After Story: Relapse

Four months have passed since the faithful "world reset" triggered apparently by John's death.

Suddenly, John just found himself asleep. Usually he's love playing videogames, doing things with his PC, and walking around the town, singing. But now... 

He's just sleeping. Not going about in the social network.

His trademark sweet smiles, elation, and energetic vibe can't be seen or felt, somewhat unusually. 

 I'm sorry. I always thought that this is going to happen. Yeah i have the Jade inside me, but that's merely an energy source. Soul is something else, and I'm willingly share some of myself out of a deep love to you. To you, my one and only beloved Bell Aster Springfield, please, forgive me, and accept the fact that I'm relapsing. It's not your fault anymore. Since the moment we met in Milleu, and to the ends of the universe, i love you. Ever and always.

-John Aster (formerly John Archer)

Tears dropped on the letter. 

The tears belongs to Bell, who read this. 

Bell: John... You... you...willing to give it all, even despite knowing that you whittle your own soul... Just for me.

John is bedridden. He's... Okay, physically, but he felt... relapsed, thus his emotions and thinking capabilities gradually fades.

The good thing is that due to many parts of her soul once belonged to John, who willfully gave his own, they can communicate telepathicly each other, and Bell could took control or "charm" and "encourage" John through the use of magic. But when the relapsing happens, Bell could only do much. When relapsing, Bell only felt like she's controlling a puppet. When left to his own devices, John would act like an emotionless doll with only few figment or residual parts of the soul to answer the call in the world of living.

Even doing the deed with a relapsed John felt... like the sweetness eroded into ashes.

John: (emotionless, but trying to shake it off) Don't worry Bell, i make sure of it that i will keep on living. 

John: The world may be against us, but... I... No... We... will treasure every single cherishable moments of our days...

Bell sings a tone. It's been a long time since she singed. Sometimes she do sing like her husband loved to. Her tunes are often cheery and peppy unlike her husband's tendency to sing and compose rock songs, whether it's about love or brooding.

Indeed, an immoralist she is. Or was. Once she unlocked her powers she become... well, different. In her "quest" to appease her brother she made games with otherworlders that shouldn't belong in this universe. Now she regrets it, looking at her beloved, who willingly sacrifice part of him.

Her beloved firmly yet gently grabbed her own hand...

Bell then lifts John up and embraces him.

 

Location Profile: Persica

 

Flag

 

Official License Plate

 Persica is a state in the Western part of the Continental United States of Amelion, stradling around the Amelion Pacifica Coast.
To the north it borders with Brumina Mountains
To the east it borders with the desert states Mohavi and Rhizome
To the south it borders with the mountainous regions of Ironhills with meadows just before the state limit.
With over 100 million residents across a total area of approximately 17,000,000 square miles, it is the most populous state in the United States of Amelion, the third largest national state, and the most populated region in the country.

 

Urban Environments

The South Border, AKA "The Rift"

Styled over the ancient legendary city of Riften, the South Border, AKA Outer Persica, is a popular traveller's stop from outside the regional lines of Persica. It was also infamous for its active criminal activities and corrupt law enforcements, sometimes forcing the D Platoon fresh from Los Suenos to intervene.

 

 San Da Silva, AKA Oakfield

Named after expedition leader Francesco Da Silva, San Da Silva is the second most populated metropolitan city in the State of Persica. During the "nightmare event" it was subject to attacks from zombie, undead, and Novoslavic troops, but afterwards it's just a bustling metropolitan with a technological and magical edge.

Los Suenos, The City of Dreams

The last destination of the Sage Candidates, the city of Los Suenos, being surrounded by a tall barrier, combines medieval and modern look, giving the unique urban aesthetic experience. To the center there's the mayor's castle.

"Underworld"

A "multipurpose realm" where "real-life" military style war games and expeditions were often made. The theme of the season's candidates were "Shadows Die Four Times" and "Sageunknown's Battlegrounds". At that point, John didn't realize that those who died... died for real (Though time resets for the better and those that are not killed by Jonathan Torrington returned)

Later, the area was nuked after a Sage Candidate scored a 25 kill streak.

