When…

A wall. Odysseus being stabbed in the back by a strange figure. It disappears, the wound gone.

Does a comet…

A baby descending from the sky into Odysseus’s hands.

Become a meteor?

Odysseus dropping the child from the wall.

When…

Odysseus shouting his name at an injured Cyclopes.

Does a ripple…

A bag being opened, a storm escaping.

Become a tidal wave?

Poseidon destroying all of Odysseus’s ships but one.

When…

Odysseus’s last ship sailing into the underworld.

Does a man…

A prophet, blocking Odysseus’s path. Images of the future and past flashing back and forth. A wounded god, lightning striking a boat, and a room full of the dead.

Become a monster?

Sirens with their tails cut off, drowning in the water. A man watching this all from a boat. Odysseus watching this all.

When…

Odysseus’s boat floating up to a cave, the entrance to the sea of monsters.

Does a candle…

6 men, holding torches to the darkness.

Become a blaze?

A monster killing the 6 with torches. Their bodies littering the ground.

When…

A man standing up to Odysseus, a fight. Odysseus getting backstabbed by his own men.

Does the reason…

A red cow, lying dead on the shore of an island. A boat sailing into a storm.

Become the blame?

Odysseus pointing at the rest of his crew as Zeus looms above him. Lightning striking the boat.

When…

Odysseus pleading Poseidon for mercy. Poseidon’s face unflinching, as he continues to command Odysseus.

Does a man…

Odysseus, using Poseidon’s own trident, stabbing Poseidon repeatedly, until he relents, and the storm clears.

Become a monster?

Odysseus staring a pleading suitor in the eyes. The suitor, appealing to his good side. The suitor, pleading mercy. Carnage. A massacre. No suitor remains alive.

Forgive meeeeee…

They were wrong. Family Kilentall had a hereditary curse. So, when a cocky Sorcerer came over with the promise of healing, they thought they would finally be free.

There is a reason it's still called a curse.

Family Kilentall and Family Fatidicius were very close families, as the Fatidicius Family were the holders of the Book of Prophecy.

The first archaeologist to discover The Prophet's Lair penned that book just before he died. He was the current eldest of the Fatidicius Family. The Family had been full of seers for generations before, the first of the Fatidicius being the very same King that was buried in the Prophet's Lair. Some believe his sight was what led him to be buried there.

The Book of Prophecy spoke of the Eldest of the Fatidicius to be the first to break the curse. To survive it. The firstborn of the Fatidicius was my brother, Aiel. Shortly after his birth, I was adopted. Barely 1 year old, I was taken in by one of the most powerful Yular Families. Never have people stopped telling me how lucky I am. I knew I was lucky.

Me and Aiel became fast friends, and despite him being told he should be higher than me, he always looked up to me. We were tight as can be.

So when he came down with the curse, we all prayed for him, believing him to be the one who would survive.

I cried when we buried him.

But eventually, I pulled through. My best friend, Aiin, helped me through.

One day, she showed up at my doorstep, soaked wet in the rain. She asked me to go to the prophet's cave with her. When she saw me, her face froze, like she had seen a ghost.

While we were running to the cave, I heard her whisper something.

"The Scar"

When I came too, I was still really groggy.

All I could hear were Aiin and The Prophet talking.

"Please. You have to save her!" Aiin was holding something. A book. A big one.

"As much as I respect you for stealling that..." The prophet said, face no longer Aiel's. The scar, however, remained.

"Please!" Aiin begged, "The Book... It says that she wont survive if you don't help!"

"No. The Book says she wont survive if you don't help. And any who enter my cave get the curse. It is just less hereditary than the natural born curse."

"Did you make the curse? Every curse has a caster, after all."

"There are many more worlds than this one, with many more magics than this one."

"Are you saying the curse is otherworldly?"

"Oh look, Jagel is waking up!"

Aiin jumped up, and quickly rushed over too me, shaking me awake. I slowly rose up, sitting up straight.

