Satoya tilted his head, completely flabbergasted by the question. He was utterly unsure, but he thought for a moment. The reason why he had this jolt of motivation to try to achieve something meaningful for once, that strange dream he had on the night of his birthday that perfectly matches the description of what an Elusive Solace is, he was simply lost. The question should be easy to answer right? Yet he too couldn't figure out why he was conflicted on answering it.
"I'm not asking for the direct answer, this question doesn't require an absolute answer." Rin became more polite, the air around him seemingly shifting into a calm warmth, each breath Satoya took, the oxygen felt, and smelled more crisp. Satoya couldn't tell if this man was capable of something regarding life, but the way he is exerting himself isn't that of a normal person. Could it simply be that all elite ranks, lower or higher rankings than him, are able to change their environment?
Satoya shook his head, focusing on the question he is still pondering on. The deeper he went into his mind, the emptier. Until he reached a sort of conclusion, despite the uncertainty, which is mostly due to Satoya being an indecisive person who would often pick the solution that requires the least effort and grit.
"I-I, uhm… I guess I just.. Want to discover my own self?" The moment those words slipped out of his mouth, he instantly panicked. He knew those words, they were instinctively picked out, this impending nervousness he felt exactly like the time prior to him joining the Regulator's Committee to become an Regulator. Why is it this difficult? There was no sign of impatience coming from Rin, despite his spear that was sealed in bandages, perhaps he made a promise? Not to conceal strength but instead to preserve?
Behind Rin, Satoya took a glimpse of Shizune eavesdropping out of curiosity, she was also seemingly bored out of her mind, swinging her crowbar on the ground, swatting gravel like a playful match of golf.
In this uncomfortable dark void in his mind, Satoya reached a plausible "truth" something Rin might be looking for. A golden light, a minor dream, perchance the same one that all things dreamed? There was this time, during the first year of high school, world history. His teacher whom he forgot his name, pop quizzing him on what a disaster is, such common knowledge. Disaster is a term used to represent a period of time that revolved entirely around the Cataclysm of the disaster. A disaster is defined when an inverted aurora borealis Cascades itself over the skies of the world, this very inverted colored borealis being visible from any capital. This inverted borealis is the physical manifestation of the bleeding power of an Ancient Crucible, that Satoya vaguely remembered as The Falsity. The fog of the mind lingering in Satoya's mind cleared as he started vividly remembering. A Cataclysm is an individual with an ideal, goal or ambition that personally resonated with the Falsity—who Satoya still doesn't understand what this Falsity thing is.. And the last thing Satoya remembered was simply "Once that inverted borealis finds its candidate, it would condense into a needle of such grace, piercing the heart of that very candidate. This Inverted Borealis doesn't make them stronger, it doesn't make them smarter.. What it truly does is amplify what they yearn for, that very ideal, goal, and ambition that resonated to a destructive degree.."
Within that myriad of sudden memories, Satoya grasped a simple conclusion to that question Rin asked him to ponder over. And with that very nervousness stagnating, Satoya spoke, but his words weren't perfect—Nowhere close.
"We are at risk of a disaster at any time, so why not find a resolution to this… ever-stained world?"
Shizune's crowbar stopped mid swing inches away from a piece of gravel. She steadily faced toward Satoya in surprise, surprise on Satoya answering in a direct tone, instead of mumbling it under his breath. Rin however, he made a soft smile, a smile that he could tell to be masking something far deeper. And in tone of content, Rin said in a light hearted emphasis.
"Those words were spoken before, by someone I cared deeply.. Furthermore, I look forward to your journey, Satoya Murayama."
In the blink of an eye, Satoya realized Rin vanished, the only trace of his presence being the reversed condition of the surroundings. There was a mild sense of relief dwindling in Satoya's chest, until that same exact rift of stars tearing open the air, a starlit gate from Mr. Edgy-Sword-wielder. However, what he didn't expect is multiple people to step out.
I sensed his presence, but why did he leave? Ludwig thought. His condition wasn't any better, but Satoya was mainly concerned with the idea that, how is he still retaining his generic "I'm a cold guy, don't mess with me." Composure when his shoulder's flesh–wait is that his bone? Being visible.
The man with the odachi seemed to be the same height as Ludwig, but he seemed noticeably stronger, the man's face contorted in bewilderment, speaking out, "is this that Satoya pal yall were talkin' bout? Really lookin' like exactly how that muscle dude described.."
Satoya stood up, he proceeded to search the darkness for his katana he was sure to be placed next to him until he touched the scabbard and picked it up. He began walking toward the group, the starlit gate closing, leaving no trace of that same starry portal.
The moment he stepped foot into the spot of light where they stood under the now pristine conditioned light pole, Ludwig immediately unsheathed his sword, pointing the tip of the blade at Satoya's throat.
"W-what?"
Ludwig's mouth opened, "what did you tell Rin?" His words were filled with frost, a shiver going down Satoya's spine, he felt as if he was in the harshest of winter. He noticed an aura of constellations emitting from Ludwig… Something wasn't right, should he tell Ludwig the truth? Would he be nice enough to let him off? Satoya's hands were sweaty with fear, his head was aching in stress.
"There isn't really a need to threaten him, no?" Ludwig's gaze shifted menacingly to Shizune who was oddly enough, relaxed—wait no she's definitely in more fear than Satoya himself, but she defended him nonetheless. She continued, "all Rin asked him was what the Truth Satoya made to answer his Elusive Solace's question." She was being reasonable, her curtain of reason was concealing her obvious fears.
Somehow, Ludwig made the same sigh of annoyance as the time he saved Satoya from the Alsaia Syndicate member in Mt Kazoris mall, and swiftly in such elegance, sheathed his sword back into his scabbard. He muttered in spite, "he asked you too?" Before walking away, opening a starlit gate, the light shining from the numberless collection of lights surrounding the single endless space contained within the gate. Sendo quickly followed, his odachi occasionally pulsating a light purple spark.
While they were walking into the starlit gate, Sendo shot him with a discerning mention, "why the fuck did they suddenly get stronger by like 4 months, I reckon they might be able to kick ya ass if they ganged up on ya."