Aru, together with Lorenzo and Eris, was waiting in the place, in which she and Edward formed an alliance. Lorenzo was stuffing his mouth with some loaf, for which Eris was once again making fun of him. But the red-haired girl wasn’t listening to their quarrel. She was sitting and thinking about everything, about Edward, about Ivory. She was wondering, if their alliance was really a good idea, she was thinking about what Edward said yesterday. She didn’t know what to do. She daydreamed, cutting herself fully from the world, not hearing even the voices of her weapons.

‘A brother…’ she wondered. ‘So he’s playing for something like that? For a brother? But… I have no right to give up on my goals... Why would I? In what way is his wish better than mine? Why was I ever thinking about… quitting the fight? It’s idiotic, right, master?’

A small girl with red hair fell to the ground, and magic, which she focused in her hands disappeared. An adult man, with similarly red hair, fiery eyes and tanned skin looked at her stoically. He stopped focusing the magic in his hands and walked closer to the girl.

“Why do you give up so quickly, Aru?” he asked. The girl was panting while getting up.

“I don’t!”

“That’s a lie” he interrupted. “Every time you start doubting yourself and feeling that you should withdraw, you quit. Why? Every time, when I’ve got advantage against you in a battle, you stop focusing on it. That’s wrong.”

“But… sometimes it’s better to concede, right? I wouldn’t win anyway…”

“Foolishness.” He lightly hit her head. “You should not give up in a battle. You should be fighting for what you want to achieve, no matter the price.”

“But there are so many people stronger than me…” she answered, sad. “So sometimes it’s better to give up, surrender…”

“And would you surrender, if you could get something that you really want? Ah, Aru… I know, that you’ve got a tendency for withdrawing, because the other person is better, stronger, but this is not the way. You should be fighting honorably. To not give up, but to fight, even, if you feel that you won’t manage to win. You should keep your head up high even if you’re defeated; show, that you’re fighting with your heart, and that what you’re fighting for is truly important to you. Your life, your dreams, someone else’s life… Or anything else, that you will be fighting for someday… Show, that you truly care for it. Don’t surrender to others, even if their goals seem more sensible than your. Make them fight with you ‘til your last breath, show them, that you won’t lose so easily.”

“But isn’t that egoistic?”

“No. The whole life is a battle. So remember, do not give up so easily. Fight for what you desire, what you want to protect, fight… and don’t give up. Alright?”

“Yes, master!” she replied earnestly, but this time with a smile.

“Great. Now try your best not to let me defeat you!”

Aru smiled. She felt strange anger inside herself… that she never felt before.

‘You’re right… I don’t need Edward as an ally for this game. I’ll win it. I’ll do it… alone.’

“Huh, did something happen, Aru?” asked Lorenzo, Eris was sitting next to him, with a chunk of the loaf she stole from him in her hand. Aru instantly came back to reality.

“Ah… no,” she replied. “I was just thinking.”

~

Hagan was sitting in a dark room. He was preparing himself mentally, but the memory of Goro, talking about Yvon and his mother, as if they were mere objects, didn’t let him have his moment of peace. It was disturbing him again and again, waking up anger, which he couldn’t curb. He punched the wall by which he was sitting, which let him calm down a little.

‘I’m sorry…’ he muttered inside his thoughts. ‘I’m sorry for not saving you…’

‘Oh’ whispered the eternally pleased voice, already known to Hagan. ‘I can sense your sadness much more than last time, so I decided to check on you.’

“I can hear that” he replied. “But I don’t need your help, I need to silence my mind.”

‘You don’t have much time left. Before you realize, all seals will be taken away.’ Hagan then took something out from under his shirt. ‘Ah. Clever.’ The deity laughed.

“I’ve understood the rules. So I got myself this, which will give me the right to my wish.” Then he hid the scroll under his clothes again. “But it’s good that you’re here, since I have to make sure of something.”

‘Ask away.’

“You said that as long as I have that, which gives me the right, I’ll get to the ‘finals’, right?”

‘Heh, naturally.’ He giggled. ‘So you’re planning on sitting here and ‘silencing’ your head, rather than fighting? That’s also an option. The easiest one. And the most cowardly. You’ll have to fight in the end anyway, in addition with people with a few seals already, with experienced fighters. And right now you’re like a chick, sitting in its nest and not once trying to learn to fly.’

“Don’t worry. I don’t plan on waiting. My main goal is to defeat Goro, I can’t let that monster win… I have to defeat him. To avenge my mother and Yvon… Then I’ll deal with the competition. Now, I have to focus on that piece of trash.”

The deity laughed disgustingly.

‘Very well!’ he screamed out, joyous. ‘I was getting worried that you’ll bore me out!’

“…I’ll try not to” he replied, slightly irritated by his behavior.

‘Splendid. I’ll observe how you’ll deal with Goro Delaunay, Hagan. And for now, I’ll leave, so you can… ‘silence your mind’.’

The deity left, Hagan could then finally breathe like before. He closed his eyes, not thinking about anything. He had to relax before he sets off.