"Jagel! Are you okay?" She asked, fear in her voice. As she brushed my face, she whispered, "The Scar"

"Hello, Eldest of Kilentall." The Prophet said, looking over. His face distorted, changing back to that of Aiel, "Do you prefer this face?"

My stomach lurched as I muttered, "N-No. I prefer you to not use that face..."

His face shifted back. "Well. How do you feel with your imminent doom?"

"W-What?"

He smiled, and Aiin's face looked suprised. "I told you not to tell him that!"

"And I think that we should tell him how you stole The Book of Prophecy, read his death, and quickly came too me for help! And then discovered that all who enter the cave get the curse, although less strongly than those who get it through line of descent. In fact, they don't even get the scar! I mean, they can choose to tattoo it, but they usually don't even know about it!"

I looked at the prophet. "You seem awfully talkative for a secretive prophet."

"Well, as I said, you are about to, well, for lack of a better word, leave this realm forever."

With that, my stomach lurched. What I had heard finally soaked in. I was going to die.

I fell back onto the ground.

"Jagel! Are you... Are you okay?" Aiin asked, fear in her voice.

I realized that I wasn't just feeling suprised, I was also feeling groggy.

As I fell unconscious, the Prophet said, "I hope your soul can survive longer than your brother's."

Aiin yelled out, diving towards my body. "NO!"

After I fell unconscious, the Prophet looked at Aiin, and said, "You too. Don't you want to save Jagel?"

After that, Aiin also fell unconscious.

"For what it's worth..." The Prophet whispered, "I really do want you two to survive."

This was because they believed that the closer they were to the core of the Aerten, the closer they would be to the great flow of souls. Since then, the great flow of souls has been rigorously disproven by scientists. The same scientists who no longer even attempt to explain the Prophet’s cave. No Yular has ever made the connection.

As per their beliefs, the Ancient Grikels buried their most powerful king in the deepest cave they could find. Later, professional grave robbers, aka archeologists, entered the tomb, and found the body, with a heartfelt note saying ‘Sorry for stealing your grave’

Later, it was discovered that ever sentient being with the concept of language could understand the words written on that note.

A century after discovery, another archeologist left to explore the cave, and found it went even deeper. After sending that message back up, he went in.

After he came out, he never spoke again.

That all being said, Jagel had no idea what they were doing here.

”Cmon, Aiin! Why are we even going down here in the first place?”

”Jagel,” Aiin teased, “where’s your sense of adventure?”

”Aiin,” Jagel shot back, “where’s your sense of self-preservation?”

Aiin smiled, which was nice. She didn’t do that often anymore. Almost immediately, her face darkened.

”Let’s just-Just keep on going.”

Well now, this was strange. You never went into the prophet’s cave without a reason.

So why couldn’t Janel remember hers?

”Wait.” Aiin tensed up.

”Aiin, let’s get out of here, this place is giving me the creeps.”

Aiim didn’t respond, just staring ahead.

”Whatever, Aiin, I’m getting out off-“ Janel said, beginning to turn around

”When did the tunnel start changing color?”

Jagel looked down at the floor, and noticed it wasn’t even rock anymore. Just… a bunch of red and purple lines. They almost looked like they were woven together.

Jagel shook her head, snapping herself out of it. “We need to go!” Jagel exclaimed, turning around fully, but then she noticed-

“Well well well. Been years since anyone decided to visit me, let alone someone as interesting as you two.”

The way they came… was sealed by a wall.

Janel slowly turned around, and saw Aiin looking straight back at her. Then they both turned to look at the strange voice.

“Jagelgar of family Kilentall. Aiinafar of family Fatidicius. Can’t have someone as interesting as you two leaving, can I?”

When Jagel looked at the owner of the voice, no, when Jagel looked at the prophet, the prophet looked just like Jagel’s brother, Aiel. The same brother who died from the curse just a year ago.

