Chatper-2 Game Of Fate

"This necklace is awful!" A younger Mera hissed at Aaron, holding his gift to her as if it were something vile. "What made you even think I'd like something like this!?" Aaron flinched back, worry etched on his face.

"I-I thought... I saw you looking at it the other day and-" his stuttering dissolved into mumbles, leaving the boy anxiously gripping his side. "Just because I looked at it doesn't mean I want it! And it's Valentine's Day, I thought you'd take me to dinner! And you spend your money on this instead!?" Her grip easily broke the links of the necklace, causing the crystal-themed heart icon to fall on the road.

"Argh," she groaned, bending down to pick up the heart. "Now look what you made me do." Aaron was shivering in his shoes, tears escaping his eyes as he could barely mutter an apology, "S-sorry..." But that didn't sit well with Mera. "Huh!? Are you crying? Why? Because your girlfriend is yelling at you?! Have some spine, dammit!"

Mera's words landed on the boy like a train, causing him to freeze for a solid minute to absorb the news. In the meantime, Mera swiftly pulled out her phone and began texting someone. "What..." the boy uttered, "you heard me. You've been nothing but a burden, honestly. I don't even know what I saw in you."

"Wait, please! I could do better, I swear!" The boy pleaded, only for Mera to sigh away his plea. "What do you mean by 'do better'?" She looked down at him, "aren't you barely getting by? You can't afford to pay for anything unless you save up. And those cheap takeouts won't cut it for me. I'm always the one who takes us anywhere fancy."

She continued to list each and every one of the boy's flaws, gradually breaking down his self-esteem in the process. By the end of it, Aaron could not retaliate, nor muster up any phrase back at her. His breathing became rigged, clearly a sign of panic.

"And for the record," Mera casually mentioned, her gaze not even meeting the boy's eyes, "I've found someone else. Way better than you'll ever be." The words stung, amplifying the excruciating pain a hundred times over. Aaron could only lower his head, his silent tears finally breaking into sobs. "Don't tell anyone we used to date when the new school year starts, you hear!?" Mera yelled as she walked away, her words echoing with a mix of anger and indifference.

'Why is this happening?'

"Excuse me, is your name Aaron Winters?" Turning around in his sobbing state, the boy was met with two police officers. "Y-yes?" He managed to utter an answer between his tears, "you're suspected for sexually assaulting Sara Vial. Please come along." The boy had no time to even talk back, as his hands were handcuffed, and he was dragged to a police station, his world shattering into pieces amid the accusation.

"Just admit it, you brat! You assaulted her at the train station and ran off into the crowd!" Aaron flinched at the yelling directed towards him, he had no idea why he was suspected, let alone what to say to defend himself. Sobbing was his only option, an instinctual response to the overwhelming accusations and confusion engulfing him. And a typical one at that, from him, atleast.

Hours of questioning day and night wore Aaron down, leaving him exhausted and emotionally drained. He was only let go to return to his home, where a not so welcoming family awaited him.

SLAP

"You bring such shame to the family on top of already being a disappointment!" His father's words cut deep, a painful reminder of his constant struggle for approval. His father was a spitting image of a two-faced individual, only acknowledging Aaron's existence when he came back with a perfect score in his tests. Obviously, that small affection faded to dust due to the recent accusations, leaving Aaron feeling even more isolated and misunderstood.

"Why did I even give birth to you?" His mother was not directly involved with him, only taking time out of her day to remind him that he had failed her. Of course, they'd add salt to the injury by comparing the boy to Mera of all people.

"She won multiple competitions again, why can't you do something like that?!"

"She tops you in your grades, are you even studying?!"

School was not a paradise either; the rumors of his supposed deeds gave everyone a solid reason to not just collectively hate the boy but actively harm him. From stealing his belongings to pushing him into a corner and beating him up, some cases resulted in Aaron being sent to a hospital. Each day became a battle for survival, with nowhere to turn for solace or safety.

Where is the law during all of this?

The authority of the school seemed indifferent during this time, prioritizing money and academic success over the well being of their students. Or rather, the well being of Aaron in particular.

Aaron's acceptance into the fancy private school is based solely on his intelligence left him vulnerable to the harsh realities of the social hierarchy. After all, money came first, and the boy was not there because he was paying.

Unlike Mera, Aaron only excelled at academics. Effectively, the free scholarship he earned worked against him now.

