14.09.1642

The Southeast Military Base

18:11

CHE5TER seems to be awakening in His room, getting up from the bed and looking around. RY4N isn't present, maybe because He woke up a bit later than everyone else, so He decides to leave the room and begin His daily routine. He walks around the hallway, responding with just a quick gesture to everyone that greets Him and going towards His office.

But something makes Him stop from sitting on His chair just as He uses to, or even arriving at it in the first place, yet He doesn't say anything. He just gives such a weird expression for a second, before waking up to reality and finally sitting down.

"...Something's changed. It's not happening again, is it? No... It can't be happening again..."

Minutes later of just standing on His chair and doing nothing, RY4N makes his appearance, opening the door and greeting the Great Leader.

[RY4N]-Hey, CHE5TER. Anything new for today?

[CHE5TER]-...Hm? Oh, RY4N. No, not really. Why do you ask?

[RY4N]-Well, I mean, shouldn't you be with the stranger? I would assume that you've remained because you wanted to do something or tell me a new information. Am I not right?

[CHE5TER]-I didn't have anything in mind though. Is it a bad thing?

[RY4N]-No, but I was just saying... Oh, right! Since you are here, I have something to say. The soldiers ask if we are suppose to do any missions from the next month near the end of the year. Some say that it would be a bit risky since the whole City of Above goes in isolation and are very close and cautious towards our entrances. Do you suggest anything in particular?

[CHE5TER]-Not really. We will stop just during the storm, but the other days will continue the normal schedule.

[RY4N]-Alright, then I got my answer.

[CHE5TER]-Good. I was thinking of taking my leave now anyway. I have something to do before I go back.

[RY4N]-Oh? Like what?

[CHE5TER]-It's nothing, really. Don't worry.

So, He gets up and goes towards the exit, with such a weird expression, stopping in the middle of the way and looking back at His brother.

[CHE5TER]-...Hey, RY4N?

[RY4N]-Hm?

[CHE5TER]-Are you afraid of the Light?

RY4N was confused though, but the Great Leader didn't add anything else, leaving and closing the door. What's stranger though... is that the moment the door closed, RY4N's expression turned rather into anger, seriousness and mercilessness, giving his silent answer.

[RY4N]-...No.

Meanwhile, CHE5TER simply walks around the hallway again, but going towards the exit of the base... while a noise stops Him from getting any further. Behind Him was a little light, watching Him from afar and making such moves as if it tries to tell Him to follow it.

"...Of course. It is happening again."

He doesn't follow it thought. He goes further on His road while the noise gets louder and louder the more the distance increases. He then tries to search for something around His pockets, not too obvious, but seeming as He doesn't succeed to find it. Then He tries to create that something, but for some reason, His powers don't work. Out of options, He turns around angry at the little light, answering its call.

[CHE5TER]-...Leave me alone!

And then... the noises stop. The light simply stands there, watching Him, while the Great Leader remains angry, beginning to breath hardly while looking at the light. But He calms down, turning back towards the exit and finally arriving next to the door. Yet as He opens the door, the outside of it is nothing but an abyss, darkness all around with nothing near anything.

His face rather becomes one that expressed the words "it's too late" before turning around... and being surrounded by nothing, just like in the abyss. The base's hallway disappeared, so did the light.

...Why do you wish for me to leave you?

His breathing gets harder again, looking for the source of the voice into the abyss.

Don't you realise that you fight in vain?

[CHE5TER]-...I said leave me alone! I just want to get out and do what I must do!

And what is there for you to do? To disappoint your kind further? Or to prove more that you are not even one of them? Don't you feel at home here?

Behind Him appears that light again, forming a mirror the moment CHE5TER looks back at it, staring at the dead man trapped inside it.

...Isn't it the place where you belong, CHE5TER?

The man in the mirror is scared though, His face screaming for help in an abyss that tries to consume Him, yet the real man only is angry, being forced to observe what He truly feels about this situation. Yet in the mirror, behind the terrified man, there stands a black and corrupted figure, watching it and waiting to strike, CHE5TER finally realised that it is also behind Him too.

He looks towards it, staring at the creature with voothrav eyes that can barely express any type of emotions with its face. It is not the first time they meet though, and probably not the last one.

[CHE5TER]-Why can't you leave me alone!?

The creature doesn't respond though, only staring deadly at the defenceless Great Leader, waiting for Him to get scared and to feed on His fear.

Alien, alien, alien... Don't you understand? Even I am closer to my kind than you are to yours. Do you really think that screaming at me all day will solve your problems?

