[It's almost strange how foreign, how completely detached Richard feels from this scene right now. Seeing one of the most awful moments of his life played in front of his eyes should affect him more... shouldn't it? But somehow all he can muster is a sort of numb discomfort in the pit of his stomach, enough to make him want to avert his eyes, though a larger reason is because he doesn't want to look at Sanji's face.
Richard's younger self continues to struggle onward, through the castle halls and down into the catacombs; he makes it as far as a large cavern before he collapses and the memory fades out for a moment. When it blurs back into focus, it's clear that Richard doesn't have much time left.
"Looks like... my time's up..."
His coughing is growing worse, his breathing more labored.
"I don't... I don't want to die..."
But in that dark, lonely cavern, that looks like an inevitability... until a strange, swirling black mass rises before him, the words "Live on!" echoing from its shapeless form. It draws closer and closer to the young boy's frightened body...
[Action]
Richard's younger self continues to struggle onward, through the castle halls and down into the catacombs; he makes it as far as a large cavern before he collapses and the memory fades out for a moment. When it blurs back into focus, it's clear that Richard doesn't have much time left.
"Looks like... my time's up..."
His coughing is growing worse, his breathing more labored.
"I don't... I don't want to die..."
But in that dark, lonely cavern, that looks like an inevitability... until a strange, swirling black mass rises before him, the words "Live on!" echoing from its shapeless form. It draws closer and closer to the young boy's frightened body...
... and then the memory cuts off.]