"Honestly, I don't really feel like helping you.I've already understood you're not entirely selfless—but not exactly an ally either."
"Lahayayaya. You're not wrong on that particular point.That said, I must warn you—the others won't be as lenient toward your mere presence."
"But what exactly would you want me to do for you?"
The strangest thing was that the words escaped mewithout my control—my frankness shamed me before such a being.
"Simply to travel with my gift."
"Your gift?"
ㅤ
He pulled out a mysterious boxfrom the palm of his right hand.
ㅤ
At first glance,it seemed more like a puzzlethan a box with a lock.
"I want you to keep this little box for me—as a token of friendship.You'll never have to seek how to open it.It will do so on its own,when the time comes."
"I just have to keep it with me?"
"Exactly. Nothing more."
ㅤ
Then it came into my hands—and vanished.
And a whisper followed:
"The rest is up to you.Choice is but a glimpse of freedom.First will come, of course,what you decide to do with the boy who betrayed you."
"It was a pleasure to meet you, Mär.I hope you'll find your pathwithout losing your newfound faith."
Then he began to walk again—vertically, toward the ceiling door.Bellian watched him warilyas his wounds stopped bleeding.I could feel he wanted to shout his thoughts aloud—but, once again, he did nothing.
ㅤ
Just before Ün Lattias disappeared,a thought crossed my mind—and it was as if he had already predicted it.
"By the way."
"?"
"I'll give you another gift,"he declared,looking straight into my eyes despite the distance."Consider this a foretasteof what you'll gain in exchange for your sacrifices—by rooting yourself ever deeper in this labyrinth."
ㅤ
Without moving a single finger—in perfect confusion,beyond all we could conceive—images, sounds, almost scentsappeared before us.It was beyond understanding—beyond the simple act of witnessing.It was pure release—the surrender to the fantastic.
ㅤ
The sound of a wave,
the sight of a bridge,
the imprint on the retina of a blue—of a vast red,of an endless horizon.
ㅤㅤ
A pale pink,
another heartbeat,
suspended cages.
ㅤ
The silhouette of an emerald palace,
the cry of a bird,
golden roots stretching up to a throne...
The shadow of a sword.
ㅤ
An impossible space,
indescribable,
frescoes raining from above…
ㅤㅤ
A book?
A tomb?
A smile.
ㅤㅤ
The silhouette of a man—a horned creature—slumped against the wallof a grimy, decrepit corridor?
ㅤ
He points with his fin—
No...?
He's motioning me t-to come?
ㅤ
"Who knows—perhaps you'll even find session beyond the Wall of the Garden."
Tears welled in my eyes—flowing freely,suspended in the echoof what little still remained of that vision.
"Mad is the one who claims to know everything.King is he who declares he knows nothing.In this place—in this Tunnel—nothing can be read,nothing can be conquered.It can grant anything,make any wish possible—but also take everything away.It intertwines stories,adores tragedies—the bittersweet.This land is alive,but bears no name—defined only by those who dare to believe."
"No name?"
"Mär."
ㅤ
Then he vanished without a sound—leaving in the air a meaningful silence,a sweet fragrance,and a noise now forever engravedin both our minds.At least, until its threadssuccumb to the distanceand close the way once more.
ㅤ
"Welcome to the Nameless Earth."
ㅤㅤ
▌ ▍▎▏
ㅤ
"Where two forms of love secretly freeze, before infinity.Tears and cries will cease at the dawn of a third."
Those were your final words to me.
ㅤ
D oooo ooooo oooooo oooo I I I N G
Hmpf.
For so long, I believed I could follow in your steps.
ㅤ
D oooo ooooo oooooo oooo I I I N G
When in truth,I've only ever walked in your shadow.You—who already knew everything.
ㅤ
D oooo ooooo oooooo oooo I I I N G
ㅤ
Neither of us had the strengthto shatter the vision.I think those images—unless they one day come true—will never again be spoken of.
Not because we feared them,nor because we were incapable of facing them—but simply because,without words,we both understood they were truthsto be buried deep within ourselves—to move forward.
Enough to believe.
And for me—enough to understand.