Quickly, after the information Aletha had just received, it broke a stupendous roar upon the shuddering air. Duron stepped forward and aimed his weapon at Phthonus, claiming that a magical orange luminance filled the room.
"I had no other alternative. I…" The stern and strong tone that resonated in his voice collapsed into one of guilt, doubt, and cold sorrow; distraught at the fact that he killed his own daughter. "I… had no choice. No choice at all."
A silence fell in the passenger car. A cold, brutal silence.
Then, as Duron stood there in front of the two, waiting for an attack, Aletha's eyes watered out of anger and fury, one so bright that not even the stars could comprehend it. She tightened her fist and gritted her teeth, recollecting all the memories of Drimi.
(No… t… that can't be possible. A father killing his own daughter? Why? Why… is he so humble about it? He killed the only one who welcomed me. The only one…)
Memories started flooding her mind.
She slid her knee on the ground and grasped Aletha's hand, impatiently waiting for her to get up.
"Come on, Aletha, we have to continue on! You're not just going to give up on your brother that easily, right?"
. . .
"Buttons."
Drimi squinted at Aletha and raised her eyebrow.
"Really? Do you want to be called that name? I mean, it's kind of cute… but, I don't know. Do you think it fits you?"
Aletha silently nodded with a determined smile. Her crystal dark gray eyes peer through Drimi.
"Yes."
Drimi replied with a skeptical tone.
"Well, okay... Buttons. Whatever works for you. Now, let's get moving. We need to find Asahi, pronto. Hell, I feel like I'm probably lost."
. . .
(She was so welcoming to me…. She was so caring… she was so…)
* * *
"How could you?!" Aletha screamed, tears welling in her eyes at the cold-hearted man, with all the frustration in her body. "How could you say that after you killed your own daughter?! D…Did you know how caring Drimi was?"
While a silence entered Duron, Aletha stomped her foot and clenched her fists, screaming at the man as she bared her teeth.
"D… Drimi was strong, courageous, and… e-even friendly. She acted tough, had a heart of steel… a-and even motivated me. I-Isn't that what you wanted your daughter to be in the first place? Why? Why did you kill her?!"
"..."
Exchanged by the silence, Aletha spat on the ground and shoved Duron to the wall, screaming as Phthonus tried to stop her from rushing up and down the walls with fury.
"ANSWER! I know Drimi was a strong fighter; she was loving, caring, and independent. I bet she formed the entire group and tried to follow your footsteps. She even had her own SHIP! I can't believe that all she got in return after seeing your face after how long was getting killed by the hands of the one she looked up to the most?! How could you?!"
Now that Aletha was informed, she understood the rage that burned in Phthonus. Although it had not even been a year since her encounter, Aletha felt like Drimi was a big sister to her.
The one who built up her bravery to lead an entire nation in fighting against their own leader and turn the tide, the woman who encouraged her to continue on and reclaim her world. It's these rapid emotions that erupted in a gruesome fight.
Little did she know that this battle would be long and brutal, the one that would spark a barbarous awakening in her, just as had happened to her brother.
* * *
Everything in the passenger carriage was scattered all over the place.
Tables, chairs, wardrobes, and cushions were all on the hardwood floor as Aletha, Phthonus, and Duron fought for what was right. Purple lasers flew out from the double-edged weapon, striking the area and bruising the two.
Orange laser beams from Phthonus' rapid launch attacks squirmed and struck Duron on his arm. Chaos reigned on every corner, yet despite that, it had not once disturbed the other passenger cars of the train.
Everyone in the passenger cars, except for the one Aletha was on, was safe, including her group, who were completely oblivious to the happenings.
"Answer us!" Aletha screamed ferociously as the purple lasers mangled her sanity.
Duron shook his head and bolted to the left, pulling the trigger and unleashing a storm of dark purple orbs at her. Phthonus clenched his fists, overtook Duron's direction, and bent the laser bullets, striking and ejecting the man.
Just because the fight was happening never meant that Phthonus' eyes were not on the necklace. If any, all the battle did was boost his vigor further, smattering his cowardice and using all his strength to avenge Drimi.
(PEW)
(FLUNG)
(BOOM)
"I know the rage stinging in your heart; I feel every smidge of it," Duron said as his breath grew shaky and uneasy. "If you would only give me a chance, I will inform--
Aletha interrupted despite his request.
"Why did you kill Drimi?!"
Duron hurriedly retreated over to the red-rimmed side of the carriage, dodged, and disintegrated the incoming projectiles from Phthonus' magic. His direction of action was only to focus on Phthonus, not Aletha.
And so, as Aletha tried to batter a hit at Duron, he swiftly leaped into the air and propelled the white-haired girl away from the battle, toward a safe area covered in toppled tables. He replied to Phthonus as a storm of guilt surged in his body.
I killed Drimi because of the corruption lingering inside her, a decision that haunts me every waking moment. She was once pure and full of light, and watching her transformation broke something within me. I struggled with this choice, as it went against everything I believed in and everything I hoped for my daughter." A heavy weight seemed to hang on his words, and he glanced away briefly, his eyes clouded with regret. Phthonus skidded over and attacked as he heard Duron's claims.
"No, I didn't kill her, but captured her soul in this necklace. The power that lurks inside her is so great that it has the power of a thousand suns."
"What does that mean?! Oh, so you killed your own daughter for the sake of power?! That gives me another reason to kill you, you ruthless bastard." Phthonus paused as he prepared to unleash a charge of dust at the dark-haired man. "Just reply to me before you get demolished by my power."
Duron released a sigh of dismay and snapped the necklace off, tossing it toward his open palms, where it formed a familiar, transparent purple barrier around his entire presence. He answered as his eyes caught Aletha desperately crawling and evading his purple lasers.
"Not even your power is enough to eclipse that of The Promises. Sigh, I will keep this brief." Phthonus slowly lowered his arms and grabbed Aletha's hand, dragging her away from Duron as calmness was restored after the fight.
"Aletha, stay out of this. He doesn't want you harmed, but me."
She bit her lip and tightened her fists, catching sight of the bruises lingering all over Phthonus' legs. Aletha simply refused to stay out of the fight. All her fury ever wanted was to have Duron dead.
Compelled by painful thoughts, the three noticed the train descending and continuing its journey through the route.
They entirely forgot that there were more passenger cars outside than this one.
But despite this thought, Duron continued, his eyes welling up with a nostalgic and guilty tear.
"My daughter… never wanted The Perfect Darkness…"
. . .
(31 years ago...)
"F... Father, don't get any closer... please. I... want you to live..."