 

Character Profile: Percival Bryant

 

 

 

American race driver. Often contracted to several major racing teams and leagues. Now retired.

He now oversees his wife, Sophia Bryant Tokitou, who is half Japanese half American and basically having his torch passed to her.

His appearance of an early 20s men (or boy) belie his actual age, which is around 33 years old.

He was infamous for being reckless during his early driving ages, but his charm won over Sophia, who he married just as he retired.

Right now he's kind of reclusive and doesn't appear much in the public view, but he maintained his image and sometimes can be found singing at clubs where race drivers were resting.

He also maintained the simulation program for the team drivers as he spent his retiring times playing video games and tuning the simulation machine.

Character Profile: Jonathan Torrington / Yogiri Takatou & Daniella Tammison / Tomochika Dannoura

Note: This profile is written using the English names.

Refer to

https://namelessstoryteller07.blogspot.com/2024/03/name-change-list.html

for the full name change list.

Jonathan, shirt and tie.

Daniella

Jonathan Voiced by: Koki Uchiyama (Japanese) Sean Chiplock (English) (Type A) Matt Shipman (English) Type B

Daniella Voiced by: Miyu Tomita (Japanese) Brittany Lauda (English)

A pair of hapless, and apparently unwilling couple "spirited away" into Mobius. What they all remember is that they hear some nice tunes in the bus radio.

Daniella in particular, noticed that the nighttime woodland in Wyoming is suddenly changed into an expansive, large meadow at afternoon.

Upon arrival in Mobius, they're greeted by a beautiful, but ruthless woman who identified herself as Bell the Sage. She grant them powers that they could imagine with, however a magical power demonstration "accidentally" killed the group's older members, the driver and what appears to be the group's homeroom teacher.

After a dragon out of nowhere kills some of the group while others are running away, the two managed to overpower the dragon with Jonathan doing the one and only killing blow. 

"Alpha and Omega. Beginning and the end. To those who thirsts will be given the water from the fountain of life, freely."

-Revelation 21:6, reinterpreted. 

 --------------------------------

US Army General: Arrest them!

Rick Sanchez: You have a right to refuse his order, and I guarantee you're going to die if you touch me, and there's no afterlife. Everything just goes black. Don't do it.

A Secret Service guard touched Rick. He fell died instantly.

Morty: Whoa, Rick!

President: Okay. What was that?

Rick: Death.

President: What kind?

Rick: Instant.

President: There was no sound. He just died.

Rick: Yeah, terrifying. It's a terrifying thing to watch happen. It's called a deterrent.

Female Officer: You couldn't just knock him out?

Rick: How is knocking out a deterrent? Everyone wants to be knocked out. Nobody wants to be dead.

 Excerpt scene from "The Rickchurian Mortydate", Rick and Morty S03E10.

 

As it is known, Jonathan / Jon* (*not John, without h) possessed an instant death capability, which, while initially need eye, projectile, and physical contact, with the "death gate limiter" gradually broken by escalating threat, it eventually allows him to kill by sight and thought. He's formerly known as "Alpha Omega" and being a factor of death itself.

To Archer Logistics members and others that doesn't wish to call him by name, he's also called "The Harbinger".

He can kill his enemies with thought, as long as the target has a killing intent, and also he can "kill" individual parts of a being as well, as in crippling. 

He took his current name from his surrogate parent, Allison Torrington, who happily accept a conspicuously high-paying "babysitter" job.

After seeing massive death and tragedy in front of him, especially how there's their innocent homeroom teacher and bus driver being killed without second thought, the dragon attack, and the "Battle Royale" happening to him, he became vengeful against the "Sage" and end up tearing her apart as she tried to seduce him. 

Despite of that, he possesses a good heart and also able to see John's heart during a confrontation to the point that he understood that John doesn't want him and his loved ones to be hurt and eventually, John is the one that can send him and his friends home.

In fact, John is the one for Jonathan that doesn't have a killing intent at all, especially how John deeply in love with the Sage and the Sage deeply loves John. 

Apart from the cyan "wings" around his hair, his eye color, him being taller, and him having deeper tone, Jonathan could be seen as a splitting image to John Archer. That being said a lot of people could tell them apart.