[CHE5TER]-...Just shut up already!

Truth hurts, CHE5TER. But how come you seek to find it and when I offer it to you directly on a plate, you refuse? You have to face it. It is your destiny. Your only meaning in this life. So let me show you what reality truly is.

[CHE5TER]-Shut up! Shut up! SHUT UP!

...Let me show you my purpose.

And when He finally breaks, the creature takes action, finally striking. It moves so quickly towards the Great Leader, opening its mouth and biting Him by the neck, devouring His flesh until the head gets detached from the body completely... being the moment CHE5TER finally wakes up from His nightmare.

18:13

The next second He opens His eyes in such hurry, He begins to breath so chaotically as if He is remaining without air. He puts His left hand on His neck, seeming as if He prays to have a way of escape. His C colour flickers for the first time, as if that was even possible before. And this goes for a whole few seconds until He manages to get some air, His C colour calming down and only lighting peacefully, while He looks at the ceiling as if He saw His life flashing before His eyes for a bare moment.

He breaths in a stressful way now, but at least He is able to do it without the feeling of suffocation, getting back the air He was lacking in those seconds. His C colour slowly stops lighting up while He leans against the wall next to His bed, trying to manage His breathing. When His distress fades, He takes off His shirt and begins to examine His own body quickly, giving such a sigh of worry when He finishes.

Something has changed with His body for sure. His black and corrupted hand that was only half way on this condition and half normal, now is fully corrupted with this strange skin, even beginning to take over the chest. His injury on the stomach that got the same skin which healed the wound now expanded too, beginning to corrupt the right leg and a small part of the above.

"...It happened again today. I had the same nightmare I keep having for seven days now and I'm starting to think that my time in this world isn't as long as I thought it would be this whole life. If it will keep happening over and over again, then I sure won't live the moment till even the real war starts, if it will happen. And I, as a Great Leader... I am obligated to participate and lead my people during the war.

Over the past few years, I've anticipated a near war that might happen during my reign in the Underground City. All those constant problems that get worse by each day and I can't even keep up with them anymore... they all will soon prove me that my people are at great danger and I... am the only one aware. Even if I seem to not work at all those days, I actually got into my job even more than ever. Sure, I don't really do anything more than signing a few papers, but those papers are what's telling me that a war is about to happen... And I can't do anything about it other than acknowledge it.

When I first heard about Mr. N3MES1O's new law of keeping the citizens away from the tunnels and the reason why it had happened for example, I had to contact him in person and see what's going on myself, not believe a simple crevaator. But it was true that information. Illegal transactions with the City of Above began to grow in such numbers that were worrisome and N3MES1O had to do something about it quickly while I was away and didn't even know about what's happening. I do not and will not blame him for making a decision of a new law in such situation without my approval, it was necessary even if the Great Leader wasn't there to sign it. If it wasn't for him to make this new law, we could've been exposed even without those people wishing for it to happen.

In those 250 years since the city's existence, the idea of the citizens exposing this location wasn't really feared that much, so everyone was allowed to wander freely up there, even encouraged to see the sky with their own eyes. But the problem is that we fear Death more than we fear an actual war, so very few people actually wish to go above and see what it is like. Because of the low numbers of visitors of that city, there were such low chances of the city being exposed, especially when the entrances are so well-hidden. But this year, it is the first time in the Underground City's history that we've started fearing that our own citizens might actually cause us huge troubles and had to apply some new laws.

This is one example from many that I have encountered during my reign as the Great Leader, and I fear that even more will come in the near future. All the constant papers that I receive, even if they seem meaningless for other people, even for the Council itself... they are proof to me that things are getting worse and we might be obligated to participate in a war. All this time, I have tried to avoid any kind of direct conflict with the City of Above and not start another battle like the one from 250 years ago. Those before me have done the same thing. But no matter what I try now, it looks like we will be obligated to fight in a battle with the citizens of the above. I never told anybody about my suspicions on this war that might come because I didn't want to bring fear into their lives. But at this point... who cares about fear anymore?

And this nightmare I keep having is like a torture mechanism that keeps playing with me. And it all started with the word "alien"... When the night comes for me to sleep, all I do is to pray that I will survive until the dawn. Every single time, I meet this strange light that wants me to follow it, to show me something that after Day 1 I've lost interest immediately in it. After that, Demon manages to appear too, before trying to attack me and causing the nightmare to stop. And when I do wake up, I simply can't breath for a reason I don't understand, even till the moment that I feel like I'm truly dying. Because of that, I'm really starting to think that... it might even put an end to my days if it keeps getting worse by each night. And the worst part is that... my condition on whatever this corruption is gets worse because of these experiences very quickly.

