An Extra’s POV
chapter-725

The walk of silence continued between the two.

After their interaction subsided, neither Rey or The Oracle spoke another word to each other. Instead, the latter kept her eyes forward, and the latter followed her every movement. The landscape around them kept changing too.

Rey didn't ask any further questions, not allowing his impatience to get the better of him this time. He knew better than to say anything problematic.

This continued until, once again, The Oracle stopped.

"We're here..."

Rey set his gaze beyond The Oracle, staring into the space that she had her eyes on. That was when he saw it--a door in the middle of nowhere.

It was currently a desert landscape, so dry sand kept swirling around the door, its grains beating upon it as they danced in the air.

"She is beyond that door." The Oracle pointed, gesturing that Rey proceeded into the place.

Normally, Rey would have been very conflicted and skeptical of the whole thing. He would be rather suspicious of The Oracle, wanting her to venture in first--something like that. He would have considered a chance that the door was a trap too.

All of that was stifled now.

It wasn't that he trusted The Oracle completely, but that he simply saw no reason to be on guard before her. There was no need for her to resort to such an elaborate trap, even if she had malicious intent.

And Rey didn't think she had any malicious intent.

'So Esme is behind that door, huh...?' Stepping forward while breathing heavily, Rey kept his gaze fixated on the lone door.

There didn't seem to be anything behind it, but that didn't stop him from reaching for the doorknob and twisting it the moment he got close enough.

~FSHUUU~

A hissing sound proceeded from within the door as soon as he merely opened it.

"Go on" The Oracle's voice prompted him, and he could feel her gaze on his back. Not wanting to cause any further delay, he took a deep breath and stepped into the world of the unknown that he would be thrust into.

Then...

'T-this is--?' Rey's eyes widened as he was greeted with yet another vast world.

This was a land of winter, with a lot of mountains in the distance, and dried trees decorating the surrounding from various sides. In this world of white, there was silence--a form of purity. The decorum was deafening, and it felt sacred to the utmost.

No living entity seemed to be present.

... Except one.

"What are you doing here, Rey?"

Rey's heart nearly skipped a beat as soon as he heard the voice. He hadn't been too distracted not to notice that she was standing right behind him. He just didn't know what to say when he faced her, so he remained like that until she spoke.

Even though his back was turned against her, he could see her pretty normally thanks to his all-round vision.

She was gorgeous--as usual.

No... even better.

Something about these white lands seem to accentuate her beauty, giving her the vibe of an untouched flower--delicate and precious.

"I..." Rey didn't know where to start from, or what to say.

A million thoughts ran in his head, and he could only pick one. The choice became so difficult that he decided not to think at all and simply follow his instincts.

"... I missed you."

Turning to face her, he allowed the fiercely cold wind to blow against his dark hair, revealing his eyepatched eye on one side, and the crimson one on the other. He also saw her wearing a pure gown, almost like a wedding dress, staring at him stoically.

Despite his best attempts to hide his emotions, they bled out too raw. In contrast to him, though, Esme didn't seem to have any struggles at all.

She was completely calm.

"I'm guessing The Oracle informed me of your arrival…"

"She didn't."

Rey was stunned. If The Oracle didn't tell Esme that he was coming, how could she maintain such a calm facade even when they were face-to-face with each other?

'Could it be—?!'

"I know what you're thinking, Rey, but The Oracle didn't do anything to me. She has hardly interacted with me since I got here."

"O-ohh…"

Rey used his [Perfect Divine Appraisal] just to confirm, and Esme wasn't lying. She was perfectly normal—at least according to the System.

"I see…"

"Yeah…"

After this, they both stared awkwardly at each other, the distance between them about ten meters or so. Either of them could close it in a second, but they both remained transfixed in their positions.

Until…

"Can we talk? I'm sorry for not hearing you out last time." Rey finally spoke up, breaking into a sigh.

"It's fine."

"No, it's not!" He quickly interrupted her. "I should have considered you greatly, focusing on what you wanted and why. If I did that… I would have been able to properly convince you not to do this."

"You wouldn't have been able to convince me, Rey. This is something I want to do." She shook her head stubbornly.

Rey could feel a burning emotion within him as soon as he saw this.

"So… you were so comfortable just leaving? I still don't understand. As much as I apologize for not giving a conversation between us a chance, you also share in the blame for that. You… you…"

"So do you despise m—?"

"NO!" Rey took a step forward, but quickly stopped upon realizing how forceful he was probably being.

His main purpose for all of this was not just to get Esme to come back with him, but for the both of them to have a conversation and understand each other.

That wouldn't happen if he chose to be brutish.

"Rey… can I tell you something?" Esme's face seemed downcast at this point, depicting the very first emotion he had observed from her since their reunion.

The atmosphere suddenly grew tense, but Rey ready responded anyway.

"Yes! Yes, of cour—"

In a flash, she appeared right in front of Rey, her eyes fixated on his as she parted her lips and uttered the words.

"I love you."

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Thanks for reading!

Well… this was rather unexpected. We've finally gotten to that moment, haven't we? Wonder what happens next…