<hr>
<03/29/1965 - 12:30 | Section 8, Eldora City, Junon, Sprawn Valley>
Nothing could hide the fears pinching at every nerve. Nothing could lift the dread from this heavy air, an atmosphere of peace, but an atmosphere of death no less. Despite all attempts to learn what has been happening here, everyone seemed to know too little. Despite all attempts to believe that she was still alive, the sinking black hole of gravity tethered Nyar to reality.
Arriving in Eldora City after so long... It isn''t what he expected. There is always excitement when traveling to such an unfamiliar place, though what was once journey is now nervousness. This place sure has changed since he last visited some years ago... The bigger question is, where is Yuel?
Having no other friends and no other contacts in this entire foreign nation, Nyar only had one choice. The authorities are the only place to start from. Luckily, the Leray Agency has a secondary HQ office here in Eldora City. If she turns out to be missing, then there must be a way to search for her. Best to start there...
"Thanks so very much."
"No problem. Best of times to ya."
As Nyar entered the busy facility of the Leray Agency building, the smell of old leather filled the air, something between an old outfit and the interior smell of a new automobile. It was only now that he remembered that people wear such strange and animated fabrics here. Anyway, it was time to ask the clerk some questions.
"Hello! What can I do for ya sir?"
Nyar already had second thoughts on whether this young guy could ever be useful. Even though it''s rude to judge by appearances alone, the officer doesn''t look all too seasoned. That''s okay. If he doesn''t turn up any useful information, he''ll just ask for a higher person of rank instead. After reaching the sectioned clerk counter, Nyar took a moment to collect his thoughts and words, his mind jumbled from the flooding memories of him and Yuel. "Yes, uhm... I''m looking for someone." Nyar knew he needed to provide more detail, but began first by reaching for the small photograph he held in his wallet.
"Gonna have to be more specific with that one. By the way, unless someone is reported missing or deceased, there isn''t much we can do. It''s actually normal for wielders to go missing for training for a couple of days before turning up again; lots don''t like to be bothered."
"..." Nyar started at him for a few awkward seconds, his exhausted expression making the clerk officer uncomfortable, before finally handing over the photo. "Her name is Yuel Biion, with two I''s. She''s my wife, and since she''s never missed a single scheduled call with me, I have plenty of right to demand for help finding her."
The officer looked like he was about to protest, but studied the photo for a while first, while shifting his fingers to the desk terminal in front of him. "Let me see if I can digitally search the name here. Can you spell the name for me?"
As Nyar spelled out the name, he curiously watched the officer typing data into the terminal, curious, as the technology seemed a bit advanced for today''s standards.
After a few more keys, the officer kept reading data off the screen. "Let''s see... Hm... It''s referencing file AD432."
"What?"
"Give me one moment... Also I need your personal ID if you have it with you. It should help with document upkeep later." The officer was doing three things at once now, no longer too concerned with keeping everyone happy and chill. The very visit of this stranger had some dark vibes, and the manner in which the file was sorted was also abnormal. The record was reference only, which means it points to a print-file in the locked cabinets. Anything code AD means some sort of report was already filed, the nature of which not entirely clear. So, he took some time searching for it. Before long, the officer picked up the paper folder in the cabinet, and began reading the details. "Tell me please, how long has she been missing?"
"It''s been three days, maybe more. I knew something wasn''t right from our last phone call we had, so when she missed the next one, I decided to board the first flight here."
"Montemeitrev Nyar... There''s no record of you in the digital system... Oh..."
"What? What is it?" Did he learn something? Maybe she fell ill and visited a medical center? Which one is it then? "Please tell me where she is."
He glanced up at the poor man, clearly exhausted from his worry, and yet he came all this way... "Give me one moment. I''ll be right back with my deputy." He snapped the folder shut, closing his eyes with a regrettable exhale, certain he would need help explaining this.
"Just tell me what''s going on!" Nyar''s words went unanswered, though he stood still at this desk, determined not to be moved until somebody can explain where Yuel is.
In only a minute, the officer returned, with an executive deputy behind him looking serious and concerned. By the time the two of them met, the deputy held his hand out for a formal shake. "Greetings Mr. Nyar. I am Executive Deputy Gardner of the Leray Agency. Is it true? Are you really the husband of Yuel Biion?"
"Yes, I am. I know we don''t have the same last name, but we both wanted to keep our names unchanged. Anyway, why does it take two people to tell me what''s in that folder?"
