A/n: Quick lil note! Thank you so much for everyone's comments. They're honestly so funny 😭😭 Everyone has such interesting reactions and I always look forward to reading them. I am so sorry that I can't reply/like all of them. I barely know how to navigate wattpad so idk an efficient way to do all of that wiohvcewh. BUT!! I do 10000% read them all!! So again, tysm for reading and leaving comments :D

===

It was natural for Elias to walk with a sense of assurance and authority regardless of circumstances. After all, as the grandson of the chairman, he was constantly under the city's watchful eyes and shouldering their expectations and hopes.

Although, if you were to look at him at this moment, you'd believe otherwise. Elias took a few steps forward, each one slower and more cautious than the last. Not one of them avoided crushing the debris beneath his feet. Shattered glass, remnants of collapsed buildings, fallen power lines––the city resembled an abandoned stage with its set and props tattered, left to be forgotten.

Even after being exorcised by Sara, the aftermath of Rose's attack remained. Lingering apparitions who were too weak to do any significant harm roamed the area. Elias spared them the exorcism; it was a meek attempt to feel some sort of humanity after exorcising hundreds of them just moments ago––removing the existence of beings that were once humans.

There had always been a divide between the dead and the living. If only... If only there was someone to close that gap, or was that too naive of a thought?

Apparitions and humans can never coexist. Elias sighed. I should know that better than anyone.

Streetlights flickered weakly. Was it in a desperate attempt to cling to their former purpose or as a pitiful means of surrender? Elias left the thought for another time. As of right now, his attention was focused on the individual in front of him.

A whisper escaped Elias' lips, but in the eerie silence, his voice was heard clearly.

"... Amias?"

Gold eyes shadowed by dark circles glanced towards Elias, gold eyes void of the earnest and vibrant optimism Elias was used to. It wasn't the gaze of an individual who was grieving nor sad, but a gaze of an individual who was simply exhausted. However, despite all of that, Amias managed a small smile.

"Oh, Elias. You're safe."

With an indifferent gesture, Amias wiped his cheek with the back of his hand. Red. Blood. Exorcists suffered from frostbites, their hands could grow numb and purple, their bodies could be bruised, or their hands could drastically heat up due to an overexertion of their abilities.

They never have to spill blood.

"Did you get injured?"

It was a stupid question and Elias knew that. Amias had no visible injuries, and even if he did, the blood splattered on his cheeks couldn't have come from a wound of his own. But Elias couldn't––he wouldn't––let himself consider the more horrifying alternative.

"Not badly," Amias replied.

"Then..."

Whose blood is that?

"Are you doing okay?" Elias couldn't bring himself to ask that question. "You seem a little off."

Cecil's death was still fresh in their minds, old wounds from Caleb's death was opening up, Sara was in critical condition after exorcising Rose, Lyle had severely injured his hands during the battle with the silver apparition that took place right after Rose's exorcism––everything was a huge mess.

"I... I guess I'm not like myself," Amias mumbled with a small furrow of his eyebrows. "What am I like usually?"

Elias didn't know how to respond to that. As the silence stretched further, he felt compelled to speak up.

"Do you know where Finn is? I couldn't get in contact with him."

The entire time, Amias looked to be in somewhat of a daze. However, the mention of Finn's name brought him back a little.

"Right, of course you'd ask that."

Before Elias could voice his confusion, Amias teleported in front of him. The brunet barely caught a glimpse of the momentary flash of regret on Amias' face before a heavy kick connected with his chest, sending him crashing against a nearby building. Elias fell to the ground, gasping for breath. Painful. And so incredibly powerful. Elias knew Amias was strong, but why did his strength feel almost otherworldly just then?

Amias' expression was grim. "It's cruel how your own friends give you the most experience."

The waves of pain that blurred Elias' mind made it difficult to grasp Amias' words. The aftermath of fighting against Rose and the silver apparition weighted down his limbs. Shakily, he stood up as a quiet question parted his cold lips,

"Why...?"

