Levi leaned forward.
“I understand.”
He took a slow breath before speaking again.
“Then… hypothetically.”
“I have a friend who owns a defense Command Post called the Vanguard.”
“Ever since he became its owner, he’s been acting differently.”
“I feel like he’s hiding something.”
“Hypothetically…”
“Should I be worried?”
The woman smiled.
“Very good.”
“Now I can answer.”
She folded her hands neatly on the table.
“Hypothetically speaking…”
“If I were you…”
“I would be more than worried.”
“I would distance myself from that friend immediately.”
Levi’s expression hardened.
“…That serious?”
She nodded.
“Every Command Post has its own personality.”
“Its own requirements.”
“Its own environment.”
“And the type of person it seeks.”
“Most Command Posts can adapt to many different owners.”
“But…”
“Some are different.”
“They are born with unique traits.”
“They refuse to accept just anyone.”
“If they never find the right owner…”
“They simply sleep forever.”
Levi listened without interrupting.
“The Vanguard…”
She paused.
“…isn’t its true name.”
Levi frowned.
“It isn’t?”
She shook her head.
“No.”
“Every Command Post has a true name.”
“When that name is discovered…”
“Its true nature is revealed.”
She looked directly into Levi’s eyes.
“And so are the qualities it desires in its owner.”
Silence filled the room.
“Hypothetically…”
“The Vanguard chooses only a certain type of person.”
“The kind of person…”
She hesitated for the first time.
“…you wouldn’t want raising your children.”
“…or even your dog.”
Levi felt a chill run down his spine.
“So…”
“You should be concerned.”
The room became quiet once more.
Levi lowered his head.
Deep inside…
He knew she wasn’t lying.
Ever since Carter obtained the Vanguard, something had changed.
Small things.
The way he spoke.
The way he looked at people.
The secrets he kept.
Even so…
Levi couldn’t accept it.
Not yet.
After everything they had survived together…
He wanted to believe his friend.
Finally, he looked back up.
“I’m going to believe Carter.”
The words left his mouth with more emotion than confidence.
The woman blinked.
Then smiled.
“…You’re fascinating.”
Levi looked confused.
“I wasn’t expecting that answer.”
“Nor was I expecting you to refuse the Godmother’s offer.”
Levi’s heart skipped a beat.
His entire body stiffened.
“…How do you know about that?”
The woman ignored the question.
Instead, she spoke softly.
“You should trust Carmen more.”
Levi stared at her.
“She has far more potential than you realize.”
“I know her condition frightens you.”
“But one day…”
“It may save your life.”
How?
How did she know about Carmen?
How did she know about the Godmother?
How did she know what he had chosen?
He had never told anyone.
The woman simply smiled.
“As I said before…”
“There is no need to fear me.”
“There are many things about this world that I know.”
She stood from her chair.
“It just so happens…”
“My friend in District Two has become rather bored lately.”
“I think…”
“…she would enjoy hearing your stories.”
She looked at Levi with an amused smile.
“Will you visit her someday?”
Before Levi could think…
His mouth answered first.
“…Yes.”
The answer surprised even him.
The woman smiled as though she had expected nothing less.
She turned and began walking away.
Then, without looking back, she said one final thing.
“Oh…”
“You should open the chest.”
Levi blinked.
“The one your father left you.”
“You never know.”
“There may be something precious waiting inside.”
She continued walking.
Levi stood from his chair.
“Wait.”
“Who are you?”
The woman stopped.
For a long moment…
She said nothing.
Then she turned her head just enough for him to see the gentle smile on her face.
“I’ll see you again, Levi.”
The white room began to fade.
The table disappeared.
The chairs vanished.
Light swallowed everything.
And then…
Levi was standing beneath the same tree where he had left the group, as though no time had passed at all.