Especially how Jonathan tend to goes around with business suit or a shirt and tie (which, according to John, making him look like Louis from Left 4 Dead), while John prefers wearing camo, military uniform, sportswear, or casualwear.

Jonathan, or Jon, for short, is an aloof and mysterious men who's taking Bethesda like his wife. He even carried himself a custom portable gaming PC and a heavily modded Skyrim during the fateful field trip to Wyoming. 

Little is known about his past however, apart from his girlfriend-later-wife...

 

Daniella, or Dani in short, almost never put out her little twintails. She's also confirmed to be a long line of ancient Celtic priesthood, and thus seeks her spirited-away ancestor as one of her life goals. Dani is the most expressive one, who basically took care of Jonathan, who is awkward in communicating with people.

Dani is noted to be a strong willed girl despite her petite frame. 

Hero X (Teaser)

 Author's Note: This story is unconnected and does not set in the same universe with Nameless Storyteller: Jade Catalyst (formerly Pelagius Effect)

A sultry girl or woman crossed her fingers.

She appears to be a fortune teller. 

She does NOT, however, tell fortunes.

A man, supposed to be 33, but he's looking like late teenager, stubbles and freckles aside due to him desperate shaving, has focused on her sharply, with anticipation and curiosity never felt before.

He just had to sign up for a beta of "Hero X", a "free" game that supposed to change his life. And here he is now. There's no game, there's just invitation to an unusual corner in a city district.

It was his friend, Christopher, who nudged him to sign up for the beta.

The girl/woman said,

"Are you ready to become the hero and accept all consequences that came with it?" 

The boy gestures in "yes"

The boy is really, really tense and sweaty.

"Well then" 

The woman gave the boy a jewelry box.

A ring is inside.

Wait, a marriage? 

John was and still is, surprised, on how a woman really wants him and now she's wanting him on the spot.

The boy wears it, with the anticipation. 

"Before you can become a hero, join me in the ceremony."

"What ceremony?" the boy bewildered. 

The woman holds the boy to her chambers.

The chamber looks opulent. It has the 1001 nights kind of look. 

John is unprepared for this.

The woman introduces herself. 

"I am Bell Bloominglove Aster, just call me Bell, and you are..?"

"You're already telling me, and i.... I'm John... John Garland" The boy, soon to be a man, or he's already a man, introduces himself. 

"Ufufu..." Bell giggles seductively.

"Soon... After this ceremony, you'll be John Aster".

Wait, does this means... 

"To begin with, drink this cup of tea."

John without hesitation drank the tea. It tastes unlike the teas in other places. 

"The ceremony commences now."

"And you, John... please sit down and cast away your tension..." The place is comfortable enough to be relaxing. There's also a nightstand with prepared tea to quench some thirst. 

 

 

 Bell pulls her cloak aside, showing an impressive, sultry belly dancer attire and figure.

Bell smiles and giggles toward John. 

Bell: Ufufu! 

She began to dance sultrily, alluring John and made his "fountain" hardens. 

"You may do me as you please. And you'll becoming stronger by sharing your kindness, your bravery, your experience, and your frustration to me. May it will make you stronger."

John has nothing to say for the matter as Bell invited her to dance. 

Half unvoluntarily, John's arms began to dance around Bell's body as his eyes also inspect every body movement Bell did. 

"John, i know you can't hold it anymore... Let it out.... Make this night our first..."

John didn't expect it. 

John was a half unemployed single shut in with an (according to boomers) unhealthy obsession on videogame. John was even slightly plump due to being not moving around often.

But now he's different. Dressed in a vest-like garb that shows his slim and smooth body, John looks like he's ready for her.

Suddenly, a queen-sized bed, adorned with curtains, exist in the back of the couple.

Without hesitation, both moved to the bed, with Bell stepping backwards and John walking forwards...

With Bell facing up and John facing down...

John lets out a playful, joyful laugh

John: Ehe....ehehehehe

Bell replies with a seductive, sultry giggle.

Bell: Ufu..... ufufufufu...

 John's large, hard "fountain" then got plugged to Bell's sensitive, sweet cat. 