With a heavy sigh, Gardner held his hand on Nyar''s left shoulder before giving him the worst news of his life. "I''m so sorry that I have to be the one to tell you this. The wielder once known as Yuel Biion is no longer alive. She''s been deceased for about three days." With just those words alone, all of the life, spirit, and color had drained out of Nyar, and it was up to Gardner to ensure he doesn''t collapse from shock. It was too much to remain objective after the sadness slammed into the guy, his eyes flooding with tears.
"My Yuel!" Sobbing into his hands, Nyar let himself sink to the ground, though Gardner and his assistant prevented Nyar from going any lower, and they escorted him into the back room to calm down.
It was a full twelve minutes of crying and sipping on warm water before the deputy made a case of it. "Go ahead and man the desk. I''ll handle this." After he and Nyar were left alone for another silent minute, Gardner tried to be as sympathetic as possible, which wasn''t hard seeing the mess this news has made. "I won''t ask if you are okay, since it''s clear as day that you are not. Just, let me know if I can get you anything."
"How?!" He sobbed in desperation to understand. "How could this happen? She was healthy and strong."
"I know. Something like this rarely ever happens, but here in Sprawn Valley, even the veil cannot prevent someone from having an aneurism."
"Wh— What? An aneurism? That can''t be right."
"I''m afraid that is the listed cause of death, and the coroner has the data to back it all up. Oxygen was cut off to every part of the body equally, even though she was standing in a well-lit outdoor area. There was no blood clot in the pulmonary area, so the most likely area where a stroke occurred would be the brain."
Is he really lying to him right now? Or maybe this deputy really believes that''s all that happened. "Who discovered the body?"
"Pardon?"
"I want to know who found the body first."
"That would be one of the tower guards who found her after getting an anonymous report of someone sleeping in a strange place. I''m sorry about all this Nyar. It would have been my wish to contact you the moment this happened, but nothing we found on her personal belongings had any family information that we could have used... As soon as we get the returned fax about your ID and marriage paperwork, you will be free to collect all of these belongings..."
The world only became so much darker, impaled by a pain that never ended. Nyar didn''t say anymore. He held the photo in front of him, using the treasured relic as his only means to remember everything about her, all the way down to the very last words spoken.
<hr>
Chapter Theme Shift: Own Places ~ Nikke OST</a>
<hr>
"Yuel..." It''s been twenty amazing years... So many memories... So many moments, all of them only to lead up to this... "I love you..."
The countless times they went to the beach, the memorable moments of laughter and delicious meals, so many resonating moments filled his heart and mind, and were now being sucked through the void of endless misery. Nyar didn''t understand the reason, but right now, every single moment he''s ever lived with her flashed in his peripherals more strongly than it ever had before, choosing zero moments to ever let go.
Time might as well have stood still, for the world was now at full stop. I should have come here much sooner Yuel. I should have seen your amazing concerts in person. It was too unbearable before, thinking of deviating from the long term plan to work as hard as possible to move here, with Yuel. Nyar worked as hard as he could, but it was the wrong thing to do... If I would have been here for you, you might have even survived... This is my fault.
In the end, Yuel chose the life she wanted, heading full speed for everything she enjoyed. My beloved, you threw yourself so deep into your magic, and even though it didn''t save you, I bet you''d still make all the same choices again if you were still alive to try. Nyar was different though. Of all the things he could have ever done, trying to make a life for himself in New York was just a stupid mistake. If ever he had the ability to do everything over again, he too would have come here and practiced magic together... But life doesn''t give us do-overs, and it''s too late to embrace magic now.
Besides... Yuel... You said that you were scared of something, didn''t you? If even part of what she said is true, then...
"I''ll let you have the room for twenty more minutes. After that, I''ll have to have it empty for others to be questioned. Here." Gardner handed over two separate business cards to Nyar, one with Gardner''s work contact number, and another with directions and the contact for a nearby therapy clinic. The man will clearly need one. "After I give you the slip to collect belongings, I want you to try the therapy center, whenever you are ready."
"C..." Nyar struggled to muster the words, since it was impossible hearing himself say them aloud, unbelievable as this moment was. "Can I see her body?"
"I don''t recommend it, in your state of mind... But I also won''t forbid you from it either. It is your right. However, you will have to wait about two more hours first. The body is still in transient from Cheyenne."