Soon enough, on the day of his eighteenth birthday, Aaron's family kicked him out without hesitation, as well as disown him to further ensure he wouldn't come back.

His grades declined.

His reputation in the dirt.

And his mind in shambles.

It only left him with a single choice.

"Hey, Mera." A blond, fit, and handsome boy called out to the girl, his emerald eyes scanning her figure as she rested on his shoulder. "Hmm?" She opened her eyes, sitting up straight on the bench and stretching briefly before responding.

"There's a rumor you used to date someone else," he said, taking a moment to stretch on his own, then running his hand over his hair to pull it back up, clearing his vision. "Uhhhh..." Mera truthfully saw no harm in telling her new boyfriend about her past. Yet, the late rumors could make her seem to lack judgment of people, which was her main value in choosing Felix as her new lover.

"Come on, Mera!" Serena cheered, urging her friend to be upfront about it. "She's right, you made a good choice by leaving him!" Claris followed. 'Well, I suppose if anything, it backs up my image.' That was Mera's initial thought, yet for some reason, she felt her heart skip a beat.

"It was that guy those rumors are going all about lately. I left before it happened, so I'm not sure if he did because of the break up." Although Mera expected a negative reaction from Felix, he wore an expression of genuine admiration. "Well, seems you made a good judgment to leave him. Doubt he'd be able to do anything to you, but I don't like the thought of it regardless."

Satisfied, Mera wore a smile as she relaxed back on the bench, joined by Claris and Serena. Amidst the casual atmosphere, Felix uttered a phrase Mera could never imagine hearing: "I wonder how Aaron is doing...."

'I never really saw things from his perspective, nor did I try to.'

'My parents never treated me like you'd expect a prodigy to be treated, rather than pin my life and every move, they gave me freedom. No expectations were placed on me. And in turn, I never experienced the burden of failing, because at the end of the day, I was being compared to Aaron.'

'He'd pale, and I'd shine whenever he was around me. Aaron was a prodigy of his own, yet all of his results came from hard work.'

'That is why, calling him a genius was hurting him. The day I confessed to him was the day I unknowingly glued him to that harsh reality.'

'My confession was genuine, yet everything else I've done was not.'

'I'm an awful person.'

'And because of that..... here you are..... dangling from the tree with a noose on your neck.'

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"How curious..."

In an unending void of black and white, a large crowd of people gathered in panic. All of which were either crying or demanding the nonchalant void to answer their question: why were they there?

Amidst the chaos, Aaron stood far off the crowd, his tie loosened, absently rubbing a scar around his neck, undoubtedly a remnant from a noose. Observing the crowd, he discerned a notable absence—he couldn't spot anyone younger than himself, all clad in the familiar school uniforms. Save for a few teachers from their school.

"I wasn't even near the school... yet here I am," he noted, rubbing his chin in thought. "Whatever this is, it must've been aimed at the school specifically." It could've been a mass kidnapping of students, which would make sense due to the affluent privileges every student had. Blackmailing their parents for a handsome fee each would make one the richest individual there is.

"I suppose they did not check for the origin of students, cause I am an absolute brokie" Opting for prudence, he inspected his valuables. Retrieving them from his inner pocket, he uncovered his phone and wallet. Upon powering up his phone, he was greeted with a discouraging "service unavailable" notification.

"Guess they messed with the phones too."

"Aaron!" A familiar voice pierced the air, calling out to him. Swiveling around, he spotted none other than the blond boy himself, Felix. "What's happening? Are you injured?" Felix's voice brimmed with concern as he rushed to Aaron's side. However, Aaron recoiled, swatting away Felix's outstretched arm.

Felix withdrew his arm, perplexity etched across his features, shock flickering in his eyes. "What...?" he murmured, taken aback by Aaron's reaction. "Don't approach me so casually, ya hear? I hate being touched." Aaron's words dripped with aggression, his tone sharp, intensifying Felix's bewilderment.

It was rather obvious why Aaron no longer regarded Felix as a friend. Felix remained unaware of Aaron's struggles following his downfall and showed no interest in reaching out or offering support. To make matters worse, Felix started dating Mera shortly after she broke Aaron's heart. Given these circumstances, Aaron's aggression was understandable.

