Rico stood in the sky as Auther took his last breath, invisible to the eyes of the boy he used to know. Despite his mouth feeling dry and his eyes brimming with tears, Rico held back. He returned home, but even his bed felt cold and uninviting. The once cozy room was now ravaged by the elements, with the window left open and a chill settling in.

As he lay there, Rico’s heart was heavy with the weight of Auther's death. He was torn between feelings of responsibility and the knowledge that his actions, or lack thereof, were the right thing to do. This was the first time Rico had ever experienced the loss of someone close to him, and it was a moment that would stay with him forever. Despite the conflicting emotions, Rico knew that he had made the best decision, even though it came at a great cost.

"Playing God is not so fun," Rico mumbled to himself as he closed his eyes and surrendered to the darkness that enveloped him. He felt as though he was being consumed by the void, his body feeling foreign to him. He found solace in sleep, where he could escape the turmoil of emotions that weighed heavily on him.

As Rico slumbered, he found comfort in the thought that Auther lived on in the form of his soul. In the world of Gaia, when living beings die, their vitality and energy transform into Origin. Meanwhile, their experiences and emotions from their lifetime become their essence, or soul. The knowledge that Auther's spirit lived on, in some form, brought Rico peace amidst the turmoil of his thoughts.

The light that filtered through Rico's eyelids woke him, and he felt somewhat relieved to have slept through the night. The chill in his heart, however, lingered, fading only slightly.

"Auther, your soul will soon enter the river of reincarnation, and our memories together will be forgotten," Rico whispered to himself, trying to find comfort in his own words. "But you'll live on in my heart." He struggled to smile as he pushed himself out of bed and slowly made his way downstairs, seeking solace in the familiar comfort of playing game.

The decision to erase memories was made with the intention of leading a better life, free from the pain and suffering of the past. Holding onto the memories would only weigh down the souls of the dead, hindering their progress.

However, Auther's death stirred something within Rico, bringing to the surface his inner fears. To Auther, Rico was seen as a Great God, omnipotent and ageless, immune to the effects of time. But only Rico knew the truth of his limitations and the fragility of his existence. The death of Auther served as a reminder of Rico's mortality and the limits of his power.

Auther was under the impression that Rico was a god with immortality, but in reality, he was just a fortunate young man with a device that could manipulate the world. The perception of Rico immortality was simply a result of the difference in time flow in the world he controlled.

Rico ability to control the world was not a personal power but rather a result of his access to the Authority, which was the all-powerful entity that governed the world. In other words, Rico’s awe-inspiring control was not due to his own strength but rather his permission to wield the Authority's power.

If Rico were to lose control over the world, he would no longer possess any exceptional abilities and would become a regular human being once again, vulnerable to the dangers of modern weapons. He would be just another person on earth, and drowning would result in his permanent death.

Auther's passing served as a wake-up call for Rico, who became acutely aware of the mortality of even those with immense power. This realization caused Rico to once again feel the fear and reverence towards death like any other mortal individual.

Auther's words left a profound impact on Rico, embedding themselves deeply in his heart. The fear and insanity evident in Auther's eyes just before his death only solidified Rico's determination to attain immortality. However, this drive towards eternal life also provides Rico with solace, as he feels less alone knowing that a part of Auther lives on within him, in the form of this shared pursuit.