"What the hell is she doing there?"
"Take it easy now. The FMCI is responsible for that. They took over the case, to triple check that this wasn''t a homicide. The fact that they''re sending her body back means they have no conclusion of such a cause."
The FMCI? What the hell! Why would they check for homicide if everyone was so sure it was a freak accident? Yuel''s words hung in Nyar''s mind over and over, the night she sounded so freaked out about learning something she shouldn''t have...
"Anyway, I want you to take some personal time to yourself for a bit. I know this is no easy thing."
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
"Yeah... I''ll try to keep that in mind."
"Oh, and have this as well." After ripping out a piece of specially signed paper, Gardner gave Nyar one more parting gift. "A voucher for Greene Hotel. It''s only good for one night, but whenever you need to take a rest, it''s on the house... Please take care of yourself."
"... Yeah." Nyar stood up from the chair, his eyes too dry for further emotion. "I''m going to sort it all out." Everything will be taken care of, one little step at a time. But first, Yuel''s things are piled up into a locker near the place she was staying. It''s time to collect them. After that, there is some unfinished business to attend to!
<hr><hr>
Chapter Theme Shift: Drifting [Extended] ~ (Ferquitous) Nikke OST</a>
<center><iframe title="Drifting [Extended]" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ykF33xragLE" width="240" height="120" frameborder="0"></iframe></center>
<hr>
<15:03>
As the day grew older, Security Agent Charlie took the next shift rotation for the front entrance of the tower. All was boring and ordinary until two of the lower-ranked guards further ahead were blasted through the air, landing and rolling just in front of agent Charlie. "What the?!"
"I won''t take no for an answer any longer. Take me to see the person in charge of this tower!" The madman aiming his next spell forward unleashed the charged energy from the glowing red crystal, generating another shockwave which sent the two guards flying again like before, though Charlie held his stance against the tough winds blowing him back.
"Cease your attacks at once!" Charlie prepared for combat, but also freed up one hand to use his radio, in the event he needed to call for backup. He managed to get a better look at the attacker as he got closer, holding one more red crystal. The material was easily identifiable; an attack crystal. Their power is not that strong; they are most similar to the elements which make up attack spell bombs, though without regulation, can be used outside of Siriean domes. The older man approaching seemed fixated on him, ready to unleash another shockwave while the other two guards managed to pull themselves up, winded and dejected. "This is Agent Charlie to security detail. We have a code yellow at the entrance..."
As soon was Nyar lowered the crystal, placing it into his pocket, he noticed the stronger guard before him relaxed just slightly, and so, he got as close as he could before being threatened not to move. "I''m not here to fight any one of you, but if you don''t take me to see the person in charge, I will do everything I can to force my way in."
"You must be stupid!" Charlie spat. "The leaders and elites of Sprawn Valley don''t have time to talk to just anybody. Besides, you think I''d help you after you just attacked the three of us?"
"If you considered that to be an actual attack, then I have to question the true strength of those you call elites."
What is this? Usually, people like this march in and continue fighting until subdued, but this stranger is a little too confident for having done no real harm. It''s what he said that was suspicious. Indeed, his attacks didn''t leave any permanent damage at all. In fact, they were only shockwaves, the weakest forms of Leray magic. "I can''t decide if you''re a complete idiot, or if you actually have a wish to go to prison."
"Funny, hearing that from you. Your entire existence is based on the idea that you protect the heart of Leray magic, as well as the good of the law. How ironic it is that you stand here and defy justice."
"What is this brat going on about?" he whispered.
"I won''t ask again!" Nyar chanted in rage. "I demand to speak to somebody of higher authority, to ask them what secret they could possibly believe is worth killing over."
"Now you lost me, but it doesn''t change the fact that you''re not getting in here."
Though idiotic, this Charlie character is still talking... Maybe he can be reasoned with. "If you know that the very people you are guarding were directly involved in murder of the innocent, would you really keep standing here blocking my path?"
"How dare you insinuate such nonsense! The elites of our nation don''t sully their hands with such heinous crimes. If somebody you know actually did commit a murder, you should be bothering the Leray Agency instead of us."
"Oh, believe me, I''ve already been to the agency. They''ve swallowed the same lie selling them down the river, but I''m not going to fall for it. Somebody in that tower killed my wife, and then covered up the circumstances of her death, all just to cover their own asses when she cropped up on a damning secret!" Carrying the weight of his words, Nyar unleashed the last red attack crystal he had, pushing around Charlie with another shockwave.
