"Haaa..."


    Neron''s eyes looked open, even though they were closed.


    It waste at night, and everyone was fast asleep—himself included. However, why were his eyes glowing green despite him being deeply asleep?


    Why was he sweating buckets on his bed?


    "Gh... ngh!" He grunted and groaned, twisting and turning on his bed.


    There could only be one reason at this point... and it has to do with the dream he was having.


    Or perhaps one could call it a nightmare...


    *


    *


    *


    "Y-you killed all those people! They did nothing to deserve that!"


    Neron was having a lucid dream.


    He was aware of everything happening around him, and that nothing was real. Yet... he was watching these events y out like they were actualy happening in reality.


    He could see everything from the perfect angle, as he watched an exchange between two people. They were arguing.


    Thendscape was grey and dark, and everything looked blurry. Neron took in this scene with keen observation and a bit of confusion.


    After all, this wasn''t the first time he was having nightmares like these.


    But why was this a nightmare?


    ''Serah...'' His thoughts trailed as he watched the exchange.


    A dark-haired man who resembled Neron was on one end, and a crimson-haireddy resembling Serah was on another end... and she was incredibly pissed.


    "Everyone! You massacred an entire group people, Neron!" Her voice peaked.


    Neron could feel his heart racing as he witnessed this exchange.


    He tried to speak out, or at least reach out to Serah, but he was stuck as a spectator. Something just wouldn''t let him budge.


    "You wouldn''t understand." The version of him in the dream retorted calmly, staring coldly at the agitated redhead.


    "They were a threat. Besides, we tried to do this peacefully, but they didn''t cooperate."


    Serah, or rather thedy in the dream, appeared even more disgusted. Her surprise and appalled expression were heartbreaking to see.


    "Besides, they killed Legris. That''s more than enough." Once the cold and distant Neron said this, Serah''s face could be seen scrunching up in shock, and then… sadness followed.


    "Don''t use your best friend''s name as justification for such an act. Is this really what Legris would want? Besides, they were just defending their nation. Why would—"


    "Like I said... you wouldn''t understand!" Neron raised his voice, now looking even angrier and scarier than the annoyed woman.


    His pitch ck irises, as well as his tightly furrowed brows made it obvious that he was done with the conversation.


    However, as it would happen, the crimson-haireddy was now shaking her head, stepping away from Neron.


    She appeared horrified of what Neron was saying... what he was bing. It seemed like she didn''t even recognize him any longer.


    In response, Neron sighed. His expression turned gentle, and his face softened. He slowly began to walk towards Serah, and after a few gentle steps, he was right in front of her.


    "Don''t get so worked up. Once I obtain all the Arcanas, we can resurrect Legris... and even those other guys." He smiled, attempting to ce his hand on her shoulder.


    However—


    "Stay back!"


    >BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM<


    A fiery explosion caused Neron to fly backwards. He had a surprised expression on his face, and this gaze of his met her genuinely furious gaze.


    "Serah, what are you—"


    "You''ve changed so much, Neron..." Her energy began swelling, and her body slowly turned crimson.


    Her fiery gaze never left his, and her power rose to an unprecedented degree.


    Even the spectator—the dreaming Neron—recognized this form. It was Serah Crimson''s Original Magic.


    "... I don''t know what changed you. Was it the power? All those things you experienced when you were away? Or maybe it''s that group of yours!"


    Serah was gritting her teeth at this point. Tears fell from her eyes, but they were instantly vaporized by her terrifyingly powerful form.


    "Serah, what are you doing? You can''t best me—"


    "We haven''t fought in a while. You''re not the only one who has changed!"


    "Well..."


    "I''ll be bringing you back... no matter what! This madness has to end."


    "You expect me to abandon all of this? Then what would everything have been for? Legris'' death, my whole years of adventure and study? Everything?!"


    Serah''s face morphed into rage as she seemed to be building the resolve to fight.


