Talents reflected the nature of the soul. They were individual, unique to a person, and showcased a person's 'path' in life that they would walk.
That was what I had written. But, because of the system that Rob had given me, I thought I was the exception to the rule. I thought the Talent I had obtained was reflecting the actions I had taken. And yet...
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[At the cost of my life]
An undying resolve to eradicate monsters burns in your soul. After laughing in the face of death, you have forcibly shattered your limits. Growth in all stats is dramatically increased until Rank 5. Afterwards, growth in all stats are double the average growth rate.
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...That Talent I had 'awakened' wasn't even mine to begin with. No, that belonged to [Alexander Smith]. And the reason for him awakening that Talent...
"Alex?" Betty looked up and frowned, her violet eyes shimmering. "...Are you okay? You've been quiet..."
I blinked and then gave her a warm smile. Ruffling her blonde hair, I said, "Just thinking, Betty."
Beatrice Smith. [Alexander Smith's] younger sister who vanished. A kind, sweet, and thoughtful young girl who was taken away in a freak accident. Whose path in life was cut short, and for whom [Alexander] gave everything to find.
I didn't have Alex's memories or emotions. And whether because the trial was coming to an end, or because those last words I heard from him exhausted his remaining traces, there were no more reactions to the situation.
But I didn't need them to understand what had happened.
Despair at seeing his parents killed in front of him. Bitter and bone-deep regret at being too weak to save Betty, his only remaining family. And then madness that he turned into a white-hot flame to pull out everything he had, dancing on the edge of death again and again and refusing to fall. Because he wasn't allowed to die until he found her.
If Alex had been the main character, it was perfect. The plot would have it that his misfortune would be met with opportunities. And he'd eventually find Betty again, reuniting with her and having a happy ending.
But he wasn't. Because I didn't write him to be.
A generic name, appearance, and ability level. A true extra who was crushed with the reality that no matter how much he strived, he would never be able to break through that glass ceiling. He could see past it, but he could never shatter it even if he burned everything he had.
'...After all, that's the extent of Alex's Talent.'
At the cost of his life, he shattered his limits and forcibly sped up his growth. And he raised his baseline talent too.
But it still wasn't enough. The price of his life only brought him to 'above average.' Yet, to find his sister, and to be able to face the challenges that were required, he needed 'genius.'
So he made another trade.
More than his life. More than his soul.
Everything.
Everything, just for a chance, a glimpse at a miracle.
And 'someone' answered. Whether it was Rob or some other deity, I didn't know. But what I did know was that I was the one who was given the choice.
Whether to grant his wish. Whether to find and save the adorable young girl in front of my eyes right now... or to ignore it.
That was the 'privilege' given to me as the author.
The person who held the pen of destiny was me. The one who decided which stories ended and which continued was me. The one who decided who was an 'extra' and who was a main character...
It was me. Only me.
Someone else might have prepared the material. Someone else might have set the stage and actors. Someone else might have even written a draft of how things would go.
But I was the Playwright. I was the Author of the story. And if I wanted it to go another way, I had that right.
And right now...
A soft tug on my sleeve.
I blinked and looked over to see Betty standing there and staring at a collapsed house.
"Hey, Alex..." Betty murmured. "Do you... think we could make a grave? For... for Mom and Dad...?"
I froze.
A grave? Here?
I was confused for a moment. But then I realized it. While I was lost in thought, my body had moved on its own. Or rather, [Alex] had moved, following the traces left behind. And we had arrived at [my] home.
A once beautiful two-story home but now collapsed into a pile of rubble. A small flower garden up front was ripped to shreds by giant claw marks. Ash was scattered across the area from flames that had now extinguished. And, by the doorway, underneath a collapsed ceiling...
I quietly covered Betty's eyes and said, "I'll do it, Betty. Just close your eyes for now and wait. Okay?"
Betty nodded, remaining quiet.
But I could feel it beneath my hands. Wet tears that were starting to fall from her eyes.
...It wasn't fair. All of this was cruel. Nonsensical and irrational.
'...But that's the world I wrote.'
Though Roland and Marisa had a happy ending, they were only two of countless others. And they had the privilege of being both talented and lucky. Talented because they were born that way. And lucky because they were the 'main characters.'
Both were needed.
After all, in 3D-ED, Evelyn wasn't a 'main character' and so faced her end.
All for the sake of the 'plot.'
I let out a slow sigh and patted Betty's head before stepping forward towards the house entrance.
A pool of blood, only recently dried. An acrid scent of burnt flesh and ash, mixed with the still lingering iron...
I steeled myself and focused.
My status had fallen again to Rank 3.
I'd unequipped
An item that forcibly elevated one's status and granted a Domain that disrupted all kinds of mana...
I could use it here in this isolated Gate. But not in reality.
'You're distracting yourself, idiot.'
Right.
I was letting my mind wander because I didn't want to face it. The fact that I had written this scene so callously as 'backstory' when the reality of it was this cruel. But... I had to. So...
"Wind, gather and move." I murmured and held out my hand.
A faint breeze blew past before intensifying, lifting up the debris and shoving it to the side.
I had to resist the urge to gag at the sight in front of my eyes.
"Alex?"
I could hear Betty's questioning tone. But I shook my head and said, "Please keep your eyes closed until I'm finished Betty. I'll tell you when."
"...Okay, Alex."
I let out a slow breath and then focused again.
Betty wanted a grave. And while it wasn't the best location for it... the garden in front was good enough.
I stepped back outside and muttered, "Earth, hollow and expand."
Mana flowed along with the ground, shifting to create a square six feet deep and six across.
With that done, I let out a slow sigh and turned my attention back to the... remains, of our parents. "...Wind, embrace and carry."
Again, a breeze blew past. But this time, it was gentle. Wrapping around the remains, it gently carried both towards the hole before setting them in.
I walked towards the hole and looked down.
'This is reality. I knew it. But now I've experienced it.'
A story that would continue to unfold in the future. One that would become commonplace when the Eternal Empire fell and when Demon God Umbrel descended.
A story I chose to erase and rewrite.
The first step towards that was clear.
Save Evelyn. Prevent the fall. And if I can, empower enough people to turn the tides against the tidal wave of despair coming our way.
"...Earth, return and cover." I murmured, gently filling the hole.
There weren't coffins.
I wasn't skilled enough or understood enough how to make them out of wood or metal using mana. But this would have to be enough.
"Stone, gather and mold."
I muttered one last incantation, making a small cross and slab over the grave. Then I sighed and looked towards Betty.
Was it because she subconsciously hoped it was all a dream? Betty's eyes were squeezed shut, tense. But when she heard my words, she trembled and opened her eyes. Tears immediately welled up when she did and she rushed over to hug me.
I hugged her back and murmured, "It will be alright."
Betty sobbed. "I don't get it, Alex. Why...? Why us? Mom... Dad... We were all so happy...!"
"I know." I rubbed her back and muttered, "I know."
...This didn't really matter.
The 'Betty' here was fake. Just a recreation born from magic, an elaborate spell, and the memories of [Alexander Smith]. Even so...
"You'll be fine. I promise."
...I promised her anyway. Even if she wasn't the real thing. Even if she was just an artificial memory that only I would remember in the end.
Betty hugged me tight, sobbing against my chest.
I held her close and rubbed her back.