Memento Mori

Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea
August 29-30th

The entrance to the prestigious hotel The Shilla was as luxurious as you would expect from a place where many politicians from around the world would want to sleep. I was overcome with a sense of awe, there was grandeur and opulence everywhere, that was undeniable. The marble floors gleamed under the soft illumination of chandeliers, and the air was filled with a delicate fragrance that added to the sense of elegance. The lobby was bustling with activity, with delegates and important figures from around the world checking in and going about their business.

When we arrived at the reception desk, the hotel staff, aware of the importance of the upcoming summit, greeted us with the utmost professionalism, my brother Leon effortlessly handled the formalities. His confidence and charisma were palpable, that looked evident that he had found his place in the world. The thought of his achievements only served to intensify my self-doubt. 

The girls were talking to each other and my sister, they seemed to be whispering about my brother as well, Tamamo seemed particularly interested, trying to imagine what I would have been like using my brother as a basis for comparison. While my mother was chatting with the staff, finalizing the arrangements for our rooms, even Xian seemed to be busy talking to the security staff there. When I realized I was alone slightly apart from the rest I was lost in my own thoughts, as I played with the Luna Core in my hands, another reminder of my failures.

My mother was anxious to talk to my brother Leon, but a phone call changed the plans, when my brother's bosses wanted to meet with him to discuss the details of the next day. Somehow I had managed to buy one more day, but for how much longer I could continue with this futile attempt?

Because of the importance of the next day, we decided not to risk it and just get a good night's rest. Only my mother stayed up until almost midnight working with the twins preparing for tomorrow's conference, my brother was probably doing the same in the next room, meanwhile, I could only check and maintain my pistol, make sure it would not fail in case I needed it.

The next day started early, with the sunrise breakfast was already served in the room, all the family ate together in one room, Lisa was the one who ate the most because she would be the one who would spend more time hidden, while Levia, Tifa, Momo and Charllote would stay. Tamamo would transform herself to hide among the public and watch from a distance what was happening, while Kasumi would be close to my mother to help her with any unforeseen event, Xi'an would be next to them also protecting them as she always did.

As anticipated, at the large Coex conference center in Seoul, at 9:00 a.m. the arrival of the meeting delegates began to be greeted by the South Korean president with a handshake. My mother not being a person who likes publicity or the media, instead entered the conference center through another entrance, somehow she was quick to get me a pass for her team including me, maybe the hat and sweatshirt did serve to hide my fox parts for the first time. When the clock struck 10:30, everyone was on the stage discussing what happened in Okinawa and the first repercussions and measures taken, my mother was present, but in the background listening to everything but not participating in anything, it seemed that she already knew in advance what the others were talking about.

When noon came, after lunch my mother walked to her private conference room, but as several very important people were meeting there, the entrance was extremely restrictive, so much so that Kasumi and Xi'an were barely allowed in as they were assistants, while Tamamo changed form again and managed to sneak in on his own shortly after. I stayed outside instead, it wasn't like it bothered me really, if something happened I could easily smash my way in, but other than that there was nothing I could be doing in there. Since unless there was a sign of danger I would act, I decided to take advantage of the situation and look for something to eat nearby. Luckily I found a fast-food hamburger restaurant easily.

I was happily ordering my food when something rather interesting happened. Before I pulled out my card to pay, a man came out behind me to pay for my food and order the same as me. The fact annoyed me greatly, thinking it was a poor attempt to engage a girl in conversation, only to my surprise to see Damien Raven right next to me waving casually, making a polite gesture.

Since we were in a public area full of people and the best guards on the planet around, as well as because he was the husband of an old friend of mine, I restrained my urge to butcher his body in front of everyone. I ignored him and went with my food to sit at a table. The man persistently came after me with his food as well. 

"My apologies beautiful lady for my rudeness earlier in approaching you so subtly"
"Will you allow me to grace my life for a moment by talking to me for a moment?"
"You strike me as an extremely interesting person and I am intrigued to meet you."
"You seem to have an aura of elegance and mystery like no other." Said the man in front of me.

"Ah dammit, you're just like Rose said."
"We can skip the part about gentlemanly manners, I'm not good with them, I can't stand it, I'm not like that."
"If we're gonna talk, make it quick and to the point,I'll give you time between now and when I finish eating."
"So why are you here, it's because of what I told your dog earlier I guess."

"Oh wow, so you're a direct and tomboyish type of girl, I am fine, I don't have any problems."
"I also want this to be quick."
"...."
"So tell me, where did you meet Rose?"

"St. Petersburg, I was on a vacation trip and several things happened."
"I knew her for several years, she was a scientist without equal, very intelligent, endless passion, limitless curiosity."
"Her ideas were as crazy as she was, but at the same time, she left everyone silent when they worked."

"Yes, it's true, it's just as you say."
"She was someone who fought for her passion without caring what others thought of her."
"I'm glad to see that you also had the good fortune to know her in life"
"May I ask where you two knew each other so well?"
"I don't remember the two of you spending time together at any time."

"Well, while she was working"
"It's not like you also told her with every person you work with on a day-to-day basis."

