In class number one, of what appeared to be a long forgotten and abandonned university, gathered Capucine, Melisa and Gloria.
Capucine spoke first, smiling as she usually does.
"Sit down, everyone. I'll be your teacher."
"What could you possibly teach us? How to betray and genocide?"
"That's if we have time. Please take a sit."
Gloria sat all the way to the back, as an evidence of her denial to listen.
"Bad students usually sit all the way back to avoid the teacher's eyes."
"You have three with the Thorned Circle on your forehead. Looks gross."
"Sorry everyone, one of you is misbehaving. This will take time off of today's lesson."
"I wasn't going to learn anything."
"Do I need to call your parents?"
Gloria sends a death stare, no holding back.
"No need for all that roleplay, Capucine. Let's just talk. We're all in the quest of information and meaning. We could just make good use of our time and talk like the adults we're supposed to be."
"You know what? I'll talk first. I hate you."
"Are you jealous I had Ismael before you?"
"Nor everything revolves around this moron. This is about you. And specifically this, you didn't do anything you fraud. At least Ismael dives into the danger, throws himself out there and makes his way through hell and back to get what he wants, I've been there, literally, so I repsect that. But you? A grifter. A fake. When Efalis remade us to how we used to be at the Lifeline, I remembered not only my own life but additionary details we should take into account for today's lesson, on how to be a fraud. First and foremost, you didn't traffick a single weapon, yet you claimed to be one of them. You've been at Nara, but you've barely done anything, and your friends closed their eyes on the subject to make you feel better. Then there is the diplomacy issue. You didn't help any nation, not yours, not foreign. You died and before I found you, you were sleeping in your grave, resting like a coward."
"You don't know what it's like to be scattered."
"We don't know? What the hell do you think we did? We were out there, bleeding our brains out, trying to find a way out of the lower levels of the Lifeline. I can't believe Efalis or the Dragon God would choose you of all people for your "good deeds". You've never shown any faith nor glory, no accomplishments. You take your defenders for granted and your actions for miracles. I agree with Capucine, the fact alone that Ismael chose you when other women existed is crazy in and of itself. That HAS to be pure unfiltered love, because I'm struggling to find your redeemable qualities."
"Because I have none. I use what I have and I lust for comfort. I also remember the face you made when you died like a pig at the ITS mall. You have some nerve calling me these names when you're the Capucine, the most psychopathic of us all. I'm a low, horrible imposter, I know. The Gloria I wish I was never existed and never will. She's a figment of my imagination built by my ego and I am aware of that. I enjoy it. Because it felt safe to have this second me in my head on stand-by, to reshape myself to the image of the Gloria of Nara. I have no excuses for my coward behaviour but I'll make up for it as time goes by."
"Gloria. Look at me. Are you actually ready to change?"
"I've never seen Capucine so serious and open-minded, Gloria. Please be respectful in your answer."
Realizing the tone she had, Gloria audibly sighed and left her seat to stand in front of her.
"I'll give you that, you were right about me. But I'll tell you something more, regardless how much you hate me, I'll hate myself even more. I don't even like my own body, my own mind nor who I am. I don't want to become anything nor anyone in particular, I have no dream, no goal. Which is exactly why I stayed with Ismael. He had all of the values I wish I had. The vertue. The resignation and dedication, the light in his eyes. I cared not for myself because I had a wonderful husband that inspired me to become better. His presence was purifying me, so I lost myself in him and forgot who I was. I couldn't even think of the idea of trying to become someone. I got married and I was so incredibly happy that I misplaced my own identity. Ismael and I became one, that day."
"So. Will you change?"
"If I see him, I'll talk to him. Honestly. And from here on out, I'll take life more seriously."
Capucine exchanged a meaningful look with Melisa, half-smiling at them both.
"I hope your positive outlook on life will make you break from your cocon."
"If it doesn't?"
"The circle on my forehead means I still have to kill Ismael. By the same occasion I'll slaughter you as well. I'll find a way."
"Then so be it. For if by that time I haven't changed, then I deserve to be killed. What about you, Melisa?"
"I'm a Cardinal, so I have to remain human from now on. I don't careabout Ismael, I think even Osmond is here at Perseus, but knowing him he's already found an obscure place to hide and be obnoxious in. I'll grow out my bangs to cover the mark, it's not that deep. For my part, I'll be honest here, I don't believe in this whole "I'll just redo my life somewhere else". I don't think this crap is real for myself or other people, I'm a nobody that needs to become something. If I've learned anything recently it is that through hard work and discipline, you can acheive wonders, but most wouldn't go through that because those two values demand self-accountability."