I was shocked. Stunned by what Hadrian had just told me for many reasons. For one, Hadrian really was guilty for what he caused at The Games, driven mad by former Old Builder Cassie Rose... I felt quite bad for not trusting his word earlier... Second of all, he and Mevia are married...?! I didn't believe it at first, but once he had mentioned it, I looked down at his left hand, and there it was, the bright golden ring. It was a spin out to me to even imagine he and Mevia ever bring that close, though when I thought about it, it made perfect sense; he saved her life during the fire, ultimately in trade for his own, and Mevia? Like Hadrian mentioned, she would do anything for him, follow him wherever, even down the darkest path... It was in their wedding vowels. And that's how everything went downhill; At The Games, and for their relationship... What most would think would lead to a strong, healthy and caring couple lead them down a horrid path, plaguing them for the rest of their days and eventually tearing them apart...

And now, here we are, both injured immensely from a natural disaster, one teetering on the edge of life and death, the other literally on their death bed as we speak... As all the information processed in my mind, I slowly turned my attention to Hadrian, who had buried his head into his pillow and was crying softly. I looked at him sadly, holding back tears of my own. I felt horrible for pushing his feelings to the side, thinking he was still the same man I had met at The Games, but it was obvious the man I met before wasn't the true Hadrian; this was, just an ordinary human thrown into some extraordinary events. A builder of the Portal Hallway, founder of The Games, Husband of Mevia and possibly so much more! And now... He was months, possibly weeks away from his life coming to a halt, after being driven mad by a former friend, after being de-throned at The Games (Which I feel responsible for) and experiencing a major argument with his own wife. I felt... Responsible, at least partially for putting him here... I may have disliked him beforehand, but even then, I wouldn't want his fate to be sealed in such a horrible way... Slowly, holding back the lump in my throat, I gently placed my hand on Hadrian's shoulder

"Hadrian..." I said, trying not to choke. "It's OK..." Hadrian didn't even turn to me nor lift his head up.

"No, it's not Jesse..." He replied with sob. "I appreciate your efforts to comfort me, but you have to face reality; it's not OK, not at all! I'm literally weeks away from leaving this world without a trace, without a positive mark left anywhere, without... Saying sorry to all I hurt, without saying goodbye... Without showing them... Who I really am..." I bit my lip. As much as I wanted to deny it, I couldn't. He was right, he was only a few weeks away before he left this world forever, without a positive mark shown at all, only the stain he left at The Games, marking his wrong-doings... It was then, I noticed something;

""It just drives you crazy to see someone else succeed, doesn't it?! You just can't stand to see someone else in the spotlight, can you? You just can't let anyone else win!"

"One of you has the treasure I desire, and I will not rest until it is mine! Even if I have to resort... TO MURDER!"

"Why keep trying, Jesse? You will only fail. Just as you failed to save Reuben. Just as you failed to lead your friends back home. You will fail to defeat me, and Axel, Olivia and everyone on your home world will soon be made USEFUL!"

"This is *our* games! *We* control their outcome!"

"Surrender the Redstone Heart, NOW. Because, ha, I *will* trap you here forever. I am 100% fine with that course of action!"

I fell completely silent as the words fumbled in my head. Everyone that I had defeated, that had antagonized me throughout the portal journey, including Hadrian and Mevia themselves... I stopped them, I had to! It was the right thing to do! As the hero, you stop the villain, correct? But as I thought about it more, my gaze slowly shifted to Hadrian. Injured, emotionally scarred, alone and death dancing around him as we speak... This started... Because of me. Hadrian's downfall from The Games to here were all caused by me. I still feel I should've stopped him, but what I didn't do, was help him. It was obvious from what Harper and even Otto hinted beforehand that Hadrian wasn't always the twisted man we knew him to be. Under the confidence and arrogance he showed on the surface, was someone internally suffering as he put it himself. As I thought about this, my mind immediately shifted to Aiden. I spared him, I helped him, I comforted him. If I had not done that back on Sky City, would Aiden have grown up into the Hadrian I witnessed at The Games? Did I save Aiden from a life a villainy? If so... Why didn't I do that with Cassie? Or PAMA? Or Hadrian and Mevia? Why did I only depose of them once defeated? A hero is supposed to save all people, including the ones they are trying to stop. A hero does not stop them simply because they're doing the wrong thing, but to help them do the right thing. And I did not do that. Aiden I may have saved, but others I did not... I am no hero, not a true one at least...

"... Jesse?" Hadrian's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. He was giving me a worried look. "Are you OK? You're... Shaking... A lot..." I looked down at my hands to see I was indeed shaking. My legs felt like they would collapse under me, and yet I couldn't stop. I felt tears well up in my eyes as my thoughts continued to swarm me... I never was the hero, was I?