Bell: Ahhhhh.... Ufufufu... 

Bell: Embrace me! 

Bell: Do me! 

Both excited and cheeringly doing it. 

Pleasure excites both nerves as the binding act is done. 

Each of their hands embrace each other. 

In their mind the couple fantasizes romantic scenarios. 

Scenarios that felt like an eternity of pleasure. 

Both of them went deep.... Really deep. 

John: Bell...!

John: My purity... Will be let out! 

John was hesitant on either letting it out and calming down or keep sharing the romance... 

But never mind, John is really, really passionate, and thus, he prefers thrusting it as both him and Bell sweats so much.

John grunts as he exerts himself.

John: Nggggh.... ngggh.... nggghh... ngggh...

Bell responded with seductive giggles and soft moans as she's stimulated...

Bell: Ahhh.... hahahaha..... ufufufufu.... ufufufufu... 

John: Bell.... my love... can i.... do the first time?

Bell: Ahhhh.... yes.... let it out.... you're okay now....

John firmly holds Bell's hand as...

John: I'm coming!!!!!

Bell: Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh.......ufufufufu....

John passes out as he felt like he's launched into outer space.

 

John awakens. Strangely, despite both should felt like drenched by sweat...

John felt like he's just done out of taking a bath... 

So does Bell, with a fragrant that felt like out of this world...

Bell: John... thanks for the impressive night you've given to me...

Bell: Thanks for the kindness you've been given to me...

Bell: Now.... we're a married couple.

John quickly wants to take a picture together for this unforgettable moment...

 

"Yay, now we're married!" sort of thing. 

John also noticed that his body changed... He looks cooler, his stubble all but vanished, the trace of facial hair, apart from eyebrows, are none.

Truly he became his dream form, and truly he has a loving wife now.

But...

What price would he pay for all this?

And...

What will be of his life from now on?

John blinked, and suddenly, a UI appears in front of him.

Battle Song Client.

John: Wait... am i in a videogame now?

Reality is shattered in front of John, in a good way though.

He can check his specialty, his quest journal, his inventory, and... most.

Bell: Ufufufu.... Happy now?

Bell: That's your interface. You'll get used to it. You can customize it either to your liking.

Bell: Just remember...

Bell: (whispers) the more you love me, the more you'll be stronger...

John: How could i increase... all or any of this?

Bell: Whenever available, you will complete quests. Apart from those that are marked "Urgent", you can take your time.

Bell: Dimensional vortexes, gates, and through (Bell gives me a virtual reality device) this kind of device...

Bell: Is used to enter the battle dimension through the crisis point.

Bell: You will be assigned to fight the enemy...

Bell: And then... you gain experience...

Bell: I guess you already know of that.

Bell: Now...

Bell: Do you want to mingle further, or go home?

John: Can i take you home? How could i convince you?

 In a flash, Bell changed appearance. Far from a sultry belly dancer, she now appears as a well-dressed woman.

Bell: Or this?

In a flash, Bell changed appearance once again. This time with her jet-black hair, she appears as a well-dressed woman, but more conspicuous.

John: Anything you prefer.

Bell: Take me home, then.

John: But what about your place here?

Bell: Oh, you're free to mingle here... or in your house. I think your house is a better place.

Bell then conjures a console-sized...

Bell: If you need me, rub this pot-like lamp...

Bell: And it will be either you enter this lamp, or...

Bell: I go out and mingle with you.

Bell: Either way, this is now your fast travel point, and as you go back home, your home will be a fast travel point as well.

John: Ehe.... ehehehehe...

Bell: Ufu.... ufufufufu

Bell: Eh... we already did once... You must be so energetic!

Bell: Regardless, you're now setting your path as a hero.

Bell: And here, before i forget. 

Bell transferred some Victory Points - VP to me.

I started with 5000.

1000 VP is equal to 1 US dollars, which is kind of not worth it... However...

The VP can be used to purchase gears and stuff. Still kinda pricey but still it's better for weapons and armor.

Bell: And oh, the Hero app can be tied to your Steam, Epic, XBOX, Nintendo, and PlayStation account!

Bell: If you earn achievements and levels there, you can transfer it here and allocate it! 