"I'm sorry but I don't believe your bad lie"
"The times just don't match"

"Do you have any proof?"

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"Actually, yes, I have"

Damien took a photo out of his coat and placed it on the table, a very unique and important photo.

"This is you in this photo, isn't it?"
"It was taken when we discovered you 3 years ago."2
"7 years after Rose died."
"You were somewhere else locked away for millions of years in a catatonic state."
"So, there is no way that you could have met with her."
"So I want to ask you again, where did you meet her from?"

"Oh what an image, my favorite memento mori"
"With all that imposing palace in ruins, the books full of knowledge and secrets, the place full of bones and plants."
"An loved empress dead for millennia sitting on her throne"
"...."
"Interesting hobby, very chivalrous to take pictures of the girls while they sleep"
"Tell me, would you believe me if I told you that there used to be I.S.C. boxes in that room?"
"That's when it still had a roof and windows."

"Do you also know the story behind this photo?"

"Why should I?"
"Am I in it?"
"Oh no, my lie, yes it is me."
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry."
"I won't say anything anyway."
"Would you like me to ask for the story behind a picture of Rose's cold, inert body in the street?"

"....."
"I'm sorry, you're right, what an enormous lack of manners on my part."
"I don't know what I was thinking, it's not an act worthy of a true gentleman."
"...."
"Let's move on to something better"
"Earlier you mentioned the missing pages of the Rose Diarist's diary."
"Would you be able to tell me their contents?"

"I don't"
"It's not because I don't want to, it's just that I really don't remember.
"They were full of little tins, even the edges were full of annotations."
"...."
"But I will tell you one thing, those last pages were her greatest treasure, her pride, her life's work."
"And if she herself burned them of her own free will before she died, what do you think it means?"
"Deception? Repentance?"
"If she destroyed her own work so deliberately, it is because she had every reason to do so."
"She knew that someone would come along to use the work she left behind and do what she was trying to prevent."
"...."
"Now tell me, Damien, you have been using Rose's work to further the technological development of the I.S.C. haven't you?"

"What I am doing is not stealing her ideas or inventions"
"On the contrary, I am making them real, bringing them to life."
"Each and every one of them"
"It's something my company takes very seriously every step of every day."
"Each and every one of her inventions are fully credited to my wife."
"This is my way of thanking her for the companionship she has given me all these years."
"It is my only way to keep her memory alive!"
"...."
"It's the only way in this world that just laughed at her...."

"Well, this world has not laughed at her alone."
"Just imagine, you struggle for 10 years, the worst decade of your whole miserable life."
"Every damn day a near-death encounter at every turn."
"Used as cannon fodder, as mere disposable material"
"Where the gun you carry is worth more than your life"
"Years of training wasted in seconds, hardship every step of the way"
"All your acquaintances, friends, family and even love ones die for no reason or purpose."
"The only three most joyous days you ever had were followed by the worst three months of cruel warfare possible."
"...."
"...."
"All the lives sacrificed, all the time lost, all the pain suffered."
"Somehow you managed to win the war and save the world."
"....."
"....."
"And how does the world repay you?"
"...."
"With another ten years of total war now between stupid land disputes between countries."
"...."
"Once again lives sacrificed, time wasted, pain suffered"
"All over again, all over again, completely out of your control."
"The only thing you can do is stand back and watch the world consume itself."
"...."
"...."
"What would you call that other than a mockery of all the work done?"

"I'm sorry Mrs. .... I don't..."
"I don't understand exactly what you are referring to."
"But I can tell you with certainty that I fully understand the point you are trying to make."
"This world is the problem"
"It's something I agree with as well."
"And that's why I want to change it, so that the world is the ideal world that my dear Rose once dreamed of."
"The world that I'm sure you would like to see too."

"Well maybe, but I think unfortunately we both have slight differences on how to realize that idea."
"...."
"Well, it looks like my meal is over and with it the time to talk."
"I'm sorry if I got sentimental with my previous comment, I guess I got a little too carried away."
"...."
"Hey, you don't mind if I keep the picture? it's pretty cute."
"I'm sure Rose would have loved to give me this picture."
"It also means a lot to me."

"Sure, it's fine."
"You can keep it, consider it a payment for your time."

After the short surprise meeting, I didn't want to meet the giant man again, so I hurriedly walked back to the conference center and stayed there until my mother's meeting was over.

When the meeting finally ended, I didn't mention my meeting with Damien, it wasn't something they needed to know after all. My mother seemed to come away quite happy with what she had discussed with the other governors, it seemed that President John Smith had also been present. Leon for his part was still at his company's booth talking to several of his potential future clients, so after talking to him a little to see if he was well or tired, but his work seemed to have to continue for much longer than we thought. Since Adelis was tired we decided to go back to the hotel first to rest. There would be plenty of time tomorrow to talk to my brother during the train ride.

But on our return trip, in the cab, there was something that caught my attention for a moment, I had a hard time seeing it because of the movement of the car. 

In a reflection, I could see a strange silhouette, one quite out of place that somehow, despite the short time and how badly I saw it, I was repulsed to just think that it could have been that of a man full of bandages over his head, and as I could still see how disfigured his face was, he was the burned man.

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