After I left Leo and the outsider, I simply went to my base to clear my mind out. I didn't even want to sleep, I just stood in my office and started thinking a lot about what I truly am. Like, do I belong here or where is my home? Am I truly one of them if I am this different from them? Am I really worthy of being their leader since I am an alien? And especially... how did my father know and why didn't He say anything?

But that night, as much as I wished to stay awake and contemplate about those answers, my tiredness took over me and I fell asleep on my own chair. RY4N was the one who told me this and he sure didn't expect for me to sleep in my office this way all of a sudden. But he didn't expect me to say that I didn't even know that I've slept there either. Believe me when I say that I thought I was in my room that night, maybe it explains how tired I was.

But besides that... in that night, it was the first time after so many tortures that I was able to dream again. I always just had nightmares ever since I got my wounds and never managed to dream anything like I did when I was younger. And it was... beautiful. I can't even describe it, it was just such a wonderful experience that I could give anything to live again. I was in peace there, in a world that no conflict ever happened and that no pain ever tried to consume us all. We were all free... RY4N and I were together, living lives similar to those that we had when we were kids, and we were so happy about it. The others also seemed as all their worries had left permanently too. And the city... it wasn't the Underground City at all. It was a city above the ground, but not the City of Above. A city of actual freedom, what we all wished to have.

But then I got woken up by my brother, very late in the morning and continued my schedule after. It wasn't anything interesting happening during the light those past days. I continued what I started in hope that I will get my answers. And I admit, I had a pretty bad mood while doing it. But the days were nothing compared to the nights. 'Cause after the previous night, I have hoped that I will be able to dream again... How foolish I was.

All those "dreams" were the same. Night 1, I was thinking that I just woke up so I began my schedule as always. Nothing out of the ordinary happened, until I got to the point of leaving the base where a small light appeared behind me. It gave such beautiful noises and it caught my attention, so I followed it wherever it led me. Probably I didn't think much about it, so it explains my decision. But when we arrived at where it wanted me to be, when I turned around and lost sight of it for just a few seconds, Demon appeared right behind me and attacked me. Then... I woke up, choking.

Night 2 was the same, but when the light appeared, I decided to not follow it again and instead, I simply ran away from it wherever I could. Yet no matter where I ran, an abyss was chasing me down, destroying the hallways of my base in order to catch me. And when it did, I found myself in the abyss, trying to find a way of escape... before Demon attacked me again out of nowhere and I woke up again, chocking harder than the first time.

Night 3 I didn't even leave my office, I just waited there when I noticed that I'm in this nightmare again, but the light appeared no matter and it also led with Demon finding me and waking me up. Because of that, I woke up during the full night, even scared my brother to death when he heard me struggling to breath, waking up in such shock and began calling assistance in no time. Two Healers came in our room and made a few weird methods of helping a suffocating body breath again for me to finally calm down and spent hours on analysing my condition to see what caused the sudden sleep suffocation. No result. It just led to me being supervised by the Healers more during the day and also finding out that my corruption is progressing the more I'm having these nightmares.

Night 4 I tried to hurt myself in order to wake up on my own when I noticed the change in the surroundings again, but I didn't succeed and still managed to get woken up by Demon. Then that day I've tried my best to stay awaken no matter how tired I was after the schedule ended, but I didn't succeed. Night 5 I tried to fight back that light with whatever I had on me, whether it was weapons or simple tools, trying to break free. Still nothing and the same story over again.

And Night 6... I just witnessed myself. After each experience, the suffocation even seemed to get worse and worse. And as a matter of fact, today... it really felt like I was about to die alone. I saw my entire life flashing before my eyes, moments from when I was a kid till the moments I lived those past days. I don't even know how I managed to survive it at this point. And I don't even know how much I can endure it anymore... So today, I will just take a break from everything to calm down and live a calm final moment in case that tomorrow I will not be able to wake up again."

The Underground City

19:57

Real RY4N seems to be talking with the other members of the base though, getting a break after a long time of doing business. Yet in his break, he decided to go to their room and see if his brother woke up, which he obviously finds out the first second he opens the door. CHE5TER wasn't in their room anymore, He was completely gone with no note left behind for RY4N to know what are His plans. He didn't mind it though, as he opened his device to call Him personally and see where He is.

