Letter to the One I Love:

  A few hours ago—

  I saw you standing there, your brow furrowed, a heaviness in your chest.

  I know, you want to speak, you can’t bear it, and you don’t want to watch all of this happen with your eyes wide open.

  But I knew even better, if I let you say it, you’d have to face two paths:

  One path is to draw the sword, save them, tear this world apart, and bring hope to it.

  The other, to lower your head, retreat, and admit that you are nothing more than a false bystander.

  I knew you weren’t ready. You didn’t have the answer.

  So— I arranged for someone else to speak the words you wanted to say.

  Not to stop you, but to help you understand:

  If you truly spoke those words, what would await you afterward.

  I wanted you to see with your own eyes, feel with your own heart:

  —Your choice will decide the lives and deaths of so many.

  —Your words will determine the fate of countless lives.

  So, I want to ask you:

  —Are you truly ready to bear the consequences of that choice?

  Of course, you’re smart.

  You didn’t answer.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Instead, you turned the question into another one:

  —Are they really worth drawing your sword for?

  You saw a group of pitiful people:

  They are selfish, ignorant, cowardly, numb.

  They have no faith, no courage.

  They follow whoever is powerful, a disorganized mob.

  They can’t give you what you want—

  No passion, no fervor, no fight, no resonance.

  In them, you couldn’t see the strength that would make you draw your sword.

  I know why you long for these things.

  Because you don’t want to walk alone.

  You crave someone who can stand by your side, someone to walk with you.

  So, to my question, you gave your answer:

  —Why must I bear all the consequences alone?

  —If they don’t fight for their dignity, their rights, their future;

  —If they can only pray for a savior, placing all their hopes in that savior;

  —Then, after the savior is gone, this world will remain unchanged.

  —I am not a savior.

  —So, my sword will not be drawn for this world.

  —My sword will only be drawn for myself.

  Your answer is good, but it’s not enough.

  Because those who seem numb may also become your partners.

  No one is born numb.

  The reason they are this way—

  is because of this world, because of suffering, because of despair, because they’ve never truly seen the light of hope.

  And hope—hope can change them.

  When they go through certain experiences, when they see a possibility, they will grow, they will awaken.

  At that point, they will become your partners, your comrades.

  And on that day, you will no longer need to bear everything alone, no longer need to carry this heavy choice by yourself.

  You will meet many, many people, and they will walk beside you;

  They will share your troubles, they will become your true companions.

  Of course, I know, this won’t be easy.

  Along the way, you will encounter countless problems;

  Countless failures, countless betrayals, countless struggles.

  But—we have time.

  And you—you have the ability.

  I know you understand these truths, you just choose not to draw your sword.

  And I’m writing this letter not to persuade you to save the world.

  In fact, I don’t care whether the world will be saved or not.

  What I care about is—

  When you meet me, will you summon the courage to pursue me, instead of waiting for me to chase after you?

  When the moment is right, will you embrace me and kiss me without hesitation, instead of standing there, waiting for me to make the first move?

  Signed: The one who loves you

  Date: April 5, Ark Year 1

  System reminder:

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  —No need.

  —It's just a diary entry of mine.