Though it was annoying to be thrown around once more, Charlie kept himself calm without giving in. It was one hell of a lie to listen to though. Does this manic actually believe the government would burn their own people? "Since you''re clearly delusional, I''ll give you one more chance to vacate the premises before I take you in for detainment."
"Oh, of course I wouldn''t expect you to understand. I get what''s happening now. You''re just another low level grunt, so the leaders wouldn''t bother cluing you into what''s been going on around here."
"You got some kind of proof for these outrageous claims? Like I said, the Leray Agency—"
"—are full of a bunch of hacks!" Nyar finished, seething with every breath. "They don''t investigate anything around here; they just do what their told and accept it. But I''m not going to accept that her death was an accident."
Where are the other agents? The backup should be here by now, so what''s keeping them? Charlie knew this was a problem, but even so, Nyar seemed more interested in getting some kind of genuine justice rather than breaking into the tower. "Care to fill me in on who you are even talking about? You can''t possibly mean the girl who died from a brain stroke the other day."
"Don''t lie about the conditions of her death!" Unleashing a Push Wave from his own magical circuits, Nyar intensified his resolve, though it was painfully clear that he didn''t know any good attack spells. "Yuel contacted me on the night she died, and she was freaked out to have learned of some horrible cover-up and conspiracy that your government was involved in. You''re telling me that the timing of her death was merely a coincidence?"
Wait, is this really true? "I don''t know what you''re talking about. Why would the people working to make magic safe kill someone to cover up a secret?"
"Why don''t you find the champion and ask him yourself?"
Charlie cringed, finding the offer quite tempting... Still, he can''t be correct. The people running the tower would never resort to such violence. They can''t; it''s just not in them.
Such hesitation... Maybe this guard is open to reason after all. "Not convinced yet? How about the dealings with the FMCI? I don''t know much about those guys, but they''re supposedly the secret service of this nation, are they not? If her death was just an accident, why in the world would the most notorious agency take any interest in Yuel''s death?"
"Probably just a precaution to make sure. It means nothing, unless the FMCI are still holding her, which I doubt is the case. You realize how seriously we take incidences of dark magic deaths?"
"Oh yeah? What about the cameras?"
"Cameras?"
"Don''t play dumb with me. The reports all mentioned that nothing of value was stolen off of her, but when I went to gather her belongings, only two of the three video capture cameras were available. I know Yuel; she used three of them at once to record her battles. One of them is missing, and the agency is treating it as a mistake in memory. Like I said, they don''t investigate anything, so I''m forced to do it myself."
All of this is starting to sound more suspicious, but Charlie knew he had to stick to protocol. "Look, I understand now why you are here, but I can assure you none of our elites are responsible for this incident. If you want, I can rely your message to—"
"Not good enough!" Nyar interrupted. "I want to ensure they hear my warning in person. I know that one of them is covering up a major secret, and for that, they had Yuel killed and her death covered up. I won''t accept you telling me that I''m not allowed to see them, any one of them."
"You misunderstand the situation," Charlie expressed, holding up a glyphring ready to subdue Nyar should he get any closer. "No matter the circumstances, our job as security guards is to protect the tower mages. Even if it weren''t, there are strict policies in place preventing the most important members of the nation from leaving the tower unguarded unless it is official business. You would need some kind of appointment made in advance to see them, which only the mage council or FMCI can grant. It''s actually for their own protection."
"Protection?! Protection from what?" Charlie didn''t answer Nyar''s question, and it only served to prove him right. "You see, that''s the problem I have with people like you, people who lie and claim magic to be this safe and fun sport. If magic were really safe, then there wouldn''t be a need to use protection as an excuse for hiding away in a cylindrical cellar. I bet you know at least this much, don''t you? Leray magic isn''t actually safe to use; that''s the lie the government wants to cover up. Once Yuel learned of it, you all killed her in cold blood!"
Instead of hearing any more, Charlie unleashed a Shadow Wave spell, pushing Nyar back and shoving him into the ground with minor damages. "We aren''t the enemy you make us out to be. Our people despise the use of dark magic, which can be the only element of magic left unsafe. If you think somebody killed your wife, you need more proof than a sob story like that. Furthermore, I won''t allow you to stand here and trash talk the very people I know would never resort to dark magic."