Just a few hours ago, he and Amias were fighting alongside one another as allies. Amias had a determined smile despite everything that was going on. It reassured Elias. Was that smile a facade to keep Elias from worrying? Had Amias been suffering all along while Elias remained too oblivious to see it?

"I'm sorry." A bittersweet smile was on Amias' lips. "But you wouldn't understand why."

Blood trickled from a wound on Elias' forehead, but his expression did not display any pain he might've felt. He slowly made his way over, each step deliberate and strained. When Elias had closed the gap between the two, Amias waited for his response. Elias would be angry, right? He'd connect the dots that Finn's disappearance had to do with Amias and glare at him with eyes filled with hostility and betrayal, right?

Instead, a soft smile graced Elias' features.

You see, in the midst of his self-blame, Amias overlooked a crucial fact about Elias. The brunet had already lost James and Caleb––two of his closest friends, friends whom he considered as family. Not a single day had passed where the brunet didn't blame himself for not being there for them. What if he had checked in on them more often? What if he had confronted them properly as opposed to quietly scolding their unhealthy actions?

Elias realised that he had made the same mistake with Amias.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. "That I couldn't reach out my hand when you were suffering. I... I thought I was getting better at paying attention to those I care about. But... I'm a terrible friend, aren't I?"

"Don't say that! You're not even close to being terrible," Amias pleaded. "If anything, it's me. I'm the terrible one––"

"Amias."

Elias' voice grew weaker. He was losing too much blood. If Amias acted fast, he could get him treatment. It wasn't too late––

[ Don't lose sight of the reason for this save ]

[ Elias will be fine once you reset. Even if you save him, you'd have to kill him later ]

The reminder from the system was a kick to his stomach.

Right. In this save, Amias planned to gain as much strength as possible in order to prepare for that incident. He needed to defeat it, or at least come close enough to gather information to utilise in a different save. It wouldn't take one or two tries. Maybe it'd be several hundred before he could come close to the best conclusion for this world.

Amias will figure out a means to save this city even if he ended up forgetting who he was by the end.

Because that was his purpose as the protagonist, wasn't it?

Elias swayed a little, his balance unsteady. Amias quickly caught him before he fell.

"Elias...?"

Elias's gaze was hazy and his breath was still. His body had grown cold and his heart was heavy with regret till the moment it stopped beating. Amias exhaled shakily and gently settled down Elias' corpse. He blinked, his vision blurring. Ah. Tears. It was a relief that he could still shed tears for his fallen friends.

However, with each reset, these tears dried up a little quicker. The day when not a single tear fell for his friends terrified Amias.

[ Don't be disheartened. You can reset ]

"I just need to reset." Amias laughed softly. "I can do the most horrible things, reset, and everyone forgets. Doesn't this feel wrong?"

[ It's how your ability works. Why should it feel wrong? ]

There was no point in trying to argue emotions and morals with the system.

"Why was I not allowed to reset when James killed Caleb?" Amias glared at the holographic screen. "When we found out that Cecil died? When Sara got so injured we were unsure if she could use her arms again? Or when the silver apparition was about to tell me his name before he was exorcised? Why are there certain things I cannot change?"

Amias tried to save Caleb, Cecil, and even the silver apparition. He thought that the reset button was a good thing because it gave him a chance to rectify terrible events. However, no matter how many times he tried to arrive early at the scene where James killed Caleb, Amias could not change the outcome. Amias reset countless times to prevent Cecil's death. Futile. Amias reset the his fight with the silver apparition to at least hear him out or to delay his exorcism. Futile again.

Amias could still remember his last words.

"I believed there was a reason that apparitions existed. I didn't want my existence to be denied, but thank you for accepting me." A hint of an appreciative smile kissed the apparition's snow-like features. "If I had been born at a later time, I would've loved to have befriended you. May our paths cross in another time."

