Virno: "Who is this person, Greed?"

  Greed didn’t reply. He simply continued his silent ascent up the building’s long, winding staircase.

  Virno: "Dammit..."

  The climb felt endless. Every step heavier than the last.

  Finally, they reached the upper floor -- the only one with a light glowing from behind a door.

  Greed stepped forward and knocked, the sound unnaturally loud in the quiet of the space.

  Greed: "Know that she will not see you. Nor will she hear you. You don’t belong here."

  Virno: "She...?"

  The door creaked open.

  Virno’s breath caught in his throat.

  Anya von Virtus: "Y-yes? Can I help you?"

  The world tilted. His legs threatened to give out beneath him.

  Virno: "No... NO..."

  His mother stood in the doorway.

  Greed: "Sorry to disturb you, ma’am. I just wanted to ensure your room is to your liking."

  Anya pushed the door open a little further, glancing around inside before offering a small, content smile.

  Anya: "Everything is perfect, thank you..."

  Virno: "NO..."

  His hands clenched into fists. His heartbeat thundered in his ears.

  Greed: "I’m glad to hear that, ma’am. If I may ask... do you know why you are here?"

  Virno: "G-GREED... WHO DID THIS?!"

  His sorrow twisted into rage, his mind defaulting to vengeance.

  Anya tilted her head, her expression turning pensive.

  Anya: "You know, I... I’m not really sure. I can’t remember anything before arriving, actually. Haven’t I always been here...? This place... it feels like home to me."

  Greed: "Most people find their way back here, eventually. It’s only a matter of time, really."

  He studied her closely, as if looking for something.

  Greed: "Say, forgive my curiosity, but... we haven’t met before, have we? I have the strangest feeling we may have..."

  Virno could hardly breathe.

  His mother -- his own mother -- looked Greed dead in the eyes, still in the shape of her son... and did not recognize him.

  Anya: "I don’t believe so... I’m sorry."

  Virno: "GREED, TALK TO ME! EXPLAIN THIS RIGHT NOW!"

  Desperate, he reached for Greed -- only for his hands to pass straight through him.

  The world froze.

  Anya, the candlelight, even the soft rippling of fabric in the air -- everything stopped moving.

  Only Greed remained.

  Greed: "... What is it?"

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  Virno: "WHAT IS IT?! HOW CAN YOU FUCKING ASK THAT?!"

  His voice cracked, but Greed didn’t look at him. Instead, his gaze remained fixed on the ground, his expression unreadable.

  Greed: "People lose their memories when they wake up in the cradle, Virno. Their old life is gone. A new one awaits. The only thing she retained was her form -- and even that will be taken away soon."

  Virno: "Gone..."

  He couldn’t hold back anymore. The tears spilled freely.

  Virno: "My mother, too... It’s not fair. IT’S NOT GODDAMN FAIR! WHO, GREED?! WHO KILLED HER?! TELL ME!"

  Greed let out a slow breath and shook his head.

  Greed: "I don’t know. I’m not omniscient."

  Virno: "Not omniscient? CUT THE BULLSHIT! IF YOU’RE NOT OMNISCIENT, HOW DID YOU KNOW SHE WAS HERE?!"

  Greed: "I am attuned to the cradle. I sense every new arrival. But where they came from, how they died... that, I cannot tell."

  His voice was calm, but firm.

  Greed: "That your mother has passed and woken up here is all I know."

  Virno’s breath hitched. His fists trembled.

  Virno: "Believe you... I guess I have little goddamn choice."

  His voice turned bitter.

  Virno: "At least your horrible prophecy seems accurate enough...!"

  He let out a choked laugh.

  Virno: "My father killed himself... Now my mother’s gone, too. Faya is at death’s door. Ballo lost his sight because of me. Even the damn driver -- the one who was just supposed to escort us -- is barely hanging on."

  He staggered forward, his voice rising with every name he listed.

  Virno: "Everyone around me really is destined to suffer and die, isn’t that right?! ISN’T THAT RIGHT?!"

  Greed closed his eyes for a moment.

  Greed: "It is no prophecy, Virno..."

  The words were quiet. Almost gentle.

  Greed: "... It is simply the most probable fate."

  Virno grit his teeth so hard it hurt.

  Greed: "You sit at the center of a war that has been brewing for centuries. A war whose outcome may be decided by the one who wields the sword’s power."

  Virno felt his stomach twist.

  Greed: "All sides want you... All sides need you. To claim you is to claim victory itself."

  His voice darkened.

  Greed: "And so they will stop at nothing to take you."

  Virno’s knees felt weak.

  Greed: "Those who protect you... those who hide you..."

  He shook his head.

  Greed: "They are just obstacles. And it is only a matter of time before the big players sweep them aside. Only a matter of time until they come for you."

  Virno clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. His breath came in uneven gasps as the tears spilled freely down his cheeks.

  Greed: "You may not be the one to kill them... But you will be the one who brings about their death. That much has already been proven, with you as the principal witness."

  Virno wiped his face roughly, dragging his sleeve across his eyes. Then, with stiff movements, he turned toward the door.

  Virno: "Alright... I’ve seen enough. I get it."

  His voice was hoarse, barely holding together.

  Virno: "This is the pain I was supposed to feel, then? Pain beyond the physical...?"

  Greed’s expression shifted -- something almost like regret flickered across his face.

  Greed: "Y-yes. I apologize it had to be this way."

  Virno inhaled sharply through his nose, steadying himself.

  Virno: "T-take me back. Just... take me back."

  Greed gave a melancholy nod. With a mere thought, time resumed around them.

  Greed: "Sorry to disturb you, madam. My mistake. I wish you a pleasant stay..."

  Anya: "T-thank you..."

  She hesitated for a moment before closing the door.

  Neither Virno nor Greed spoke as they descended the stairs.

  When Virno finally broke the silence, his voice was raw.

  Virno: "From now on, I'm doing this alone. Nobody else is dying because of me."

  Greed: "... I understand."

  Virno: "Do you? Then you understand that I will need your power to survive. That if anything else comes my way..."

  Greed: "It shall protect you. But... your body will break."

  Virno: "So let it break."

  He stopped on the last step, turning to face Greed fully.

  Virno: "All that matters is that I reach the sword. With its power, nothing will stand in my way again. Isn’t that so?"

  Greed: "It is. The same power that now saps your energy and destroys your flesh will then breathe new life into you, granting you unparalleled strength. You will no longer be stealing it... you will be its new owner."

  Virno: "Then I guess there’s still one big question left to answer."

  Greed tilted his head.

  Greed: "What would that be...?"

  Virno: "What exactly do *you* stand to gain in all of this?"

  Greed didn’t answer.

  Virno let out a dry, humorless chuckle.

  Virno: "Hmph. You talk a pretty big game... but in the end, you’re no different from them. You just want to use me to further your agenda."

  Greed: "I have promised you power... and power you will have. What else concerns you?"

  Virno: "The *price* I'll be *paying* for it."

  Greed: "... Considering all that you have already lost, nothing you aren’t willing to afford."

  Virno: "Is that so...? Care to elaborate?!"

  They stood facing each other just outside the building, the darkness around them still and silent. But Greed made no move to continue the conversation.

  Virno narrowed his eyes.

  Virno: "You know... you’re a real bastard."

  Greed lifted his hand, his palm glowing with eerie green light.

  Greed: "We will meet again soon, Virno."

  Virno didn’t flinch.

  Virno: "... You can be sure of that."

  The light flared, and in an instant, the world around him shattered.