Story Reader / Main Story / 21 Spiral of Chronos / Story
Morian?
Murray looks surprised on the other side of the comms, as if he never expected his brother to call him at this time.
But a happy smile soon appears on his face.
Are you still on the surface? Are you on a mission?
Yeah, I'm still on the surface.
You've been out on this mission for quite some time now, is everything all right? You're not in any trouble, are you?
"Is there anything I can help with?" Murray could not bring himself to ask the last question.
Most things have been taken care of now, so I currently have some... free time.
Is that so... But, Morian, you rarely call me during a mission. Especially when you're extremely busy... I don't get to hear your voice for months during those times.
Which is why I was a bit worried you were in trouble when I got your call just now.
But, I'm glad you're okay.
Don't worry, I'm fi—
—Ugh!
Lee furrows his brows as he suddenly stops talking and reaches for his Inver-Device.
Morian?! What's wrong?!
...It's nothing.
You're doing it again... I saw what happened, Morian, and it definitely didn't look like nothing.
Lee mentally sighs as he puts down his hand. He was caught red-handed, making excuses now will just make Murray more worried.
Some Corrupted appeared near the base earlier and some non-combatant personnel got caught in the crossfire. I had to prioritize their safety and there were quite a lot of Corrupted... I was lightly infected during battle.
But thanks to the Inver-Device, my infection level quickly dropped so I'm fine now.
Are you sure? You're not lying to me again, are you...?
Am I that untrustworthy to you, Murray?
Lee half-heartedly jokes as he shows Murray his frame status, but rather than laughing in reply, Murray replies gently with a hint of sadness.
Well, it's not going to be the first time you hid something from me... But I don't want to be kept in the dark anymore... You're my only family, Morian.
You're my dear brother and no one in the world can replace you. But... you're too far away from me, there's not much I can do to help...
...
Family is... irreplaceable.
Lee is suddenly reminded of the message he saw in the base of the phonograph earlier—the extremely vague message that made no sense.
Give your little brother a call even when it's not out of necessity.
This is the message he had heard when he was protecting the little boy's brother from the Corrupted earlier. This message resonated in a familiar voice from his heart, as if it was his inner voice, as if it was... a message from somewhere through time and space.
He quickly dismisses this ridiculous thought, but when he stares up at the dazzling moon, he feels a sudden urge to call Murray. He realizes he has already dialed Murray's number when he finally snaps out of it.
He unconsciously touches around his collar, feeling the small square pendant through his clothes.
Speaking of, you actually helped me today, Murray.
Look at you, trying to change the subject again—Wait, what? Me?
Lee briefly explains how they used a Graviton Detector to create a topographic map and find the projector among the electromagnetic illusions.
As expected from my big brother!
It was all thanks to your gift. So, look, even though you're not by my side, you're still helping me a lot.
Was I really of help to you?
Of course.
I'm glad...
Murray parts his lips. There is a lot that he wants to say... but he does not know where to start.
Morian... Are you really all right?
The line he ends up saying is one that he has asked before.
Haha, I've already asked that, haven't I... I'm just glad you're fine.
Murray smiles sheepishly, all his smooth talking skills vanishing instantly.
—Are you really all right? Why do you look so sad, Morian? Why are you suddenly telling me that... What are you thinking about, Morian? What have you experienced in the time I wasn't by your side?
Are you sad... because of me? Why are you looking at me like that?
...
Murray, I... I just suddenly remembered something.
Huh...?
Family is... irreplaceable.
What family needs is not secrets, but supporting one another. He has always wanted to shelter and protect his little brother from the world, but he never once considered that the little bird he had protected under his wing is now fully fledged.
His wings are now decorated with strong feathers, enough to allow him to soar freely in the skies.
There were things I never told you when you were younger.
Why bring this up... all of a sudden?
...I saw some fireworks in a storage area here on the surface. It reminded me of that... festival.
Festival...
Of course, Murray remembers that festival. The fireworks, the hubbub, and his brother who sat silently in front of the desk with a bandaged arm.
This was when he first discovered that Morian's job was different from what he was told.
But he did not know how to go about asking it, nor did he know what he could do to help.
It was also on that day that he secretly decided that he wanted to follow in his brother's footsteps, that he wanted to help him, and that he wanted his brother to be able to rely on him and not walk down this path of darkness alone...
He wanted and wanted. He hid his desires deep in his heart and sealed them up in a box. And then he packed his bags and set off on his journey.
He does not know how long it has been, but it seems like it has been quite a long time since he last talked with his brother like this.
