Chapter 50: Vincent’s Goal
Elias let out a laugh. "You know," he began, his tone shifting, "I’ve been thinking about what the Doctor said. Other than failing strength and speed, I also failed perception. He mentioned it’s probably because I’m too trusting and can’t tell when I’m being lied to."
As he spoke, Elara’s posture stiffened, though she kept her gaze fixed on the trays of food. She said nothing, her silence heavy in the air.
Elias’s voice softened, but his words carried weight. "C-can I trust you, Elara?"
Elara froze for a moment, then turned to face him. "O-of course," she said quickly, her voice wavering slightly. "Why even ask that?"
Elias’s expression hardened, his gaze unwavering. "Well, I had a lot of time to think while I was pinned to the ground. And... I hadn’t heard from you in years. YEARS. Then, suddenly, when I’m on what I thought was my deathbed, you show up. Was it because you really wanted to see me? Or was it because the military knew I came into contact with the shard?"
Nearby, Dot’s floated around with Elara’s Ikona, the two creatures chatting animatedly about the trays of food.
Elara exhaled deeply, rubbing her hands together as if the motion steadied her. "Honestly? It’s... a lot," she began. Her voice dropped, tinged with a weariness Elias hadn’t heard before. "Climbing so high, trying to make a difference—it took everything. The missions I went on, the people I’ve killed..."
Her voice faltered for a moment before she continued. "Then the aliens’ first attack came. We lost so many lives. The entire structure of society changed—corrupt political systems crumbled, replaced by a militarized regime that took control of everything."
She trailed off, folding her arms tightly across her chest. Her gaze shifted downward, the weight of her words settling heavily between them.