[ There are a few predetermined outcomes that cannot be changed by the likes of you. You are just the protagonist of this world. Not an author ]

"So I'm still not even in full control of my own fate."

This system was the only other anomaly in this world. So, as much as Amias hated it, it was a company that he felt the most connection to.

... Was it the only other anomaly?

Amias furrowed his eyebrows. Something lingered in his mind, but it kept slipping away from his grasps.

...

"What am I missing?" Amias stared at his bloodstained hands, dark bangs falling over his pained expression. His voice trembled, and desperation clung onto every syllable of his words. "...Who am I missing?"



===



Amias woke with a gasp. He immediately sat up, his breathing haphazard. With a shaky voice, he quietly called out,

"(Y/n)...?"

No response. Ah, of course. He was in his room. Alone.

Amias kept whispering your name under his breath, as if each repetition would etch it into his tongue. Even if it meant drawing blood, he wanted to make sure he never forget how to say your name.

On Amias' bed was a plush he made, which was a bunny holding a book. He made it thinking of you. Amias held the plush tightly, closing his eyes and focusing on his breathing to calm down. Remnants of the nightmare clung to his mind like claws digging into his skin. Red. Blood. Amias had killed his friends. You weren't there, people that were alive had died––that was just a nightmare, right?

...

Amias had to check. He had to be sure you were really here. Amias rushed out of his room, the cool hallway air a stark contrast to the lingering heat his nightmare left.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry––

Amias didn't know what he was apologising for. Bothering you when it was late? The fact he had forgotten who you were in his nightmare? For the blood that he spilt?

Amias stood before your door. His mind was in tunnel vision; he didn't realise how frantic and desperate his knocks sounded. Amias waited. One. two. Three seconds. Why were you taking so long? What if––

A soft click came from the door as it opened. Amias sighed in relief at the sight of your face, a face blissfully unaware of the emotional turmoil he was going through.

A worried expression on your features, you gently called out his name.

"Amias?"



===



[ Do you know what happens if the protagonist of this world were to reset? ]

Well. This wasn't a question you thought you'd be getting when you're curled up in your bed, playing a cosy romance indie game as a little means of escapism from everything that's happening. Begrudgingly, you saved your game, whispered goodbye to the cute childhood love interest, and focused your attention back on the system.

"No, I don't." You closed your laptop. "Enlighten me."

[ You'd lose your role as an author. Your memories would be gone, your abilities––you'd lose all means to save this world ]

"So... I'm still here, but I'm not truly me?" You asked. "I revert back into an NPC?"

[ ... If that makes it easier for you to understand ]

You supposed the idea made sense. If Amias reseted, he gains a sense of 'control' over this world. Namely, you'd be under that control as well. If what the system said is true, then you'd lose Alastor, Mochi, Copper, Alex, and Sam as well? Oh, fuck that. You've grown way too attached to your apparition family.

"You said that when I 'save' this city, my role is done and I'd leave. What happens then?"

[ The moment you leave, the world would continue as it is. However, no one would remember you ]

Fucking ouch. Okay. Your entire presence just forgotten like that?

"What happens to me? I died in my own world, didn't I? Do I just poof out of existence?"

[ You won't. I can arrange something and bring you back to your world. I'd wipe your memories as well ]

Oh... You suppose that should be seen as a good thing. But you couldn't help but frown deeply at the system's answer.

[ ... ]

[ Would you like me to show you a brief snippet of a world without you? ]

"Huh?" You blinked. "Like, as if––"

The system proceeded to rudely interrupt you by literally shifting time and space around you. Your room melted into pixels. Before you knew it, you were standing in the middle of a torn up city of Anomalous. Collapsed buildings surrounded you, cars lay tipped over, and a chill permeated the air. You glanced at your hands.

Oh. These pretty hands were not yours.