"Hmmm?" Aaron's expression soured even more as he noticed Mera slowly making her way toward him. "Fantastic... just what I needed," he muttered under his breath. He absently scratched at his scar, attempting to alleviate some of the tension. The situation only worsened as Claris and Serena, two of the many individuals Aaron held in awful regards, followed closely behind Mera.

"What is this supposed to be, the 'We Hate Aaron Gathering'?"

Finally, a distraction seized the boy's attention. The sky ruptured like shattered glass, releasing black liquid that trickled down, coalescing into a flowing river of darkness. From this abyss emerged a silhouette, shaping itself into a stunning woman adorned in a red suit adorned with trinkets themed in black, white, and crimson flowers, with crimson reigning as the predominant hue.

Her hair complemented the color scheme, while her pale complexion provided a stark contrast for her bright red eyes to shine against the darkness.

The black liquids formed shape into a garden of flowers, encircling all the students. Strangely, panic dissipated in the presence of the flowers. Each student and teacher was touched by the flowers, except for one individual: Aaron.

"Welcome," her voice, though distant, reached the ears of every individual as if she stood beside them. With a gentle and calm demeanor, the lady bowed to the crowd, a sorrowful smile gracing her face.

"Forgive me for delivering this tragic news... None of you can return to your former lives," she informed them, her tone filled with sympathy.

"From this point onwards, you are all dead." Needless to say, panic began to spread once more.

Perhaps it was the woman's appearance, her beauty, or the enigmatic nature of the black liquids that drew attention. However, the boy found himself fixated on the woman, studying her every movement and breath.

'This feels wrong,' he thought to himself.

From an outsider's perspective, shocking one's self over anything other than the casual disregard for the laws of nature would be an idiotic thought. Before Aaron's eyes, the very fabric of reality was unraveling, with the lady wielding incomprehensible powers and delivering the grim message of his and everyone else's death. In such a situation, questioning the very reality of it all is the least one must do.

Yet, in the depths of his mind, the boy felt his nerves being overwhelmed by a sensation that surpasses instinctual urgency, compelling him to unravel an enigma he fails to spot with his distance.

"I can't be dead! I haven't even finished high school!"

"This must be a joke! It has to be!"

"Mom! Dad! Somebody, please!"

Desperate cries reverberated throughout the room, causing the boy to grit his teeth in annoyance. 'Everyone is so irritating,' he thought to himself. Glancing to his side, he caught a glimpse of Mera clutching her chest in panic, her breaths ragged. Claris and Serena offered her solace, yet they appeared to be equally distressed, if not more so.

"Oi... Aaron." Felix's voice broke through the chaos, drawing the boy's attention. Aaron observed Felix, noticing that despite his composure, fear still etched his face. "How can you stay so calm?" Felix questioned, gesturing towards Aaron's apparent lack of distress, as if fearing the answer.

"Hmm..." Aaron hummed to himself, his gaze unwavering as he fixated on the woman before them. "I suppose there isn't much for me to fear," he calmly replied, his voice steady amidst the cries of students and teachers.

As Aaron reflected, he couldn't recall any major misdeeds he had committed. He had either made amends or faced severe consequences for the minor ones. The panic around him seemed rooted in two reasons: many hadn't lived their lives to the fullest, and they dreaded what lay ahead.

Unlike the others, Aaron didn't fear judgment. If the next phase of this chaos involved meeting a deity and facing judgment, he reasoned that he could either end up in heaven or hell, depending on the deity's preferences for prayers and devotion. If he was destined for hell regardless, then none of it would matter, which is why fear felt pointless to him.

Perhaps that was why the black river didn't yield flowers for the boy; he did not seek solace. And as fate would have it, the woman had finally met his gaze, locking eyes with him.

And so, he approached her, drawing the attention of every person he passed until he stood face to face with the woman. The eye contact became the key to unlocking the strange feeling that had plagued him for the past minute. Towering over him, the woman looked down with a joyful smile, a stark contrast to her previous demeanor.

'Ah... so this is it,' he thought, finally grasping the strange sensation.

As he gazed at the woman, it was like looking into a mirror. To others, she appeared as a graceful deity in every aspect. But for those like Aaron, she was an open book. Her smile, her manner of breathing, her gaze towards the crowd—all felt unnaturally composed. It was a facade of grace designed not to further alarm the fragile people.

Just like him, just like Aaron, the woman exuded a sense of numbness; her eyes betrayed a near-lifeless quality that no amount of masking could conceal from him. And she could see his numbness as well. Putting on a facade of emotion became remarkably easy when one was emotionally numb to a certain extent, a skill both the boy and the woman possessed.

