Brunhilde nodded, her violet-blue hair catching sunlight. "I'm guessing that just one life gave him hope to keep moving. And every new life he saved was a chance the Forerunners could still live on and wouldn't cease to exist?"

Vlad nodded as he sighed with a dazed look. "To Charles, the collapse of the kingdom didn't matter much... To him, as long as the people were alive and continuing to move forward, then another Forerunner Kingdom could be formed." He paused, a faint smile touching his lips. "And it would be one far better than the old one... That's what Charles said to me in the past."

Reinhard trembled at those words, as he could somewhat relate to them. It was the same with Marie and Joseph moving their siblings from their old house, which they had stayed in for over six years. Even though that place had countless memories, it wasn't truly their home, as that was when they were with each other.

"I see, that's amazing." Marie mutters softly as she looks down with a faint smile.

"I can understand that…" Joseph muttered as he sighed.

Reinhard furrowed his brows at Joseph's words, but then he realized Joseph was thinking about his older sister, and her not being with him.

They turned a corner, entering a street lined with homes showing decades of repairs. Wood patched with different types, roofs replaced with whatever materials could be found.

Reinhard then says. "I see. So a community began forming from the people he saved. And then during that time, you began adapting to the Dark Silence?"

Vlad nodded, releasing a sigh. "We began understanding how to navigate the Night Terrors, what to do, and how to fully avoid them. Then we learned about roots and their spreading patterns. Then the surplus vegetation affects the river streams throughout the forest..." His voice grew quieter. "You could say every new thing we learned required plenty of sacrifices from those who wanted to pave a future for the Forerunners."

They passed a memorial, a simple stone marker with names carved into it. Too many names, which made Vlad's gaze linger on it briefly before continuing.

"After seeing this, I decided we didn't need to cling to our Forerunner past but become something new that will surpass them."

Reinhard nodded slowly. "So you became the Precursors?"

Amiya spoke up, her violet eyes showing pride in the history. "It apparently meant to imply they would return to their greatest era and continue moving forward."

Reinhard blinked, considering the naming and goal. They aligned well, as it was acknowledging the past while refusing to be trapped by it. "How did you get the people to work together again? Or even trust you, since I'm assuming they blamed the government and Beast Masters for not protecting them better?"

Vlad chuckled in a bitter tone as they passed through a small square where children played.

Vlad says softly. "It was because of our other Ancestor, Suno. Every day she would try talking with the people, even when they snarled at her, cursed at her, blamed her, wished she were dead for her failure."

Brunhilde sighed, something knowing in her expression. "But I'm guessing she didn't respond the same to them?"

Vlad shook his head. "Instead, she simply continued acting kind to them. She gave them food, helped them build fires, gave them smiles..." He paused, watching the children play. "Thinking back, it might have looked useless and futile at first... But gradually, people's hearts began to move. Then others started responding better to her, joining her around campfires to eat."

His crimson eyes lightly shine. "It was amazing to see the people who once hated and cursed us out... All eating, talking, and laughing together with Suno around a fire."

Marie's eyes lit up, her entire face brightening. "I wish I could have met her."

Vlad chuckled. "You would love her, and she would like you all. I'm sure if she were here now, then all the towns and villages would have been united as one... And their relationship with the Seekers would have been better."

Amiya pouted before quickly saying. "Don't say that, Master. You've been doing your best, and I'm sure the others would be proud of you."

Vlad chuckled again, reaching out to pat Amiya's shoulder once. "Thank you."

Marie tilted her head in confusion. "Do you really need Suno, though? The Seekers and the villages and towns have the same goal of surviving in this place, don't they? Why would it be so difficult to trust each other?"

Vlad's expression darkened as they emerged from the residential area into a section showing more recent damage. "It's because an incident happened decades ago that led to an operation failing. The cause was the townspeople's lack of communication and unwillingness to tell us the truth, leading to many Seekers dying."

Marie and Joseph's eyes widened while the others furrowed their brows.

Reinhard sighed, closing his eyes. "And so you retaliated by trying to find out the reason this happened, which led to taking action against the villages and towns?"

Vlad nodded, studying Reinhard with renewed interest. "Did someone tell you what happened?"

Reinhard shook his head. "I simply connected the dots and understood the implications."

The pattern was familiar from his gang days.

Trust gets broken, retaliation follows, and cycles of violence and mistrust perpetuate themselves. One side felt betrayed, the other felt oppressed, and neither was willing to be the first to extend peace or talk about it.

Vlad chuckled appreciatively. "You see clearly."

Marie frowned, her light-gold eyes showing frustration mixed with sadness. "I understand why tension is so high, but surviving in this place requires help from both parties. Can you really allow hatred and the past to block you from moving to the future?"

The question hung in the air.

It was simple and direct, which exposed the biggest flaw that had plagued Eastern Hesod for decades.

Vlad paused mid-step, and then he laughed. It started quietly before rising in volume as he looked up at the sky, watching clouds drift overhead. "It sounds simple, and yet the simplest action is sometimes too difficult for most." His crimson eyes came back down, meeting each of theirs in turn. "I'm sure you all have experienced this once in your lives."

Everyone fell silent. The truth in his words was undeniable.

Reinhard thought of his siblings, how simple it would be to tell them everything, to trust them with his secrets.

But he couldn't because he didn't want to see the pain on their face or worse, the fear. He then glanced at Marie, who was lightly biting her lips, and could guess it was about her goal.

Then he glanced at Joseph and guessed it was about his parents and their reaction to Vivannie leaving. Reinhard looked at Amiya and Janus, who also had varying expressions, leading him to sigh.

They continued walking beside Vlad through Naraku's streets.

Sometimes the simplest actions were indeed the hardest.

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