But to his surprise, a weird noise of vibration appears in the room, which comes from a drawer of a bedside next to the place where CHE5TER usually sleeps. He goes towards it to open the drawer and only find that He left His communication device at the base, which would mean that He is left with nothing that could make Him speak to them. RY4N doesn't understand this action though, looking confused at the abandoned device.

Meanwhile, CHE5TER already left the base long time ago, not even doing His daily routine and looking in such a mess, dressed up in His crevaator clothes and walking around the city that already woke up before Him. It is pretty lively at this hour though, so of course He tries to hide His face as much as He can. But it doesn't seem to be because of the same reason from before that much this time, rather because He feels the need to hide Himself in a world that now He questions.

His eyes seem pretty tired, and His body is weaker than before. He doesn't seem ill, but it looks like He slowly loses control of His own body and remains numb. He walks slowly, looking at the ground, contemplating about the answers He wishes to have that are simply impossible to get. Then He chooses to take a rest on a bench near the center, admiring the surroundings.

The children seem to be enjoying their lives and playing together on a space dedicated to them that is near the location of the Great Leader. Other people are praying to the gods in the parks. Find it usual or unusual, it is pretty common, even a tradition in this city to come in the parks and pray. They resemble peace after all, and when you are in peace with yourself, it is the best time to pray for a better future too. Be it for yourself or for the others.

He looks a bit at the children that play around though, before searching for something from His long clothes that seems to be a torn map. No, not the one from His father, but one that seems to be more detailed. In other words, it is the same map He drew when He was a child and wanted to register the whole city by Himself. He looks a bit at it, before hearing a familiar voice speaking to Him, standing right in front of Him.

"...Hey, CHE5TER? Don't you want to play too?"

When looking at it, it was little RY4N with such joy in his eyes, giving a hand to His brother that was standing confused and looking at the faded kid. Then, He blinks and the kid disappears, going back slowly to His map.

"...I remember when I was a child that... I really liked this idea of seeing the world. I dedicated my time to it pretty often. Even when I was in school, I was working on my own map of the Underground City alone or with RY4N by my side. It was a dream that was impossible for me to make it happen at that time. And because of that, RY4N felt a bit of pity towards me seeing how I was working like a maniac on my own and was often calling me to play with him. And little me... refused him pretty often too, continuing my work that I was putting my heart into.

It's funny though, 'cause those last years I even forgot about its existence. Just yesterday I got reminded of it again and was curious where I left it. I went back to our old home and started searching for it everywhere, and I found it. Truth to be told, I remember it being more... amazing than I see it now. But it was in the eyes of a child back then, so it explains. I've grown after all, my vision on the world has changed."

He then puts back the map in His clothes after such a huge sigh and continues looking at the children playing around. The joy they have, the fearless expressions that just don't have a clue what this world is about, they are all watched by a dead man. He expresses no emotions towards it though, He just stays there silently for a few minutes and remains a spectator.

"Now that I'm thinking about it... I was different from everyone else from the very beginning and I didn't even notice. I refused to play games like these just to have fun in my own ways, carrying my brother around as he was the only one that stood with me. Even if he himself didn't understand why I was doing it."

20:49

CHE5TER is waiting in a line at one of the merchants of the city, trying to buy a few things for Himself, until He hears something that catches His attention. A conversation between two people waiting just like Him for their turn.

[Citizen1]-...Hey, by the way, have you heard that they've caught that criminal who spread fear in the city months ago?

[Citizen2]-Really? How did they manage to find him?

[Citizen1]-I don't know, but I talked to someone from the Northwest Base about this subject and he told me that they are going to give him a sentence today, publicly! We should go to the center and see too!

[Citizen2]-Oh, that sounds exciting! What do you think its his punishment? Mayb--

[Merchant]- --Hey, filthy creature!

[CHE5TER]-...Hm?

But while listening to them, He has lost attention on the line and didn't notice that His turn came.

[Merchant]-You want to buy something or not, crevaator? People are waiting, you know?

[CHE5TER]-...Oh, sorry. A pack of cigarettes, if you may.

[Merchant]-Nothing else?

[CHE5TER]-No, that's enough. Just some cigarettes.

So, He pays the merchant and gets the cigarettes before finally leaving and deciding a new destination to go to. Which, of course, is the center of the city now.

At the center though, it is so crowded because of the public sentence of the Northwest Base towards a man that stands in an empty area, guarded by two people in order to not escape, while the crowd screams in joy at the suffering of the man. CHE5TER tries to move around, hardly, as He can barely make any step because of the huge crowd. But He manages to get in front to see what's happening and how the criminal judged looks like, while one of the members of the Northwest Base responsible of applying the laws gives the sentence to him.