And when faced with someone who saw you so clearly, why bother hiding anything at all?

As the boy stood before her, he noticed a new smile grace the lady's lips—a genuine and contented curve, nothing less, nothing more. Perhaps, this was the true reason why the boy remained so relaxed; he could discern her intentions, and what lay ahead was what he anticipated with eagerness.

The boy smiled back. "So, what happens next?" he inquired. However, upon hearing his voice, the lady swiftly lost her glow as she turned to address the crowd. "Everyone, you all are given two options," she announced.

"One: You walk behind me and accept whatever judgment the gods lay upon you," she explained, her voice tinged with weariness. "However, I do not recommend this, as the gods ahead do not consider your lives of any significance. You may become toys to them, or worse, a form of... stress relief." Aaron immediately understood the implication of the latter option. He had no intention of accepting the first choice.

"The second option is to be simply sent to the next world, as intruders, that is," the lady continued, noticing the confusion among the crowd. Prompted by their bewilderment, she elaborated, "What I mean is simple. The majority of you were born and raised in privileged environments. As such, you may not fully comprehend this, so I shall explain it to you plainly."

"Your family's influence won't extend to this new world, your wealth holds no value, and shortcuts are non-existent. Here, you'll earn everything you need through hard work." Her voice hardened, "And let me be clear, you'll be considered 'intruders,' exempt from the laws that safeguard life."

The world stood against them, offering no advantages, cheats, or safety nets. Cut off from their families, hope crumbled to dust.

Just as panic threatened to consume them, the lady cast Aaron a mischievous smirk, accompanied by a wink, catching the attention of four specific individuals. "Does... Aaron know something we don't?" Claris quipped to her friends, the lady's possibly flirtatious gesture not escaping any of them. "Oi... I'm sure she wiggled her hip a bit when she turned away from him..." Serena landed yet another nail on the coffin.

"But there is one option available to you." The lady's smile commanded attention once more, though it seemed to harbor malice rather than solace this time around.

"You will all vote on who among you will be sacrificed. If the majority agrees on one person, that individual will be traded for a privilege," the lady declared, capturing Aaron's attention. Intrigued, he questioned her, "What privilege?"

"In the grand halls of a king's castle, or within the center of a cult's shrine, you shall emerge as a miraculous envoy to the next world. Taken in by those who seek to summon beings from distant worlds, you will become their honored guest. Depending on their nature, you shall receive instruction, guidance, and a head start unlike the rest."

"The world is endless, I assure you, you may awake in a welcoming land."

These words not only kindled hope within the people, but also forged a collective resolve against a singular individual, save for a select few who remained apart.

"A-aron! We choose Aaron!" exclaimed a teacher, standing tall and firm, grasping a girl's hand—the very girl who had supposedly endured harassment by the boy. All as a way to remind everyone of the romurs.

"The teacher is correct!" declared a student. "Aaron's already proven himself to be despicable! And even if we don't select him, he's incapable of making any positive contribution!" One student in particular, supported his teacher. The student who was beaten up by Mera for harassing Aaron.

"I agree!" Another student followed. "He's right!" Another backed them up.

Before long, the series of individual responses coalesced into a unified chant, urging the selection of the boy for the collective good. Despite Mera, Felix, Serena, and Claris casting dissenting votes, they found themselves overruled by the sheer magnitude of opposing voices.

"You bastards!" Mera snarled, rolling up her sleeves, preparing to break the skulls of her classmates, until Aaron interjected, "Fine, I'll do it."

The lady smiled at him, a sigh escaping her lips as she surveyed the crowd once more. "Truly, the ignorance of those who refuse to acknowledge reality is... utterly disgusting." Her voice dripped with disdain, her gaze piercing through the multitude, causing many to recoil in fear.

"Shut your mouth! The decision's made! Just get on with it and send us!" came the retort, tinged with impatience.

"Isn't it pitiful?" The lady brushed aside the plea, her attention fixed solely on the boy before her. "Truth, you see, is malleable. Speak it often enough, and you learn to mold it into whatever you desire." She raised a hand to her cheek, twirling a strand of hair with her finger. "I imagine you're no stranger to this manipulation," she remarked, gesturing towards the crowd, prompting only a weary sigh from the boy.

