Familiar voice: "Like I said... You're not escaping so easily. Welcome back."

  Carried by the soothing current of the cradle of the world, all pain had left him. Chaos replaced by tranquility, Virno tried to savor the fleeting peace -- however long it would last.

  The voice again, closer this time.

  Familiar voice: "So that’s how it’s going to be? You’re just going to lay there?"

  A glowing figure hovered above him. Its green hue was unmistakable, yet something about it was different. What was once a vaguely humanoid swirling mass of luminous particles now had form -- definition. It seemed less like an ethereal presence, more like a person.

  Greed: "You haven’t died... Not yet."

  Virno sighed, forcing himself to acknowledge him.

  Virno: "And what does it matter? My sword arm’s gone. As for the rest of my limbs... I can’t even move them. Even if I somehow manage to beat him -- I’ve *already* lost."

  Greed: "Quit whining...! I told you there’d be a price to pay. But, it’s not irreparable. Your right hand’s gone for good, sure, but you’ve still got the other one. Your legs and arm will heal. They won’t be what they were, but what did you expect after forcing power beyond your limits?"

  Slowly, Virno rose from the water. Though the river had seemed deep when it carried him, he now stood upon it as if it were no more than ankle-deep.

  Virno: "And even power 'beyond my limits' couldn’t kill that thing... Thanks for nothing, Greed."

  He trudged toward a nearby building, stepping up its pristine stone stairs. Every window was dark -- except one. A single room glowed dimly from within.

  Greed: "Perhaps not... but it brought you closer."

  Virno: "Closer *how*? Didn’t you see it regenerate?! I can’t just grow my limbs back like that... It’s as good as new, while I’m curled up in a ball of blood and agony."

  Greed: "The important part being the *agony*..."

  Virno’s gaze flicked to him. Greed stood at the bottom of the stairs, watching him with an infuriating sense of patience.

  Greed: "Did you see what it did, the moment it acknowledged your suffering...? It tried to soothe you. It *numbed* the pain in your severed arm."

  Virno frowned, remembering.

  Greed: "It cannot stand suffering -- pain is poison to it."

  Virno: "Yeah? Then why not just kill me...? That’d end my suffering immediately."

  Greed: "... Maybe because it’s not supposed to. You are wanted by at least two different factions, Virno. Each of them eager to use you for their own gain. The Owl is *no different*."

  Virno’s eyes darkened.

  Virno: "... Leave the old man out of this. He’s left that life behind."

  Greed shook his head, unimpressed.

  Greed: "You trust too much, von Virtus."

  Virno: "Maybe I do. Maybe I shouldn’t even be giving *you* the time of day."

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  He stood up, stepping down the stairs toward Greed.

  Greed: "Oh...? You seem to know where you’re going. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you had a way out!"

  Virno: "I don’t. *You* do. Get me out of here -- I have to get back."

  Greed: "And then what, exactly...?"

  Virno: "If what you’re saying is true... pain is its weakness. And I can think of plenty of ways to inflict pain on myself."

  Greed let out a low chuckle.

  Greed: "You are something else... The way you’re willing to use your body as a mere tool to achieve your goal is almost... inhuman."

  Virno: "The body *is* a tool -- and tools are meant to be used. What else am I to do with it?"

  Greed: "An awfully important tool... Perhaps you ought to be more careful with it. I’d imagine after what just happened, you’d have learned some kind of lesson."

  Virno scoffed, stepping closer.

  Virno: "Don’t take me for a fool. You think I don’t see it? This is exactly what you wanted... To corner me. To force me into a desperate situation so I’d have no choice but to use your power. So I’d get a taste of what’s waiting for me -- just enough to hook me. Wouldn’t be surprised if *you* were the one who got that thing on my tail in the first place."

  Virno’s eyes burned with accusation.

  Virno: "Convenient, isn’t it? That only after nearly killing myself with *your* power do I suddenly stand a chance of beating it?"

  Greed’s form shifted, molding itself into a perfect reflection of Virno -- his scars, his posture, even the intensity in his glare. Yet his expression wasn’t one of smugness or satisfaction. If anything, he looked genuinely baffled.

  Greed: "Aren’t we quick to jump to conclusions... So sharp in some situations, yet so blind in others. If you’re wondering who’s responsible for Nox’s hound tracking you down, stop looking for shadows in the dark."

  He gestured toward himself -- the mirrored image of Virno.

  Greed: "Blame the one you see reflected before you."

  Virno’s frown deepened.

  Greed: "Did you not accompany the Owl to replenish that contraption’s energy? Did you not sit in awe as his magic dazzled you, without stopping to consider what you were *actually* doing? You weren’t just creating an incredibly potent fuel source -- you were setting up a beacon... A flare in the dark."

  He stepped forward, his eyes glinting with something almost akin to amusement.

  Greed: "Wouldn’t be surprised if Nox’s dogs could smell you from *half a world away*. So if I were you, I'd actually think twice before defending the Owl..."

  Virno: "W-what are you implying?!"

  His voice was low, dangerous.

  Virno: "That the Owl did it on purpose...?"

  Greed folded his arms, shaking his head.

  Greed: "Nothing so sinister. I don’t think he’s some kind of double agent... But I do think he’s old -- and weak. A mistake like that should be impossible for someone of his caliber -- unless his mind is *slipping*."

  Virno felt something inside him twist uncomfortably.

  Virno: "Well, yours seems as sharp as ever. Sharp enough to piece this all together... yet you couldn’t have warned me sooner?"

  Greed: "And how exactly was I supposed to do that? You are the one who shuts me out, Virno. I no longer have a voice unless you choose to listen...!

  Virno: "Well, if you didn’t keep haunting me with visions of my friends and family dying, maybe I wouldn’t have to shut you out!"

  Greed scoffed, exasperated.

  Greed: "The audacity! Do you have any idea how fortunate you are?! Do you realize the power that is being *offered* to you? And yet here you are, an ingrate! A miserable human who would turn his back on *destiny*, just to live a meaningless, empty life in some rotting slum!"

  Virno’s hands clenched into fists. His breath was heavy, uneven.

  Virno: "What does it matter if it’s meaningless? If it’s empty? It’s MINE! I NEVER ASKED FOR THIS CURSE! I NEVER ASKED FOR MY FAMILY TO BE TORN APART!"

  His voice cracked. He hadn’t even realized he was shouting until he felt the burn in his throat.

  Greed fell silent. His sharp gaze flickered with something unreadable as he watched the tears forming in Virno’s eyes.

  Then, finally, he spoke -- softer this time.

  Greed: "... I suppose not."

  Turning away, he began ascending the steps toward the dimly lit doorway.

  Virno: "Where are you going...?!"

  Greed didn’t stop walking.

  Greed: "You want to leave, don’t you? To *kill* that thing...?"

  Virno’s heartbeat quickened.

  Greed: "Then there’s someone inside you need to see... Someone who can help you do exactly that."

  Virno didn’t move. A cold, sinking feeling curled in his gut.

  Virno: "... W-who?"

  Greed paused at the top of the stairs, glancing back over his shoulder.

  Greed: "Your heart's in the right place, Virno... But, unfortunately, physical pain won't be enough to break your enemy. Come on, you'll understand soon enough."

  A chill ran down Virno’s spine. Something about this felt wrong.

  Just who could this person be...?