"Just another lapdog I see..." This isn''t getting anyone anywhere; Nyar could see that much. It''s clear as day that Danton nor any other elite are coming down here to confront him in person... "Okay then... I see what''s going on. If you''re going to keep covering for them, that''s your risk to take. I''ll give you this one final warning."
"I can have you thrown into our prison just for the stunt you''ve already pulled, and now you are threatening me?"
"I wouldn''t be so smug if I were you. If the people in charge think they are untouchable, then I''ll use a different method. Twisted as this place may be, you people clearly place high value on law and order. So, this is my final warning to you. If you do not get the elites down here right now, then I will leave this place. After I do, I will hire the nation''s top lawyer, and sue the living shit out of everyone involved. It''s one hell of a thing to legally accuse one of murder in a place where people aren''t supposed to die, but I swear I will gather the evidence needed and put them in their place, and you will personally be roped in once I prove you are helping them conceal evidence. So, you all have a choice now. What''s it gonna be?"
He can''t be serious! Nobody has ever threatened to sue the Elite Five before, but can that even be done? "Since I know none of them actually killed anyone, I know everything will be alright. We will hire a lawyer to defend ourselves."
"Naturally, I figured you would choose that answer. Alright then. Consider your days as a guard numbered. It won''t be long before you are out of a job. If you have any family at home, you better make damn sure you have an alternate method to provide for them, cause I''m not going to let this slide."
"So that''s it then? You''re just going to waltz away and sue the government?" It was the strangest encounter he''s ever had yet, though Charlie watched as Nyar kept up his promise, walking away with his hands in his coat pockets as though nothing wrong as ever done...
<hr>
<03/30/1965 – 17:41 | Law firm Office, Gross City, Gulop, Sprawn Valley>
"I''m sorry Mr. Nyar, but it''s just not good enough."
"How can you sit here and tell me that? I thought you said you were the best. I want these scum locked away, and the truth revealed."
Harris, the lawyer Nyar tried to hire explained the reason why Nyar was asking the impossible. "Putting aside the status of these people you wish to drag into court, the problem stems from the fact that the evidence you have is anything but concrete. At best, it proves that this death was more homicide than accident, but it doesn''t do a thing to point to any actual killer. You say they covered up the circumstances of the death? You need to prove this much too."
"The missing camera wasn''t enough? How about the phone call she had shortly before everything ended? You can''t seriously believe this was all coincidence."
"I''m sorry Nyar, but unless wire taps are set up in advance, international phone calls among civilians are never recorded and monitored. Sprawn Valley wouldn''t have the infrastructure to set that up anyway."
"You expect me to believe that, after the fancy new technology I''ve been seeing around here lately?"
"There is a bit of growth in technology, but it''s entirely motivated by corporate financing right here in this city. Like I said again, you cannot sue the Eldora governor or the Elite Five for conspiracy of homicide when there isn''t enough evidence to launch a case to begin with. The court would throw it out just from the title alone."
"The report that the agency received was updated and altered by the FMCI, wasn''t it? How about I target them instead? I don''t believe that the FMCI would be honest about the circumstances anyway. They aren''t exactly keen on sharing information; so I wouldn''t put it past them to be the ones covering the details of her death."
"The FMCI?! Surely you jest Nyar."
"No, I don''t jest! Somebody killed my precious Yuel, and somebody is going to pay for it! I''m not going to let them get away with this! If I fail to bring these clowns to justice, then I''ll work as hard as I can to bring down their false reputation." Nyar was shaking by now, though with every memory dancing in his brain, it was all he could do to stay sane. "I should have listened to her that night, when she said magic wasn''t what the people thought it was. I should have consoled her better, and told her to keep hidden until I could come here in person to protect her... But it''s too late for that now."
"I''m sorry to hear that." Poor guy. Unfortunately, there are certain people in this world who are untouchable by the law. "However, the chances of bringing suit against the FMCI are exceptionally lower than it would be to target the Elite Five."
"Why, cause they''re the CIA equivalent?"
"I''m not joking Nyar. The FMCI are a restricted organization, and not just to the public. Even their main town of Cheyenne doesn''t allow any access to the highest Echelon members of society to enter its boarders, and the same goes for anyone in the elite chain or the mage council."
"So, you''re saying that you won''t help me."