[Soldier]-...Mr. K0LTON, you are accused of mercilessly killing 17 adults and 5 children, injuring 21 people and destroying the property of the city by emitting the Ynash'saveghtah Gas and the arson one of the buildings of the south area. Do you have anything to say in your defence?

The man doesn't saying anything though, it only looks pissed about the situation and stares at the wild crowd.

[Soldier]-If you do not speak, Mr. K0LTON, you may lose your only chance of saving yourself from this situation.

Still silence, but the crowd becomes even louder and more aggressive than before. They scream at the criminal, while the Great Leader only continues to watch.

[Citizen3]-Sick bastard!

[Citizen4]-You deserve to be in Hell!

[Citizen5]-Hope you are proud of what you got!

"In the Underground City, there is a tradition of publicly giving a verdict from the Northwest Base members to the people that have done horrible crimes. Most of the times, those are either murderers, assaulters or those who simply have a liking to torture others. In other words, people that are seen guilty for the rest of their lives.

The center is the place where these are happening, as the center has a special judging area that the citizens have public access to it. But besides judging criminals, here is where the next Leaders are also chosen by the Council and the public too sometimes. I happened to assist one as well when I just got to be the new Great Leader, but the tradition hides all the important members of the Council from the public eye and we stay in a special seat behind a thick, blurry and dark glass so that nobody can see our faces. In the case of the Great Leader though, He can't even speak during those trials, as a way of protecting even the smallest information about His identity.

I remember when I last came here, one year right after the death of the previous ruler. I was obligated by my title to do so, even though I demanded a break during that time and didn't come to the Council at all before hitting the age of 16. Master AL7AN wasn't able to stay with me during the trial since the Great Leader has a special place above everyone else where nobody has access to. Back then, the previous Leader of the Northwest Base had chosen to retire, even though it still doesn't make sense to me why since he wasn't so old in the system anyway, but we had the obligation to summon the public and give the news to them. By doing so, the next day, the whole trial has begun.

Around three people volunteered and were chosen to become the next Leader, and those were members of the base of the previous Leader, all who were said to be somehow good at taking the title further. And just like us, their faces were censured during the trial and were only allowed to speak to the public and to us in order to prove their point. But somehow... none of them really impressed us all. Even M1SH4M was skeptical about them.

But then, during the trial, a man by the name of MARVIN 31 went into the empty area of judgement and accused the previous Leader of "not bringing the real justice to the city". Even though what he did was somehow illegal to intervene the trial like that, he actually had some good points made during his speech. And even with his background of a murder from years before... he managed to impress us pretty well. He knew what he was talking about when it came to justice, so at the end of the day, he was chosen by the Council to take the title, becoming the first ever Leader that has shown his face to the city.

Of course, the public wasn't so happy about it when we announced our decision, since most of them knew his background from before. Most of the people were still considering him a criminal, even though he was proved be... half innocent, to put it that way. And no matter how many years have passed from that trial, some people still don't respect him as a Leader, still giving him the title of..."

[Citizen6]-...Alien!

The public got even more aggressive, screaming titles to the criminal in front, while CHE5TER only remains to watch, before deciding that He had seen enough and takes His leave.

"...N3MES1O and I aren't that much different, actually. But he had a desire to make this world a better place... while I only wished to see my dreams come true. So I think I am some kind of a selfish ruler... Maybe even a greater alien to them."

21:32

CHE5TER is wandering alone on the streets just like He did this entire day since it has started. The further He goes though, the weaker His body seems to be. His face is pale, His eyes half-opened and His vision slowly becomes blurry. He doesn't even seem motivated to continue walking, the only thing that stops Him is the idea that He still can't be shown to the public no matter what happens.

"...Why do I feel like I am dying anyway? I am healthy, right? So why is my body feeling worse than it did when I just woke up from my coma? Are thoughts even suppose to weaken you...? Or am I just... not strong enough anymore?

I thought it is only a myth the fact that emotions can actually kill you, or at least I thought that they only kill you mentally. Yet why is my body getting affected by them? They are just emotions, right? People say they are normal. So why are they killing me...? I know I am not good at handling them, but this is... new.

And besides that, what are those constant whispering voice talking to me the more my vision blurs anyway? Am I the only one who hears them? 'Cause this isn't Demon. I don't even know what they are, nor do I understand what they are saying. They are just... there. Talking to someone. Is it even me who they are talking to?

