Reignite: Down Fall.

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There was nothing but silence in the pilot slot of the HARDFRAME; as it sped through the seemingly endless wasteland. Cillen had not spoken a word since he had found out he was slowly losing his memories with each of the Memoria he killed, Luna wasn’t sure what to make of his situation but she could easily imagine how horrifying losing loved ones was. She had for the most part experienced countless times herself over the course of her long immortal life, but with Cillen’s case; he had been the one to snuff out their flames of life, assuming they were still alive after they were turned into those monsters.

It was his hand that did it in the end, and for the brief time she had known him; she had seen him make jokes, laugh at inopportune times and was surprisingly upbeat about his situation despite losing everything dear to him.

“How do you do it?” She whispered to herself “How do you keep going on?”

“…” There was no indication that he even heard her question, just focused expression of a man who was doing his best to keep himself from breaking. Luna said nothing more, but still she worried. Surely there must be something that would get him speaking again.

“Luna…” His voice a little rough sounding from being silent for so long, “I’m sorry if I’m worrying you…” Cillen paused for a moment, “It’s just a lot to take in that’s all. Just give me some time…please.”

“Do you want to talk about it?” Luna suggested, “Even if it doesn’t help, I’m willing to listen.”

“…” Cillen took a moment to think of how to word it. “I’m a civilian from Babel; my mother raised me along with my younger brother and sister. I don’t remember who my father is, but you know the reason why that is…”

“Can you tell me what your family was like?” She asked.

“Mom…Mom was the kind of person who held high expectations from everyone, but she was loving mother.” Cillen laughed weakly, “She was completely pissed when she found out I had got into the maintenance division.” He stopped laughing right there and then, “After I left we kind of drifted apart.”

“…” Luna said nothing, but urged him to go on.

“My little brother practically looked up to me, and I enjoyed teasing him from time to time.” A small smile appeared on his lips, “I remember when we pulled a prank on Mom, and she was so pissed.” Again another weak laugh, “She grounded us both for it.”

“And your sister?” Luna asked.

“My sister wanted to study animals, we clashed from time to time but that’s family for you right?” Luna just nodded in agreement, recalling her own arguments with her own sister, “She loved to draw, hell I even taught her a thing or two.” His smile suddenly faded, “She was successful in becoming a wild life researcher, but…”

“What happened…?” Luna asked but she had a feeling she didn’t want to know the answer.

“She was stationed at research centre, where the Memoria first appeared…” He answered solemnly. “By the time I found out my entire family was killed and transformed into one of those monsters.”

“I-I…” Luna was lost for words.

“Serena tried to stop me, but I took the nearest HARDFRAME I could find and took off towards the Research Centre.” Cillen paused, “When I got there I found nothing but rubble. I got a transmission from Serena but it was…i-it was…” Cillen was trying his best not to break down. Luna did her best to get herself in a position to comfort him.

“…It’s alright just let it all out.” Luna cooed softly, as she hugged him tightly.

“…My home, my friends, my family…” Cillen cried, “…Serena…everyone is gone!! Those monsters took everything from me…and even now…after I’ve lost everything…they continue to take…and they won’t ever stop!”

“Cillen…” Luna was speechless.

“DAMN IT! DAMN IT! DAMN IT!!!” Cillen struck the wall of pilot slot in frustration and rage. “I would have rather have died than lose them all! And the worst part of it all…” Cillen sobbed, “It’ll be my hand that will finally kill them…and I won’t even have my memories of them…”

“…” Luna could say nothing, as Cillen went silent once again.

“…I’m going to go back to that city…” Cillen said darkly, “…get you home…and then I’m going to kill every fucking thing on this damned planet!” The eerie calmness of his voice frightened her. “I’m the last man standing…and as such this world belongs to me…and even if I have to bring the sky crashing down on their heads. They. Will. Pay!” Luna had to calm him down somehow…so she kissed him.

“?!” Cillen was silent from the shock, the kiss was brief and it reminded him of how Serena would kiss him to shut him up or calm him down when he was stressed.

“L-Luna…I-I…” He stuttered,

“I’m amazed you held it in this long.” Luna told him, “Any lesser man would have went insane after all that’s happened.” She reassured, “You’re only one man…even if you had all the time in the world you can only do so much.”

“…” Cillen took a moment to take her words all in. “You remind me of Serena so much it’s not even funny, do you know that?” Luna said nothing, as Cillen activated the Over Boost as they closed in the Valley of Disasters.