    "I can''t stop now! I''m so close... we''re so close! Soon, I''ll find what I''m looking for. A way to get to the hidden root. Maybe once I do that... You''ll finally understand."


    "I understand your reasons, but not your methods. You''ve gone too far in this pursuit. Is this what your father would have wanted?"


    "Mordred is dead. The reason he''s gone is because he wasn''t willing to take the steps that I am willing to when ites to seeking the truth about Magic."


    "You... I know you don''t mean that."


    "Serah, I''m destined for greatness. I knew it since I was born. I''ve been gifted ever since I was little. Ever since I lived in the slums. Modred understood that, which is why he adopted me."<novelnext></novelnext>


    "Still... Neron..."


    "This is what I am destined for! Everything that has happened was meant to lead to this moment. I''ll uncover the truth and show the world... everything they''re searching for. The whole point of Magic, and where it leads. That will end this madness."


    "Is that all it boils down to? The fact that you don''t like—"


    "That''s enough." Neron finally sighed.


    His hair turned white, and white cackles of dense energy surrounded him. His expression was full of resolve—enough resolve to fight his childhood friend.


    "Let''s get this over with."


    *


    *


    *


    "Haa... you''ve indeed grown strong, Serah."


    The devastated scene around them was a testament to Neron''s statement.


    Of course, he had no scratch on his body, but his expression disyed a good amount of respect for thedy on the ground.


    "Y-you... I''ll never give up... on you..."


    Serah Crimson was on the ground,pletely worn out and defeated. Her tired eyes stared at Neron withpassion, but also determination.


    "I wish I had [The Fool]. I would just erase your memories of all that has happened so far."


    "Y-you—!!!"


    "In any case, I''m leaving. You''d do well to stay away from me."


    As Neron began to walk away, Serah grabbed him by the helm of his cloak. Her grip was tired and slipping, but she clung to him desperately.


    However—


    >VWUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSSHHHHHHH<


    He still managed to escape her grasp. And in an instant, he flew off, sending dust and smoke flying about as he left the lone, injured woman all alone.


    "N-Neron..." She whispered.


    There was no one to hear her... except the dreamer of course.


    He was right beside her. His vision became clouded as his eyes were filled with tears—tears and something akin to frustration.


    Despite him watching thedy on the ground, his emotions were tied to the Neron of his dreams.


    He could sympathize...no... understand the position of this dream''s Neron. However, he also felt for Serah, whom he had brutally abandoned.


    ''Why...? I can''t...''


    This created a dissonance that seemed to tear him apart from the inside out.


    "... Neron..."


    "... NERON!"


    He kept hearing Serah''s voice, even when he covered his ears, and this continued until he felt his dream slowly blur out, as well as a stinging sensation on his body.


    "NERON!!!"


    An image of Serah shed in his head, and suddenly, his dream fadedpletely. In return, he felt his consciousness returning back to present time.


    "H-haaa...."


    In a sh, he found himself awake from his sleep.


    His sweaty body glistened in the darkness, and his widened eyes took some time before they adjusted to his surroundings.


    "Neron! Can you hear me?! NERON!"


    Someone was pping his cheeks left and right—and that someone was Serah.


    "A-ah, yeah... what is... what happened...?!"


    He was surprised that his body was being touched. Did he forget to turn on his protective Spell?


    Or...?!


    However, before he could think of all that, Serah''s worried expression was right in his face.


    He could see her teary eyes and flustered look, and that pulled his wandering mind into the current situation


    "Neron, what''s going on! Are you alright?"


    *


    *


    *


    [A/N]


    Guess you guys will be curious at this point. Or maybe you''ve figured it out already. Who knows.


    Hahaha


    Anyway, I''m not feeling too well. I just thought to let you know. I''m literally just pushing myself to write at this point.


    So, your support in Power Stones, Comments, Reviews, Golden Tickets, and Gifts, will be much appreciated. I really need to be cheered up right now.


    Thank you all.