Time began to move again.
The Watchers turned toward Aren.
"If I recover my memories," Aren asked,
"I'll know how everything ends, right?"
"Yes."
"And if I don't?"
"You'll fade away… piece by piece."
Aren laughed softly.
"In anime, the hero always survives."
He stepped forward.
"But reality demands a price."
He reached toward the Archive.
Tick.
Liora screamed his name.