Chapter 157, Liberation of Light

Arata steadys his blade, Licht, who realized that the spell around them was a Conditional Spell clicked his tongue. Conditional Spells have varying effects, and he guesses that if he kills Arata, the spell will either kill him or trap him within the barrier.

He becomes even more angry when his eyes meet with Addy and Eddy and realizing that the two had betrayed him. Addy and Eddy now stood outside the barrier, holding each other as their hearts felt a pang for their best friend and the fact that they betrayed him but both knew that they had to save him.

Arata knew in his mind that by sheer power alone he was outmatched by Licht so he couldn't let the battle drag on. He had to weaken Licht as quickly as possible and then destroy the Gem of Melancholy.

He reaches into his shadow and pulls out a mirror which he doesn't understand. The Reflecting Mirror, all who peer within its glass will see the past. He is taken by surprise at first and is dumbfounded till he realizes what it would be used for.

"Addy, Eddy, get inside the barrier!" He ordered the two and they rushed into the barrier without delay.

"Tch. What do you plan, Le Fleur?" Licht asks with his sword bared towards the others.

"The past now forgotten, the bond now broken, oh ye who witnesses the past, turn back the gears of fate and reveal the hidden past!" As Arata chanted, the two guarded him, countering Licht's attack till finally, Arata's spell was complete and the inside of the barrier revealed their past.

Outside the barrier, the others could no longer see what was happening and to everyone's surprise, none of the Sacred Braves tried to go into the barrier.

"Shouldn't we go inside and check on them?" Mao asked a bit surprised by the actions of William and the others.

"No need." William answered as he gazed towards the barrier. "Arata isn't as week as before, he told us not to interfere so we won't."

"Besides, we have more important things to do." Alistar says gazing to the skies as a hundred or so vortex open and countless Chimeras rain down.

The Braves hold their weapons steady, the enemy wasn't about to hand over one of tgeir strongest allies with open arms.

The past played before their eyes, the happy days, the painful days, the cheerful days, everthing about the past of Licht and the twins danced before their very eyes. As these memories poured out before Arata speaks.

"Licht, why are you standing here now?" Arata asks him.

"That's simple! I'm going to kill you and rewrite this wretched fate!" He answered. "This world filled with pointless wars, where the weak and powerless suffer. I'll blow it all away with these hands."

"That won't fix anything now will it?" Arata asked. "Why are you fighting?"

Licht stays quiet and Arata sees this as his chance. He send the reflecting mirror towards Licht and forces him to gave inside it.

"The real Licht, let us talk to him." Arata smiled at the two and from deep within the clutches of the Gem of Melancholy, a faint light was found.

"Le Fleur... Addy... Eddy...?" His voice came from within the mirror.

"Licht!" The two exclaimed as they gazed into the mirror seeing the reflection of their old friend.

"Licht Rays, what is it that you truly are fighting for? For what purpose have you chosen this path?" Arata asked him. "For what purpose, did you accept the role of Beacon?"

"I simply... wanted to... make life... easier for me and Eddy and Addy." He answered.

"If so, have you finally succumb to the darkness? Have you lost hope in everything so much that you let the Arcane Sin devour you?" Arata continued.

"That is..." He can't answer.

"Not true! Licht wouldn't lose to something like this!" Eddy exclaimed.

"Licht, we're sorry we couldn't help you shoulder your burden, but we're here now." Addy says. "It kay not mean anything anymore. We may not be able to change the past, but together we can change the future."

"But... what can I do? With these bloodstained hands and weak heart?" He asks.

"We cannot change what you have done, but you can change what you're about to do." Arata answers. "Licht, I'm sorry about your past. No one extended a hand to you when you were lost, wavering and uneasy but there are hands here now."

"Addy, Eddy and I, we offer you our hands, they aren't much, but if you take them, we can start again, from zero." Arata smiled and Licht, who was inside the mirro hand tears dripping down his cheek as he reached out his hand.

"I want to. I want to believe in your words, Eddy, Addy, Arata." He smiled and from his body, the Gem of Melancholy emerged.

As Arata walked closer towards the stone he could feel its power, its cursed ability and even with his resolve, he could feel it trying to make even his will break. Arata knew that it must be destroyed but he doesn't have that power, so he takes a box from within his shadow and traps the Gem there.

Licht falls to the ground and his reflection from within the mirror disappears. A smile plays on Arata's lips and the two thank him before Licht wakes up and without any of them saying it, the embrace.

"Eddy! Addy!" Licht crues as he embraces the two.

"Welcome back, Licht, welcome back!!" The two cried.

The three pour out tears as they hug each other and Arata smiles and taps their shoulders.

"Le Fleur..." The three dry their tears.

"I hate to break up your reunion but... Licht, I have a question I must ask you." Arata says and turns to the duo. "From now on, let's move towards the future together."

With a smile, the threw nod and Arata's barrier drops and the others, who have successfully drove away the Chimeras welcome them with open arms.