Глава 16

Endure, and share, other pain, only leads to death now.

Do we endure... for nothing?

Desire anything, and you will only sin. Your suffering soul needs eternal peace.

Come, child. Come into my embrace.

...Did you forgive too?

I forgave.

We must accept the life that Ursus has granted, as we accept the death that Ursus has granted. We must not choose. We must not struggle.

Did you forgive? For killing mom, and dad... your own, child.

Yes, I forgive.

'I forgive'?

No...

Then... no.

You're not Babushka Nadia.

Babushka wouldn't, forgive like this. Not forgive for peace.

She won't forgive. She won't endure. She's dead... buried.

You're not her.

I am.

I am—

I am?

■■, submit to ■■...

Or... ■■ destruction.

Step back, Vetochki!

Sh-She's not! She's not, Babushka Nadia.

No, she's not.

But if, she's not, babushka...

Who is she?

The light of Arts floats around Mantra. She has made the foe reveal its true colors.

But it is not yet over. She must continue to build a barrier in the cognitive space, to isolate herself and the entity before her from other people.

In the meantime, she continues to communicate the truth.

'Yurodstvo.'

This is the Yurodstvo that you asked about. It is a demonic creation that has been given this name.

Perhaps it was once human. Now, it is a far cry from the concept of human.

I don't understand...

You don't have to.

I never understood its true nature, even though there was a chance, however minute, that I might have become it.

You saw it at the wrong time and called to it. That's all.

The wrong time?

So... it was wrong, from the beginning?

It's not your fault, Vetochki.

I'll take over from here.

Using Originium Arts is not the hard part of the combat.

Red and black mist fill the air. The white silhouette within does not speak or move, not even the fringes of its clothes.

It does not dodge or fight back, simply existing there in silence, allowing the barriers around it to wither away.

A void, a vortex that devours everything.

You are...

The scenes in the cognitive realm continue to flicker. They return to where they began.

A wilderness of unknown name or location. One could call it—

Sargon.

Why... why would this happen...?

Catastrophe has destroyed our home, why must war take our lives as well?

Padishah, silent and wise...

Hear my prayer, and comfort...

My pain.

...Futile.

Search as you might in my consciousness, you will never create a vision that makes me choose to sleep in the void.

You ■■... Padishah.

A Padishah. This is your past.

Your people sought comfort from you, but you would not even grant them an illusion, though it would have taken you little effort.

It's not comfort, it's just a lie.

A sweet dream cannot shaken the ancient, corrupt royalty.

I left that place, fled of my own accord.

Indeed, you are not shaken.

Your voice...

You cannot become the source of the voice, Yurodstvo. You cannot become... 'me'.

Because I cannot speak, and because you're simply—

'An Echo.'

'People see in me the reflection of their perception and expectation.'

That's how you come to be.

But to you, and to my own folly...

I have no expectation.

You are strong...

You have not been tried or baptized, yet you wield power almost the same as mine.

Yet you have neglected your power, this gift... you should have used it to proselytize and lead your people.

What made you leave your palace? What made you give up on power and become weak?

I realized...

Knowledge is more lasting than authority. The truth is stronger than lies.

And you...

You have spurred them onto a path of destruction, to die upon this frozen soil.

Why?

Soft laughter ripples through the air.

It is revelation. It is ■■. It is proselytization. It is sacrifice.

The land is about to undergo drastic changes. Those who are not strong will be destroyed.

Therefore, I nurtured a spark, making it strong, making it spread.

It will burn all that is impure, and all shall be born again within.

Mantra is certain she can kill it. In the realm of the mind, it will take little more effort than snuffing out a candle.

But what will killing it do? She is unsure. Besides, is there victory to be gained when your foe never engaged?

Stop wasting time, Yurodstvo.

Cease your influence on the people here, and let them leave with me.

Otherwise, Ursus will soon need a new Yurodstvo.

No... no...

Your past is thick and long, ■■.

But it must be there, somewhere...

Your pain, the pain that you ■■ hide from...

'Accept it.'

There was no time for Mantra to react. A split second of hesitation is enough to cause a crack in the cognitive realm that she used all her strength to maintain.

She realizes her error almost instantly, but countless responses are already coming from outside the realm.

I accept.

I... I accept.

I accept. I have long accepted.

I can eat straw, moss, drink snow water with gravel mixed in, until my stomach is full, and I shall not hunger. Not anymore.