Chapter 51: Breakdown
Anasha’s hands shook violently as her lips trembled. "F-Fake...?" The word broke apart in her throat and made her tremble even more.
Anasha’s eyes went wide, tear-streaked eyes darted from Phineas to Reinhard, and then clutched onto Reinhard’s clothing as she stared at him.
Reinhard’s chest tightened as he could feel her gaze as if she was begging him to tell her Phineas’ words were a lie. He could feel the tremors of the girl pressed against him. His jaw locked as he gritted his teeth from Phineas’s cruel words and Anasha’s reaction.
Damn him.
Reinhard forced his breathing steady, but inside, he was filled with rage. He wanted nothing more than to drive his fist through Phineas’s smiling face, to tear down those golden threads and strangle the life out of him.
But he couldn’t, not yet anyway.
Not while Anasha clung to him and was trembling.
Anasha shook her head violently, hair sticking to her tear-streaked cheeks. "No... No, that’s a lie! Ven isn’t fake! Mom isn’t fake!" Her voice rang out and echoed through the hall. "They’re real! I grew up with them! I-I laughed with them! We ate together and we played together!" Her trembling hands clawed at Reinhard’s coat. "They’re real! Tell him, Reinhard, please!"
Reinhard lowered himself slightly with one hand, rubbing small circles on her back. His chest ached at the desperation in her eyes and her constant trembling.
"They are real Anasha. The memories you have with them aren’t fake." Reinhard says as he glares at Phineas, not believing in his nonsense.
Phineas leaned forward on his woven throne of threads, his smile as calm as ever. "Well, I suppose you would think that way... But alas, you remind me of the boy I spoke of earlier. Do you remember him, Anasha? The one who longed for a community, and in his desperation, formed a faint connection to his Beast Spirit without knowing. Your situation is almost the same."
Anasha flinched at his words but shook her head furiously. "I-I don’t have a Beast Spirit! I never took the trial! I never-"
"Ah," Phineas interrupted with a soft chuckle. "That’s where you’re wrong. You’ve already formed a connection... You simply don’t realize it." His golden eyes glinted as threads stirred lazily in the air around him, as though reflecting his words. "The boy desired community. And you?" He tilted his head, smiling wider. "You desired a family. But unlike him, you didn’t join one. You made one."
Anasha’s lips parted soundlessly, her face pale beneath streaks of tears.
"You used the skill granted by that faint bond, which was an illusion. With it, you shaped the Phantasm Beasts into your mother, your father, and your brother. You gave them names, roles, and things to do. And in return, they became real to you." Phineas spread his hands as if presenting undeniable proof. "That’s the truth. You have been living in an illusion of your own making."
"No..." The whisper barely escaped Anasha’s lips, as though the word itself was suffocating her. She staggered back half a step, her knees trembling, and she almost dropped to the ground, but Reinhard held her up.
Anasha’s hands moved to her chest with her nails digging into her own dress. "No, no, no...!" She shook her head harder, gasping between sobs. "Ven isn’t an illusion! He is my brother! Mama bakes for me and sings to me! Papa... Papa held my hand whenever I had a nightmare!" Her voice cracked until it was nearly a scream. "They’re real! They’re real!"
Reinhard caught her before her shaking legs gave way, pulling her against him again. She buried her face into his chest, sobbing uncontrollably, and her words dissolving into broken cries.
Her small fists pounded weakly against his coat before going limp, her energy spent against a reality she could not accept.
Reinhard’s hand moved steadily along her back, his thumb brushing soothing circles despite the anger building up inside.
He bent his head low, his voice deep and calm as though his calm alone could shield her from Phineas cruelty. "It’s alright. I’m here, Anasha. I’ve got you, just ignore him."
Each sob shook her small body against his chest with her face buried in his coat, and while she kept muttering denial.
Phineas only leaned back, as if admiring the scene like a painter proud of his work. "Ah, but denial cannot protect her forever, Reinhard. She is already like the boy I spoke of. A Blessed One or perhaps a Cursed One, depending on your view. She has created her family from the abyss with her own longing." His gaze sharpened as his smile grew. "The truth is simple. Her beloved Ven was never her brother, and he was just a beast changed into a human because of her."
Reinhard’s jaw tightened, his grip around Anasha firming. He felt her flinch at Phineas words, her small body curling tighter against him as though trying to shut them out.
Anasha’s muffled cries rose again. "He’s lying, Reinhard... He’s lying... Ven’s my brother, right? He has to be..."
Reinhard shut his eyes for a heartbeat, his anger searing hot under his ribs. He opened them again, fixing Phineas with a glare so sharp it could cut. "Shut up." Reinhard glared, his blue eyes turning cold.
Phineas chuckled softly, as if the threat was nothing but sweet music to his ears.
Reinhard ignored him, lowering his head once more to press his cheek against Anasha’s blue hair. "Anasha, tell me something. Can you recall the moments you had with Ven, Leafa, and Rapheal?"
Anasha blinked and then slowly nodded her head while Phineas tilted his head. "How did it feel to you? The time you spent with them? The memories you made? The fun you had? Do you think that was all fake?"
"No! All of it was real, all of it was fun and amazing." Anasha says as she looks up.
Reinhard smiled and said. "Then they weren’t fake at all. No matter what that bastard says, your family and friends were all real."
Anasha’s eyes widened, staring at Reinhard in a daze before trembling.
Reinhard smiled as he caressed her hair, and he spoke. "Have more trust in your memories and family, okay?"
Anasha blinks before then, and slowly a faint smile appears as she says. "Okay..."
Reinhard smiled before glaring at Phineas, who was also trembling.
Then Phineas began laughing as he crossed his arms across his body and then said.
"Amazing, absolutely amazing! What spectacular answers and words, now I am really curious. What’s your name?"
"Don’t worry about it."
"But I have to because you are far more interesting than I thought you would. You aren’t just a supporting role, you may even have the talent to be a main actor... No, a star on my stage." Phineas says as he caresses his chin. "I thought only little Anasha would be it, but now I am rethinking it."
"Then I would be a very bad star because I plan to destroy this stage and rip apart your script."
"Hahaha, that just makes it better. If you’re able to do that, then it just means my stage wasn’t enough to handle you." Phineas laughed as he wiped a tear from his face. "But alas, the next act is already here."
Reinhard furrowed his brows before his eyes widened as he started to hear it, countless footsteps rushing over here. Without other words, he picked up Anasha, who gasped in surprise before he leapt out of the hole. Then he grabbed onto the roof before pulling himself up onto the clinic roof.
Reinhard then looks to see countless Werefangs leaping on buildings and rushing through the streets towards him.
It was then Phineas’ voice rang out from beneath him. "We are in the next act, the beast chase!"
"Screw off." Reinhard says with a sigh while holding Anasha.