Illusion?

--- Riveria's POV ---

I must admit, worry crept into my mind. The Captain's injuries came too easily, and I knew that if we weren't careful, the rest of us would end up in the same predicament. Ren's focus on Zero brought about a flurry of injuries, even though our adversaries weren't supposed to be that formidable.

But what troubled me the most was Ais. She single-handedly dispatched numerous enemies, yet I couldn't see a scratch on her. It was perplexing, even considering her training under Ren. There had to be a logical explanation for this.

As I pondered, it dawned on me—had she not used her Ariel at all? It seemed like an eternity since I witnessed her employ any other skill apart from her sword. It felt odd for Ais to fight without drawing upon her full range of abilities, especially in such a serious situation.

I couldn't help but study her closely, so much so that I ended up injuring myself further. However, I paid no heed to my wounds; my focus was on finding answers. I glanced at Ren, but his attention wasn't on Ais—it was like he was merely putting on a show for his enemy.

At that moment, I made a decision. I chose to trust Ren, no longer allowing my gaze to follow Ais.

The events unfolded as described, and I did my best to make sense of the chaos. Even for someone like me, the sight of that explosion left me anxious. The sheer power behind it could pulverize even individuals with extreme magic resistance, and Ais wouldn't be able to survive unscathed either.

Yet, the most surprising part was Lefiya's sudden appearance. It was as if she had teleported across a vast distance in a mere second. Questions swirled in my mind, but for now, I needed answers to her worried inquiries about Ais' well-being.

Doubts about Ren's intentions were discarded; I knew he would never knowingly put Ais at risk. However, the depth of our trust had its limits. We hadn't spent enough time together for me to place absolute faith in him.

"Ais, you can come out now," Ren called out calmly.

And there she was, the blonde-haired girl we had frantically searched for, standing near him as if nothing extraordinary had occurred. It bewildered me even further.

"I-Impossible, Impossible..." mumbled the individual I identified as Dix, the captain of the Ikelos Familia, his words broken and his confusion evident.

"Why should it be impossible? Now, it's time to extract some information... You guys can handle the rest but remain vigilant. If anyone suddenly stops moving, they might try to pull off what they just did, so be wary. Explanations will have to wait for later."

Ren's calm demeanor was unsettling, but seeing Ais unharmed brought some relief. Yet, this incident made it clear that any place outside Orario might not be safe from now on. For a moment, my thoughts wandered to the Elven Forest, the place where my race resides. Despite no longer being affiliated with them, residual concerns remained.

Once we dealt with the immediate threat, I knew I'd have to ponder the implications of this incident more deeply.

--- Ren's POV - 200 Years before winning against the Honorary Harmonic Elder ---

"You sure know your stuff around illusions, little guy. Still, it's not enough to deal with me," his taunting words lingered in my mind.

How did he manage to see through my illusions so effortlessly, even when his mind was under the influence of the most brutal and mind-breaking abilities I could muster?

"Then...what should I do?" My mind cleared briefly, and I found myself uttering those words. I yearned for strength, willing to speak, beg, and do anything to become stronger.

"You can fool many people with your illusions, but it won't work on those who possess divinity within them. You must also be aware of our history thus far. Did you believe they had nothing to do with our reduced strength...? Your ability won't work against them."

His words were direct, sparing no niceties.

"To make it so even they can't see through your illusions, you must make them look so real they will have to become real."

It was a new concept, one that seemed hard to imagine. To stack so many 'lies' on top of each other until they became the 'truth', making anything I pictured exist in the real world. The idea was breathtaking and beautiful, yet the execution would be a formidable challenge.

When I voiced my doubts, he merely laughed in response, infuriating me. My emotionless face contorted with rage.

"...Perhaps you should use that girl as your mode-"

My sword was already pointed at his throat before he could finish his sentence.

"I already answered that a long time ago. If she's merely a collection of pixels or an illusion, it holds no meaning. I will never use her like that."

He didn't take my threat seriously, brushing the tip of my sword away with a single finger.

"No need to point that thing at me. Currently, you won't be able to defeat me, even if you use it."

It was a bitter truth, one I didn't want to accept. Why did this Honorary Harmonic Elder have to be so incredibly strong?

"...Also, if one day they come at you, how will you defend her from them? Do you think your current self is capable of dealing with a God?"

One thing led to another, and I actually divulged to him what my real aim was. He was my enemy, but he was also the only friend I made in this life.

I did not need friends, but I needed his guidance, and claiming our strengths were not that different, he chose for us to be friends...

What a strange man.

"I will use anything to protect her, even if it means going against my own principles..."

---

Author's Note:

I believe it was necessary to explain a bit more regarding this moment in time, but as I did not want to create unnecessary confusion, I properly explain the POV was of the past. Do you think it's a good choice or should I try to make it obvious by reading it?