"Jesse?!" Hadrian repeated, more concerned than before. "Are you OK?!" I gulped.

"I... I-I'm sorry..." I whispered sadly. "I-I'm sorry I never helped y-you..." Tears finally started to spill down my cheeks as I let out a sob. Hadrian looked at me sadly.

"Jesse, it's-"

"It's NOT OK!" I shouted, startling the Old Builder. "I'm supposed to help others, not hurt them! That's what a true hero would do! But instead of helping you, I... I-I just banished you and your wife! I-I could've helped you! A-And now look where you are; on your own death bed, because of ME! I... I basically KILLED you! I couldn't save you!" It was then I started to cry. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I raised my shaky hands, covering my face as I sobbed loudly. I was overwhelmed with realisation and reality hitting me hard. The sins I had committed and the outcome of those I hurt... I wasn't a hero, I was just a villain, hiding their true identity this whole time.... As I sobbed, Hadrian had fallen silent. However, after a few minutes and after I had calmed down slightly, he started to speak;

"Jesse..." He started. "No hero can save everyone. The world just won't let that happen. Life is unfair, life and death don't work hand in hand. A true hero is one who tries their hardest to save all, not the one who saves all. It's a tough lesson to learn, and one many don't want to learn, but its reality. Not everything is fun and games, everything won't go as planned. Lives will always be lost, but Jesse, imagine if you weren't around. How many lives would be lost then? Many, countless lives would be lost without a hero there to save them. In the end Jesse, you can't save everyone, but without you, none would be saved at all, your mere presence saves lives. I understand this is a lot to swallow, but you're still young, still learning, and this one lesson you need to learn, because you're a hero, a true hero, and true heroes like you save lives. Maybe not all, but not all can be saved. As long as you try your best to save those around you, you are a true hero"

...

I fell silent, letting what Hadrian said sink in. Because once again, he was right; I can't save everyone, but if I wasn't around, who would save them? No one would, and more lives than before would be lost... It's just how our cruel world works. I felt my emotions rise once more, tears filling my eyes. I looked up at Hadrian, who only gave me a sad yet patient smile. This was Hadrian. The man I had met at The Games was a fake, a decoy, this was the true Hadrian, someone who seemed sensitive, yet was kind and caring. Someone, who didn't deserve death... Overwhelmed and without a moment to think, I threw myself onto Hadrian and hugged him tightly. I don't know why I did... I just did. I he jolted, surprised and startled by my hug. I knew he couldn't return it as he was paralysed from the neck down, but as I started to cry once more, he started to comfort me

"It's OK..." He cooed. "Just let it out..." He was so... Kind-hearted. So thoughtful of others. Why did I never see this before? I cried for a good while, before I finally calmed down. Slowly, I broke from the hug.

"S-Sorry..." I apologised as I wiped my tears away. "I... I just got emotional..." Hadrian smiled.

"Its fine" He replied. "We all have our moments" I smiled a little as I wiped a few more tears away, my face stained. Hadrian's expression softened a little. "Why don't you go wash up?" He suggested. "Calm yourself down a little?" I nodded my head.

"Do you need anything?" I asked him. "Some water?" He shook his head.

"No, but thank you for the offer" He replied. "Now go on. Wash up" I couldn't help but smile when he told me that, almost like he was my father or guardian of some kind. I exited the room, leaving the door slightly open to indicate Hadrian was still awake, then walked down to the bathroom. As I splashed my face with water, I couldn't help but think about everything Hadrian had said to me;

"Jesse, you can't save everyone, but without you, none would be saved at all, your mere presence saves lives. I understand this is a lot to swallow, but you're still young, still learning, and this one lesson you need to learn, because you're a hero, a true hero, and true heroes likes you save lives. Maybe not all, but not all can be saved. As long as you try your best to save those around you, you are a true hero"

I couldn't deny anything he said; the sad truth is, I can't save everyone, causalities will always occur, and Hadrian just happens to be one of those poor souls that will lose their life for no real reason... I can't save him;

But I can help him

"Radar!" I called through the hallway as I exited the bathroom. Radar darted out of Mevia's room and ran over to me, pen and notepad in hand

"Y-Yes Jess-" He paused. "J-Jesse, are you alright? Y-You look a little flustered... A-Are you falling sick?!" I chuckled a little.

"No, I'm fine" I reassured him. "But I do have an important task for you" Radar looked up at me, eager to hear what it was

"Yes Jesse! What do I need to attend to?" He asked me. I smiled.

"Do you know of Harper and Otto's whereabouts?"