Chapter 12 — Echo of the Past (Part 3)
The world… felt wrong.
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Isak walked slowly through ancient ruins.
The air was heavy, but not threatening.
Not yet.
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— …more than a thousand scenarios…
he murmured.
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His eyes scanned everything around him.
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— and I end up in the hardest one on my first try…
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He lightly kicked a stone on the ground.
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— what luck.
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A hint of sarcasm.
But controlled.
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He crouched down and touched the ground.
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Felt it.
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— Ancient energy…
— stable structure…
— no immediate collapse…
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He stood up.
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— This isn't for beginners.
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A pause.
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— Era of the Black Dragon…
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His eyes narrowed.
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— This should be endgame content.
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Silence.
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— But…
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He took a slow breath.
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— it's not dangerous yet.
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A brief pause.
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— Yet.
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— Isak!
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He turned his head.
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Mary ran toward him.
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— You disappeared again!
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Carla followed behind her, calm as always.
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— You always do this.
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Isak shrugged.
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— I was exploring.
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Mary crossed her arms.
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— You're strong… so why are you in Class F?
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Silence.
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— I underestimated my opponent.
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— Got defeated quickly.
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Carla observed him.
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— That doesn't sound like you.
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Silence.
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Inside his mind—
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— I can't say it yet…
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Mary sighed.
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— That's why I say… don't underestimate your opponents.
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Carla nodded.
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— I agree.
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Isak simply replied:
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— I know.
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But his eyes…
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were still calculating.
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Meanwhile—
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Laylah and Marcos stood side by side, observing the city.
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The wind passed between them.
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Silence.
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Lucy spoke.
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Calm.
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— This memory…
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A brief pause.
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— is the moment when that girl reached Sequence 1.
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The air grew heavier.
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— Path of the Beast…
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She continued.
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— Black Dragon version.
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Silence.
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Laylah turned immediately.
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— …what do you mean?
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Marcos reacted as well.
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— The Black Dragon…
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He frowned.
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— is a girl?
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Lucy nodded slightly.
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— Yes.
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Silence.
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But she didn't stop.
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— And not only that.
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Her eyes grew deeper.
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— She had a master.
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The wind blew stronger.
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Laylah narrowed her eyes.
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— A master…?
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Lucy continued, calmly.
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— Someone who taught her…
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A pause.
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— how to control the power of the Beast Path.
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Silence.
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Marcos breathed more heavily.
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— So she wasn't born controlling it…
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— No.
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Lucy replied.
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— She learned.
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A brief pause.
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— She was guided.
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Silence.
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Laylah slowly crossed her arms.
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— And that master…?
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Lucy answered without changing her tone.
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— Abandoned her.
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The silence that followed—
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was heavier than anything before.
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The wind felt colder.
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Marcos looked toward the horizon.
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— That…
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he murmured.
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— explains a lot.
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Laylah didn't respond.
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But her eyes…
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had grown deeper.
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— A being that reaches Sequence 1…
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she spoke slowly.
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— carrying something like that…
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A pause.
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— doesn't get there without consequences.
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Silence.
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Lucy simply watched.
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— And that master…
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Marcos said.
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— who was he?
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Lucy didn't answer immediately.
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She only looked into the distance.
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Toward where—
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Remiel was.
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In another part of the memory—
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Remiel stood still.
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In front of her.
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The girl.
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And behind—
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the dragon.
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Massive.
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Ancient.
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Watching.
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Waiting.
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— So…
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Her voice echoed.
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— you really came back…
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Silence.
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Remiel observed her.
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Without emotion.
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— I don't remember you.
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A direct answer.
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Without hesitation.
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For a moment—
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the world seemed to distort.
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The girl tilted her head slightly.
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— …you don't remember?
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No sadness.
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Only curiosity.
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— Makes sense.
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She took a step forward.
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— You were always like this.
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Silence.
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Remiel kept analyzing.
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— You said…
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he spoke slowly.
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— that I taught you.
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The girl smiled faintly.
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— Not just taught.
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She raised her hand.
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The space behind her opened—
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And the dragon manifested more clearly.
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Black scales.
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Eyes like endless abysses.
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— You showed me… what I was.
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Silence.
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— I met you…
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she continued.
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— when I was still small.
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A slight distortion passed through the scene.
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— You told me I didn't need to fear it.
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A pause.
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— That monsters…
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Her eyes deepened.
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— are just names given by those who don't understand.
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Silence.
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Remiel closed his eyes briefly.
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Fragments.
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Chains.
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Darkness.
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And that presence—
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He opened his eyes again.
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— Even so…
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Calm.
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— I don't remember.
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The girl looked at him more carefully.
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— No.
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She murmured.
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— you didn't forget.
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Silence.
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— You were… deprived.
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The air grew denser.
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— That makes sense.
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She stepped closer.
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— After all…
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Her eyes glowed faintly.
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— you were too dangerous.
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Silence.
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Remiel remained still.
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But attentive.
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— So…
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he said.
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— you recognize me.
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She nodded.
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Without hesitation.
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— More than that.
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Silence.
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— I remember everything.
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The wind stopped.
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— You were the one who taught me.
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A pause.
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Her eyes met his.
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— My master.
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Remiel didn't respond.
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But his eyes…
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grew deeper.
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And for the first time—
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the past stopped being just a memory.
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And began…
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to become an answer.
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Remiel remained still.