The same one who had a patterned scar on his head because of his curse. The scar, that if tattooed or other wise added to the skin without having had the curse would kill them. No exceptions. A society once saw a god fall from the sky and burn up death in a city because he tried to tattoo it on his face.

And so, in the shock of everything, Jagel fainted.

End of Part 1

It's the worst feeling in the world

Its the feeling you get

when you look at your friends

feel yourself leaving

and you think

"When I'm gone..."

"They wont miss me when I'm gone."

"They wont miss my hair."

"They wont miss me anywhere."

"They wont miss me when I'm gone."

Cause I'm almost gone

And they wont miss me when I'm gone.

They wont miss my hair

They wont miss me anywhere

They wont miss me when I'm gone.

But this is the only place

Where I felt safe

This is the very place

Where I found me

This is the place

Where I opened up

So that's why it feels so bad that

They wont miss me when I'm gone.

No, They wont miss me when I'm gone.

The less you miss me, the farther I get.

The more you miss me, the closer I come.

Can you please promise me

This one little thing

Can you please promise me

That you'll miss me when I'm gone?

Can you miss me when I'm gone?

Cause the more you miss me,

The less gone I'll be

So please just miss me

When I'm gone.

When I'm gone,

Please miss me when I'm gone.

Miss my little hair

Miss me everywhere

Please just miss me when I'm gone

Please just miss me when I'm gone

Cause the more you miss me

The closer I'll be

And the less you miss me

The farther I'll stay

If you miss me quite a bit

Gone I may never be

But the way I see it

You wont miss me when I'm gone

No, they wont miss me when I'm gone.

So please prove me wrong.

Show me that when I'm gone,

Please miss me when I'm gone

Miss my little hair

Miss me everywhere

Please just miss me when I'm gone.

Please...

Just miss me when I'm gone.

Im really two

I call myself one thing

I realize I’m two

It would be so much easier to be insane

I look at those with voices

And yearn for that security

I have problems, we all do

But it would be so much easier

To call me crazy

To say I’m insane

There’s a reason I’m like this

2 voices, that’s the reason

I wish I could be insane

I pretend to be

I want to have voices

But I don’t

Maybe that’s really why I’m insane

I see 2 paths,

One well kept and logical

Full of happiness and reason

One faded and worn

Full of soul and pain

I want to be a poet

A writer

A wordsmith

But I love spreadsheets

And math

And coding

I feel two things

Battling and fighting

I want to be both

But they feel so different

I wish I was crazy

I wish I could be insane

Then I could find reason,

Pin the blame.

I’m like this because of the voices

I wish I could say

None of us are okay

But I wish I could say

The 2 are voices

Different from me

Neither are me

But both of them are

I wish I had did

Maybe schitzo

I know this is offensive

But I wish I could say

This is the reason

This why I am

I am crazy,

Here’s the name

My insanity has label

I’m not normal,

That’s why I am this was

But deep down I know I’m not

I know it’s all a facade

But I wish I could say

Look at this

I can hear the voices

Look at me

I can hear the voices

The 2 aren’t me

Their my insanity

But I can’t

Cause they’re both me

And maybe that’s worse

Cause I feel them both

And definitely can’t choose

print(“Error: purpose not found”)

for i in purpose:

  print(i)

- - -

Error: purpose not found

Spreadsheets and coding and data science

Poetry, writing, and stories

I feel a rush of joy as I’m typing my code

I feel accomplishment when I see the spreadsheet

But at night when I go swinging

I imagine a world

A world of my creation

A world of my own

Storyweavers and dreams

Poetry and confusion

I write my story

And feel the divide

I wish I was crazy

I wish I was insane

It would be so easy

If I could pin the blame

There’s a reason I’m like this

A reason for all this

It’s because of the voices

Because my mind is amiss

I can point at a diagnosis

And tell myself why

There’s a reason I’m like this

But is there really?

I want there to be a reason

But maybe I’m just human

We’re all fed up,

Maybe I’m not special

Maybe I’m like everyone else

Maybe I don’t have a problem

But then why?