The path he is on is too dark, so dark that he cannot be sure himself that it will lead to where his brother is.
I was worried about your health back then, so...
...I'm sorry.
Lee looks away as a shaky apology slips out of his mouth, not knowing what face he should put on to face Murray.
...You have nothing to apologize for, Morian.
I've always known.
Everything that you've done was for me—for our future. I've never blamed you for any of it.
You never told me and I never asked. I was afraid of bothering you and not being able to help.
I've always known what you were doing, and I had always been... scared—scared that I would receive some bad news, scared that one day you would be...
A sad smile forms on Murray's face.
...Maybe I should've told you back then.
...I should've pushed open that door back then.
!
The two brothers express the same sentiments simultaneously.
Morian...?
...I was just thinking if I did the right thing or not.
Whether it be the white lies when they were younger or not mentioning anything bad after reaching Babylonia.
It seems that all those "white lies" never soothed Murray's worries when he grew up in Babylonia, instead, they seem to have torn the two of them apart...
And what would've been the "right" thing to do then?
No matter what we do, it's not possible to ensure that all our choices are correct.
But it's enough as long as you know what it is that you want to achieve.
For example... I know I want to protect you, Morian, and that's enough.
Lee looks up in a startle. He just realized now that the Murray in front of him is not the same small, fragile little brother in his memories anymore.
He has grown tall enough, shoulders wide enough—enough to stand by his side.
Although there may be other worries when making a choice, and even when you have the heart to do the "right" thing, external factors may twist your intentions...
Just like... how I always feel that everything's too late, that I need to help you as soon as possible, and that there is a lot I need to do quickly...
But are all my choices really the "correct" ones?
Sorry, Morian, I...
The human on the other side of the comms averts his eyes uneasily, swallowing the rest of the words he was planning to say.
Silence dominates the conversation except for light breathing. Murray could almost hear his own heightened heartbeat.
He should not have been telling Morian all these things according to the original plan.
Only he needs to drown in those swamps and whirlpools and no one else. Morian only needs to follow that commandant and win those glorious battles one after another...
Only he needs to be devoured by the filthy pits of nothingness...
But if he thinks about it now, is that any different from what his brother did?
Seconds past like decades, until the Construct on the other end of the comms lightly coughs.
We really are... alike.
Wanting the best for one another while hiding the pain.
The air clears and Murrays smiles gently.
I just thought that since you said it out loud, I shouldn't...
...Never again.
No more hiding the pain and the truth because... they are family.
What family needs is not secrets, but supporting one another.
Then... it's a promise.
No matter what happens, we won't keep secrets from each other anymore.
I promise.
When I get back from this mission... Let's go to that art exhibition you've been wanting to see.
He adds after a pause.
This time I'll definitely be there.
I look forward to it, Morian.
Murray nods. All those worries that have been harassing and torturing him slowly disappear from his heart.
After that, Lee and Murray talk about their current situations. They have realized that they have not chatted this freely in a long time.
What about you? How has work been? Have you decided what you want to do?
Well... there's an opening in the military for a tactical liaison officer and I plan to apply for that.
A tactical liaison officer? Why's that? It's not an easy job.
I want to support you so that when you're fighting on the front lines, we'll be fighting together!
If I get assigned Gray Raven missions, then I'll be your tactical liaison officer!
That doesn't sound bad.
But there's a lot you'll need to prepare for that role... You should be able to find "A Summary of Tactical Intelligence Reconnaissance" and "The Study of Information Distribution" in the library. Give them a read when you have time.
Wow! I didn't know you were an expert on these subjects as well!
I just saw them while looking something up.
Can you teach me if I don't understand something?
Of course, when have I ever refused your requests?
But remember to rest and don't burn yourself out.
You still have to be careful even though you've had the heart transplant.
Don't worry, I will.
You should be careful in battle, too, Morian.
Don't forget that I'm waiting to go to the exhibition with you...
...I will.
In the warm nest, he was alone without the little bird he protected.
He thought he had lost the bird, but when he looked up, he realized that the little bird had already grown up and was circling the skies, trying to shelter him from the storm.
In the night with the moon hanging high, two clear chirps could be heard from afar—two birds follow one another, flying off into the horizon.
After ending the call, Lee feels more relaxed. The fog that had been clouding his heart had dissipated as the conversation went on.
But, there is one other thing that is on his mind.
(What in the world was that message just now...?)
(Together with the message is a string of... corrupted code?)
(I don't know what this is but I'll record it just in case.)