I feel like I'm going to faint if they continue though... Or maybe not even faint. Maybe I will just die if I close my eyes right now. Is this how people feel like when they are dying? I never been interested to find out. But now I wonder if it is like this... What do you think, Father? Did you feel like this in your final moments? Have you ever... feel like this... Vo--"

[IZUK1]- --Yevem!

While battling His thought, His eyes were on the edge of closing, even if He continued walking. But He woke up immediately when hearing the voice of the little girl He saved behind Him. He didn't even have time to turn around and see her properly, since she already arrived right besides Him, taking Him by a foot and hugging Him. He got surprised though since He didn't even have time to react.

But while looking at her, He also noticed the people that were staring at what they think is a crevaator with an innocent and young citizen. Everyone started whispering around on this subject, which is pretty much His fault that He was walking in a crowded area. The girl doesn't even know that what she is doing is wrong. And of course people began feeling worried for the little kid, some even trying to look for a soldier that could help her.

He then turns back His vision towards her, continuing His confusion.

[CHE5TER]-...What is it, IZUK1? Why did you come to me?

She then lets go of His foot and starts doing hand movements.

[IZUK1]-^Hi! I came to see what you are doing!^

[CHE5TER]-Okay... But how did you know that it's me?

She then points out His part of the crevaator costume, His arm, that has no kind of insignia put on. He looks a bit at it, then get impressed.

[CHE5TER]-So you've learnt about that, huh?

She nods so lively though, such a cute little face that she is showing. But even so, the Great Leader is more concerned that people keep looking at them both, since she attracted to much attention coming towards a crevaator and screaming at it.

[CHE5TER]-...IZUK1, we should talk somewhere else. People are watching.

[IZUK1]-...?

Her face turns into confusion then, before looking around at the citizens that stare at them. She didn't notice them before actually, so now of course she doesn't know what's happening. But the ruler took action and started holding her by a hand, beginning to walk towards a more quiet place.

"The Renaissance" Park

21:59

[CHE5TER]-...Where is Mr. K3IT4RO? Did you come with him in the city?

She nods as a no.

[CHE5TER]-No? Then are you with your friends?

She nods again.

[CHE5TER]-Still no? So you came on your own, I assume?

She nods as a yes this time.

[CHE5TER]-How so? Are you not afraid of being alone anymore? K3IT4RO told me that you were pretty scared before.

[IZUK1]-^I am not afraid! I like seeing the city now!^

[CHE5TER]-Is that so? What do you like about it?

[IZUK1]-^Everything!^

[CHE5TER]-That's not really an answer.

[IZUK1]-^It is!^

They've been walking the roads of the park for a few minutes, until they found a bench on which they could rest for a while, continuing their conversation. CHE5TER sure seemed as He needed it, but IZUK1 continued being as lively as ever. She puts down her backpack to search for something, while the ruler only looks weak at the horizon.

She took a bottle of Histvorh though, nothing much, which she began to drink not long after. When she is done, she handed it towards the ruler, making Him look confused towards her. She didn't say anything though, she was just moving her hand around Him so that He could understand what she wanted to do.

[CHE5TER]-...O-Oh, you want to give me some too?

She nods as a yes.

[CHE5TER]-Thank you then.

So, He takes it in His hand and opens the dark bottle, looking at the light inside it that keeps the ore in its liquid state and taking a small sip so that He doesn't empty it too much. But when He is done, He looks rather disappointed at it.

"...Too weak. It won't help me with anything, even if I drink it all."

IZUK1 in the meantime already started doing her usual activity of drawing whatever she wants. CHE5TER only took a glance at her, seeing that she already has something to do, before continuing His staring at the horizon.

[CHE5TER]-What do you think of the people so far, IZUK1? Do you like them?

[IZUK1]-Mhm!

[CHE5TER]-Do you have any plans for the future?

[IZUK1]-Mm... M-mm.

[CHE5TER]-No? How is that? Don't you have anything in mind that you want to accomplish? Maybe a dream? A job?

[IZUK1]-M-mm.

[CHE5TER]-Nothing at all? Really?

[IZUK1]-Mhm!

He looks confused at the little girl that was barely paying attention to the conversation while drawing. Her innocence is so pure, she has no desires for the future now. She only wishes to live her life.

[CHE5TER]-...It's so hard for me to believe that. When I was your age, I wished to see the world like nothing else in my entire life. I even got a job from that desire. And I will say that I somehow... succeeded. So why don't you believe that too?

She didn't respond though, only continuing what she has started as if she didn't hear Him.