"I suppose I shall dispatch you all... but I find myself rather pleased to have encountered a particular individual among you, so I'll throw in a game for the fun of it." the lady remarked, making no effort to conceal her interest in Aaron. Her favoritism would undoubtedly influence the dynamics of the "game" they were about to embark upon.

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"I am uncertain if I'll ever recieve the pleasure of meeting you again, Aaron. Hence, I offer you my name should you win in this game," the lady stated, her smile radiating warmth as she placed a jet-black automatic pistol in the center of the table between them. Aaron sat opposite her, the crowd surrounding them, bound to the ground by the very flowers that had once brought them solace.

"I believe you are familiar with the Russian Roulette, yes?" The lady asked, and the boy nodded in reply.

"Allow me to elucidate the rules," she began, raising two fingers, each bearing a levitating bullet. "We possess one loaded bullet and one blank." The bullets vanished, and the pistol clicked. "This is a game of both chance and skill. You may choose to fire at me or at yourself. Should you shoot yourself with a blank, you earn another turn. If not..." She left the consequences unspoken, the implication already telling of a dark fate.

"Very well, proceed," she granted, as the boy grasped the gun. In the crowd, Mera struggled desperately to break free, her formidable strength rendered futile against the delicate appearance of the flowers binding her. Others joined her, attempting to free themselves and pleading to prevent the boy from engaging in this twisted game. Yet their reluctance stemmed not from concern for his safety, but from dread over the potential consequences should he emerge victorious.

Aaron was met with two decisions: to engage in the lady's game and risk the unknown fate awaiting him, or to forfeit and allow the predetermined course of events to unfold, leading to his sacrifice and the relocation of the others to the new world.

However, should Aaron triumph, he would not only secure a new life in the alternate realm but also wield the power to determine the destiny of his former classmates.

Those who had advocated for Aaron's banishment now found themselves frantically striving to prevent his victory, fearing his return with vengeance in hand.

They ran to hopefully stop him by anymeans, perhaps even kill him, only to be restrained and compelled to witness the event at by the lady herself.

Amidst their futile struggles, both Mera and Felix arrived at the same realization, the initial round hinged solely on chance. Mera trembled, fearing Aaron's luck might forsake him. Conversely, Felix entrusted his hopes to the capricious whims of a coin toss.

TICK!

As the first round unfolded, the crowd watched in astonishment as the shot rang out, revealing a blank cartridge. Aaron held the gun to his head, the absence of a lethal outcome granting him another turn. The victory for the initial round was secured, albeit in a remarkably anticlimactic fashion, leaving the onlookers in stunned silence.

The boy exhaled heavily, his heart pounding against his chest. "Guess it's my win," he informed the lady, who maintained her radiant smile. "Oh? I thought you would have pulled the trigger by now," she quipped, subtly hinting at the winning condition. However, Aaron appeared unfazed by her words, anticipating another round.

The lady chuckled in response, "Since you've introduced a new condition, I shall do the same~"

Suddenly, a deck of oversized poker cards materialized on the table, each card bearing a unique design. The majority of the cards were cloaked in black, with crimson hues outlining the shapes of diamonds, spades, hearts, and the myriad others, casting ominous shadows across the table.

"We shall each draw a single card for this round. The cards will reveal their functions to you," the lady explained, as they both reached for a card. Aaron examined the contents of his card, committing its effects to memory. Unbeknownst to the boy, everyone else was privy to the contents of his cards, with the exception of the lady. As if she allowed them audience of the event.

'He got a diamond card!' Mera observed, exchanging a quick glance with Felix, who responded with a reassuring nod. The card's effect was straightforward: it granted the bearer the ability to block a shot, whether it was aimed at them or self-inflicted.

'But.....'

"Two blanks and one shot," the lady informed the boy, as the pistol clicked once more.

Taking the pistol, she aimed at the boy, but as she pulled the trigger -

BAM!

The shot ricocheted off an invisible shield enveloping Aaron.

Exhales of relief escaped the three girls and Felix, while Aaron accepted the pistol from the lady. "Just so you know, if you only have blanks left, you can skip to the next turn," she remarked, reaching to draw another card, as did Aaron.

"Noted," he replied with a smile, a sweat dripping down his forehead. 'This type of stress is something else.'

'The next card is....'

"A heart!" Mera's eyes widen, noting the card's ability to heal from a shot, albeit only once and when injured.

