Chapter 16: One way part 2

Nina's eyes locked onto her grandmother's, her expression a mix of disbelief and anguish. "Kill Alex? You mean, my friend Alex?" She couldn't help but feel a pang of disbelief and heartache at the thought.

The old woman's gaze softened, and she reached out to hold Nina's hand. "I know, dear. It's not an easy thing to accept or consider. But Alex, is the same companion we fought against. He carries the beliefs and convictions that caused our conflict in the first place. This cycle will continue until one of you breaks it. Until one of you dies"

Nina pulled away from her grandmother, her heart raced, torn between the love and loyalty she felt for Alex and the overwhelming responsibility that now lay upon her shoulders. "But is there no other way? Can't we find a solution that doesn't involve killing him?"

Her grandmother's voice was tender yet firm. "Nina, I've spent lifetimes searching for an alternative, but the loop remains unbroken. The dimensions are still unstable, and the realms are at risk of collapsing into chaos once again. This is not a decision I arrived at lightly, Nina. But it's a choice that must be made to end the cycle."

Nina's thoughts swirled as she grappled with the enormity of the situation. "Tha- I can't... What you're asking me to do is-!". The idea of taking a life, even to prevent a destructive cycle, weighed heavily on her conscience.

Her grandmother continued, "You don't understand, Nina. You possess the qualities that could break this cycle by destroying it completely, you can create a new realm a new Alex."

"There is no other Alex!" She Yelled. "He was like a grandchild to you, and you want to kill him?"

I understand, i was in this very same situation and I also argued with myself after the fact but it is the only way. Please, understand."

Tears welled up in Nina's eyes as she looked at her grandmother, torn between the love for her family and the friendship she held dear. "I need time to think, about all of this..."

The old woman nodded. "Of course, take the time you need. Just remember, Nina, that the fate of the realms rests on this decision.

As she stumbled away from the old woman, she found herself in a secluded part of the dimension they were in. The surreal landscape seemed to mirror the chaos within her heart. She leaned against a gnarled tree, her mind replaying the conversation she had just had. The words "kill Alex" echoed like a haunting refrain.

The memories of their shared experiences, the laughter, the challenges they had faced together—all of it now seemed tangled in a web of uncertainty. She thought about the times they had supported each other, the trust they had built. Could she really bring herself to end his life, even if it meant preventing further destruction?

As Nina struggled with her emotions, a soft voice reached her ears. "Nina..." It was Alex, his voice laced with concern. He had followed her to this secluded spot.

She turned to face him, her eyes red from tears held back. "Alex," she whispered, her voice trembling. She wanted to tell him everything, to unburden herself, but the weight of the truth felt too heavy to share.

Alex stepped closer, he was angry enraged even, but the tears he saw on her face replaced that rage with worry. "Nina?"