It was then that Angeal turned around completely. The infliction of Genesis' tone caught his attention entirely. It wasn't in Angeal's nature to turn away from the only family he had left. His breath hitched.

Was it true that Genesis was really here or was this just another figment caused by madness that both suffered? While Angeal didn't physically degrade, he was losing his humanity bit by painful bit. It took all he had not to strike out in anger and lash out into the crowd to keep them away.

Lester didn't understand a thing, but he shook with nervous energy. Angeal's heavy boots ground the particles of sand under his weight. It was symbolic that the gritty sound was the same as his soul being ripped apart by regret.

"No, it's the dream of sinners looking to atone." Angeal's tone sounded colder than he had expected it to be. It was honest, to say the least, that he was trying to figure it out himself. "I hope... Maybe this is real."

In that brief moment, he had hoped that it wasn't just the madness talking, that maybe this place was just as the moogle had said and what the townspeople are making them out to be. It was at least something to hold on to if they had nothing left but their dreams to grasp.