“I thought you threw the TV or something! That’s barely lashing out! I would be angrier if I were you!”

The voice from the other side of my phone was Violette’s. I ran away to the hospital’s cafeteria after that outburst and called her only to be scolded immediately.

“It’s not like he’s at fault.”

“Sota, he knew and he prioritized himself. So unless he’s an idiot who can’t understand his own brother, he’s just a jerk.”

“You know it’s the former.”

“Ugh, I give up. I knew you’re a wimp but not this much! Aren’t you supposed to be heartbroken right now?”

“Well, yeah but I’m used to this. Besides, the idea of having my best friend as a potential sister-in-law is kinda exciting. It’s far better than a random girl he found somewhere.”

“Ah, the classic silver lining bullshit. Enough with this unfortunate way of thinking. Think of your own self for a change!” Those words triggered something in my memory.

“Violette, were you there?”

“Ha?”

“At that time, before I passed out, I felt like you were there talking to me.”

“What? Um… Of course I wasn’t, moron,” she said but the pause before made it a little suspicious.

“I know, right? Well, at least it’s nice that you’re the last person in my mind.”

“Come on, sheesh, you survived.” I could hear her scoff behind everything she said.

In the middle of all that, the people in the cafeteria all suddenly got up and gathered around the main monitor. The news was up. Seemed like the prime minister was ready to explain what actually happened two weeks ago.

“After finishing the evacuation, damage control, and reparation process, we found no other casualties aside from student S who fortunately survived. To protect the identity of said student let me apologize beforehand for not being able to thank him personally. The student managed to save numerous civilians and helped the incident containment process during the events. For that, from the depths of our heart, we offer our utmost gratitude.”

“Investigations by Crystalling City Police Department had proven the involvement of the terrorist group from Balkan region who are, until now, in a power struggle with the European Empire as part of the conflict from the outside. These terrorist groups hijacked and derailed the monorail that caused astronomical property damage and terrorized our city. I am proud to announce that Luxen and Phantom Defense Forces managed to capture these individuals who will later be prosecuted under international law.”

“I assure you, citizens of Crystalline City, that I will keep my promise to make sure we stay neutral and put all of you as top priority over any involvement in the ongoing war. The Crystalline City should remain—”

“Terror group? Monorail? What is she talking about? That’s not what happened.”

“What do you mean?”

“I was there, Vi. I can’t really describe it without sounding like a nut job but what killed me was a dragon or something.”

“You remember that thing?”

“What?”

“No, I mean, look at the news! The evidence points towards what exactly the Prime Minister was saying.”

As I looked at the monitor, I could see the surveillance camera footage of what happened, even the ones with me in it. I could still remember vividly that thing talking about eating despair and what not but the video I was watching showed me facing a group of mercenaries-looking people in front of a derailed train.

“I think I need to go back to Dr. Burke, Vi.”

“Let’s not talk about it right now.”

***

“David, he remembers!”

“That’s impossible, Violette.”

“He clearly talked about Caladrius.”

“Look, it’s not like everything is a government cover up or a big conspiracy. It’s actually the fabric of reality rewrapping itself. Normal people don’t have the cognitive capabilities to even sense those stuff after reality rewrote itself. Only those with Diegesis would— wait, are you saying he developed a Diegesis?”

“Exactly! I’m sure at some point the Crystal gave him one.”

“You know what that means, right?”

“Right.”

“Vi, we can’t back down once this is a possibility, you know that?”

“It’s his life we’re talking about, though.”

“You know for sure we just don’t have any other choice.”