Bell: That means if you don't want to fight... And others can cover that... You can keep playing favorite game!

Bell: Streaming it is also just as good, and in fact it's better! 

Is it that powerful? 

John: Thank you.

Bell: No, it is you, who i should thank.

Bell: For giving me an impressive gushing of kindness and enthusiasm... 

John then kisses Bell, as they're just married.

One question though...

John: What would happen if it's time for us to have children?

Bell: There's just one thing... I'm older than you. Past the age of a woman capable of conceiving. So... we wouldn't be able to have children. 

Bell: You're free if you want to conceive others and build a... "harem".

John: Ehhhh.... wait?

Bell: But that's your decision. 

Bell: You can't get away from me, as the moment you draw my attention to me and the moment we're... one... there's something installed to you...

John: Yeah, i know that, and i don't mind either.

John: So what's the point of giving you my "mystery white liquid" if you can't bear children?

Bell: It's the liquid of your.... Kindness. Contentness. Frustration. Emotion. Satisfaction.

Bell: You give the fluids... and i can maintain both of our youthly forms, and you can build your powers... 

Bell: Kind of like "skill allocation" or "achievement claiming". Like that, ufufu!

Even though John has already letting his desires out for her, John still felt the waves inside him, and he blushes.

But never mind...

John: Well, i think if we're seen together, that would bring unwanted attention to me...

Bell: Then let me enter the lamp i just given and bring the lamp with you! Don't worry, it's indestructible, and you can easily sense the presence!

Bell: See you later!

John felt asleep, and as he awakens, he awakened in an empty, featureless room with an empty table apart from the lamp.

John sniffed the lamp. It's her fragrance...

"Ufufu!" Bell's signature giggle echoes from the lamp.

John contently walk home with a magic lamp as his new possession.

After Story 3 - Sharing A Soul

 

The sight of a sleeping, pillow-embracing John never bore Bell in the slightest, even though it's her view every night. Sometimes days, if he takes a customary nap.

However, as she tries to make herself, looking at the mirror...

She reminisced about how terrible she is as a power-drunk woman setting up game-like scenarios upon strangers pulled out of a whim due to their magical potential...

and then made them participate in a real "battle royale"

"I'm really, really sorry for losing my humanity" she thought by herself.

It's a mistake, or a sin, that she couldn't forgive by herself.

Bell, for some reason, can't sleep. The opposite of John, who slept soundly.

For a change, this is one of the few days that both did not do the deed, especially how John fell asleep quicker than expected.

Bell began to think...

And suddenly, she's getting the knowledge, memory, and personality of her beloved John, whom she shares a soul with.

"So this is what it feels to share a soul..."

"This might be interesting" she thought for herself.

But no, she didn't want to peer to others without consent anymore. No... not.

She thought of grabbing the game console.... or the PC... controller or keyboard...

And maybe having a night of play.

Video games are normally not a thing that interests her in the slightest. 

However, as she discovered this princess-like form of her...

She became highly obsessed, like her husband.

And now, even after all the things done...

She still kinda obsessed.

For some people especially in the "Alpha Universe" which both John and Bell had some unpleasant memories of...

It's a useless, time wasting, money wasting rabble.

But for many people, especially the "tail end of 20th century" generation...

It's an avenue of creativity,

Avenue of journey.

Avenue of storytelling no mere words or sequential images could tell.

A story in which the holder of the controller actively participating.

A playground in which players toward each other or logic-coded beings trade blows, soft or hard, for fun, or for rage.

An avenue where anybody can learn how to build and better themselves.

It affects both John and Bell's train of thought. 

Bell then tries to record her voice. 

"Do you wish to enjoy every single day to the fullest? What we want is for people like you to always have a reason to smile."

Bell: Hmmm....

Come to think of it... 

John...

He smiles because i smiled. 

He laughs because i laughed. 

He cries because i cried.

And from now on...

He granted my wish. 

He saved my life. 

He absolved me of my sins. 

If any... He isn't that much different from... 

Oh my, what am i thinking? 

I was too much of an immortal that apart from playing roles, my common sense had lapsed so much. 

All my life i do things, good or bad, to impress my beloved. 

