Set's POV

I sat in a stunned silence. Zenery was holding my arm. I was going to run away, but now I couldn't move. I was... terrified? I don't know.
"Set please. I'm not saying you have to open up to the whole world, but you cant keep yourself alone like this forever. Well maybe you can, but its just not healthy."
She pondered for a second, then resumed talking.
"Besides. Do you really think this is what Lucy would want?"
That snapped me out of my paralysis.
"Leave her out of this." I growled at Zenery.
She looked at me sharply.
"Why? You're making all these excuses to avoid people and stay alone and hated because of what you did to Lucy. How does this not concern her? Really Set. I don't care if you think you're staying away from people for safety reasons or whatever. Lucy was not expecting what happened, and had no means to protect herself. I am a space elementalist. And I know what could happen. And I am capable of keeping myself safe."
I sat there in a stunned silence letting what she had said sink in.
It was true that she had ways to keep herself safe. Of all of the people I had met so far, save Milaek and Azami, she seemed the most capable of ensuring her own safety. Half the time she knew what was going to happen before it did. But I didn't like it that she was comparing herself to Lucy. Lucy was perfect. She was kind, gentle, strong... she had no faults. And Zenery, who knew nothing about her, was implying that she did.
"Lucy wasn't weak." I said finally, finding it to be the only cohesive thought I could put to words.
Zenery sighed and rolled her eyes.
"She was. Stop being a dreamy eyed bastard and wake up. No one is perfect Set. Not you, not me, not Lucy. Got it? Now stop protecting a dead persons 'perfect' image and grow up."
Zenery's words stung like a knife. I tried to glare her down but she just glared right back, her eyes sharp and defiant. As if daring me to prove her wrong.
I couldn't. I finally broke.
"But Lucy was... she was..."
"She was human. She had her faults. She couldn't protect herself from anything. She was weak. Don't deny it Set. I'm not saying she was a bad person, but I am pointing out one of her many flaws. I could point out some of yours while I'm at it. Or even mine."
Her gaze was now less knife like, and more like disinfectant in a wound.
The memory shattered. I remembered Lucy lying in the mud, bullies taunting her. It was 4th grade. She tried to get up but couldn't. They pushed her down. She didn't fight back. She cried. I stepped in.
Now it was seventh grade and some girls had torn up her homework and flushed it down the toilet. She came to me sobbing. She hadn't tried, or been able to stop them. I went and took charge. I had been protecting her her whole life. She just lay down and took it. She just gave up and cried.
She wasn't perfect.
Suddenly Zenery's face was in front of mine.
"Dont look at this as a shattering of your memories. Think of it as finally opening your eyes."
I stared at her. She stared back.
Her face came closer to mine.
Then her hands reached up to my face.
Quietly and carefully, she removed my sunglasses.
"This is the real world. You don't have to choose to be here, but I can be your transport. I can get inside your world, and show you ours."
I felt something wet drip down my face, and for a moment I was confused.
Then I realized I was crying.
I never cry. Not since Lucy. But here I was, sitting on the cold stone floor of the academy in front Zenery, with tears running down my face.
I grabbed on to her, the one solid thing in my world at that moment.
She jerked away slightly, then, slowly, I felt her slim arms slide around my back comfortingly.
She held me for minutes? Hours? Days? Time didn't seem to matter anymore.
Finally when my unknown crying subsided, she let me go, helped me up, retrieved my glasses, put them back on for me carefully, and lead me to my room.
When we arrived she turned to leave.
"Wait."
She turned back.
"I...I can't be like that. Ever again."
She gave me a small smile.
"Maybe not soon, but bit by bit I can help you. Don't worry. I wont tell everyone about your crying."
I felt choked up again.
"I- ... thanks."
She smirked at me.
"Just don't expect any special treatment from me because of this. I'm still going to beat you tomorrow in Ancient Military Tactics."
"FUCK I STILL HAVE TO DO THE HOMEWORK!!!"
Zenery just winked at me, and then turned and walked off.