We Need to Talk

"Stacy! Stacy, can you hear me?!"

Amber spoke urgently into her communication conch, but only heavy magical static echoed back.

Where are you, girl? Amber thought, her brow furrowing with deep worry.

After a tense moment, the artifact crackled to life, and Stacy’s voice vibrated through the shell. "Ma-n-ster..."

"Stacy! What is the situation? Where is the monster?" Amber demanded.

"Master... he is just sitting here," Stacy whispered quickly. "He is doing nothing."

"Who is? Who is sitting with you?"

"A white-haired guy came into the cave," Stacy reported, her voice trembling slightly. "He is just sitting down now. He asked for some water... and I gave it to him."

Inside Toshio’s cabin, everyone went completely still with shock. The main party had gathered in the lower berth to update the recovering salaryman on Nero's whereabouts, but the news left them utterly baffled.

The heavy oak door was securely locked from the inside to keep the patient safe. Near the corner cot, Lily and Kara were still fast asleep, completely drained from their continuous battles. 

Luck sat vigilantly near the door alongside Suzuki and the bard Zale, their hands resting on their weapons. Goddess Seya was up on the main deck assisting Captain Cassy with the ship's navigation runes, leaving only Amber and Millie standing by Toshio’s bedside.

Toshio sat up slowly, the phantom ache of the jagged scar across his waist finally beginning to subside as his vitality stabilized. He looked up at the Grand Mage. "What do we do now?"

"I do not know," Amber admitted, leaning against the bed. "He was part of your soul. What do you think his motives are?"

Toshio stared down at his hands, his expression returning to his legendary deadpan. 

"I think he knows something. Something important... something I have forgotten."

He glanced down at the watch on his wrist. According to the ship's current speed, the Sky Princess would reach the Warground's cave in exactly twenty minutes.

"We don't need to wake up Lily and Kara," Toshio said firmly, "Keep the sky fortress floating at a safe altitude. Only me, you, Goddess Seya, and..."

"And me," Luck interrupted, standing up abruptly and drawing his steel blade with a sharp ring. 

"I am coming with you."

Toshio looked at the young hero for a brief second before nodding. 

"Very well. The rest of you will remain on board the vessel. Agreed?"

"Agreed," Suzuki and Zale hummed in unison, their expressions grim but understanding.

Twenty minutes later, the Sky Princess halted silently above the desolate Warground.

"I know it's not exactly same, but I had this in my cabin." Cassy gave Toshio a blue suit, similar to Earth's. It was given to only the high level merchants.

This feels good, comfortable. Toshio did a proper bow to thank the Captain and the ship.

Toshio descended from the boarding deck, riding a large, glowing magical leaf summoned by Amber's wind attributes. Beside them, Goddess Seya and Luck floated downward, their descents cushioned by a synchronized wind spell.

At last, the four of them landed on the jagged terrain outside the entrance of the giant, dead stone troll cavern. This was the ancient tomb where the twelve floating gemstones resided.

They drew their weapons and stepped through the threshold, their muscles tense and ready to engage in a catastrophic clash of high-tier magic.

But as they went inside the cavity of the eye, the scene that met their eyes was completely bizarre.

There was no battle. Nero, now permanently using the pale, white-haired body of the fallen Hero Jean was simply sitting calmly on a smooth piece of stone table. He was quietly drinking a cup of hot tea with Stacy.

Stacy was shaking like a frightened puppy. The moment she spotted her master breaking through the cavern entryway, she bolted out of her seat and ran straight toward them.

"Did he harm you??" Amber asked instantly, throwing her arm out protectively to shield her disciple.

Nero didn't even bother to open his eyes. He slowly lifted his teacup, taking a quiet sip.

"No, no..." Stacy stammered, clutching Amber's robes. "I was just worried about where you were. He hasn't spoken a single word to me after asking for water and tea."

"Understood. Go outside and retreat back onto the sky fortress," Amber ordered her disciple firmly.

Goddess Seya stepped forward, gently laying a hand on Amber's shoulder. "You should accompany her, Amber. Leave them alone."

Amber’s eyes widened in disbelief. 

"Why me?! What if this white demon attempts to use some terrible sorcery upon Sir Toshio?!"

"He won't," Goddess Seya said softly but firmly. Without waiting for a response, the goddess actively dragged the protesting Grand Mage out of the cavern, signaling for Luck to guard the outside.

The stone chamber fell into absolute silence.

Toshio Tanaka was left completely alone with his other self : 

A physical mirror of his past, a faint mirage of a brother, though which one was the true reality, neither could truly tell.

Nero finally lowered his teacup. The liquid swirled silently within the ceramic.

"Sit down," Nero spoke, his voice echoing off the ancient stone walls, entirely devoid of malice. "We do not have much time."

With a slow gesture of his pale hand, he pushed a second, steaming teacup across the stone surface toward the empty seat.

It's time for our final meeting, huh? he thought to himself.

Nero looked up, his black eyes fixing onto Toshio's face. "Let us talk."