Sacrifice: Time of Mine

"Avion, you will not get anything from this, do you?"

Alisera interrogated. She no longer acted like a "damsel in distress" She then pointed the spoon at Avion's heart.

Vines spiraled and enveloped, making the spoon a proper weapon.

'... she's serious.'

Avion sipped in cold breath.

"Answer me. Are you forced or are you expecting some benefits?"

"I will answer that honestly. Only if you tell me first, what you will do once you know the truth?"

Avion became stubborn. He didn't know the exact reason. Was he that desperate not to put Darea in Alisera's sight? Does he want to protect Alisera from Darea?

"If you did it on your own accord, I will kill you. But if you're forced..."

Alisera stopped and smiled, removing her weapon from Avion's chest.

"...?"

"We really are the same..."

"Huh?"

"Don't worry, Avion. Just tell me. Is it them who forced you?"

Avion got confused.

"I-I haven't even answered your previous question."

"You don't need to. If you answered that you're not forced. I've already killed you. But since you will just come back in time, you should've known that already. Then here's another question. If I killed you, why are you still not believing me that I will kill you if you answered that you're not forced?"

"..." Avion didn't think that Alisera would use that logic.

"Meaning, you didn't answer that you're not forced. However, seeing you hesitate now means that you are hiding that you are forced. Why are scared of telling me?"

Avion's expression changed. Alisera felt like a different person now.

"Avion... I may not know a lot of things, but that doesn't mean I'm stupid. You could just easily tell me that it is them, the flaming woman who forced you. But you did not."

Alisera's eyes widened as she shouted, "Tell me! Who is it you're hiding from me!? This person is definitely the one who forced you! But why are you protecting that person!?"

At that moment, Avion knew that he was cornered.

'Should I kill myself and restart time?'

That thought crossed his mind. Meanwhile, he couldn't reply by mouth.

Is chipping his soul worth by hiding Darea?

What weighs more? Darea wouldn't be harmed anyway but Avion was still stuck.

Seeing Avion's conflicted expression, Alisera toned down.

"So it's not your fault... you're also a tool."

After a long pause, Avion finally answered.

"No, Alisera. I have options back then. I am responsible for your mother's death."

His eyes became sharp with determination.

'She may kill me now. I should attack now. It's not like I can damage her. Just a distraction is fine. Once she's off me, I will dodge her every attack.'

Avion looked around and saw that the barrier was actually shrinking. Old Maytan could not continuously keep it up. Now that he's desperate to rest, he's losing focus.

This old man had gone through a lot and have yet to have complete rest. Even though the Might of Torge is a legendary Rank Es World Elementalist, he still gets tired and reveals some flaws.

'This must be the sign that the barrier will collapse soon. Once I got her off me, I will stall time so that I could escape.'

While Avion was planning ahead, he didn't realize that Alisera was cutting the ropes off him.

When he was free from the rope's restriction, that was when Avion woke up from his thoughts. 

Before he could reach, Alisera hugged him... as if comforting him. She caressed his back while whispering.

"You got it hard, right? Now that I know that it is not your fault, leave it to me."

"W-what are you saying?"

"This is what I need, Avion. I will not rely on you. Instead, you will rely on me. I will help you and I will get more mature. I will take responsibility, I will not escape now, and I won't get scared of it. I will no longer depend on others."

Avion was shocked.

'No, this is wrong. If it is not me, you wouldn't say that... you're still depending on me. You don't have the ability to be reliable yet.'

Avion wanted to stop her thoughts, however, he felt anything he would say will get ignored.

He could hear her resoluteness. Can he destroy it?

'No'

Avion thought of something.

'She will learn it the hard way.'

Reality is often the best teacher. Avion knew that no words will get through Alisera right now. 

Someday, he will have to break it to her. However, it would be better if that will contain a life lesson for her and not just destroy her confidence.

Learning something the hard way...

Avion is quite familiar with it.

'The truth bent Alisera's perception. She's subconsciously relying on me, however, due to the nature of that truth, she doesn't want to acknowledge it.'

While it seemed like Alisera was comforting Avion, in reality, it was the other way around.

Her sudden calmness earlier was just her defense mechanism. She distracted herself by asking a different question.

Alisera was too weak to handle the truth. However, the sooner the better.

This affected her badly. This traumatized her so that she wouldn't rely on others anymore. She was just forcing herself.

Avion felt responsible that was why he decided that she will stay by her side until she grows.

'I'm doing it because I see her as a little sister....'

Somehow, for reasons unknown to him, he also felt scared.

'But that realization wouldn't take long.' he looked above and saw that the barrier was about to go off.

Also, he saw Arcansas.

The world's new Overlord...

Alisera should be crying and lamenting right now. But the princess no longer wanted to show weakness. She no longer wants others to help her.

When people think they're strong, they are often at their weakest point. That was why Avion chose to help her. He didn't exactly know why, he just felt he should.

He'll let her recuperate, thinking that she was actually growing. Avion will protect her from the reality of her weakness until she's moved on.

'Even if you changed your perception, that doesn't mean you yourself changed.'

Avion wrapped his arms around Alisera's thin waist, further comforting her in her little world.

That was when Old Maytan's barrier, Rank Es Elesp "Separate World", crumbled.