If he kept reclaiming the Core Flames, the humanity in Phainon's heart might be worn away completely.
Golden Shadow was worried.
"Then your long struggle will come to an end."
"...No." Phainon shook his head.
"I've found a way to keep the cycle going."
"In every new cycle, a new [me] will be born."
"All I have to do is guide the newborn [Phainon] to World's End. Then..."
"Then he'll kill me and shatter this body."
"...He'll inherit my flames and memories, and continue the journey."
After hearing his plan, Golden Shadow considered it.
"A brave plan, but a fragile one."
"What if, somewhere along the way, the newborn [you] refuses to take the same path..."
Phainon's gaze darkened.
"If it were Teacher Anaxa or Aglaea entering the cycle... perhaps they could find a smarter way."
"Unfortunately... I have no backup plan."
"I can only stake everything on the newborn Phainon and trust that he'll make the same choice I did at the start."
"But even in this tragic prison of fate, fortunate things do happen. Because..."
"The one thing I'll never forget is why I set out."
The next cycle.
A newborn Phainon stood beneath the tree in Aedes Elysiae once more.
He clutched his head, his face contorted with pain.
"Countless memories... are flooding into me."
"Countless versions of me... have stood here, facing the same choice."
Golden Shadow looked at him and offered comfort.
"They all needed to pause here, just as you do, to absorb the grief, pain, and struggle built up over millions of cycles."
"And like them, you'll carry the memories and Core Flames... into the newborn chaos."
It was a long while before Phainon slowly straightened. "I understand."
"I have to set out... and I have to bear this burden."
He looked