I feel these 2 things

Both living inside my soul

I feel both these things

Fairly equally

They are both me

Feelings not voices

I’m not insane

Just kinda crazy

There is something wrong with me

It doesn’t have a name

I want to write my feelings

And escape in code

console.log(poetry(“Unum est duo”));

“One is two”

“Is there a reason I’m like this?”

“But does it really matter?”

“I wish there was a reason”

“But maybe I don’t need one”

“Maybe I’m just me”

“And that’s crazy enough”

“Maybe both of me”

“Maybe all of me”

“Maybe I can work together”

“Maybe I can walk down both roads”

“Maybe I don’t have to be crazy”

“For me to decide what to do”

“I can write and I can code”

“Maybe I can do both…”

“And that’s beautiful.”

I’ve talked about this before

And I’m glad I went down this path

The path in the middle

With the joy of both

Maybe I, the one

Can be both 2

Maybe I can be both

More than one thing

Nobody even still remembers

Why?

We forgot.

Simple and true.

All we knew

Was that…

We wanted it.

And that was enough.

That was enough.

Homines is still bustling.

The streets are empty.

But you can hear its death everywhere.

2 solders, sleeping on the streets.

Wearing different uniforms, both bleeding red.

Humans, Death.

”I’ll go get it”

I go up to the door.

I already know who it is.

I open the door.

I suppose now is the time to mention my hand was shaking.

The Darkness is at the door.

You should step outside.

Inside is so cold… it’ll be warmer out here

I turn back.

My family is there.

Laughing without me.

But I’m at the door.

Without me.

Occasionally, one of them looks over.

They probably think I’m handling it.

They don’t know about The Darkness.

It’s so cold there…

My family is siting by the fire.

Without me.

So much warmer out here…

Outside is The Darkness

Seeming so… welcoming.

You should step outside…

I take a deep breath.

So much warmer…

I raise my foot.

It’s so cold over there…

I’m already out the door.

- Your late son

The stars are beautiful

tan(90)

Poetry

Coding

Writing

Math

Worldbuilding

Trigonometry

Roleplaying

STEM

Humanities

AP CompSci

English

Sudoku

Reading

Logic

Emotion

Why did he die when I lived?

Why do people call me by his name?

Why did he have to make me?

When he knew he would not live?

I call myself a monster

And people nod their head.

I am a monster

That much I know

But I was his monster

I am a monster for stealing his name

I am a monster

Because I stole his name

People remember me, not him.

Why don’t they remember him?

I am a monster

Because they remember me

Alright, so I consider my favorite book, ORV, to be a pretty big aspect of my personality

I also realize that their may be a lot of you I haven't attempted to convert yet.

So.

TIME FOR A VERY LONG SU THAT I WILL PROBABLY REMAKE INTO A BLOG SO I CAN GIVE IT TO OTHER PEOPLE/COPY AND PASTE IT WHEN I WANT TO RECOMMEND ORV TO THEM!!!

History tiiiiiiiiiime!

End of history lesson.

Anyway, you know my greatest regret (and the main reason I have a PM folder called whoopsies with 7 messages in it).

Now, I still do have a PM, just a different one too Promised. It is called 'People who are Actually reading ORV'.

I always ask for peoples permission before adding them (oh yeah @Rynturning_Light would you like to be added?) and now I will recommend you, yes, you, ORV.

First, however, a disclaimer.

Although I love ORV for this, it contains references and major plot points centered around suicide. If you do not like those things, then I understand you not wanting to read it.

It is also a Webnovel, which means it is only available online (unless you print the whole thing out, lol). On top of that, it is translated from Korean, which means you have to give it some level of the benefit of the doubt if you wish to enjoy it. Lastly, it is 551 chapters long (no known page count) and it has plenty of extra content (other webnovels in the same universe, side stories, & a sequel).