A quick glance over a nearby puddle was enough to confirm whose body you were inhabiting. Amias' face stared back at you from the puddle's reflection. He had his old hairstyle, a short mid ponytail as opposed to the one you've grown used to now; longer hair with a high ponytail and a blonde under dye.

Was the system showing you some sort of vision of Anomalous from a timeline where you never entered the picture?

You cleared your throat. "Hello?"

Oh, gee. Wow. It really was Amias' body you have temporarily taken over––

A sharp pain from your head disrupted off your thoughts as a storm of emotions overwhelmed you. Self blame, overwhelming amounts of guilt and anguish, and a crushing burden of stress. God. How on earth does one person shoulder all of this and could still smile with every reset?

You also felt so lonely. Having so much control over this world was terrible. There was a strong desire to simply get rid of it all, yet a sense of duty kept Amias from breaking entirely. And despite his suffering, Amias refused to feel pity for himself. He felt like he didn't deserve it. That only made your heart ache.

If you didn't allow yourself to cry for yourself... Then I'd do it for you.

It was probably useless, but you were desperate to find any means to comfort him.

A few minutes later, the world around you changed again. You returned back to your room. It was a freezing night, but you were sweating from the experience. You promptly turned off your heater and let out a deep sigh.

"If... If I let him reset, that'll happen again," you said. "I can't––there's no way I can allow that."

[ That sense of control Amias has can save this city, but at the cost of his happiness ]

Well, it was obvious what your answer should be. If you saved this city and left, there was no need for Amias to reset. If everyone's memories were wiped, no pain would be felt from losing someone. Everyone in Anomalous would continue their lives and you'd continue... yours.

A frantic series of knocks from your door caught you off guard. You needed a few seconds to compose yourself after what just happened, so you swiftly demolished a bottle of water before heading to the door. When you opened it and saw Amias, for some reason you weren't all that surprised––probably because you were just thinking about him.

"Amias?"

However, you were surprised when he suddenly pulled you into a tight hug.

"...?"

Carefully, you returned the gesture. Concern washed over you when you noticed how much he was trembling. Any questions you might've had were set to the side for now. Gently, you attempted to pull away from the embrace so that you could invite Amias into your room. However, his breath hitched and he held you even tighter. He refused to let you go.

"I'm not going anywhere," you whispered. "Let's come inside, okay?"

It took a minute, but Amias eventually relented. When he let go, you finally got a good look at his face. The corners of his eyes were red and his gold eyes were glossy with tears. Within a quiet sniff, a small and obedient nod came from Amias.

"Okay, but can we keep holding hands?"

Shit. Your heart. What in the world happened that left him like this?

"Of course." You smiled, interlocking his fingers with yours. "Like this?"

"Yes... Thank you."

You led Amias to your bed and your mind spun with thoughts of how to comfort him. Oh, right! There was a cute Easter egg in the game where Amias would show the most adorable smile if you let him hug his favourite plush before you left his room. Naturally, you always did so because his smile healed your soul. Amias also had a habit of hugging his plush toys very tightly when he slept. This became more of an issue when his strength progressively increased. Amias was great at sewing, but he always felt terrible for ruining the plushies. At one point, he pleaded with Elias to help him control his strength.

Uhhhh. A plush. I own those. Question is, which one should I––

Ah! You got it. You had a giant bear plush that you won. Well, technically Alastor won it. Long story short: he dissed your arcade skills and ended up winning the plush just to prove his point.

"Wait here for a bit," you said.

Amias's eyes grew wide with panic. "Where are you going?"

"I won't be leaving the room, don't worry. Just give me a sec."

Amias looked like a kicked puppy, but he didn't protest any further. You grabbed a thick blanket from the end of the bed and wrapped it around Amias. He blinked in surprise, but content washed over his features at the warmth. Next, you grabbed the bear plush sitting by your closet and shoved it into his arms.

"There. Comfy?"

