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'In our lives, we go through many choices, big and small.'

You call it duty. I prefer to call it my choice. This is who I am.

Right then. You're a trained fighter who won't walk into a knife. Well, things are about to get real this time. Don't get mad.

I have nothing but sincere gratitude towards you, Narantuya.

I need not fear a duel with you.

I didn't dare believe my heart, because I had made an oath to my family... about blood and violence, about war being the most just form of violation.

But you've shown me how resolved the heart can be.

Perhaps there is something to be said about the convictions of the Sargonians. My choices make me who I am. From this day—

—Hey, wait for me to finish!

Her vision goes black.

A black blade fan sweeps past her eyes. She blinks just once, but the only light source has already gone out.

She knows that Narantuya has two black knives. They are equipped with special mechanisms and cannot be unsheathed directly.

Yet in that instant, all she recalls is the Kuranta Elders known as the Nightzmora—renowned for their relentless marching day and night, devouring the sun at high noon.

She charges at where her counterpart should be, relying on her memory—

—And comes up empty.

A little sleight of sand, a simple mirage of Originium Arts.

Who said anything about winning the fight? All I need to do is jump first.

Embraced by darkness and illusion, Narantuya takes a step back.

Wait, Narantuya! This is not a fair duel!

Another silver medal for you.

Are you serious, Zubayr?

You're instructing me to attack you, and moving like the wind at the same time.

Give up, Pepe. I told you, it's futile.

You can never touch me, no matter how hard you swing that hammer of yours.

Hmph, I'll show you!

Are you trying to break the support beams to limit my movements?

Again, it's futile.

The broken columns and floor are quickly repaired by sand, leaving no trace of damage.

Pepe goes through illusion after illusion, seeking Zubayr.

Whenever she catches a glimpse, however, he soon disappears behind more illusions and is once again nowhere to be seen.

Focus, Pepe.

Did you know, Zubayr?

Before I turned fourteen, the doctors said I was a frail girl who would never lift a heavy hammer like this.

Quite the difference, the way you're swinging it, despite your diminutive figure.

I trained under Sargon's top strongman so that I could penetrate the deserts and jungles, and discover long-lost ancient ruins.

By the age of seventeen, I could cross the vast desert on my own, and fight off a dozen bandits at the same time.

That alone is not enough, Pepe.

I'm not trying to prove myself to you.

I'm just telling you, there has never been anything I couldn't do, if I put my mind to it.

No matter how hard, how out of reach... as long as I mean it...

I can do it!

You hold this impression because you have only lived twenty-two years.

I had cut down countless foes with my sword when I fought under my father's banner.

Their screams filled me with confidence. I believed that there was nothing I couldn't acquire, nothing I couldn't do, given enough time.

Little did I know, that my greatest enemy... was time itself!

A golden flash, and Pepe feels an intense pain from her ankle before she could turn around.

The staff is much heavier than expected.

You must be faster, Pepe.

It is etched upon my gem circuit that everyone who violates my father's tomb must die.

Your attacks have begun to anger it.

It is urging me to put an end to it all.

You should not have played this game with me, Zubayr.

This is not a game, Pepe.

No, it is...

You closed your eyes?

Nothing but darkness. Pepe knows that her eyes aren't fast enough and will only hold her back.

She could never catch her agile brother when playing hide-and-seek in the garden. He was like a slippery fin.

Until one day, she closed her eyes, and realized she could hear every footstep her brother made on the stone tiles.

'I'm ready, sis! Come look for me!'

He's right behind me...

'Why aren't you coming?'

If I turn around quick enough...

'Why did you close your eyes? Are you admitting defeat?'

I can catch him.

Mustering all her might, Pepe turns and swings her hammer. Sure enough, she hears the sound of shattering.

Pepe opens her eyes and sees Zubayr's sistrum, inches away from breaking her neck in half.

Meanwhile, her hammer is pressed against Zubayr's chest, leaving a long crack in the gem on his chest.

Congratulations, Pepe...

You did it.

I could never beat my big sister when we played hide-and-seek. Some things never change, even after so many centuries.

The gem on your chest...

This time... I think it's beyond repair.

What will happen to you if it's completely shattered?

Eternal peace.

You'll die.

Yes... I will.

As your ancestor, may I ask a favor of you, Pepe?

What favor?

Can you take me into that gem?

It's hollow? I thought it was just decorative.

No, there is something there that belongs to me, and me alone.

Thanks to them, I could say that all the years I spent guarding this place were not entirely for the sake of others.

Some of those days belonged to me.

I'll help you up...

Careful, Pepe, this vessel is heavy. But I'll be free of it soon.

Yes, stand beneath it.

Pepe helps Zubayr into the middle of the hall, underneath the massive gem.

Light and shadows dance, as the massive gem draws all the illumination in the room towards its base, converging at its tip.

Though it should be blinding, Pepe feels like she is being wrapped in warm, gentle currents.

I see it, young Nightzmora. This is your own dream.

Go forward.

...Huh?

This feels familiar... as if the beckbeast is stepping on my head again.

—Hmm?

Hey, Anat, where am I? Aspasia, do you hear me?

...Should have known. The comm's broken.

She sits up underneath a black beckbeast statue. The sound of water flowing echoes through the empty hall.

A massive crystal hangs from the dome, and its light reveals numerous images of people, like reflections in water.

Isn't that the shadow I was chasing by the river the other night?

Are these shadows what the people of the city see, year after year?