If you are fine with the Suicidal references, Korean Translation, Internet-only access, and length, then I definitely recommend you read it.

Like I said, it is my favorite book.

ORV Ch 1
ORV Download

And if those dont work for you, feel free to get the PDFs or epubs from here:

https://drive.google.com/drive/u/1/folders/1pH3eWXViNIvS5yEhjez5NiK3pKx4g6fm
(And only look at orv_main, the other files are the side stories, sequel, and other webnovel in the same universe)
(I am constantly updating the drive)

next, I will give my 2 recommended reading orders.

The first is the less recommended one, but one I will give nonetheless.

Just ORV. I would love for you to read ORV, and you just reading ORV is enough for me. If you want to stop there, that is fine, and I respect that.

The second one is if you wish to continue on with ORV after the main story.

That is my rant, thank you for listening.

I have a few reasons why I am Anti-AI.

The first is a personal reason. I love software engineering. Whenever I code, I feel great, I truly love coding. I also love math, but less so. I am planing to major in data science, which does involve some coding but is less likely to be taken over by AI. I love Data Science, but Software engineering is just so much more fun. I have to be realistic, so that kind of crushed my dreams.

That is the usual argument used against AI, and the easily disputed argument. This is arguing against the use of AI, not it's existence.

I am not super great at explaining anything, including my next point, so please see the below video for a clearer explanation

If you don't want to watch the long video, I will try to explain myself here.

AI companies, and this is a fact that you can double check, illegally and unethically gather their training data. IP (Intellectual Property) posted on the internet is used by LLMs and other Large AIs to train themselves.

Look up how many photos a large AI image model used to train, and then how many images are freely available on the internet.

IP is protected under US law as copyrighted material, and is illegal to use without consent.

But because they are built by huge corporations, they can get away with it.

This bit is important (even if you watched the video):

I do not believe AI is fundamentally unethical.

I believe that current AIs built by large companies are fundamentally unethical, and something I do not wish to support.

Use of them isn't necessarily unethical, but I do not want to be supporting these blatantly evil corporations.

Everyone has their lines, this is mine.

Art is something from which you can derive meaning.

Did someone paint the cloud to look like dragon?

Does it look like a dragon?

No, we ascribe meaning to the cloud.

It looks like a cloud.

But we say it looks like a dragon.

And it gains meaning

Because we gave it meaning.

That is half of art.

Art is what you give meaning too.

But,

Art is a reflection of a soul.

Art is what those with a soul create.

Art has no meaning.

It is art because the make perscribed it meaning,

and the observer found meaning for it.

You may not find the intended meaning,

and You may not intend meaning at all,

but Art

is a meaningless interaction between 2 givers of meaning that is given meaning.

A cloud is not art

But we can perscribe it meaning

and that is our soul.

A painter's painting is art

Because they perscribed it meaning

and that is their soul

A soul is the ability to give meaning

Whether the soul persists to an afterlife,

Exists in animals,

Or maybe even computers,

Is not my jurisdiction.

But a soul is art.

A soul is giving meaning

to something meaningless.

A soul is something that cannot be explained

or written down

but we assume in another

and through that assumption,

we create art,

and we understand them

To understand another person

You must first aknowledge

That you can never understand them.

And use that knowledge

To understand them.

That is the 'soul'

Even if I don't like to call it that.

I want to feel, to care, to love

an absence

my laughter false, I wish to feel

Death, Death, a heavy weight

but no tears

I can’t Quite breath when I think about him

but no tears

a heavy weight on my chest,

but no tears

I hear my sister sobbing

songing the praises of crying

I sit in my room, heavy

but no tears.

- - -

“I had friend once”

I burst into tears

”This story hasn't ended yet, Kim Dokja”

Sadness innumerable

why is it that fiction

hurts more than reality

Extreme Apathy

apathy-the absence of an emotion

extreme-the highest version of something

oxymoron-a contradictory statement

all that I feel, I feel extreme

including apathy

but I’m getting better

”you can’t compare the bad days to you’re good days”

”You have to compare your bad days to how they used to be”

”and they’re better”

Disgusting, terrible.