Amias held the plush closer to him before nodding timidly, a hint of a smile on his lips. Success! You weren't incompetent when it came to comforting others! You sat next to Amias on the bed and he relaxed at close proximity.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to disturb you at this hour," he said. "I must've interrupted your sleep."

Well. Uh. It wasn't like you were wide awake giggling to yourself like an idiot towards 2D men. No way.

"Nah, I was already awake." You smiled. "Are you feeling any better? Do you want something to eat or drink?"

"... Yes."

You expected Amias to politely refuse, which was why his response caught you off guard.

"Great! What do you want?"

"Anything. Anything is fine as long as you make it."

"Well... How about some hot chocolate to drink?"

He perked up. "It does."

Heh. Of course you'd know his favourite drink.

Amias' eyes followed you as you went over to the counter. His gaze never left you. It wasn't uncomfortable at the slightest, but you were a little concerned. He seemed anxious about letting you out of his sights.

After topping off the drink with some marshmallows shaped like bunnies, you brought it over to him.

"Here you go. Careful, it's hot."

Well, it wasn't like the heat of a simple cup of hot chocolate could do anything to Amias, but you wanted to be sure. Amias thanked you with a smile that softened the worry etched on his face. He also chuckled at the sight of the marshmallows. When Amias took a sip, a comforting sigh left him. Was your hot chocolate making skills that good? The tension in his shoulders eased a bit and some colour returned to his face.

You two sat in silence. Amias still held the plush close to his chest as he cradled the hot chocolate with both hands, taking slow, deliberate sips.

"(Y/n)?"

"Yeah?"

Amias paused for a moment before asking, "... Who am I to you?"

There were so many ways you could answer that question.

You're my protagonist. Was what you wanted to say. It barely made any sense without the right context, but it was the perfect way to describe who Amias was to you. From the moment you set foot in this world, Amias had always been on your mind; from being worried about the end of the story to worrying about his future as the protagonist of this world. Even now your goals heavily revolved around Amias. Yes, yes you were trying to save the city, but you also wanted to save Amias from a cruel fate of endless resets and suffering.

"You... You mean so much to me it's hard to put it into words."

Amias smiled and some light returned to his eyes.

"I feel the same. You mean everything to me, you are my everything." His voice then dipped into a whisper. "I can't imagine what would happen if you weren't here."

Ah.

It'll... It'll be fine. The system said his memories would be wiped.

"... You won't leave, right?"

Amias' eyes were on you. Why... Why did his question feel less like an inquiry, but more of a plea of reassurance?

"What makes you say that?"

The moment you saw Amias' anxious expression, you knew that wasn't the right thing to say. Quickly, you followed it up with,

"The job is dangerous. While I can't guarantee I'll always be safe, I don't have intentions of throwing my life away. Who else is gonna take care of my apparitions?"

You tried your best to show him a reassuring smile. Thankfully, Amias seemed to have calmed down a little. He took one last sip of his drink before placing it down on a nearby counter.

"I had a nightmare," he said. "It... I was really stressed out."

It made you happy that Amias sought you for comfort, but you wished he didn't need to suffer at all.

"If you're comfortable with sharing, what was it about?"

"... I saw a world where you weren't there. Caleb and Cecil weren't alive, I was fighting Elias––I-I think I even hurt Finn––" Amias' speech grew more frantic with each word. "I even ended up––I..."

Amias held the plush tightly, desperately trying his best to calm his uneven breathing. You extended a comforting hand to Amias, intertwining your fingers with his, which eased his tension a little. Although you wanted to provide words of reassurance, you found yourself momentarily distracted by Amias' words.

... Did he have a nightmare about the original timeline?

[ That's not a coincidence. The other system probably had something to do with it ]

You managed to not flinch at the sudden appearance of the holographic screen. At least its input was useful.

Although... Then, would it only be a matter of time before Amias realised that the nightmare was a reality once upon a time?

"S-sorry, I didn't mean to ramble like that," Amias mumbled.

