adventures with me?”

“Ahhh...so you've been hanging out in the Psych Ward recently, I see.”

“I’m serious!” She stated adamantly.

“Sure you are, and I totally believe all of it.” I said sarcastically.

“Fine, don't believe me then! And here I was actually thinking about letting you come along with me!”

“I’m not against going to an imaginary world with you, but I would like to meet this patient who says they’ve returned from another world—they must be super fun to be around if someone as always-bored as you put up with such an obviously made-up stories.”

“Umm… We-We can’t meet them anymore...” Rosalie said hesitantly.

“Oh? And why not?” I intriguely inquired.

“Be-Because they had to go back… Back to the other world...” She answered timidly.

“Haha, you really are a crazy hospital girl, Rosalie!” Laughing at her ridiculous fantasy of going to another world.

“I never took any of the ridiculous things Rosalie said seriously, as I always thought she only said them to try to cheer me up and entertain herself, but now none of it seems so crazy anymore—and in a way, everything just makes too much sense...” I then tapped my head and said, “Hey Anni, I know you’ve been asleep for 350 years, but you wouldn’t happen to know if more people have been secretly transported to Novus all this time, do you? I mean do you think there’s a chance...” Though at that moment, I only just realized Annihilation hasn’t been paying attention to anything I’ve been saying the last few minutes, and was instead noticeably too distracted by something else inside my head.

Helplessly curious, I directly asked in my mind “Hey Anni, what exactly are you doing in here?” However there was no response. Then getting slightly worried from being completely ignored, I tried to get her attention, loudly thinking “Hellooo! Annihilation, are you there? I’m talking to youuu! You can hear me, right?” Yet strangely there was still no response from her.

Although I ultimately concluded it was pointless to really worry about anything Annihilation was doing in or out of my head, for I honestly knew she would only be doing things that were beneficial to me, her vessel. i instead decided to try to see the future one more time, though as soon as I tapped into the Seer's power again, I suddenly found myself being forcefully pulled into the golden space of the Collection and shown exactly what Annihilation was so engrossed in and distracted by.