Editing City Series:Volume6e Chapter3 (section)

===Part 6===

Hazel heard falling rain.

She couldn’t see. Everything was dark. But her arms’ senses were heightened.

Her arms were held out in front of her and a weight bore down on her elbows.

She was standing up with someone in her arms. She was experiencing someone else’s senses of hearing and touch.

When she realized that, she suddenly felt very cold. She was feeling the rain hit her.

She also heard the rain. A male voice suddenly reached her through the falling raindrops ahead of her.

“How did it turn out this way?”

The tone of voice was neither high nor low – it was perfectly calm.

Hazel did not recognize the voice. She heard a radio playing behind the voice. She was out in the rain, but she must have been standing in front of…

…''A house’s front door?

She could not ask her question out loud.

But she did feel her mouth moving. And her mouth spoke with Berger’s voice.

“We didn’t mean to kill her. Even they were only here to recommend she go to the Village of Pardons.”

“But the director rejected their mercy and refused to stop compiling history and you wanted Eryngium to escape but she refused to?”

The unfamiliar voice spoke slowly but showed no emotion.

“What did she say when she refused to flee?”

“Just that she didn’t want to run away.”

“I see,” said the voice. “Where is Alfred? He was the one who cut her down, wasn’t he?”

“Schweitzer forcibly took him away. Punched him in the gut to calm him down.” Bitter laughter. “I used my power to fight back…but while I did drive them away, I couldn’t protect her.”

“That is probably the punishment for your hubris. So what will you do now?”

“I want your help. She isn’t actually dead yet. Her pulse is weak, but she is still alive.”

“I am not a doctor. I am an engineer.”

“That’s why I need your help. You needed a specimen for that Eingeweide device you’re working on, right? I’m going to use my power just once to try and heal her. But there will be a cost. I need something to replace the Tons inside her that I’ll use to heal her wound. That will eliminate her wound, but it will cause another wound somewhere else.”

“This is sounding serious. Are you going to use your divine power to alter a dead girl’s destiny?”

“And then I’ll say goodbye. I never plan to see her again,” said Berger. “Our hubris killed Eryngium here, so I’m never overestimating myself again. I’ll settle for second best. So…”

“You don’t need to state your conviction out loud. There are only two things you need to say here,” said the voice. “What will you use as payment for healing her? And what will you give me to create the Eingeweide? If your answer doesn’t catch my interest, I will not let you inside. …So answer me.”

Berger fell silent.

His senses told Hazel he had lowered his head.

…''He must be looking at Eryngium in his arms.

Then he moved his head in a nod.

“I will use the Tons of her memories. I will use them to overwrite as much of her wound’s Tons as I can and erase it altogether.”

“Why that? Wouldn’t a leg or an arm work just as well?”

“How is she supposed to live a new life if she remembers what happened today? Is this my hubris talking again?”

“Hah. This sounds self-destructive to me, but I accept. And your other answer?”

“Some of her memory Tons should be left over after overwriting her wound, so I’ll mix her memories with the divine Tons inside me, convert that into a spirit stone, and give it to you.”

“You will abandon your divinity? You could find unmatched power and glory there.”

“I’m only half-god, so I’m not immortal or anything. All I have is this power I can’t even use while I lose the person standing by my side.” Berger hung his head. “Help me heal her. And give me a weapon. A weapon that lets me cut away myself so I never have to lose someone else again. A weapon that lets me remain second best.”

He did not immediately receive a response.

Hazel heard only the rain for a few seconds, but then she heard the dry sound of clapping hands.

“I will help you and I will give you a weapon. So that you can remain yourself after this. However…”

“What?”

“Make no mistake. I am not kind enough to help you resign yourself to your fate. The weapon I give you will let you one day reclaim your divine power and place someone else by your side.”

Berger laughed bitterly at that. “Like that’s ever happening,” he spat toward the ground.

But the man responded with no smile in his voice.

“Just remember that even the dumbest god can find salvation. That is why I will name your weapon Gelegenheit. Destiny is something that suddenly comes knocking at your door, that refuses to let go of your hand, and that trusts you while staying at your side.” He laughed softly. “Enter. Remember what I have said, Dog Berger. I will not-”

“Yeah, yeah. I know. You won’t say it again, so don’t forget it, right?”

Berger nodded and spoke the man’s name.

“Like I could ever forget this, Marsch Gant.”