After parting ways with Priscilla, I headed over to where John stood—predictably glued to Alia’s side. The guy had a real talent for hovering.
"How long are you going to cling to her like that?" I asked, walking up with a raised brow.
John turned to , visibly irritated. "What do you want now, Edward? I thought you were busy playing hide and seek with Roda?"
The words barely left his mouth when Alia, who was standing close enough to overhear, blinked in surprise.
"Hide and seek with... R-Roda?" She repeated, her voice faltering as her gaze flicked between the two of us.
This bastard.
I shot John a glare. Could he keep his mouth shut for once? My life was already riddled with misunderstandings—I didn’t need him inventing more for fun.
"It’s nothing," I said quickly. "I just needed sothing from Roda. That’s all."
Alia nodded slowly, thankfully taking the explanation at face value.
Satisfied after putting in the ss, John finally stepped away from her, walking a few paces toward to speak in private.
"What are you doing hanging around with that guy?" He asked, clearly referring to Rodolf.
I didn’t bother hiding the sarcasm in my voice. "Working on Behemoth. You know—small organization, nothing serious. Just the one trying to resurrect a mass-murdering psycho using your girlfriend’s body. Ring a bell?"
That shut him up for a second.
"You found sothing?" He asked, more serious now.
Of course now he was interested.
"Yeah," I nodded. "We found a way to lure Braham Moonfang out of hiding. We’ve got a solid lead lined up for tomorrow night."
John’s expression shifted imdiately. "Where?"
"Rodolf and I will handle it," I replied. "Your job is to keep an eye on Alia. If Behemoth makes a move, it’ll be toward her."
John didn’t argue. He gave a short nod. "You don’t need to tell twice. I won’t let those bastards get anywhere near her."
That was the response I wanted to hear.
But just as I turned to leave, he asked, "Where is she?"
He was talking about Roda.
"I gave her so space," I said simply. "I’ll call her when I need her."
He didn’t look convinced. "Do you really think it’s safe to just let her wander around?"
I paused, then looked him dead in the eyes. "John. In her tiline, she lost her entire family. Everyone. She’s earned the right to breathe without being smothered."
He fell silent at that and didn’t push further.
After a quiet mont, he spoke again. "You seem way too involved in this, Edward. And I get it—you care. But the more people you care about, the more chances you give fate to rip them away. You know that. Deep down, I think you’ve always known that."
He looked away briefly.
"My life’s already a ss," he muttered. "But your existence brings even more trouble. You know that too."
John was one of the very few people who could speak to like that without provoking my anger. Because I understood where he was coming from—and more importantly, because I knew he ant well.
"I know that," I replied.
"Yeah, you say that. And honestly? I don’t care really about who you involve yourself again with," he said, shrugging. "I’ve already told you what really worries . That guy Leon... he was just a regular guy once, wasn’t he? But then after that thing happened to his woman, and look what he beca."
I blinked, confused for a mont. "I know that. I’m the one who told you about Leon in the first place," I said, not sure why he was bringing it up again.
"Yeah and I don’t think you’re Leon. You’re not him. But the truth is... I don’t know what you’ll do if you’re pushed too far. Whether it’s Leon or soone else who crosses the line, I don’t know what will happen to you if you hit that breaking point."
He hesitated, then continued. "You lost Elona. And sohow, you managed to hold it together. Barely. But—"
"You’re overthinking it," I interrupted, cutting him off before he could finish that sentence.
The mont I grasped what he was implying, I needed to shut it down. But he didn’t flinch. He just kept looking at .
"Edward," he said, eyes locked on mine, "I’ll say this as many tis as I need to: if you ever show even the slightest sign of losing control—if you start to turn into soone like ’that’—I won’t hesitate. I will stop you."
"Then I guess I should be relieved, shouldn’t I?" I said
John gave a short breath scoff. "I don’t know what exactly is going on with you right now, but don’t think I haven’t noticed sothing’s off. I’m not an idiot. Just... get a grip. Fast."
I glanced away. So he’d noticed too. Of course he would. It’s hard to hide things from soone who’s been close to you for so long.
