Lumeriss 13th, on the first day of light.
The gods of the old and new have fallen.
The skies have turned dark, and the weather has turned against us.
Man and Other have come together. The fate of the world determined on this last stand.
"Brothers."
I put down my pen as I looked up to the General. All of us waited for his command.
"The time has come," he said as he walked down from his stand, his giant creature crawling behind him.
In silence, he looked at our faces, and in silence we heard the screams of those above ground. The ceiling looked like it could cave in at any moment.
The General walked past us, leading the way.
I packed my things and readied my horse.
"Soldier," a voice called out.
"Peasant," I replied.
We looked at each other and laughed. Leina — she was my friend.
"Hugor Brandley, the man of a hundred tales," Leina said.
"A hundred and one." I raised my journal.
"Truly, a man of talent." She smiled as we mounted our horses, marching on with our brothers, torches in hand.
The march felt longer than it should have, nothing but light to guide us. The further we went, the more we could hear it.
Screams.
Explosions.
Roaring.
A few of my brothers cried; others showed little emotion. But all continued the march.
I clutched my pendant, thinking of my beloved and those I'd been lucky enough to meet throughout my life.
Suddenly, a loud rumble echoed and the ceiling came down. I braced — but nothing hit me.
When I opened my eyes, the world around us was vibrant and filled with color, as if we'd been teleported to another realm.
"We will not die here," the General said, looking at us as he drew his sword.
His creature moved forward, its arms circling around us. Then it began to rip the colors apart, the process making a loud sizzling sound.
"Hugor," Leina called out. "Why did you write so many stories?"
I looked at her calm face, then noticed her hands shaking on the reins.
"Because my son liked them. He was too sick to see the world, so I told him I'd see it for him."
"Oh… I'm sorry."
"Don't be. He stopped reading them long ago. Rarely find anyone who wants to these days."
"That's 'cause most people can't read."
"True." I laughed, and she smiled back.
"I hope I get to read it one day."
"Maybe you will."
The creature's arms began to glow, its whole body following. Sparks leapt from everything it touched, and the rumbling grew to its loudest.
People plugged their ears and tried their best to keep their horses from panicking.
Then our minds filled with a sudden calm, and all noise vanished.
And we saw our General — bleeding from his hand, turning his blood into pores that floated around us.
"Brothers. You have seen the world above — the place we once called home.
"You can hear the cries of your people, of your children, even from this far below."
He dragged his bleeding hand along his sword, and it rose in flames. The pores pulsed in the air.
He stared into the fire.
"We might not survive this. But does that mean this is pointless? Should we beg as our enemy poisons our air and burns our homes?"
He looked at us.
"There will be no mercy. And no escape. This is where our future lies. And this is where we seize it."
One by one, we placed our hands into our torches and let their fire mix with the pores.
We absorbed it all. Our bodies glowed, cracks of light running up our skin to our heads. The color of our eyes shone brightly now.
The elves played their flutes, the stone giants beat their chests, and the rest of us sang along.
Our horses shed their skin and spread their wings, and our General's body was engulfed in flames.
"It was an honor to fight alongside you all."
We drew our weapons and, in a flash, the Light opened and the ceiling blew apart.
It was the first time in a long while that I'd seen the sky.
"CHARGE!!!"
Yelling out, We took off — into swarms of dragons, beasts and giants, demons, mutants, and monsters of every kind.
Pouring out our magic, slashing away at anything in our path.
We fought hoping to return to those we loved.
But hope is a cruel thing—and I'll be damned.
***
A cold wind.
Snow and dust.
"Ten years."
I brushed it off the tombstone. "Bet I'd have been taller than you by now..."
I stared at the carving, 'Kuroshita Naoki, 2007' and I placed down the flowers.
"Blue Vincas, Just the way you liked it."
I took out the withered flowers and clasped my hands and prayed.
For mercy.
For love.
For better days.
"Happy Birthday, Dad."
I stood, brushed the snow from my sleeves, and started toward the station—singing.
"Memories of you,
Memories of me,
One day, I'll find you hiding under the Berry tree,
and I'll write you a song,
One that the whole world can see..."
Hundreds of people poured out.
Students, workers, even tourists. The station was always busy at this time of day.
I shuffled in and took my seat. The train took off shortly after. Rocking gently as city blurred past.
The snow smeared into white streaks across the window.
I rubbed my hands against each other.
Should have worn my gloves today.
"You can use mine," someone spoke beside me.
I reached for it.
"Oh, thank y-" I paused when I noticed her face. "Sai-chan?"
She giggled.