Goodbye, Memory.

34th of Shar 358

...

He's gone. Memory is dead. Not that long ago, he told me that he was dying, that a blight was taking over him and I would have to kill him when it returns. He told me about how he thought he killed me the night we got separated. He received memories of an entire people being eradicated, being sent to true oblivion. Seeing what caused it made it become part of him. He killed so many people because of that. He almost killed me too. But when he came back to, he was in Zetsubou, surrounded by those he killed and was horrified. He searched for me and ran into Ymir, who helped him try to find me. He was happy to see me again, happy to have one last moment together before this blight took over or he passed. But why do I feel so selfish for wishing he didn't have to die today..? This was the only option he could pass peacefully and yet... I kind of dread it. When I touched him, I felt a genuine fear in him. A fear he was going to cause harm. But also a certainty of what must be done. I cried so much... I'm still crying. He told me he was proud of me, he told me that I'd come so far and became something of my own.

He gave me a part of him as he wiped the tears off of my face. A marking on my cheek. If he didn't pass peacefully like this, I would've had to kill him myself... That's what he wanted, what he thought was best. He said that if I was killed by this blight, I would be forgotten and that would hurt the world. The others came out of the shop and he caught them up on what he told me. That was when Ferryman suggested a peaceful option for him to pass on. We returned to the hotel.

He named me Empathy. He made me an icon, just like him. He made my friends icons too, passing on what power he had left. Fathom was named Fathom, Hornet was named Ruin. Ferryman was named Apathy. Tenebrous didn't get named, but he said his time will come. As we sat on the floor in the center of the room, I held his hand as Ferryman did what he could to help him pass on. He chanted something, it echoes around the room, bouncing off of the walls and ringing in my ears. I watched him slowly fade away, his grip loosening from my hand and a look of relief come over his face. He said goodbye. When he faded away, he left behind a golden thread. Ferryman said it was for the best, that he saw what Memory was so afraid of but even knowing it was for the best, I dread it so much.

I reached for the thread and I felt it intertwine with my very soul and it slipped into my fingertip. Afterword, the room was filled with a silence. Fathom and Ferryman left to go outside for a moment, and Tenebrous grabbed some drinks. I placed my hand where he once sat, feeling the warmth from where he sat. I felt the warmth slowly dissipate into the cold air of the room.

Hornet and Ymir left to go to Cyric. We are going to spend some time here in Zetsubou until they return. I'm... I don't know what I am to do now. Memory... I miss you so much. I'm sorry.

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