Flurries of snow swirled through the air.
For a long time, he could not speak.
Only after a long while did Sir Awen lower his head. His hand braced against the wall clenched tight, yet he still bit hard on his lip.
"I understand how this feels. I know I have no right to lecture you..."
"But there are no chances left. We're all standing on the edge of a cliff, and this world will never give us another chance to retreat! If moving forward means sacrifice, then we must be ready to sacrifice... even if we don't want to, even if we're afraid... we must still forge ahead."
Because one step back meant a bottomless abyss.
He staggered back a step, putting distance between himself and Lynn, his head bowed.
"Do you know why Dreamweaver chose to end her life at this moment?"
Lynn gasped for breath.
He raised his head and drew a deep, forceful breath.
"Because she had already seen it. Perhaps in the next war, you would fall to the Nightmare Demons surrounding you, because they were gradually learning your methods and your power. Perhaps just three or five more would be enough to mire you completely. And once you were dragged into that endless abyss of war, this Empire you built would shatter in an instant."
"So she had no time left."
Seen in profile, his eyes were filled with shattered emotions.
"She had to sacrifice herself to let you achieve another Ascension of the Trinity! To let you survive this ordeal!"
"Do you understand, Lynn?"
Lynn leaned against the cold city wall. Winter snow covered his shoulders, and his gray-white hair obscured his face. His head hung low, his fingertips digging into his palms.
Scarlet blood dripped into the snow, drop by drop.
He