"…So, even you look at us like that…"
That was the lonely, quiet utterance that escaped Naru's mouth.
And Juvia reflexively looked away. Her inner fears and regrets were seen through in an instant. And as it was pointed out to her once again, she lost her ability to speak.
"You are… not the Juvia that We know."
"…People change, Naru. As time passes, they grow stronger or, possibly, weaker.… I became weak… Not just in body but in heart as well."
Back then, it was different.
One thousand years ago, it was different.
Naru, enthusiastic and vigorous, flew all around the world with our friends and took part in countless reckless adventures.
We chased dreams, ideals, and ambitions, living like we were running so fast we were almost falling forward.
But the present is different. I've grown a lot of shackles now. This heart no longer has the hopes and ideals it used to and now is filled only with resignation and regret.
"Say, Naru, why is it you only revived now? Was it to come laugh at what we've become?"
"Who knows? If you ask why, We can only answer that it was coincidence. Some fools tried to summon a hero and called us here instead. That's all."
Juvia knew that she herself was afraid of being blamed by Naru. However, she also, somewhere in her heart, wanted to be blamed.
One thousand years ago, Juvia and the others rebelled against Naru's rule and defeated her. They believed that was the correct thing to do.
However, once they'd actually accomplished that, humanity dispersed in a flash, lost all their unity, and were, as a consequence, trampled over by the grimmfolk. And the country that Juvia made became led by the kind of individuals who made light of the lives of their people.
As it was, Juvia couldn't tell who was right anymore. She had even started to believe that it would have been better for Naru to have stayed in power. Juvia thought that, in the end, all that she and the others managed to accomplish was to senselessly betray their friend, kill her, and drive the world to the point of despair.
Just what about that makes me a hero?… Seven Maidens of Midgar, what a joke. Like this… Like this, we're just war criminals, aren't we…?
"I saw this country's library."
"…"
"There sure were a lot of books criticizing the Seven Maidens of Midgar. It's unthinkable for a country where its hero is still alive and protecting it.… Was that your doing?"
Juvia couldn't respond. However, sometimes silence speaks more than anything. The fact that Juvia couldn't respond—that just meant that Naru's words were correct.
"It seems like you, too, have a lot to bear. Rather than praise, you want admonishment. More than respect, it seems you desire contempt."
"…That's…"
"You can't stand the envy and respect of everyone around you, no? You're about to be crushed under your own self-hate, but thanks to your position, you can't even complain about your regrets, and their reverence has become a blade sharper than anything else… Is that right?"
Once again, Juvia found herself unable to answer. Because Naru hit the nail spot-on, she couldn't say anything.
It's funny.
While I, the victor, am filled with regret and fear, she, who lost, is just as bold as she was one thousand years ago.
Like this, it's hard to tell just who won that fight.
"While you may no longer be the adventurer Juvia that We knew, that difficult part of you never changes, it seems. You won; feel proud. You should be more confident knowing that you defeated such a strong enemy. But instead, We find you here, feeling embarrassed of your victory, fearful, and regretful.… Say, Juvia. If the victor is embarrassed by their victory, just what should the loser do then?" Naru said, before once again donning her cloak.
Her pitch-black wings were once again hidden, and her beauty disappeared under the hood.
Simply not being able to see her expression caused Juvia unease.
She might be exasperated. She might be disappointed.
She might even be sneering at me behind that hood because I'm in such a sorry state after winning.
To Juvia, that possibility brought more fear than anything.
"You have nothing to be embarrassed about. Some people who don't know anything might claim after the fact that 'That was a mistake' or, 'They should have done this,' as if their thinking is correct, but in the end, nothing will grow from being concerned about that. Insults like that, made from a completely safe place where they're guaranteed to be safe from a counterattack, have no worth. You should simply proceed along the path you think is correct.… At the very least, that was the kind of woman the Juvia We knew was."
What came out of Naru's mouth was unexpectedly motivating. Hearing that, Juvia thought:
She surely isn't ashamed of that fight at all. She doesn't regret a single thing.
As a result, it sparked a rebellion, but she's surely proud of even that. She's no different from the woman she was back then, whom I admired and wanted to follow with all my heart.
"…Is that your attempt to comfort me? If it is, I'm grateful."
"There is no need for your thanks. We simply gave you a small warning because you were looking far too pathetic," Naru said before leaving the room.
I suppose that means she has no more business here.
But that's a matter of course. Right now, she has somewhere she needs to be above all else and something she needs to do.
Then right now, what I can do is… Well, it's certainly not regretting the past. Juvia resolved herself.
"Naru."
"Hm?"
"Let me see you to the exit. As I am now, I can still do at least that much." While depending on her crutch, Juvia walked up beside Naru. Like that, Juvia felt like they'd be able to go back to how things were, at least while they were walking. Juvia reminisced back to when there were no shackles, but instead, days passed where they could simply be adventurers.
"…There is someone pulling the strings behind Fiona."
"What?"
"Fiona is certainly the one invading this country, but there's someone stoking the fires of her desire for revenge and using her. I don't believe I need to be telling you this, but… Be careful, Naru."
"'Who do you think you're speaking to?' is what We would like to say, but it's a warning from an old friend. We'll take it gladly."
It's as if we've gone back in time, Juvia thought.
But that was just a hallucination… There was no going back, and even if there was, she shouldn't. Their paths had long since separated.
Naru waved goodbye lightly and exited the mansion without looking back. Juvia could do nothing but stand there, watching her back disappear into the distance.
The two of them should have been friends in the past. However, right now, to Naru, Juvia was no longer the friend that she knew. And to Juvia, Naru was someone she once betrayed. The distance between them was vast; a huge gap that could never be filled ran between the two.