Consequences.

*Argus's POV*

Still being within human Parameters, I'm panting on top of a roof only a kilometer away from those 3 guys.

My body is shaking in adrenaline.

My lungs are burning.

Heart thumping wildly in my chest.

Connecting with my storage, I take out the water bottle and start chugging like there's no tomorrow.

[Damn that was insane! I literally screwed a Level 1!]

I thought with a victorious grin on my face.

"Y-You can teleport with people?!" says Lili beside me.

Turning around, I chuckle at the adorable stunned look on her face.

"Yeah… kinda…" I reply with a nonchalant shrug.

Groaning at my nonchalance, she presses her palms on her face while shaking her head. Her shoulders trembling ever so slightly.

Color is draining from what I can still see of her face.

[What happened…?] I wonder.

I just saved her and taught those greedy bastards a lesson I'm sure they'd never forget.

Taking her hands off her face after the last sigh, Lili gazes at me with watery eyes brimming with hatred.

A look I never imagined I'd receive from her.

"What happened, Lili?" I ask as my eyebrows frown in concern.

"Do you have any idea what you have done?" She asks after a deep breath.

"I… saved you…?" I said, confused.

"Saved me? Don't be Ridiculous…" Lili replied with eyes wide open. Her chest heaving in rage.

"The hell? I just risked my life back there!"

"So you could murder me later… huh?"

My body freezes right then and there as I stare blankly at the sneering Lili.

I have no idea how to answer that.

I can speak the truth, but as practical as Lili is, would she believe a single word?

Tens of seconds go by as before Lili takes her piercing gaze off me before saying…

"Well played, Master… Argus. You got me there at the park… to think I actually fell for your crap. At the end of the day… you're all the same…"

"It isn't like that! I only wanted to help… and you know it!"

"Well congrats then, you've helped me big time… you have saved me from the members of my own Familia! And it's all thanks to you, that people who were only after my money will now come for my life! So yeah! Thank you so very much!"

Lili said in a voice dripping with venomous sarcasm.

"I… I just thought…"

"It doesn't matter what you thought. The Reality of the matter is… I, a mere supporter, dared to severely injure an Honorable Adventurer of my own Familia. To dumb it down for you… I've back-stabbed my own Familia. Do you understand?"

"But they were going to hurt you!"

"And whose gonna believe who? Me or a full-fledged Adventurer?"

My open wide as I understand the Reality of the situation.

I did not save her.

I just pushed her off the cliff.

[She's right… I fucked up… big-time…]

"Listen! I- maybe I can do something!" I said while clutching my hair in panic.

"Don't! As you can see you've already done more than enough… You've messed things up for the last time. We're done… You're free now, Master Argus. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got more important matters to settle than a 'job'." Lili says before turning around to leave.

While I just stand there staring at her back going farther and farther with a mind drowning in chaos.

[Isn't it precisely what I said to 'HER' a few minutes ago? Is this… how 'SHE' felt? It feels so cruel…]

While I recalled all the blame and insults I hurled at 'HER'.

Is this how it feels to see your anchor walking away, while all you could do is stand there and watch because you know that they'd never believe the truth?

I for one wasn't even willing to listen.

And now I expect Lili to do the exact opposite?

[I'm a fuckin hypocrite!]

[But I can't let her go like this… tell her the truth?]

I thought as my shoulder trembles even more.

My breathing is getting raggedy with every step she takes.

[Just tell her the truth damn it! What's the worst that could happen?!]

"SOMETHING TOOK OVER ME!!" I scream as loud as I can, while the tears I've been holding gushes out.

Lili's steps come to a halt.

Her skeptic eyes staring right into my teary eyes.

"Listen look… I don't know what it was… but something took over me… possessed me back there… I lost all control of my body when 'SHE' whispered that name! I couldn't do anything! Okay!?!"

"You're not making any sense… you're not lying either." Says Lili in a calm voice.

"You believe me…?"

"I may not have lived long enough… but I have experienced… life enough to read you like an open book. I'll listen if you tell me the exact truth…"

"You will…?"

"Yes… Only the truth… But, if I catch even a single lie… I'll simply walk away, and don't worry, I'll do nothing to hurt you. I… feel you don't deserve that."

Air returns to my lungs.

It really is like 'SHE' told me before.

Friends aren't made out of lies.

Real ones don't shower their friends with flowery words.

And that's exactly what I'll do from now on.

I don't care how absurd I sound.

I don't care if she thinks I'm bat-shit crazy.

I just want things the way they were.

And with all my heart, I want to be her friend.

I don't want to be alone anymore.

But before that, I first need to give the opportunity I seek.

[Hey… please tell me you're still there…]

/Always… and forever. /

[Yeah… thanks for that… and I'm sorry. Will you tell me what happened back then?]

/Since when there were 'sorry' and 'thank you' between us? Anyway…

I've been thinking about it, and I do not have a plausible theory yet.

So, let me tell you what happened on my end. Everything went dark when I spoke of A… that name. I could feel something eerie about to burst out of you… I tried to scream and did everything I could but, you weren't listening. You weren't yourself. /

[I see… let's brainstorm this one later… Don't wanna go Jason Voorhees on people for no good reason… But right now I need to focus on Lili.]

/ Very well… I can't agree on tell her the whole truth. But I'll trust your judgment. /