On an open field, a man lay clutching his chest; between his fingers gloved in white, blood poured like an open faucet. The crimson liquid spilling reminded him of the ruby moon he often stared at; it was one of the very few memories he had that made him regret doing any of this.
"Have you had enough?"
His silent withdrawal was broken by a voice, accompanied by a set of heavy footsteps.
The man pushed out a dry, cynical laugh, feeling the world closing in on him as he turned his head to face the bane of his existence, the source of his endless anger.
"Hello, brother…" he spoke low, yet blood caught in his throat, sending him into a coughing fit.
His brother stopped his approach, a disgusted look washing over him.
"Is this really what you wanted?"
The bloodied man stared at his brother like he had grown a pair of horns, his eyebrows arching softly.
"Do you wish to know what I desire?"
"Not quite."
"Shall I tell you anyway?" He spread out his arms as if inviting him in, yet the tension in the air was anything but welcoming.
"I wanted to see you all dead…" he hummed as if the very thought was the most pleasing thing in the world to him. "It was so simple of a wish, really…"
His brother frowned, unable to grasp how hard he was hit in the head to turn this crazy. He turned, walking away once again, leaving the man to die in his own cold blood.
"Farewell."
A bitter smile painted his face, the irony of it all. To be the last one born and the first to die—how could it not be ironic?
Darkness crept into his vision, a sweet invitation to eternal silence. He welcomed it but couldn't help giving one bittersweet laugh.
Hayden wiped his eyes as the scene closed; the man, Ilay Veldrace, died right there, marking the end of his character arc.
In the end he had failed; the revenge he gave everything to fulfill bore no fruit. Instead, he ended up just like how he started—ignored and left behind.
Hayden could feel the tears streaming down his face. Truthfully, he didn't actually like Ilay during the main story.
Brother to the protagonist, Roman Veldrace, Ilay was a child conceived by mistake, a thorn in everyone's side.
He was first introduced when Roman came back home to fight the corruption in the eastern kingdom.
Roman, after killing the corrupt commander, saved a girl named Ophelia Blackmoure, Ilay's longtime crush, winning her heart instead.
Ilay came to reconcile with his brother, pleading he not choose Ophelia to marry as a reward for executing the commander from the king, but as classic route games go, the choices left Ilay heartbroken from the loss of his love and his older brother.
Ilay wasn't perfect, however; he was always jealous and was a consistent minor antagonist since that scene, doing everything in his power to make Roman fail.
However, in his character story, it was revealed it was actually for recognition. He wanted to be great as Roman was—to be seen by everyone who ignored him—and truthfully didn't resent Roman for stealing the love of his life, but rather for not understanding enough about him to know how much he cared about her.
Ilay Veldrace was simply a victim of abuse, of negligence.
Such a problem is a very real thing.
Just then Hayden's mom entered the house, drunk once again.
He greeted her, but she ignored him, instead stumbling her way up to her room.
The house hadn't been stocked for days, and today was no different.
I reminded her to buy groceries twice today…
He sighed, trying to be understanding.
It was up to her to support two kids and her parents alone when her brother died and her husband left… so he tried to be sympathetic.
He slipped his headphones on and cranked up the music, slipping some money out of an envelope in her purse and heading to the local convenience store.
There he picked up some frozen foods, snacks, and of course ramen; he would go shopping properly tomorrow once he got his paycheck from his part-time job.
As he was cashing out, he suddenly thought of Ilay Veldrace and spoke in a hushed tone,
"If only someone was there to understand you better… you worked hard."
He wished he could tell him that true worth didn't need validation, that his efforts weren't for nothing. He wished someone could tell himself the same.
His headphones drowned out all other sounds, not hearing that someone had pulled out a gun, and not hearing his threats to get down.
Lost in his daze, the chaos around him erupted, only hitting him when the bullets pierced his skin.
What?!
He felt his body failing, his thoughts growing weaker and weaker as blood gushed from his head… ah, so this is how he dies.
Memories flew across his vision; promises he made, regrets he had, all came to mind in his final moments.
What if's of things he could've done differently filled his heart with grief.
What would he do if he had the chance to say one thing to someone? He would tell his sister to run away and live with her friend's parents—it was better for her.
What would he do if he could be alive once again? He would go to college, get a proper job, and file for custody of his sister.
Yet all of those were pipe dreams fading as his consciousness slipped.
One last thought crossed his mind as he departed. Is this how Ilay felt… no wonder he laughed.
Just as he blacked out, he could vaguely hear…
"Thank you…"