Chapter 21:
Harmonic Distortions!
ACT III: [MERGE]
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The first voice was not present with them now.
The space squeezed tenser around the remaining two.
The second voice was the first to articulate. “The distortion is accelerating, it cannot be contained much longer.”
A pause stretched before the third voice responded, “We cannot let it happen. If the Variable is caught in this, if they’re erased—”
“We cannot intervene,” the second voice interrupted. “We were never meant to.”
“So we’re supposed to just stand by? Pretend none of this matters? This is a life we’re talking about.”
The second voice stayed quiet for a moment, the sadness gave way to a renewed composure.
“Our directive is only to observe. We can’t. Sorry.”
“You keep saying that,” the third voice snapped. “Like it’s some holy commandment. But what about them? What about their choice?”
The second voice was barely audible. “The system is older than choice,” it said. “Older than any of us. Older than the cosmos.”
“I don’t care if it’s inevitable. I don’t care if it’s the system.”
The third voice trembled with rage. “We should intervene. We have to. We’re not powerless… if we can see this happening, if we understand it, then we should stop it. We’re meant to protect them, not let them be erased like… like this!”
The second voice adjusted. Not defensive, only tired. “To act now would only warp what little remains. The Anchor has already attached itself. Even if we were to intervene, there is nothing further we can do.”
“So… we let them fade then? That’s it? Stand idly by and let her erase Variable?”
“Say—”
The second voice began, but was cut off by the third. “If the purpose is to observe the death of you’re friend, then what was the point? We are supposed to protect what exists. And if not, we have failed. Failed at our duty.”
There was a silence within the space. Nothing pulsed, nothing moved.
“I—I can’t. I’m sorry.” The second voice whispered in defeat.
“Fine,” the third voice added in final contempt. “Then I’ll watch. But I won’t forget. I won’t forget that you chose to do nothing.”
The second voice didn’t respond. Not in thought, nor in vibration.
There was nothing left to say.
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