"Why are you all looking at me this way? I came to give my congratulations to you, Neron. Ah, and to the lovely Serah as well…"
I watched the events of the wedding play out, hidden from sight for reason of caution.
Since I was merely a spectating spectre, I couldn't interfere with any events of the past. However, that also meant no one could interfere with me. An invisible veil that held reality separated me from the past.
However, Neron once told me about how the Martial Blade God had managed to sense him in the past. I didn't know the conditions necessary to achieve such a depth of perception, so I decided it was much safer to watch from a hidden location while maintaining considerable distance from the event occuring.
"You both look so happy. What a lovely wedding. Ahh… I'm so jealous."
As I remembered, Legris was talking casually to everyone despite abruptly appearing. It caused the past version of myself, as well as everyone else experiencing the sight to be caught between suspicion and downright violence.
There was nothing anyone wanted more than to erase Legris and his ally right there and then. However, what could we do?
Especially when Neron was standing still.
"What do you want, Legris?" Neron asked with a stern tone, a serious glint appearing in his eyes.
It was at this point that Legris gave the most fascinating response.
"Hmm? Come on, Neron. Stop the act already. You must have known this whole thing wasn't over. Haven't you been expecting me?"
Hearing that now made me realize that Legris had to be aware of just how far ahead Neron had planned. It was mond-bggling, but also somewhat negative.
'If Legris knows Neron's plans, isn't it possible he'll try to change it?'
At this point, I was slowly beginning to think Neron didn't have everything under control as I had earlier posited.
If he did, then why would things have ended up this way?
Suddenly, I noticed Neron's eyes flicker, and even if it was only for a moment, his gaze traveled in my direction.
In just a moment within a second… I felt like we made eye contact.
'What?!'
Had he seen me? Did he notice I was present?
More questions swirled in mind as I watched him continue his conversation with Legris. He and everyone else transformed right there and then, thus causing the entire area to be awash with pure energy.
I could only stare and watch as a battle brewed between both ends.
And then, right at the climax of the battle, when our side was supposed to vanquish Legris and Neron…
"[The World: Displacement]."
… Legris used his trump card.
A brilliant radiation swelled from his position, and it engulfed the entire hall, swallowing all of the space within it.
However, it was also during this process that something spectatular occured—something I would have missed if I couldn't navigate my way thrugh time.
Everything in the world—space, time, and reality itself—came to a pause.
I would not have been able to witness any of it had I not been outside the main timeline as an observer. My eyes widened in marvel as both Legris and Ciel now stood still in the air, and everyone else remained frozen like statues.
Everything was still. Everyone was unmoving.
… All but one.
"Now then…" Right before my eyes, I watched Neron walk from his position, leaving the hall for a moment.
'What is he doi—' Before I could conclude my thoughts, I felt his gaze on me once more, and noticed how his smile deepened.
Within the blink of an eye—no, far faster than that—the very same Neron manifested right in front of me, almost as if he teleported.
'Ahh…'
I was unable to speak due to the amount of surprise I was experiencing. Or rather, this speechlessness was caused both by the sheer amount of energy that filled the area, as well as the overwhelming presence of the man who now stood before me.
"You shouldn't be here, Jared."
He was speaking to me directly! That meant he could clearly see me despite the discrepancy in our interactive layers.
"Neron… what the hell is going on?" I didn't mean that in the way it sounded.
I could already deduce that Neron was going to do something about the situation Legris was about to initiate. He probably wanted to protect everyone here, which was why he stopped time to achieve that.
However, considering the fact that everyone vanished, it could only mean one of two things.
Either Neron succeeded by taking them to another place not known to me… or Legris succeeded. Either way, I could only wait and see for myself.
"I see you've learned [Time Immersion]. But, anyone with enough connection to Aether will be able to sense your presence. It's dangerous, even if you hide yourself so expertly well." Neron chastized me, and it made me laugh a little sheepishly.
I left my position and stood upright, face to face with the man who had many of the answers I required for my mission.
"I'm here because the future—"
"There's no need to say anything. I can guess it already. It's about everyone's disappearance, correct?"
I nodded instantly.
'So he really did plan for that!' My eyes beamed, readying myself for the answer I would recieve.
However, I could never have predicted what Neron would say to me next.
"I can't tell you about that. You'll have to figure it out yourself."
What the hell was he talking about? He could just say something and get this over with! He was talking to me, right? So there was no need to be so secretive about this!
"I have to go now. I'm running out of time…"
"Time? You? Just give me an answer, Neron. A clue maybe! The Constellations aren't even responding at this point!"
"Constellations? Ah… so he's started. You better hurry, Jared. The situation is more dire than you can imagine." Neron suddenly turned his back on me, causing me to grit my teeth in frustration.
I didn't come here just to listen to vague words from him. I wanted to know what happened, even if I had to replay all of these events from scratch.
"I used [Timeless World] to take myself outside time. That's why we're able to have this conversation. If not, the past and the future won't be able to interact." Neron's words echoed in my ears as I drew nearer to him, stubbornly demanding more information from him.
He could just tell me something useful! Anything at all would be helpful.
"When you return, I'd advise you to be more thorough with your search than recklessly messing around with time."
Look at the person talking. Wasn't his whole deal about messing with the timeline due to him messing it up the first time?
I was slowly beginning to get upset at Neron's lackadaisical tone, and his flippant way of handling the case of our missing loved ones.
However, in response to my deep frown and glare, Neron simply leaked out a tired smile.
"If you see Serah, tell her I'm just going to be a little late. And… I love her."
I gritted my teeth and hardened my fist as I tried to reach out to Neron, who was already walking away.
"Tell her yourself!" I wanted to say, but before I could utter any word… I felt a repelling force that pushed me away.
"Go back, Jared. It's up to you to finish what I started." Neron's voice danced in my ears as I felt the overwhelming force launch me further away from Neron.
No… from the timeline.
"After all, with Magic…" His tone sounded istant, but I could sense genuine intent within them.
Neron meant every single word.
"... You can do anything."
And with those final words ingrained in my soul, I returned to the present.
*
*
*
[A/N]
It seems Neron has entrusted Jared with the responsibility of the world.
But, it seems we are yet to understand what that truly means.