"...Am I really... the odd one out in this entire city? Children seem to have different desires when it comes to life compared to what I had, and those of my age don't even seem to understand me. How come I was raised in this city and I still got to be an alien to this culture? And how come I didn't even notice it until now? I knew I was different, but... not this way...

Now I wonder... what could possibly be their reaction on this situation? I am their ruler, yet I am such a different kind than them. They wouldn't accept that, would they? Everyone wishes for a ruler that is like them, that thinks like them and that dreams like them... I am not that person. And even if they do not know it, I still failed to be their ruler too. I just brought problems ever since I accepted the title. It is the truth... right?

But if I am not one of them and I was truly meant to be a hooman, then how exactly was that species? Leo seemed normal, he wasn't that different from the looks of my kind if I do not point out his mechanical limbs, which I am still impressed on how he managed to do them anyway. But his way of thinking towards this kind... terrified me. He is the very creator of us, so why does he feel like he doesn't belong here at all? Why does he feel the urge to hide from us and isolate himself with nothing but his mechanisms? People appreciated him for creating us, right? ...Or did they begin to point out that even he isn't one of us? Or, well... one of them."

So, seeing that He doesn't get any more responses, He gives such a small breath of disappointing and looks down, before His eyes slowly close without Him realising and standing on the bench like a dead man.

22:17

Minutes later, IZUK1 seems to have finished her drawing and begins looking at Seven who was resting next to her. She tries moving His hand so that He can start looking at her. No response. She tries moving it harder, but still nothing.

[IZUK1]-Yevem! Yeveeem! Wooh!

Seeing that she doesn't succeed to captivate His attention, she searches around for her bottle and opens it up. But instead of drinking, she gets on her feet, on the bench, takes the hood of the ruler down and pours the Histvorh right on His head. Because of that, He immediately wakes up in a panic and looks around, maybe thinking that something happened, but He doesn't look like He woke up exactly like in the morning.

He then notices the little girl, laughing silently at Him for the way He woke up, while the ruler only remained confused. Not only that, but He also noticed His clothes being wet and that from His hair, some liquid is dropping bit by bit.

[CHE5TER]-IZUK1, what did you pour on me??

He then takes a bit from a drop on His finger and licks it quickly.

[CHE5TER]-Is that your drink??

She nods as a yes, still laughing a bit.

[CHE5TER]-Why did you do that??

[IZUK1]-^You were sleeping and didn't want to wake up!^

[CHE5TER]-...I was sleeping?

She nods again while sitting back on the bench.

But the man was still a bit confused. He began to put back His hood on though and looked around to see if anybody noticed them. Still the girl didn't finish talking to Him, so she moved His hand again and finally got the attention she wanted. She wanted to show Him what she drew, even though CHE5TER didn't see anything special in it. She tried to draw the environment they were seeing from their angle in the park, but still ended up being pretty much a basic drawing that any kid would draw.

[CHE5TER]-It's cool. What is that, a shield?

She got confused too now considering His response.

[CHE5TER]-No? Not a shield? Then maybe a house?

She got a bit disappointed as well, pointing at the view they were seeing, though He didn't understand what exactly she wanted Him to see. The view pretty much is direct to the center, far away, able even to see the judging area.

[CHE5TER]-The Central Memorial...? I don't really understand...

[IZUK1]-View!! View!!!

[CHE5TER]-View? ...Oh, the view? That's what you drew?

[IZUK1]-Yeah!!!

He looks a bit at the view, but He still doesn't see anything that would be similar to the drawing though. But IZUK1 continues, handing Him over a handful of drawings, all put together in a very cute folder probably made by the person that takes care of her. Her eyes seemed pretty joyful, even if a dead face was looking at her confused, all pale and lacking the energy to even compliment her work.

He took it in His hands anyway, looking through what she wanted Him to see. There are a lot of drawing actually, all made either at her home or wherever she found the time. There are some that represent random objects or buildings, and there are some that we even saw before. For example, even LUK3's drawing appears here, which the ruler managed to recognise the most what it represents because of the scarf and golden aspect of the weird-shaped man with a scar.

Unfortunately, even if the ruler wished to laugh a bit, all He managed to do was to crack a quick smile since He lacked energy for an unknown reason. Because truth to be told, His C energy seems fine. But there is something else that affects His health this time. Even so, He continued looking around all the strange drawings while the girl stood by His side in joy to see His reaction.

But then He stumbled upon a strange drawing of two figures that made Him look a bit closer. One was what He thought to be her, a little girl with grey C colour next to a person that He doesn't seem to know. It's a taller figure with red C colour and a scar on His face, a bit similar to what He has.