"Don't apologise. That sounded like a terrible experience, I don't blame you for feeling anxious," you replied. "No one wants to see their friends hurt."

"It felt so real, but I promise I'd never do that! I..." His eyebrows knitted together in distress. "But... Not having you there made me feel so lonely. Truthfully, I don't know what I'd do if you left. I... I can't accept a world without you in it."

While it was heartwarming at first glance, there was a sense of resolve in his words that was a little concerning.

"(Y/n), you're not shouldering too much on your own, are you?"

A rough question. Technically, this moment in time you've been the most stressed you've ever been.

"I'm doing as well as I can be right now."

"(Y/n)..." Amias leaned in a little closer. "Please. If you're struggling, please tell me."

You wished you could. As cool and noble it sounded to shoulder everything and press on forward with a determined smile, you were still human. Honestly, you were surprised you haven't crumbled from the stress of everything. However, perhaps it was a matter of time before you did, a matter of time you grow desperate and make rash decisions.

"I'm yours to use." Amias lifted your intertwined hands and pressed a gentle kiss to the back of your hand, prompting your eyes to widen in response. "Whether it'd be to make sure others don't bother you or take on a million injuries for your sake, I'll do it all. As long as I'm allowed to stay by your side, it's a small price to pay."

"... Make sure others don't bother me?"

"Ah..." Amias grew quiet, a hesitant look on his face. "I... It's alright. You don't have to worry about it."

You managed to hold back a doubtful glance, but unease gnawed at you. It felt like you were missing crucial information, something that could come back and bite you in the future if you didn't address it now. How would you get the answer out of Amias?

You know how.

Your breath caught in your throat.

You know Amias better than anyone else. Not to mention, you know exactly how loyal he is to you. If he's willing to lose an arm for you, shouldn't you know how to get him to give you answers?

They were your thoughts. They felt wrong, they weren't in character of who you were as a person. Yet, in this moment, a moment where you were stressed and anxious, you decided to humour these thoughts.

"Amias, I don't want you to hide things from me." Your voice was gentle and honey like. "Of course, I don't want to force anything. But the more I know and understand you, the better, right?"

What you said wasn't a lie, but... Your intentions and actions were manipulative. It made you feel sick. And the guilt you felt only exemplified when Amias bought your words without a second thought.

"You're right. I was hesitating because I didn't want you to worry about unnecessary things, but I shouldn't keep things from you."

An innocent puppy-like smile was on Amias' lips. It was as if you had given him life changing advice.

"Do you remember Brynn?"

Oh, yeah. Her. With saving the city under your belt, Brynn was the least of your worries really.

"Haven't heard from her in a long time. Why?"

"I really don't like her."

His voice carried a fleeting hint of disdain. The naive part of you wondered if you had simply imagined it, but your intuition told you otherwise. Amias could show anger, sure; he was human. Yet, it felt so out of character for him to sound so bitter. After all, Amias was a loveable and kind protagonist, sometimes too kind for his own good.

However, that image of Amias didn't suit him at the moment.

"Same. Look, we have so much in common," you teased, hoping to keep the mood light.

Thankfully, Amias smiled along with you.

"She had said terrible things about you. The thing is, I get angry on behalf of my other friends as well. However, when it comes to you... it's a lot different."

Amias tilted his head, his lips pressed into a thin line. His once soft, round eyes narrowed into a glare, and the moonlight that filtered through your parted curtains made them illuminate with a dangerous glint.

"Anyone who has any ill intent towards you... it's unforgivable."

For a moment, all you could do was stare at Amias, speechless and unsure if the scene in front of you was real. You wanted to deny it, but this conversation prompted you to remember a conversation you had with Amais in the past.

Amias took a deep breath. "When the woman was possessed, I hesitated to help her out. Sorry that's not the right word. A part of me... didn't want to help her out," he said, voice tinged with uncertainty. "Of course, I didn't want her to get severely injured! I just... didn't jump straight into action to help like I normally would."

