Logic conflicts

Perspective : Conrad Garnier

I found solace in Brandon's lack of trustworthiness, which provided me with the necessary leverage to justify my actions, as I tried to deal with our turned comrades.

But now that everyone knew, Brandon spoke the truth. there was no denying it. The unmistakable red glow from Emilia's hand, entwined in roots, stripped away my leverage. The others were hesitant to raise their blades, knowing that our allies were concealed within those very roots.

Someone had to do what was necessary, and that someone was me.

Without a second thought, I charged towards those creatures.

The human heart is delicate, unaware of when to give up, oblivious to the obvious. They had to be killed for our survival to endure. I possessed the foresight of what awaited us, unburdened by emotional attachments from the start. My goal was to survive alongside Regina, and I would stop at nothing to do that.

With my sword ablaze once more, I swung at those creatures, aiming to decapitate her in a single, swift motion. However, my sword met resistance as it clashed against Patrick's blade once again.

Patrick questioned,

"What has come over you?"

"They are our friends,"

I responded.

"They were,"

I corrected.

Patrick insisted,

"No, they still are."

"How can you wield your blade against them, knowing that our friends reside within?"

I retorted,

"How can you overlook the undeniable truth that they are beyond saving, as they are already gone?"

"We must focus on saving ourselves,"

Patrick stated.

"This is ridiculous".

I swiftly leaped backward, creating distance between Patrick and myself.

Patrick remarked,

"Glad you listened".

I retorted,

"If you insist on obstructing me, then so be it."

"GET THE HELL OUT OF MY WAY".

Patrick firmly replied,

"No, I won't allow you to lay a finger on them".

I lunged towards him, firmly gripping my blade and my rationality. As I swung my sword in a wide arc towards Patrick's left side, Patrick swiftly raises his sword, blocking the attack with a loud clash.

Sparks flew in all directions, with a quick flick of his wrist Patrick counterattacked, aiming for my legs, however I quickly jumped back, narrowly avoiding his strike.

As impressive and close it was, he didn't stop, Patrick swung his sword delivering a powerful vertical strike towards my head. Without delay, I swiftly raised by sword angling it to intercept the blow. The impact reverberated through the cave, causing stalactites to tremble.

Then,

Without missing any beat I retaliated with a lightning fast horizontal swing, aiming for Patrick's mid section. Patrick effortlessly sidestepped narrowly avoiding the attack.

This time I wasn't going to miss him.

With my blade a blaze, I delivered a swift diagonal slash towards Patrick's left shoulder. He reacted swiftly deflecting the attack with a powerful upward swing. As our blades collided a shower of Sparks illuminated our intense faces.

However, Patrick seized the opening, following up with a quick series of precise strikes, aiming for my exposed left side. But I parried his each blow, swiftly transitioning between defensive blows and counterattacks.

Then,

With a precise thrust aimed at his chest, my blade was met with a resolute block from his. Determined to break through his defenses, I focused my strength and exerted all my energy, causing our blades to lock together in a clash. In that intense moment, our faces were mere inches apart, eyes locked in a battle of wills.

Patrick firmly stated,

"Stop this madness."

In response, I replied with conviction,

"Mad?... You're the one who should cease."

I urged,

"Just let me handle this in my own way, and it will be over."

Frustrated, he said,

"Are you even listening to yourselves?"

Patrick retorted,

"Conrad! It hasn't been long since they appeared." He accused,

"You haven't taken any other possibilities into account; you're just aiming to kill them."

With confidence, I rebutted,

"They are already dead."

Patrick challenged,

"Do you know for sure".

He continued, frustration evident in his tone, "There is no reasoning with you, is there?"

Regina intervened, urgently saying,

"Stop it... They are drawing closer to both of you."

Patrick, feeling a sense of urgency, directed his words towards Regina,

"Tell him to cease his madness."

In response, I scolded Regina, asserting,

"You stay out of it."

With resolute determination, I affirmed,

"I know what I must do."