Would never seem remotely edible.

"I can change that."

A household item

Yellow fruit, big, not small.

A Banana.

A human invention.

---

A poison.

A green leaf with an explosive poison inside.

"Edible."

Mint.

A daily use item.

In our toothpastes and gum, a previous poison now turned daily commodity.

---

A neurotoxin.

Infects your mind, releases chemicals.

A new kind of taste

Invading your mind.

"Delicous."

Spice.

Humans cultivated things to be so spicy that it could kill someone.

---

Over 1500 degrees Celsius.

A metal fans with a melting point of just over 1200.

They said it was impossible.

"Keep the jets in the air."

Airplane Jet engines.

Impossible, they said.

"No." said humankind.

Humankind has proved time and time again that they can change life itself, dominate neurotoxin, and defeat laws of physics.

How did I get here?

He looked at the cheering crowd.

They are all looking at me.

He reaches the podium.

They’re all laughing at me.

They quiet down.

They expect me to fail

Silence.

This is hell

—-—

He didn’t try to do it.

He was just there.

Anyone else would do the same.

Right?

Anxious remembered how it happened.

There was a burning building

“HELP! HELP! WE’RE BURNING IN HERE!”

He ran to help

But he paused at the door.

Will this kill me? Should I just leave?

But despite himself,

He ran in.

He pushed through the fire,

Saving people, clearing the way.

He almost died.

He often looked out the window.

I hope she likes me after this…

He was on a first date, and it wasn’t going well

Tela was standing out there, watching him

Anxious just now remembering it.

I’m not a good person.

I’m just as selfish as everyone.

I don't deserve this.

I’m a terrible person who doesn’t even deserve to live.

On the podium, he pulled out his knife, and stabbed himself in the heart.

The world will be a better place.

I just have to leave it first.

Where did it all go?

It was all perfect.

So… why… no… how did it go so wrong.

I heard that she died on the news.

That’s not good.

Likely suicide.

Am I the only one left who still believes?

Am I the only one who still believes in him?

Am I his only remaining follower?

He might have left this world…

But I believe in his vision.

Everything he left behind is so…

So empty.

Near the end, it was me, him, and her.

He left… no… he… died…

But it had to happen.

It was all part of his plan!

This world has to have meaning…

Right?

She left me.

Before she went, she tried to convince me. She tried to force me to…

Give up on him.

But I won’t.

I can’t.

He is the only thing that gives me meaning.

This world might be terrible…

Half the globe might be in ruins…

But I still believe in his plan.

To unite this terrible place.

I believe in him…

Why doesn’t anyone else?

And…

Where did they all go?

WHERE DID THEY GO?

WHERE

DID

THEY

GO?

THEY LEFT ME

AND ITS ALL THEIR FAULT

IT WILL ALWAYS

BE

THEIR

FAULT

Am I?

Sometimes I still feel like that wide-eyed child

That looked at the world with hope

And wonder

Who didn’t care about ‘grades’ or ‘society’

Who didn’t fall asleep with those dreams

Who didn’t want to not want what he wanted

Who still preserved his innocence.

In Romeo And Juliet,

There’s quote

And I can’t quite remember what it says

But it goes along the lines of

‘Kids shouldn’t wake up early with worry,

That should be saved for adults.’

I still feel like that wide eyed kid.

And yet I feel like I’ve grown all up.

…

I walk through life with distance.

Never quite feeling my feelings.

I want to feel

But the moment I do

It’s shallow happiness that lasts for a moment

Or stress and worry the bog down my days.

Sometimes I feel like I’m all grown up

And never quite fit what I was supposed to be.

People say I’m teenager

And I look around and see them.

