Rencarnation Room {Other Story line}

In the center of the crowd, just behind Satomi's group of Adjuvant, El took a deep breath, calm and controlled. She stepped back a few steps, then turned around unhurriedly.

Although the hall was crowded with civilian officers and Initiators, not a single one noticed his departure. There were no glares, no attention drawn as if his presence had never existed.

Even the members of Satomi's Adjuvant, who should have been more sensitive to their companion's presence, seemed oblivious to his movements.

Even Gadou Nagamasa, a veteran known for his keen instincts on the battlefield, did not pick up on any irregularities. El moved quietly, his steps so soft and almost silent.

In a crowd, El blended into the environment, like the wind blowing without a trace.

Unknowingly, El's increasingly cool and calm mental and emotional state began to bring her closer to the Selfless State, a state of mind where the ego completely disappears.

El's measured footsteps, his silent demeanor, and his aura that was as ripple-less as still water, erased any trace of his existence.

The reason for El's departure from this hall was simple, he found all of this irrelevant. Not even the words of encouragement, motivational speeches, or hopeful messages from Gadou Nagamasa had any meaning.

His mission was clear: face Gastrea. And El was going to do it, with or without encouragement from others, El just wanted to accomplish all the major missions.

As El exited the crowd, her figure began to fade. His last step seemed to erase his presence from sight.

In an instant, El disappeared like a faint shadow dissolving in fog, leaving the hall without a trace that could be followed.

***

After walking for a while, El finally arrived at her group's camp. El immediately sat quietly in front of the campfire that had long since died out.

Then El arranged a few pieces of firewood with measured hand movements, then added combustible materials, and took out a lighter from his pocket.

Each strike of the match produced a tiny spark that reflected light on his blank yet serious face.

While lighting the match, his mind traveled inward, entering into an inner conversation with Yuri, the entity living in his subconscious.

"Yuri," El called in his mind, his voice calm but with a faint note of hesitation. "This may be a sensitive topic. Whether you want to answer or not is up to you."

A soft yet firm voice echoed in her mind, answering without pause, "Yes. I can guess what you want to ask. From our previous conversation, you must have realized, right?"

El frowned. The match in his hand sparked a small flame that slowly spread to the fuel, giving rise to tongues of flame that began to dance between the pieces of wood.

El stared at the fire, letting it burn away the thoughts that were weighing his down. "Can you tell?" asked El in a serious tone.

Yuri paused for a moment before answering, "Even if all your feelings are gone, I can still trigger anger, resentment, without having to make you feel strong emotional turmoil," Yuri said in a voice full of confidence. "Like when Kayo reminded you of your little sister, right?"

Yuri's words again paused for a moment, giving El room to digest. The campfire was now burning bigger, its light shining on El's face which remained cold but with a seemingly deeper gaze.

After a moment of silence, Yuri continued, "Maybe you've guessed the answer, but you're not sure. Let me make sure, your guess is right."

While watching the gently blazing campfire, the flames danced, casting faint shadows on his irises.

Yuri's voice seemed to echo in his mind, soft yet weighty, like the wind carrying a heavy load.

"So... it's because you're a part of my soul?" he asked inwardly, his tone calm, yet holding a deep curiosity.

"Yes," Yuri replied, his voice floating like a subtle whisper that seeped into El's consciousness. "Because a fragment of my soul is already a part of you."

El breathed in slowly, his chest and shoulders rising and falling in barely perceptible movements, trying to digest the answer.

But before he could say anything more, Yuri continued, her tone becoming sharper, though still calm.

"You're asking this because you want to cry in front of your family's graves, right? As always, you're always prepared for any eventuality."

El did not respond immediately. He remained silent, his eyes still fixed on the flames slowly burning the wood, producing a warm glow that could not reach her cold heart.

"However, the answer is sorry," Yuri continued, his voice now like the blade of a sword piercing, but without hurting. "I can't make you shed tears."

El's expression remained flat, almost emotionless. Only his empty eyes reflected the orange glow of the bonfire in front of his, as if trying to find answers that might be hidden behind the dance of the flames.

The flames continued to crackle softly, the only sound in the silence of the night. Meanwhile, in his mind, Yuri's words continued to echo, framing a reality that he could not deny, even though he knew nothing could change it.

Slowly, El sighed heavily, releasing the burden of thoughts little by little. "Is there a reason? Why can't you make me cry?" he asked finally, his voice low and flat.

Yuri let out an imaginary sigh before answering, "Adrian, I can actually make you cry. But, your emotions only apply to me, not to anything else. It's like a one-way street that has no branches."

El closed his eyes for a moment, digesting those words. Then, he opened his eyes again, staring thoughtfully at the campfire. 'I understand,' he replied calmly. 'But you know, just you being able to make me shed tears is enough.'

Yuri was silent for a moment, before chuckling and sighing again. "You never give up, do you?" She said warmly. "That's what I like about you. Even when you're broken, you don't care and you keep going."

A small, barely noticeable smile appeared on El's face. He stared at the campfire that was beginning to steadily burn, its flames reflecting an invisible warmth on his face.

'Thank you, Yuri,' he whispered to himself. 'Because of you, I can feel the emotions I lost a long time ago again.'

Yuri chuckled softly, a sound that was warming despite its subconscious origin. "Hey, what the hell was that? Don't talk like that, it'll become a death flag. You're still single, remember? And you still have a debt to establish a relationship with Seitenshi!"

El frowned, but his smile persisted. 'What kind of debt is that?' he replied flatly. 'Anyway, it's all your fault. And don't go around setting me up with other women.'

Yuri chuckled in annoyance. "Geez, then you'll be single for life! You ungrateful bastard. Ah, if you want to cry, just use pepper spray."

El just shook his head softly, maintaining his faint smile. The campfire continued to burn, illuminating the cold night, while their conversation soaked in a warmth that only the two of them understood.

A few moments passed, the silence returned around El, but not as cold as before. The conversation with Yuri made El's mood feel a little warmer and was accompanied by the occasional crackling sound of the campfire.