"...No."
The word left Aeron's lips.
In fact, a part of him screamed to say yes, to grasp at the impossible hope that his friend was alive. But the memory of the collapse, the void where Amaniel had been, was a wound too fresh.
"Alright then." Vespera didn't seem surprised or offended. "But you have to realize that the girl is going to die because of you."
"!" Aeron's eyes widened.
A cold splash of reality washed over him.
She was right. They weren't just talking about ghosts from his past; they were discussing Emilia's life, right now. He couldn't afford to be this weak-willed. And if there was even a sliver of a chance that Aman was alive... wasn't that a miracle? Something to be seized, not doubted?
"Alright," he nodded firmly. "I believe you. But... do you know where he is?"
"...No."
Aeron remained silent, simply staring at her. He was learning her ways. This was her patter — dangling a piece of the truth, then waiting.