Be it Noir, be it John... 

Oh, my, i can only remember two men of my lives. 

But the two i remembered... 

Are the most... 

Special. 

Later....

John awakened, seeing his dear Bell asleep.

John then checked the social media. 

John heard people saying that i act... Unusual. 

What? 

Blisscord chat:

Mella77: You're John27? 

John27: Yeah. 

Mella77: You played Call of Duty? 

John27: No... Not since Modern Warfare 3...hold on. 

John minimized the icon. There is icons of Call of Duty games. 

There's even an additional drive for Call of Duty! 

Wait a minute, am i....? 

Mella77: Well you're acting odd, but... 

Mella77: Not a bad thing though. 

Mella77: I mean you're killing it in the ranks... That's what is odd for you... 

John27: Wait... What? 

Wait... What? 

John opened Black Ops Cold War and seeing his rank... 

Wait a minute... 

This isn't me... 

Me? 

What? 

John: Ehe... ehehehehe

Suddenly from the back, a comforting presence can be felt... 

Bell: Ufu.... Ufufufu... 

John: It must be... You. 

Bell: John... 

John: Bell... 

Just by thinking it, John can become or assuming control of Bell, and Bell can become or assuming control of John. 

As long as one of the other willing or sleeping. 

Bell: Must be... Because of your soul... 

John: Not my soul... Our soul. 

John27: Sorry... I'm going to get busy. See you later

Mella77: Later too, big shot! 

John knew that Bell did it. She intensely, as me, played the games i suddenly got into. 

After Story 2 - Shaken

 

One moment, in the Police Department of the City of Los Suenos, State of Persica...

Judge: John... you still have the shakes?

Judge: Ummm.... y.... yeah.

Judge: Might need to lay off the caffeine. Get some good sleep.

Judge: I know, you're ranked higher than me, but...

John: Well, if you know me personally, you know how often times, rank doesn't matter.

John: Besides, i'm just standing in whenever you're not available.

John: And don't be a stranger either, ehehe.

Judge: Well, as the platoon's lead, let me take over the platoon, and you're relieved for duty until i say so. You're going to need extended time-off if you still have the shakes.

Judge: I mean, it's been like 3 or 4 days since you have the shakes.

Judge: Good thing, that everything's still (kind of) in order.

John: I see, dismissed then.

John walked out, passing a squadmate.

Martinez: Yeah, you too. Stay safe out there.

John left police station.

John opens the map, seemingly readying fast travel.

But no, John want to bask in the night, starry sky as usual.

There's something called "sunbathing", but for John, he prefers "moonbathing" especially since his time in Alvarn.

Of course, he's still couldn't... and for the rest of his life... never... stop thinking of his beloved.

Bell Aster Archer, formerly Bell Springfield, or just call her Bell or "darling", "beloved", "strawberry ice cream".

In return, she calls him "darling", "beloved", "sweet peppermint ice cream coffee".

As he could felt her presence thanks to sharing one soul, he smiled, pretty much assured that things are just... going... to.... be... okay.

He then took a little shopping at the local convenience store.... and then...

...he fast-traveled into the private quarters of Tower District, his and his wife's home, sweet home.

His wife smiles less often since that... well, let's just call it "nightmare". With quotation marks.

Also the constant nightmares she... well... and i.... suffered makes me felt that things just never be over yet.

Bell unintentionally summoned a harbinger of death and destruction, and her reckless refusal of reversing it, thinking that it's fun and claiming that it's "harder to send back" (she could just ask me nicely or giving up a lot of power)

I broke free of her subconscious mind control (that i willingly subject myself due to the inherent fear of the harbinger that Bell seemingly stave off) as she gradually has her bodily functions lost. The harbinger attacked Sasha as well, though Sasha intended to protect us. 

Miracle or not, i managed to protect the ones i love and eventually, send the harbinger and friends home. 

Still i can't believe that to keep watch, because at the best of times the harbinger is a chill fellow, that i managed to send out a clone to live with him. Did it on a whim because Dani, the harbinger's girlfriend, wondered if there's somebody like me. 

Several days have passed and the nightmare returns... 

Meanwhile... 

