Chapter 252,That String that Bound Him Here

"Is Arata still human? Right now?" William asked.

"William why are you asking that?" Siel asked.

"Because according to Fatum, Arata accessed the Memories of Fate, and he had to forfeit his humanity for that." William answered. "Arata wanted to stay human because he was afraid to say goodbye. He didn't want to watch us all grow old and die while he lived on. Isn't that right Arata?"

Arata simply looked down and didn't answer William's question. As if his silence was enough to answer.

"He thought that between eternity by himself, he would have done something else. With the Primordial Magic of One." William stated and Arata immediately looked up at him. "Don't think I didn't know you were looking into it. The power to give up your life to change fate... Had you lost your humanity then and there, you would've used that spell to drive the Catastrophe away inexchange for your own life."

Arata stayed silent and William sighed, holding his head.

"You brat. So, is Arata still human or not?" William asked Fatum again. "Felicia said that the Seed of Fate sprouting turned them immortal, so has the Seed in Arata sprouted?"

"No. Since Arata didn't activate the spell to drive away the Catastrophe, the Seed inside him hasn't sprouted." Fatum stated with a smile and William breathed a breath of relief. "And it never will."

"What do you mean?" Arata asked, puzzled by Fatum's statement.

"If Arata can go to the First World to the Primis Orbis and make contact with the real Tree of Origin, the tree will absorb the Seed inside Arata and purify the Harbingers, also restoring the First World." She answered with a smile. "And even if the Seed sprouted, Arata did you forget? I've engraved it within your heart, the spell to release the Ancients from the Curse of Eternity."

"That spell... It would also work on me?" Arata asked.

"Of course it would, so there was literally no way you would become immortal forever. Even if it was only briefly, you would become immortal but with the Primordial Magic engraved into the Coffin of Fate and in your heart, you could've just returned to being human." Fatum replied with a smile.

Arata slumps to the ground and his face turns bright red with embarrassment.

"I wish you had stated that earlier! Then I wouldn't have had to go through that ordeal of fear!!" Arata shouted in embarrassment. "I'm so embarrassed I could die!!"

"My... I think it was better that I didn't tell you. After all, because of that you were able to come back here." Fatum stated and Arata raised his eyebrow in question. "Once one enters the Coffin of Fate, they would normally be unable to come out of the Coffin. Unless, something was binding them to this world."

"So, in other words, because I was hesitant to leave William and the others, I was able to come back?" Arata asked and Fatum smiled.

"Now, enough about that, let us focus on what we should be doing." Fatum stated.

"Arata has to go to the Primis Orbis so that the Seed inside him can be removed correct? And to purify and save the Harbingers." Felicia stated. "But first, we have to open the bridge there."

"And you must also defend the Sidus Pontem." Fatum stated. "When the Boundary is opened, the Storm of Calamity will send down calamities upon this world and Fingers will attempt to attack all who are at the Gate."

"So, someone has to defend this place." Leno stated.

"Specifically the Sidus Pontem, should it be destroyed, Arata will have no way to return to this world." Fatum stated.

"Then we'll just have to defend this place." Leon stated with a smile. "So, go ahead and go Arata. We'll definitely defend this world, so you have to promise us. You'll come back, safe and sound."

"Leon... You're saying it as if you're sure I'm going." Arata stated and the others laughed.

"It's you Arata, we know you're going whether we stop you or not. So instead of stopping you, we'll support you." Theo stated. "So, just promise us you'll come back safe and sound."

"I promise." Arata stated and just then Fatum coughed as if trying to get their attention.

"The Five Called Walkers and the Sacred Blades are all capable of crossing to the First World." She stated and the Braves smiled.

"Of course we are. Even if you said we weren't able to go there, we'd find a way. Even if it meant crawling there, we'd definitely follow Arata there." Zhen stated with a grin. "Because, where Arata goes, we'll definitely follow him."

"So, now that it's settled, we just need to prepare." William stated. "When do we depart?"

"It'll take some time to open the Gate to the Primis Orbis. Can you give us a few hours...?" Felicia asked.

"That's more than enough time." Fatum smiled as her body began to blur. "It seems my Vestige is losing power. Arata, I shall await you, at the place where my real body sleeps. At the Tree of Origin, where everything began."

With her words hanging in the air, Fatum disappears and the Ancients turn to Arata with a smile.

"We'll handle the preparations, so for now, why don't you and the Braves rest up. The hardest part is just about to begin after all." Ros stated as he patted Arata's head. "Let's begin, Velti help me with the preparations. You as well, Lemianile."

"Why don't we all get some rest? There should be beds somewhere here." Arata tried to lighten the mood but the Braves simply laughed and chuckled. "Eh? Did I say something funny?"

"Arata, do you really think we'll sleep in our current state?" Seiji asked and Arata realized that while the Braves were exhausted, battered or wounded, they were all alert and vigilant, not lowering their guard. "We can't exactly calm down and just relax now can we? Not when you're going off again, to a place we have no idea what's waiting for you."

"We're going to help with the preparations too, so why don't you get some rest or go out and take a walk to talk with the others?" Monica smiled and pushed Arata out the door.

"Eh? Wait a moment.." Before Arata could say anything he was shoved out the door with the Eight Braves and the simply chuckled.

"Well, why don't we go? Let's go and talk, as we walk beneath the light of the stars." Alexis smiled and held out his hand to Arata and with a smile, Arata also took his hand.