From the outside I must look like one

Socially inept

Closed off

Uncaring

But from the inside all I can do is care

And yet I can’t bring myself to care

All I do is care about my life

But I can’t bring myself to feel

Sometimes I feel so lonely

So rush for some quick happiness

Sure, it may be meaningless

But it might be the only respite I get

I go to bury myself in a world

Or maybe make 1 or 2

Anything to stop feeling

Because all I can do is feel

And yet I can’t bring myself to feel

I look at the world from the outside.

Want to know who I am.

I rush to express myself

To see a plastered fake part of me

Shown on a screen

I want to be remembered, to be known.

But humans aren’t just as simple

As what they show

They are full of contradictions

And with, I am human

They work to live on through memory

But will that ever truly be them?

Can you ever really see someone?

And know them truly?

Can you know all about them?

What they thought and why?

People say I’m a teenager.

And yet, I don’t believe them.

…

All I can do is write on your wall

Hope someone will see it.

I live fueled by a special part of me

That people dismiss with a swipe.

“A book can’t actually change your life”

But it certainly changed mine.

I want to do well, be who I want to be

But can I stay human doing that?

What even is a human?

And why do they do what they do?

Why even is a human?

And most importantly,

Who

Am

I

?

…

Maybe I don’t need to know.

"And what do you mean by that?"

"It... it was Jeff. He forced to do. He got them all riled up. It-it wasn't their fault sir! Please. Have mercy."

Jake was stressed out.

All of their stories are different! Each one... completely different...

Jake didn't know what to do.

"Amy... This is s hardest case in centuries. Please help me out." Jake asked.

"All of their stories are different."

Amy sighed. "Try and compile the cases then."

So, Jake went to Jeff. "Cue Montage" He muttered.

---

"Listen, bud. Disco had the idea. None of us knew it was illegal."

"Officer! Jimmy told me what to do! I brought the ideas, yes, but Jimmy told me to!"

"Listen. Listen, uhh.... can I call you Bub? Anyway, Bub, you have to understand. It was Melanie! Melanie told me allll about it."

"Sir... You're back... okay... well, if Jeff said he didn't do it... no, no it was definetly Jeff" Melanie said nervously.

Back at the beggining. This is bad.

"I know you know something. WHAT DO YOU KNOW!" Jake yelled.

"Sir! I-I dont-I mean, Jeff did it. Yeah. Je-Jeff."

"Melanie, Jimmy already told me it was you. In fact, before coming back to you, I asked the others. They all seemed to agree, Melanie did it. So unless you have another story for me, I-"

"NO! NO! No... I-I'll talk." Melanie exclaimed.

"It was the bandit. The bandit did it. I don't know exactly which one of us it is... But... it was the bandit.z"

There was only one person reffered to as the bandit here in the York 88.

And he always called people 'Bub'

I know exactly who it is.

Jake went into the cell with Jimmy, and a gun shot was sounded through the police station.

And the bandit stayed elusive.

Flying.

People say its on fire.

I don't see it.

It glows.

Maybe a bit like fire.

But it doesn't burn any that gets close.

Sure, it has it's flaws.

It will fly away when you get close to it.

But fire is worse.

Fire hurts those it loves.

And those that love it have to learn to stay away.

I wish I could be more like the firefly.

But for now?

I am much more like the fire.

I glow from a distance,

But hurt any who get close.

I don't even have enough self awarness

To keep people away.

I wish I could be more like a firefly

But for now, I am more like a fire.

I just hope one day

Someone can be wearing flame resistant gloves

Or have the strength to put me out.

I hope people can see how terrible I am

And that I am no beautiful firefly

Only a painful fire.

He had escaped the monster, and will finally be reunited with his friend.

As he entered the city, he stumbled, and a memory resurfaced.

"Hey, Charlie, look over there!"

"A Traveling Fortune Teller? Sure, we can check it out."

Thomas and Charlie entered the tent at the carnival.

"Hello children... When you are in the land of terror, where nightmares and dreams become real...

"Remember these words...

"The night sky is dark when you're alone."

