"So that was how it was..."
Iver was deeply moved. "He took the initiative to cast away his claws and fangs, thereby igniting the Civilization Fire...?"
It was not about accepting restraint, but willingly abandoning power.
Choosing peace over hegemony.
That was not weakness or surrender... It was unparalleled confidence—the confidence that, should circumstances change, one could awaken once more. For the land of Dedication had been the core of "civilization" since its birth.
At that moment, Iver felt something surging within his heart, like a tide. He heard the sound of waves beside his ears.
It was as though a river glittering with countless lights had surged into existence within him, manifesting before him.
Within that transparent river, glittering with golden light like colored glass, lay the willpower of all living beings. Countless golden runes rose against the current, spiraling upward amid murmured chants and dazzling radiance.
Above the river, the great achievements of civilization appeared like a mirage—massive buildings, sturdy castles, farmers tilling the fields, roaring machines...
It seemed that, so long as Iver was willing, he could simply step forward and lose himself within it.
"...Iver," Isabel suddenly said softly beside him. "I feel... you don't need to walk this path.
"You're not an elf. Humans aren't children of Dedication. We're descendants of love and transcendence... How can someone who doesn't even love himself love this world? You don't need to offer yourself up for others, either... You need to take care of yourself first."
For some reason, Isabel had suddenly felt a powerful sense of fear.
It was as though, if she did not hold Iver back at that moment, she would never see him again.
She had experienced a similar feeling before... It had been on the day her father left without saying goodbye.
"Ah...