Endless Debt

Everyone wears a mask, twisted in the light, resembling fierce beasts. Teda tries not to look at these people to avoid becoming one of them.

The residents' building Teda visits is hidden within dense canopies. From afar on the street, one can see only lush greenery. Yet trying to approach reveals that the building is obscured by other structures, the path winding and indirect.

It's easy to get lost here, but it's not Teda's first time visiting. Following the path in his memory, he returns to the familiar building front, everything seeming unchanged. He silently pushes open the door and climbs the stairs, stopping in front of a door.

The owner of this house seems to have been away for a long time; the carpet is piled with dust. Teda takes out a key and opens the door, with the stale air flooding through.

Teda walks carefully into the room, gently closing the door, afraid of waking any sleeping souls within.

The interior is full of life, with various personal items filling every corner. If one ignores the dust, it's as if the family has just left to join the Vow Festival parade.

Teda's resolute expression softens slightly, like hard rock crumbling into an unremarkable state.

Opening the window, cold wind rushed into the room, making the air clearer. Teda sits on the couch in the living room, imagining when everything had remained unchanged.

He reaches out, picks up a nearby photograph, and wipes away the dust. It's a family portrait of three, showing a younger Teda next to a beautiful woman holding a sleeping child.

Staring at the photo, Teda reminisces about his wife and Alice.

Singing and cheers came from outside, yet they have nothing to do with Teda. He keeps recalling his resolute decisions, hardening his once softened heart with no mercy.

While struggling in thought, a series of knocking sounds echoes.

Teda looks alertly towards the door. Since leaving the Order Bureau, Teda has settled in the Alchemy Workshop. This old residence is a place he visits only on the Vow Festival day. No one else should come here.

Seeing the knocking unanswered, the visitor takes out a key and turns the lock.

A thief?

Teda's face filled with anger. He slowly stands, ready to unleash his fury when the door opens to unexpected visitors.

"Yo, teacher, happy Vow Festival."

It's Belli, full of energy regardless of the early morning. But even she can't smile much seeing her teacher here.

Behind Belli stands Balder. Surprisingly, he wears protective clothing even just to step outside, his face hidden beneath the helmet.

Teda looks at his two students, and they walk in without waiting for his permission. Belli swings the key, casually taking another photograph as she passes the cabinet.

Seated on either side of Teda, Belli wipes dust from the photo, leaning on Teda's shoulder, she says.

"I miss it, teacher."

In the photo are three people: Belli, Teda, and Balder. But Belli and Balder appear as children, with Teda much younger, his beard dark, not now graying.

"What are you here for?" asked Teda.

"Don't be so cold, teacher. We thought you'd be too bored spending Vow Festival alone, so we came to keep you company."

With a playful smile, Belli is the same as she always was, looking a bit annoying. Balder, as usual, sits silently beside her.

This time even Belli struggles to smile. The room fills with deathly silence while the outside roars with celebration.

After a long silence, Belli speaks.

"Teacher, stop. The dead cannot be resurrected."

...

The dead cannot be resurrected.

This rule is implicitly accepted by all Alchemists, like the third law restraining the Devil—it cannot change what has already occurred, nor can humans.

When a life ends, it's a settled matter.

After speaking, Belli becomes wary. Teda is her teacher, but the Teda she knows has changed greatly in the past seven years.

For Teda, it's a frightening yet truthful secret. No one has the courage to reveal such truth to an ardent Seeker like Teda, which would negate his actions over the past seven years.

But Belli can't wait any longer. She doesn't want her teacher to descend into madness. It is time to end all this.

Beside her, Balder slightly turns to watch their teacher. Belli has little fighting strength; though she could bash a grown man's head with one crowbar, it's powerless against a Negative Power User.

Since Belli became the head, Balder has been her attendant, ensuring her safety. This risky move might turn into a battle between teacher and students.

The expected rage didn't come, everything remains calm. Teda lets out a long sigh, his face hidden in darkness as he bows his head.

"But since she left, Alice is everything to me."

With rough fingers rubbing the photo, Teda mutters.