As I declared,

"Enough of this shit".

I swung my blade providing a powerful overhead strike, aiming to crush Patrick's defences. However he swiftly sidestepped to the side, evading the blow by a hair's breadth.

Sensing an opportunity he lunged forward, unleashing a flurry of rapid thrusts towards my chest. However I parried each thrust, seemingly transitioning from one block to another. The clash of our blades echoed through the cave creating an eerie symphony of steel that drew them rapidly towards us.

Patrick voiced his concern, saying,

"Stop it and think for yourselves. What are you trying to achieve? It's inhumane."

In response, I retorted with defiance, stating,

"Humanity can fuck itself right in the ass".

"I will survive this ordeal, no matter the cost".

Patrick, seeking understanding, questioned,

"Why can't you comprehend? Give us some time to brainstorm. There must be another approach." He added with empathy,

"You don't wish to cause harm to them, do you?"

In a fit of rage, Patrick delivered a swift horizontal slash aimed at my torso, however realising his lack of accuracy, I skillfully parried the attack. redirecting the force with a deft twist of my wrist. Without hesitation I retaliated with a lightning fast, series of diagonal strikes, aiming to overwhelm Patrick's defences.

But this guy, It seemed I had forgotten our first encounter. Remarkably, he responded with an acrobatic grace, effortlessly evading, dodging, and skillfully leaping backward to escape the relentless assault. Furthermore, he adeptly maneuvered to avoid the leech-infested swings of Emilia's red blade.

[Fallen leaves in a snow covered field, frozen tundra littered with the bones of deceased, let there be solace in those worlds divided, let there be comfort, beyond the divider, wall of Ice]

As a swirling mist formed in front of us, separating the infested creatures from ourselves, the mist transformed into a transparent barrier of water. With a flurry of white, the water solidified into a wall of clear ice, effectively blocking the creatures from reaching us.

Yuna exclaimed,

"Now, you can fight!"

Kyle questioned,

"Is she Drunk?"

"Why didn't she stop them?"

Yuna, in a spirited manner, shouted while drinking her alcohol,

"Keep it up!"

Due to that display of absurdity, my will to fight was drained immediately.

I wanted to fight, but the drive that kept me going, just vanished in thin air after what just unfolded before me.

It seemed, It was the same for Patrick.

Patrick calmly inquired,

"Do you still intend to Kill them?"

In response, I stated,

"Yes, but first I am willing to listen to what you have to say."

Patrick replied,

"Much obliged".

He suggested,

"Let's brainstorm together".

While Yuna's Ice barrier held those creatures at bay.

We discussed how to deal with the situation.

Kyle exclaimed,

"Conrad! What is wrong with your head ? You should be restrained like a dog on a leash. However, I cannot deny the practicality of your approach. It was a decisive action, though it should only be our last resort."

(I am tired of arguing with them).

In response, I firmly replied,

"Propose a solution, Or I will do what I must".

As I gazed into my blade, contemplation consumed me. A wave of thoughts flooded my mind. I found myself questioning,

"This irresistible allure, even though Patrick assured me there should be an alternative way".

"Why was I so adamant on killing them?".

"Now that I think calmly, I didn't need to take actions so soon".

"What was driving me, was it the lust?".

"Or was it his words?".

Then abruptly,

In a slightly slurred tone, Yuna asked me,

"Are you guys done already?"

I responded simply,

"Yes."

While I stood there staring into blank space. Thinking about my actions, recalling the words of that red shade. Regina and others planned on how to save Emilia and the others.

And they came up with a solution,

A simple one.

Patrick explained me - Given that they were entangled in roots, why not try to remove them first? As for those pesky leeches slithering all over their bodies, Yuna and Regina could freeze them with their ice magic. Once we uncover their roots...

Hoping they will come to their senses.

Simplicity close to idiocy. However, since it was proposed and deemed better than my solution, we had to try it.

And I knew, It wasn't going to work, my blades were ready to strike.