Charlie and Thomas looked at each other, and slowly walked out of the tent.

"That didn't even cost any money. What was she on about?" Charlie asked.

"I don't know Charlie... That felt scarily important..."

How... How did the Fortune Teller know about this? The land of terror? And her voice... It sounded just like the fae...

Thomas snapped out of it.

He looked around, and the city looked a bit different from before.

The only thing that matters is the figure he saw in front of him.

---

"Thomas!" Charlie exclaimed.

---

"Charlie!" Thomas exclaimed. "Charlie, Charlie! It is so good seeing you again."

Reflexively, Thomas looked up at the sky.

He was now with his friend, and so surely the sky should be lit up, if what the Fortune Teller said was true.

However... The sky was still dark.

Surely that means the fortune teller was wrong...

Right?

It... wasn't supposed to end this way.

---

Magnus couldn't live with what he had done.

He had woken up, his nation destroyed.

He was the sole survivor.

---

Carlson was ready to become the bad guy.

The monster.

He didn't have that chance.

How did Magnus do this?

Carlson and Magnus are the only survivors of the crater previously called Hostis and Amicus.

---

Rex didn't know what to do.

"Sir... it might not have been as wise as I thought to withdraw support. It appears it was Amicus's and Hostis's last hope." Consiliarius advised.

"Yeah... it might not of."

---

Magnus didn't know what to do.

He had to take himself out of the equation.

I am sorry for leaving this to you, Carlson. But I can't take it anymore.

---

10 Days later, Carlson found Magnus.

His dead body was strewn on the floor of the ruined palace.

This was not how the story was meant to end.

Perfect. Just how I wanted it.

After Luna died...

It was never the same.

You were getting dangerously close to going back to your suicidal tendencies.

And I...

I never felt very good afterwards.

Please.

Please stop.

I... felt so alone.

You were deep in something, I know, but my support system was also cut off.

I was stuck trying to help you,

And although I know you needed it...

I needed it too.

And now I have no one.

I know I have always been the outsider, the unnamed background character in your friend group...

But I needed help as much as you did.

I...

I remember you once tried to kill yourself with poison.

Well...

I figured out where you put the bottle.

I hope you can forgive me for doing what you want to do...

But I can't deal with this anymore.

Please...

I don't even know what I'm begging you for anymore.

I just...

Wherever I go...

I hope I don't see you there anytime soon.

Hopefully I wont see you soon,

Audax - A nobody in your story

Huh. I almost forgot about this.

How did it end up here?

Too cold.

He needed to free his country.

Hostis would forever be stuck in this cold, unless he took Amicus.

Only then would his people be free.

Carlson was a terrible person.

He knew this, and yet he continued.

After this, he would sentence himself to prison.

Maybe even to the gallows.

But before then,

He will take Amicus

And liberate his country.

I am so sorry Magnus.

I never meant for it to happen this way.

If you had just given up your land,

None of this would have happened.

Goodbye Magnus,

Hello Amicus.

---

Amicus was in strife.

Magnus didn't know what to do.

Please...

If there are any gods out there...

Please help me.

Help me save Amicus.

Then Magnus deliberated.

Amicus couldn't be saved.

He needed a final resort.

No-

Help me Destroy Hostis

You should've asked me sooner

"Who's there?"

---

"Thomas?" Charlie shouted. "Thomas! Is that you?"

---

"Charlie?"

---

That's...

That's not Thomas

---

That's not Charlie

---

Charlie started running.

What is that?

Charlie was halfway to the city in the distance.

After talking to the strange people, he began to walk westward

And eventually, he saw a city in the distance.

So Charlie assumed that was where he was supposed to be going.

However, there was a forest in the way.

A big forest.

It looked like it surrounded the city that he once assumed to be small and sparse,

But is actually tall and dense.

Charlie just wanted to find Thomas again.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH"

Is that Thomas?

Better check it out anyway.

---

Charlie, please save me. Charlie... Please...