"Two shots, one blank," the lady added.

The pistol clicked once more.

Back in Aaron's possession, he swiftly aimed it at the lady.

BAM!

The shot rebounded off her own diamond shield, prompting Aaron to pass her the pistol. She held it to her head and pulled the trigger.

TICK!

An empty chamber.

As the game progressed, Felix maintained his composure while Mera's panic intensified with each passing moment. Yet, there seemed to be no cause for her alarm, for Aaron possessed the heart card, offering return from a shot.

BAM!

However, therein lay the problem. Mera had discerned that this game transcended mere luck and skill; it was a trial of patience and resilience. Aaron had already utilized every card he had drawn.

If this pattern persisted, he would soon exhaust his defenses and be at the mercy of the next draw, should his luck turn against him.

Jumping right back into the game, Aaron gingerly explored his head, his fingers returning with a coating of fresh crimson liquid.

"If the pain is too much for you, we can-" the lady began to offer, only to be cut off by Aaron. "No, let's keep it this way," he chuckled, and his opponent echoed his sentiment with a wry smile.

The floor behind him was now coated in his own blood and brains, the pistol packed a punch. But if anything, it gave the boy some form of nourishment upon regeneration.

Yet another draw occured.

A spade card in hand, capable of randomly confiscating a single card from the opponent and returning it to the deck.

"Two shots, one blank."

She twirled the pistol in her gloved hand with practiced grace, the metal brushing against the red fabric over her index. Then, she raised it to her head.

BAM!

Once more, the bullet rebounded off a shield. Without hesitation, she redirected the aim towards Aaron.

TICK!

Fortune favored him. Aaron seized the pistol and aimed it back at the lady, utilizing the spade card to nullify her final card.

BAM!

Yet again, the boy won the round.

The lady's flesh regained its form, though black liquids marred the floor behind her. "Well played," she complimented the boy, who responded with a challenging smile. "Alright then, let's proceed with four shots and two cards each, agreed?"

The boy nodded, as they each drew two cards individually.

"Three shots, one blank," she informed him.

Aaron found himself with the first turn, holding a diamond card and a heart card in his possession. He raised the pistol to his face.

TICK!

With a grin, he squeezed the trigger.

BAM!

His diamond shield dissipated.

The lady's grin widened in amusement as Aaron aimed the pistol directly at her.

BAM!

The shot rebounded off another shield, prompting Aaron to pass the pistol to the lady.

She fired at him, but his flesh regenerated thanks to his heart card, and he promptly aimed the pistol forward.

BAM!

The lady revealed her heart card, signifying that the round was not yet over. They each drew their cards again.

'Smart...' Claris mused inwardly, 'he shot himself to ensure the lady would have as few bullets as possible, and managed to deplete his cards and bullets in a way that secured his advancement to the next turn.' She couldn't help but be impressed, and a glance at the crying students beside her suggested they felt the same way. Maybe.

'So this is the false prodigy...' spelling such a nickname out loud would've earned her a backhand from Mera.

The game continued, cards drew, bullets flew, blood spread, Aaron losing and retrieving his head.

Aaron couldn't discern how long he had been engaged in the game, only the persistent headaches alleviated by the splitting sensation as his head was opened. Not once did the lady succeed in landing a decisive shot on him; instead, he consistently outmaneuvered her.

An awful predicament, sooner or later, she'd land her bullet, it was merely a matter of time before Aaron either gave up or slipped on his back.

Only one way to win this...

"Hey, how about adding another condition?" he proposed, a grin stretching across his face.

"Hm?"

"You see..."

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As the tension reached its climax, the lady found herself cornered, with only one bullet remaining in Aaron's hands. "This has been quite enjoyable, Aaron," she remarked softly, anticipating the inevitable pull of the trigger.

But Aaron surprised everyone.

Instead of aiming at her, he pointed the gun at his own head, catching everyone off guard.

"I understand this may not seem wise, but it's the surest way to ensure everyone's safety in the new world," he explained, smiling at the lady, awaiting her fulfillment of the promise.

"I suppose you are more than deserving of knowing it..."

"My name is ■■■■■■■■■."

"Huh... didn't expect that name..."

Mera, and only Mera understood the truth behind that decision. That was not a sacrifice for the greater good.

That trigger was the start of Aaron's scheme....

BAM!