But as she ran, a phantom suddenly appeared beside Stelle, startling her.
Following a streak of golden light forward, Stelle saw Cocolia's past here.
And at the end of the journey, she saw a child.
That was... the Guardian's Will.
"This city is crying out. The power of Preservation is fading. In the end, we still could not resist the Stellaron's will."
"But that isn't the true meaning of Preservation." Though Stelle did not know what had happened, she knew what the right answer was.
"That is true, but we have no right to question them. For the past seven hundred years, the Fragmentum has continued to expand every second. We left our successors neither faith nor wealth, only boundless despair. Watching the homeland we swore to preserve gradually vanish before our eyes was torture. Add to that the lingering whispers that bewitched people's hearts... even the strongest will was bound to waver. This day was destined to come. His protection was destined to leave us." The Guardian's Will's voice was ethereal and sorrowful.
"Then let someone else preserve it," Stelle said.
"You are merely a passerby, yet you insist on bearing the fate of an entire world... Very well. What else is there to lose? What else is there not to try? Touch the amber light, Trailblazer. See whether the will to preserve in your heart is strong enough—strong enough to draw His gaze." The Guardian's Will pointed to the enormous Flame Spear embedded in the starry sky ahead.
"You've helped me with so many commissions all this time, and I'll definitely have more for you next time. So this time, I'll lend you a hand—lend this planet a hand. Consider it an advance on your reward." Watching Stelle struggle to pull out the spear, Chen Luo removed