The sun dipped low, painting the skies of Eminence in shades of orange and red. The bustling plaza around the quest board buzzed with adventurers, merchants, and townsfolk. Yet, at one corner of the tavern terrace, the two sisters sat across from each other, their voices hushed but sharp with emotion.
Amanda's eyes glimmered with a stormy intensity. Her hands clenched into fists on the wooden table, trembling with anger.
"I just feel like we're wasting our time doing the wrong things," she muttered, her voice low but steady.
Lucy blinked, taken aback. "Huh? What do you mean by that, sis? We've been doing exactly what we should—stopping darkside spirits from feeding on humans with Renshi. That's the reason we where going to the Kingdom of Eminence in the first place. How is this any different?"
Amanda's lips curved into a bitter smile. She shook her head slowly. "No, Lu. Don't twist it. That wasn't our real reason." She leaned forward, her voice firm, eyes sharp. "Remember? Back then, our dream was to join the academy… to live free lives. That was the priority. And yet, here we are—hunting scraps, chasing low-level darkside spirits, as if this was all life had to offer us."
Lucy frowned. "Amanda—"
"There's more to this than you're willing to admit!" Amanda's voice rose, her fist striking the table hard enough to make nearby mugs rattle. A few heads turned their way, but she didn't care. "With the strength we have now, and Master Miyamoto's unmatched blade, we could go after wizard Darkside demons. Why waste ourselves on these jobs about beta witches darkside spirits and lesser fiends? Tell me, Lu… doesn't it bother you? Doesn't it feel like Master is hiding something from us?"
Lucy's eyes wavered. For a moment, she couldn't respond. Amanda's words pierced deeper than she wanted to admit.
Amanda didn't stop. Her voice softened, but the fury behind it only grew sharper. "Our parents, Lucy… they were murdered by Shinras from the Kingdom of Berserker. You know this. You know I can't forget it. They're second only to Ashura in power, but I don't care. I swore to myself—I will never let them get away."
She leaned back in her chair, exhaling heavily before whispering, "You used to ask me what my dream was. I never had an answer. But I figured it out… a month ago. My dream is to destroy the Kingdom of Berserker. To erase them from this world. But I can't do it alone. I need you by my side, sister."
Lucy's eyes widened in disbelief. She shot up from her chair, the wood scraping loudly against the floor. "What the hell are you talking about, Amanda?!" she shouted, her voice echoing through the square. Several people turned, whispering, watching. "You want to take on an entire kingdom?! Have you lost your mind?!"
"Sit down, you fool," Amanda hissed, glaring at the gawkers. "Don't make a scene." Her words carried weight, but her smirk was unwavering. "I'm not alone. I've got you, little sis."
Lucy's breath shook, her heart pounding. She grabbed Amanda's shoulders, her eyes glossy. "We can't! Amanda, don't you understand? We can't fall to the path of revenge. That's not what Papa and Mama would want. I cry for them too—every day—but this path will only destroy us."
Amanda's jaw tightened. "And I don't know what's so hard for you to understand. If we don't stop them, if we don't end this, they'll keep tormenting more people. More kingdoms will suffer. You call yourself optimistic, but can't you see the reason behind my resolve?"
Her voice rose again, shaking with fury. "I will not let them get away, Lucy!"
At that moment, hidden in the crowd, Miyamoto stood silently, watching. He had returned from the quest board unnoticed, his calm eyes following the exchange. His thoughts were heavy. So this is what devours Amanda… hatred. Rage. The dark shadow swallowing her Renshi.
Lucy's voice trembled as she countered. "Papa always told us stories about revenge. That when a man takes revenge, hatred and war are born. Even if he succeeds, the cycle doesn't end—it passes down. Lineage after lineage, generation after generation. One revenge births another, and it never stops. Unless… unless one of them chooses to be wise enough to end it. Amanda, that can be us! Why can't you see that?!"
For the first time, Amanda faltered. Her lips pressed tight, her eyes narrowed—but she did not answer.
Lucy's tears spilled, but her words didn't break. "We don't have to do this. We can live normal lives. We can marry, raise children, and protect them with our own hands. That's the future I want… not revenge."
Amanda chuckled darkly, interrupting her. "You're pathetic, Lucy. Still living in a fairy tale. 'What goes around will come around'? Don't make me laugh. Life doesn't work like that. If I'm going to crush Berserker, I'll build an army strong enough to fight an entire country. That's how big my dream is."
Miyamoto finally stepped forward, his shadow casting over them. His presence silenced both sisters. His calm voice carried the weight of a thousand battles.
"That's enough for now," Miyamoto said. "This path… will not be solved with shouting. Amanda, Lucy, you will face this choice soon enough. But for now, we have work."
He set a hand on the table, his eyes narrowing slightly. "I picked the biggest quest on the board. There's a town—Green Pasture. Their children, those too weak to enter the Shinra academies, are being slaughtered by beta darkside spirits."
Lucy froze, her eyes narrowing at the thought. Amanda tilted her head, unimpressed.
Miyamoto's voice dropped lower. "But that's not the most interesting part."