My Duty
Nova was left on the floor in a daze.
『...Couldn't you.. Have saved her too?』[Nova]
His father stood there silently.
『...I...』[Solane]
『DAD!』[Nova]
Solane looked at his son, who had tears streaming down his face.
『How much… have you hidden from me all this time?!』[Nova]
Snot was beginning to leak from his nose.
『....Nova.』[Solane]
『I want to know the truth! About everything! Why do all these things happen to me?! Why did I awaken with such strong powers?! Why are you just acting like you didn't drop all of this stuff on me?!』[Nova]
His snot ran down to his chin, causing him to attempt to rub it away, only to smear it more.
Solane's voice filled with emotion.
『...My son...』[Solane]
『Dad…. Where is..』[Nova]
He snorted in an attempt to keep the snot from running all over him and his clothes.
『Where is mom? She's out there… isn't she?』[Nova]
Nova began bawling his eyes out.
Solane just knelt down and hugged his crying son.
『She is… Nova. It's… hard to say if she knows where we are, or how to get back to us… but she is out there, Nova.』[Solane]
Nova began to cry harder, despite the pain running throughout his body.
He raised his arms around his dad, continuing to cry until he went silent.
『...』[Solane]
After he went silent, Solane lightly pulled Nova away from him.
『You're still a child, aren't you… my son?』[Solane]
Nova was sound asleep, tired out from the battle and the encounter with his dad.
『...You must take care of your body better… and you're still penting up all of your emotions… aren't you?』[Solane]
He laid Nova down onto the ground slowly.
He hovered his fingers above Nova's chest before a green light began to glow at his fingertips and he drew the roman numeral for "3" on Nova's chest.
『Primora Ordain: Vindeca.』[Solane]
It engraved itself in his chest, before Solane stood up.
『The time will come where you find all of those answers and more, Nova.』[Solane]
He reached into a pocket on his vest and pulled out a photo.
Solane smiled at the photo, almost out of character.
On it was a picture of Solane piggy backing a much younger Nova.
『I wonder if we'll get a chance to get an updated family photo sometime in the future...』[Solane]
He put the photo back and returned his face to a more serious one.
…..
Reagan and Raina sprinted through the wasteland of the former city.
『How long has it been?!』[Reagan]
『More than half an hour, but I think… I see someone!』[Raina]
Standing still was a mysterious figure amidst a small cloud of dust.
『Is that…?』[Reagan]
Once they got closer, the figure was revealed to have long white hair and an eye striking red and black military uniform, along with a cape that enveloped his entire body.
『Senior?!』[Reagan]
Solane slowly turned around to face them.
『What happened to her?!』[Raina]
Solane stayed silent for a moment before he spoke in a bittersweet tone of voice.
『...She got away, and took the targets with her.』[Solane]
Reagan looked around for a bit, but couldn't find anyone else there.
『Di...Did you see a child…?』[Reagan]
Solane stared straight at Reagan with a bitter look.
『There was… a child?』[Solane]
Reagan immediately crumpled to the floor, with a face filled with despair.
『N,,,No… I've failed… another student?』[Reagan]
Tears began to well up in his eyes, threatening to spill over.
『...A student? Oh.』[Solane]
Solane raised his arm up, pulling the cape with him.
Resting underneath his cape was Nova, who was being held up by Solane.
Reagan suddenly looked up with a look of shock.
『O..Oh god...』[Reagan]
Raina quickly pulled Reagan up, allowing him to rush to Nova's side.
『T..Tha...Thank god...』[Reagan]
Reagan grabbed onto Nova's shoulder, checking his pulse with his other hand.
『Here.』[Solane]
Solane pawned Nova off on Reagan.
『This mission has been a failure. I will report it. Don't worry about any debriefing, just take care of him and the students south of here.』[Solane]
Reagan sobbed while being comforted by Raina.
『Thank… god… Thank you… Senior…!』[Reagan]
He looked back at them as he took out a magical tool similar to the one Anri used to teleport all those nights ago.
『...Of course. It's my duty.』[Solane]
He twisted it before placing it on the ground and disappearing.
…..