An Extra’s POV
chapter-726

Rey stared dumbfoundedly at Esme the moment he heard those words.

"Y-you--"

Before he could say anything more, she held him on both cheeks and pushed herself upward while pulling him towards her.

He was still recoiling from the confession when he felt her lips touch his. Before he realized what was happening, he was in a passionate kiss with Esme, the both of them reciprocating the action.

Rey couldn't believe this was him.

No... it was more like he didn't want to believe that this was him.

He had so much pent-up passion that was released during the kiss, and the deeper he went into it, the more comfortable he became.

His stiff hands began to move, and they reached for Esme's body, going for an embrace.

But--

"No, Rey..." Before he could fully capture her in his arms, Esme pulled away, leaving him stuck in place.

"I know you're in love with Alicia. I don't want to get in the way of that..."

That seemed strange, coming from someone who had just kissed him, but Rey said nothing about that. He just had a bewildered expression on his face as he stared at her.

"Rather than make you choose, or complicate matters... I have chosen this path. This way, I will carry the burden of my emotions myself, while also walking down a path of greater purpose."

Rey instinctively knew that if he didn't say anything, it would all be over.

He already understood that.

And so, parting his moist lips for the first time since the kiss, he finally blurted out the words that his mind could form as fast as possible.

"I don't want to lose you."

Esme gave him a slight smile, shrugging at those words.

"Rey... it's not that simple."

"I know it isn't. I know, but... can you just allow me to be selfish? Please..." He didn't know what else to tell her.

He didn't know what to say about his love for Alicia, or her love for him, or the way he felt right now just looking at her. He didn't want to lie to her, but he also didn't want to be honest with her as well... about his feelings that ran rabid within him.

He simply suppressed them and told her what he could.

But... none of it was enough.

Esme shook her head once she was done hearing his pleas and smiled.

"My decision has already been made, Rey. I will become the next Oracle." She gave her resolute response with a determined expression.

He could see it in her eyes--she was completely serious.

"... I'm sorry."

Sadness followed her eyes as she looked away from him, allowing the cold wind to blow around them and quell the silence with its cold howl. This was only temporary, though, as Rey also gave his reply.

"I'm sorry as well..."

If he had known things would turn out this way, he would have taken a different path. After all, he wanted Esme to be happy, and if this was what made her experience fulfillment, then he wouldn't have come in the way of that.

'No, who am I kidding? I would have still done so...'

Becoming The Oracle meant merging one's consciousness with so many others. Esme would no longer be herself once the process was complete, which made her functionally dead.

How could he ever allow that under any circumstances?!

'I wish there was some sort of compromise I could make, or some way to make you change your mind. Unfortunately, there isn't.'

And… it was already too late for any of that.

~VWUUUUUSH!~

That very instant, someone interrupted the rather tense silence that enveloped the two. She floated in the sky, forcing the two to gaze upon her in all her glory.

The instant they saw The Oracle, they recognized her.

"I have come here to inform you that the deal has been canceled." She said in a fairly cold and detached manner..

"H-huh?"

To call Esme shocked would be an understatement. She was stupefied by The Oracle's decision, and so kept alternating glances between Rey and The Oracle. It appeared as though she wanted to say a million things at once, but was stuck on delivery.

"You are a sweet and kind girl, Esme. You also carry a lot of strength and virtue within you… all of which will be lost once you become The Oracle."

"What?"

"I do not wish for you to carry such a burden."

"I want to!::

"No, Esme… trust me when I say that you don't want to." The Oracle's voice was reminiscent of sadness as she spoke.

If she, as The Oracle, was so certain about the overwhelming loss that would be bestowed upon her successor, surely it would be able to convince Esme of the wrongness of her choice.

But no.

The girl stubbornly clung to the idea, once again trying to enforce the deal they made.

However, no matter how hard Esme pushed, The Oracle shook her head. There was no way she was budging from her position—partly because she already had a replacement, but also because of what she saw within Esme.

It was something she didn't want to taint.

"Esme… despite your identity as a Half Elf, I recognize you as one of us… one of me. I won't be turning you into a Full Elf, but you are not lesser than they are."

At this point, The Oracle descended to Esme and embraced her.

Their foreheads touched each other in a light tap, causing a beam to explode from the contact made. Coupled with the light was a surge of energy.

~VWUUUUUM!~

As the violent winds whipped across the area, and Rey stood there witnessing all that was happening, the silence among the three seemed to last an eternity.

"Farwell, Esme…" The Oracle's sweet voice echoed softly into the air, melodiously ringing in the atmosphere around them.

Esme's eyelids fell short, and she lost all the strength in her body at that moment.

"I hope you find happiness."

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Thanks for reading!

Looks like Esme lost her chance to be an OP god. I wonder what happens now…