With a long sigh, Harris released his condolences. "I''m saying, I can''t help you, even if I want to, even if I believe you. You''re a lawyer yourself, are you not? Surely you understand what the main issue is. You have good instincts Nyar, I''m not knocking any of them; but you don''t have enough evidence to tie any particular individual to anyone."
"I already told you. The missing camera is the key to all of this. It''s the reason it went missing."
"Whether you need one missing link or another, you don''t possess this camera or its footage on you, and so, this puts everyone in an impossible position."
"Then we sue the governor for peddling the lie that magic is safe. We were promised that people under the veil would be protected from magic-related deaths!"
"That won''t work either."
"Why the hell not?!"
"Because everyone here already knows that magic is not a perfect force of security. Not only would you need to prove that Yuel was murdered with dark magic with court-approved evidence, but the very basis of the claim is already a fact which was revealed to the world about five years ago..." Did he really not know? "In 1960, the current leader of our nation spoke about it on national broadcasts, that Leray magic and dark magic co-exist together at the same time, and so are sourced from the very same veil. People might parrot the idea that magic is 100% safe, but the publicly available fine-print says otherwise. Therefore, nobody can be sued based on this fallacy, since it was a publicly available statement for more than five years."
The very paragraph shut Nyar down in his place for a good moment, long enough for Harris to give up and pack up his suitcase.
"The most I can do for you right now, is create a case of concern, and submit it to the Leray Agency. However, I don''t have to tell you how dangerous that could be, if, as you surmised, the FMCI had any involvement in altering the details of her death. It could paint a target on your back."
"How dare you." Nyar tensed more at the warning. With tears in his eyes once more, he inhaled deeply through his pain, and gave his final declaration. "How dare anybody! Every single person in this place of lunacy speaks so highly about Leray magic, lying about its protection, lying about its safety. All this time, the people knew about the dangers of dark magic? I think not. This is clearly a situation where people don''t read that fine-print you mentioned, because they don''t know there is a need to go looking for it."
"Perhaps. Though directing people to that has never once been a job detail of mine."
"Even people like you make me sick!" he cursed violently, making Harris wince. "You know all about the lies of magic, yet you trout around going about business as usual, ignoring the problem all around you. I can''t believe Yuel and I were ever tricked into trusting the people of this place. I wonder just how many more lies there are, such as the grand lie Yuel gave her life trying to find out."
"Don''t make me get security involved. Our business is done here anyway."
"Oh yeah, just pretend like it''s another day at the office. I curse you! I curse all of you for feeding the system that has blinded you for so long!"
"You''re acting irrational Nyar. I can''t help you with this case. I already told you that!"
"Yuel Biion was murdered right on Danton''s front doorstep! Yet everyone keeps denying that she was killed, like it never even happened! But I''m not going to be fooled! Magic isn''t safe or glorious, yet the agents encourage people to get involved with it, as if this is all some grand sick twisted experiment! Yet I''m the irrational one here?"
"Leave my office, now."
"Don''t worry, I''m going. But mark my words, Harris. The government is lying to cover up a grand conspiracy, something far bigger than dark magic being a force of resistance to the supposed safety system. It''s something bigger than all of us, and I''m not going to stick around waiting to find out what happens when that massive trigger is pulled. I''m going to tell everyone. I''m going to make sure that the people outside know why they need to stay the hell away from this place. I''ll hire the best journalist if I have to."
"I''m not the enemy here." After pressing another switch, Harris began to leave the room, ignoring the threat of Nyar handing around. "Maybe you are right, about all of it. But us lawyers, we can''t do a damn thing about it unless the puzzle pieces all fall into place, even if it is too late by then. I wish I could help you Nyar, but you are too plagued with grief to help yourself as you are... So, I''m leaving. I suggest you do the same. I''ve called security up to the office. So, even though I''ll walking out now, if they find anybody like yourself here by the time they get up here, they will shake you down and escort you from the building, and I don''t want anyone to see that."
"As if I care," he retorted. "Stay asleep then. The entire nation here can perish and rot for all I care. The way I see it, this nation is responsible for Yuel''s death, for crushing her hopes and dreams, and nobody wants to own up to it. I''ll be sure to keep my distance from this wretched hellhole, myself and everybody I personally know. When that final hammer falls and this place is overrun with magic-wielding maniacs going on a murder spree, I''ll be sitting back to watch. Sprawn Valley and magic, they''re both evil, both twisted, all of it baked in lies and infinite misconceptions... I will never forget that."