Amias proceeded to place the bear onto the bed, giving it an affectionate pat on the head. You watched in confusion before you saw him digging his nails into his palms, and you could see the veins standing out against his skin,

"Brynn is currently injured; however, I don't feel bad at all. In fact, it feels right."

Holy shit. You didn't even think Lyle would say something like that.

"Injured?" You repeated. "How badly?"

Amias glanced your way. "...Are you worried?"

"W-well, I—"

The panic within you eased slightly when Amias laughed, adoration in his eyes. "That's just like you. You're so kind."

Amias then proceeded to explain what happened; from the two of them working together for a brief moment during Shen's attack at the weapon announcement to her being caught up in an unfortunate accident caused by apparitions. His tone of voice... he really had mo remorse for Brynn's circumstance. You were oblivious to all of this the entire time? You had a million other things going on, so no one could blame you for not noticing the early signs. However, considering the kind of person you were, you blamed yourself regardless.

"You're not mad are you?" Amias asked, voice timid and meek.

"I..." You swallowed. "I'm not mad."

But this is all so wrong. Your devotion to me is extreme. You're...

Obsessed. It was an obsession at this point, wasn't it?

Your throat became dry when you wanted to voice those thoughts.

Amias let out a sigh of relief. "That's great! I wouldn't know what to do if you hated me."

While Amias was on cloud nine, you were being suffocated by a mountain of thoughts. Considering Amias' attachment to you, how would he react if he found out you planned to leave? Would he make sure you'd stay here? What if you explained what would happen to you if he reset?

Would he care?

After all, though you'd lose your abilities and memories, you'd still be here. Would he be fine with that?

... That's not impossible.

Then what the hell were you supposed to do? Was it possible to play therapist and talk him out of it? Was it too late? Or was it too risky? If you showed any hints that you'd be leaving, all he needed was to reset once and everything would be over for you. You always believed people could change with time and the right support, but did you have enough time?

"(Y/n)?"

You jumped a little. "Yeah?"

"You were spacing out. Are you tired?"

"I..."

Amias frowned at your silence. His eyes searched your expression and you tensed.

"(Y/n), you really won't leave, right?" Amias gently held your hand and held it to his cheek. His skin was soft and tender; normally, your heart would flutter at the gesture. But all you felt now was apprehension. "(Y/n), I'd do anything if you say so. You know that, don't you? Do I need to make it clearer?"

No, it's clear enough. Too clear.

"I trust you and believe everything you say." Amias smiled. "I will always be by your side no matter what."

"Even if I'm in the wrong?"

"You're never wrong."

Hah... What a situation. Amias opened to you about his past, how he was trapped inside a building, alone. Essentially, he was someone born and forced into the role of a protagonist, to shoulder this city's burden on his own. So, as concerned as you were about his unhealthy dependence on you, your heart also ached at how and why he became that way.

However, your sympathy won't be useful in this case.

You... You can use his loyalty to make sure he does not reset.

It's for his own good. I'm doing a good thing. I always have the best interest in mind for my friends, don't I? I can't take the long route and play therapist this time, it's too risky.

Suddenly, you cupped Amias' cheeks. His eyes widened and his cheeks went red. You doubted you were doing a good job at hiding the guilty look on your expression; however, Amias was too blissfully trusting of you to realise that you were acting off.

His eyes were full of trust and admiration.

And you used it as a beautiful viel to lie through your teeth.

"I won't be leaving. We'll always stick together, so don't worry about anything else, okay?"

And especially don't reset.

"Do you remember what I said about the reset button?"

Amias nodded, expression still flustered, but he was attentive to every word you said.

"You won't use it, right?"

Without hesitation, Amias responded, "Of course."

Hah... Amias didn't even ask for your reason.

You smiled. A strained, guilt-ridden smile. "Good"