Crack
"Ligo, you—not just you, but every Quicksilver Needle in this world—needs a Third Awakening."
"And what is that...?"
"The First Awakening allows our companions to recognize us in a crisis. The Secondary Awakening lets us reach the limits and boundaries of our own abilities," Paska said. "The Third Awakening is for every Quicksilver Needle to understand who we are, where we ought to stand in this world, and then look at where we actually stand today—"
Ligo took a step back, then two more.
"...So you really released Chelated Beings into the Habitable Zone?"
"Why are you always fixated on that?" Paska asked, puzzled. "Have you never felt anger or injustice in your heart? Think about why you were expelled from District 3 in the first place. Wasn't it because your friend died in vain—"
"Don't mention her to me!" Ligo's voice abruptly rose. "How dare you bring that up—if you remember what she sacrificed herself for, if you know what work she was proudest of while she was alive, then you should be ashamed of what you're doing today! If she were still alive, she'd fight every last one of you to the death!"
Paska stood in the wind.
"...Then are you going to fight me to the death?"
Ligo ran a hand through her hair and looked away, her voice dropping into an incredulous whisper. "Release Chelated Beings into the Habitable Zone? What were you thinking? How could you do something like that?"
Both of their eyes had reddened.
"Paska, tell me, how could you lay hands on children?"
"Chelated Beings crawl wherever they want to crawl. What could I do?" Paska said. "Besides, everyone here is going to die. Children or elders, poor or rich... what difference does it make? These people's deaths will come either