"I’ll manage it. But for now, let’s focus on what’s right in front of us," I said, shifting subject. "Have you learned anything new about Earth?"
He scoffed imdiately when I spoke about Earth. "I don’t have ti to waste on that bastard," he said, but I caught the flash of sothing deeper in his eyes. Hatred. Deep, unfiltered loathing. Still, it was clear that his mind was elsewhere—locked onto Alia.
"I get it. But keep an eye on him too," I said. "I don’t think he was reincarnated here by accident."
"I was brought into this world personally. By Nihil. And I think the sa goes for you, and maybe even Yanis, Marlene, Gladys... the others, too. We were pulled here for a reason, all by the sa force. But Earth? That guy... I’m almost certain he ca from sowhere else. Soone else brought him here."
"Soone else besides Nihil?" John frowned.
"Yeah," I nodded. "And let’s be honest—anyone who’d go out of their way to bring Jayce into this world probably doesn’t have good intentions."
John didn’t argue. He couldn’t.
He folded his arms and leaned back slightly, thinking. "So your friends—Yanis, the others—Nihil reincarnated them too. Why? Because they were close to Nyr?"
That question had been bouncing around in my mind too. I wanted to believe there was so greater aning behind it. That Nihil brought them here out of necessity or fate. But if I was being honest with myself, I still didn’t know.
"I don’t really have a solid answer," I said, running a hand through my hair. "Sure, I’m glad they’re alive again. Seeing them in this world... it gave hope about seeing Ephera eventually. But if I had to guess..."
I paused, choosing my words carefully.
"Yanis and the others—they got tangled in this world without even realizing it. The person who killed them back on Earth, I’m pretty sure, was one of Nihil’s enemies too. So maybe Nihil figured he could use them as support and help for him. Start building a team or weather he was thinking. Push us all together against a common enemy—conveniently the sa enemy Nihil’s already fighting."
Yeah, that was highly likely his plan.
"Maybe he thought that dragging my friends into this would make it easier to control as well," I said sighing. "Form bonds, deepen loyalty, all that. But if that’s the plan, he’s sorely mistaken."
I wasn’t so pawn moved by nostalgia or the comfort of familiar faces. And neither were they. I wouldn’t let them get pulled into my ss—not again.
John glanced over at , more serious than before. "So... is Nihil an enemy?"
That caught off guard—not the question itself, but the way he asked it. It wasn’t accusatory. Just... quietly searching.
"Is that doubt because he reincarnated Shayna?" I asked, almost amused. "You’re wondering if that makes him a good guy?"
"We don’t even know if she was—" He started, but I cut in.
"John, I told you already. If even you ended up here, why wouldn’t she?" I shook my head. "But listen to —and I an this: don’t fall into these gods’ traps so easily. Don’t assu their gifts co without strings. At the end of the day, these people only care about their own goals. Their ’divine plans’ always co first."
I’d dealt with enough divinity to know better. Whether it was Nihil or anyone else, trusting them blindly was asking for trouble.
John didn’t say anything at first. He just stood there, lost in thought. Then, finally, his voice ca out a little tired but also annoyed.
"I’m sick of all this," he said. "I don’t want to spend the rest of my life fighting."
I didn’t answer right away.
I understood that yeah.
If it were up to , I would’ve already disappeared into so quiet corner of the world—just and the people I loved. Living simply. Living free. But I couldn’t. Not yet.
John, though... maybe he could. Maybe once everything with Alia was settled—once she was safe, truly safe—maybe he could step away from all of this.
But we both knew this wasn’t the end. Not when the Third Ga existed.
Still, I wouldn’t force him either.
"You can walk away after Sancta Vedelia if you want to," I said quietly. "That choice is yours."
I didn’t say more and left him.
It might be hard since he was the Heir of the Tarmias House but at the worst case Layla could succeed in so way and I don’t think she would mind it if it was for John’s happiness.
Because honestlyt John had a choice, the sa was for Eric.
But I wasn’t that lucky unfortunately.
Nihil didn’t create these gas and made play all of them for nothing. He wanted to be prepared for what was coming.
Anyway, next.
I looked ahead toward Victor and Selene.
Next I have to talk to Victor.
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