Endless possibility. Wonder. The stuff of fantasies. The implications of it all is so vague that it feels enormous. What does that mean, really? The first thought that comes to mind is becoming an adventurer, of slaying monsters and getting loot.

Honestly, you don't know if being dropped into some type of medieval fantasyland would be an... ideal situation. You like modern technology, like phones, jeans, and vaccines. But you enjoy the appeal of wearing armor and swinging a sword around just as much as the next guy. Whether you're good at it or not doesn't matter. And maybe you could save some damsel in distress whom you can pledge your loyalty to and endure a complicated yet romantic courtship with.

Or, maybe, you would join a guild instead of a gang. How big could the difference be? You'll slam those ales as good as any beer. You get along with people fast too. Distribute the work and kick it back with the crew after every QUEST. Find fulfillment through those connections. Maybe there'll be a language barrier, but you already speak two.

And new SMELLS to smell! Who knows what else there could be to experience. One of your favorite scents is wet rain on pavement. And pizza. How fast would it be to find something to top THAT?

Though realistically... would that make you happy? You crave stability, fulfillment, and you've grown to realize that the current grind of your life isn't as satisfying when more than the basic needs are met. But to abandon it all for a hope, the uncertainty of having yet another life grinding away, to end up somewhere worse off with none of the past to help cushion you.... That's a decision with more weight than any other. You'd not only be throwing away all the people you're connected to; friends, family, acquaintances, but also the places you've been in, the food from your favorite haunts, the sunset on the roof of the base.

To sacrifice everything familiar to you...



It's akin to dying. A promise to be reborn.

The stuff of storybooks and dreams and late nights wishing for something more than what your life is. What life could be.

The sheer scale, the ultimate gamble, your fantasy only a pin drop in the bucket. What else could you be? Become?

Would you be better or would you be worse?

Or... Keep at it. Keep going. Work with what's familiar, build on what you have, and have that stability. It's not as glamorous, not as easy to romanticize, but you already know what you would be working with. Sure... the obstacles will always be there, but that's life too, isn't it?

Though not everyone can get the chance to start over again. To get a true fresh start. The closest would be to move away and hope that the past doesn't drag you back.

For you, that may be the safer option. Hell, you could do it right after the boss dies. No supernatural or hypothetical deals needed. But for Eiko... you're not too sure it would make a difference... You know she's only asking you this because she needs your answer more.

"Those are some hard choices, but honestly.. If this endless possibility thing was offered to me, well, sounds like a once in a lifetime opportunity. I'd take the gamble. Maybe I could make it stable."

"Even if it meant becoming something terrible instead? Something you're afraid of?"

You think. "By choice?"

"Yes. Or. Kinda? By circumstance mostly.. Like to adapt to survive."

"I know who I am. As long as I don't forget that, I've got to keep some pride in the choices I make. Otherwise, I'll just keep focusing on all my mistakes."

Trying to understand her, after all, has led you to where you are now. Still living and breathing.

She seems to consider your words, brows furrowing. "It doesn't feel... selfish?"

You shrug. "It is. But who's going to blame me? If I leave everyone behind, that doesn't mean that everything will go to ruins, you know? Everyone else has their own lives to live and to give their best in. People would probably miss me, and that's one less person with my skills around, but wouldn't you understand?"

"....."

As you let her think, you feel the pressing question in your mind manifest, "But is that even possible? Can you even get something like that?"

Eiko looks at you with a complicated mix of emotions. Apprehension. Fear. Doubt. Hope. "... I can. But there's a cost. I feel like I can pay for it.. It's just.. It's complicated."

"Is it once in a life time? Why not take the plunge? Is it the cost?"

Eiko sighs. "Kind of and well.. I have to make a deal with a devil to do it. They said I might have to.. become one too, essentially."

It's an odd fear to hear from Eiko, who has agreed to kill someone you both know for a better cause. Maybe it's just that? That there would be no better cause, that it would just be herself deciding to do what could be the wrong thing. Over and over again. There's no advice you can give there, besides to live with it.

Though, you think back to the target. The figurative(?) devil. The arms dealer. Yet.. also the scammer...

You find yourself wondering if what they said is actually true. "Well, you might have to. So you don't technically need to. As long as they're giving you that ability, that's what really matters, doesn't it?"

"... That's true."

You gesture, "Look... everything else aside. Think about it.. If someone offered you wings... Wouldn't you want to fly?" To truly be free. Grasp the endless possibility and make it your own.

Your question seems to stun her.



Then... A clarity comes to her eyes. A click. The enormity of the weight, to her, is more real than you could have ever perceived.

You sense it. An unexpected grief... The mourning. Years of it. Cycling through the stages, slowly, perilously, pushing and planning and trying, trying to get all the way to the last. To make it right again.

An empire left to crumble. The last living piece of him there could be to grasp onto destroyed-- with his legacy. By her own two hands. It's another kick to the chest and your uncomprehending mind.

Tears. A sob.

Yet, just as quickly, it shifts, as Eiko painfully gasps and a cathartic laugh escapes.



Her voice cracks, an embarrassed ha escapes, "Sorry, sorry, I didn't mean to start crying on you. Shit. I've been crying enough today. My eyes hurt."

"No, no, it's fine! It's fine! It's been a rough day, right?" You panic.

"Yeah." Eiko laughs.

"Just let it all out?"

"I don't know, I've been... doing a lot to you... Sure, we talked but.. I've got a lot of baggage that you probably don't want to hear about.. from someone you barely know."

You can't admit that you know a lot more about her than she thinks, just based off of your clairvoyance and well.. everything else.

Your tone comes out slightly awkward, "I'm getting to know you?"

She sniffs. "You don't have to comfort me. Just give me a sec to dry off.. and I'll come back."

Comfort her? Or leave alone? She doesn't look like she would reject.