Bell: John! 

Bell finds John attempting to load his gun to his own chin.

 His face is calm, but Bell can feel the sorrow inside him.

Bell: (echoes)John... I love you... (echoes) 

Using her charm, Bell managed to have John put the gun down.

Without much talking, Bell put him into a deep sleep and carry him to the queen sized bed. 

He's been through a lot, and he's far younger than herself, so it can't be helped that his mind was shattered. He could put together his mind at times, but it was only for a short while before it shattered once again. 

For the last few days, John sometimes have tendencies people said to be "suicidal". 

Bell often found John alone, at the balcony, crying. 

And this is like the third time John attempted to use his weapon on himself. 

Bell begs endlessly for forgiveness and wishing that things would become better.

As it given while her husband completely forgives whatever he did...

She, to this day, can't forgive herself.

Especially how her husband mind is clearly, at times, shattered. 

As she enjoyed the sight of her beloved sleeping soundly as usual, she contemplates.

Bell: John... 

Bell: I'm sorry, i really am...

Hours later..

John awakened, with his lover and dear wife on his side.

He held no grudge. He absolved and forgive him. 

He thankful to whoever turn back time, giving us second chances, though not without its flaws. 

He rubbed her hair. 

She awakened. 

John: Bell... 

Bell: John. 

Tears dropped from their eyes as emotions flooded their soul. 

John: I.... I..... 

Bell: ......

Without further "crying together" time, Bell immediately put John back to sleep. And herself of course.

 

The next day....

The meeting room in the middle (as opposed to the upper private quarters) section of Tower District, now in the surface of Los Suenos, Persica, instead of floating ever since that the summoning thing...

As usual, John didn't pay much attention to the matter... Still, he's never seen as incompetent.

But yeah, today there's a lot of "shaken" incidents between John and some people who just can't dismiss the "nightmare".

As usual, before the meeting, Bell has taken care to cast a couraging spell on John. Days to come just had to become harder.

The matter has good news and bad news.

The good news is that Archer Logistics will see more paid day-offs and open company gatherings.

The bad news is that several dig sites...

Including the island where Bell and John vividly remembered the confrontation...

Is under control of the government-funded Altman Research.

Rothwynn also take control of several logistics-related operations, especially concerning the hot zones around the continents of Eufrices and Rabiah.

But the most surprising of all... 

Is that Deputy Chief Andersen, basically the de-facto authority of the military security of the United States of Amelion...

Will be taking over as the chief of Archer Logistics.

Knew him a little. 

"He's stern, but reasonable" said a girl, only known as "Snow White" that was hand-picked personally by him as part of Andersen Security.

John: So, basically, i'm relieved of my duties?

Andersen: In short, yes. However, you're still an employee and executive of Archer Logistics. Make the company proud.

Andersen: You'll also retain your duty on decision-making towards non-combat branches of Archer Logistics.

Andersen: As for you, whenever you've called in, it's in my authority.

Andersen: Dismissed.

Yeah, Andersen was stern, but he's still having lots of leeways. Especially for things that aren't in the fault of somebody.

Bell awaits, smiled.

John: I think this is it, it's time for several days off as i... no, we... thinking of what to do next.

Bell: Yeah, sure.

John: Maybe... just maybe...

Bell: Hmmmm?

John: Do the usual thing of having my legs and arms guiding my way through the world...

Bell: And don't forget. If you will it.... As our souls were the same...

Bell: I can fast travel nearby you at will or in distress...

Bell: And you should be able to do the same.

Bell: By the way...

Bell: That troubled look of yours...

Bell: I might've need to get used to it. Ufufu...

John: Seriously, Bell, what kind of look do you prefer?

Bell: Anything but being angry, of course!

Bell started to become gradually happier as John's chipper attitude gradually returned.

 Still, the relapse apparently never fully heal because part of John's soul is shared with hers, but with constant happiness and stimulation, John is functional and could live daily lives unimpeded.

Somehow, winter never came even in the beginning of the year, but all John and Bell wanted is to make an impression... based of an ancient Far Eastern tale about a literal star-crossed lovers that, if made together based on prayers, will grant wishes in return.