[IZUK1]-He ih you!

CHE5TER got a bit confused hearing what she said, looking at her joy.

[IZUK1]-He ih you! Vhaf pewvom ih you!

She then gets closer and points at a writing on the drawing that He didn't notice, nor did we see it before. It probably was added way later after the drawing was done. But the writing says only one word: Hero.

CHE5TER looks a bit at the little girl, not really understanding her meanings at first, but then taking her under His left arm for her to feel Him closer. While He only looks away, at the floor. She got a bit confused too, but she let it be and stood relaxed, even feeling safe enough to rest herself.

"...I think it was the first time I actually understood what different views mean. Really. IZUK1 is a girl that I have saved months ago from her owner of the above and I never seen her more than just a person that I have helped. But from the moment of me saving her till the very present, she seemed so attached to me for a reason that I didn't really understand.

I always thought that from the moment I find her a new home, she will forget about me or at least not feel so close to me anymore. I thought that her new caretaker will forever be her favourite. But seeing the word "Hero" on a drawing that was supposed to represent myself made me realise that she didn't actually get over that phrase. And she probably won't do it anyway.

But another thing is that... she finally managed to show me why she was so attached to me. It wasn't because I was the only person she knew in the city at that time or the only person that seemed to be beneficial staying around... but because she really thought of me to be a saviour. She appreciated what I have done for her and she admired me for who she thought I was. A hero.

...Why is that I never saw myself as one? It is in my job to help others because of the war. It is in my job to assist the savings of the lost souls of the above. In my eyes, I never was a hero. I was only a person that did his work as he was suppose to. But in the eyes of the souls that I saved during my job... apparently I am a hero. She didn't really care that I killed someone right in front of her and I don't understand why. She moved from that thought too sudden for me to even know why. If it was for any other person, they would've thought of me being a criminal, including myself.

Why did she really think of me being a hero? I tried to detach myself from her quickly so that I can get to work and didn't even realise how she felt about this at all. If anything, I am just a bad person, right? Instead of being there for the person that admires me, I only ran away. Yet she still somehow forgave me. She admired me for who I was in her eyes. And she still called me a hero."

The girl actually managed to rest, sleeping under the arm of her saviour that seemed to battle His thoughts. He looked at the little girl resting for a bit, maybe trying to understand something that He couldn't. But He began to rest too not long after, whether it was because He wanted to or because He couldn't stay awake anymore.

"Maybe I still have things to find about myself, even after all those years of ruling an entire city. And if is that so, then you probably wished me to do so from the very beginning. Right, Father?

All those mysteries that you gave me, all these unknown secrets that probably no being ever knew about the fact that you left behind for me to find... This was your plan. You wished for me to understand better what I truly am. And I am going be honest, I had no idea that I could be this puzzled about my own identity at all. But I will trust your decision and continue to find the truth about my own self. I just hope that I will not disappoint you."

Yet the ruler wakes up in His base, right on the bed made for Him in His room. RY4N isn't there, but He doesn't mind, as He goes out of the room and looks around, noticing again a difference in the environment. Still, He doesn't seem to care that much this time. Instead, He waits for the light to finally appear and goes right towards it.

The light doesn't do anything more than just the noises from the beginning. And the ruler knows that once the light appears, Demon is on its way too. But again... He doesn't seem to care. Instead, He reaches for the light with His right arm, trying to take it. The response though... the light flashes in front of His eyes, behind it appearing Demon that looks in the eyes of the Great Leader.

Do you understand the truth now, Little Ruler?

The ruler doesn't seem scared nor angry anymore. Maybe He thinks that if it is for Him to die, at least He can die in peace in His final moments. Or maybe He just stopped fearing Demon out of nowhere. Who knows?

Either way, He looks a bit in the eyes of the copy-like creature, eyes with such a voothrav light that could actually blind you for looking at for too much. He then raises His right and shows it to Demon without giving it to the creature nor touching it. The creature also does the same at the same time, but with its hand making the sign "V" with its long fingers sharp as knives. This is not a sign that the ruler did, however He understood it without any word given about it before.

"...Yes. I do understand."

Then what is the truth in your eyes?

"The truth is that no matter how much I try to be perfect, I will never succeed. As much as I try to be better and to be the person that everyone wished of me to be, a true ruler... I will never be one. But even if that is so, there are parts in me that I never knew about before. I am not one of my people. I am not a hooman either. I am not a good person. I am not a bad one either.

If it was for me to achieve a fate in which I have to face what I am, then it means that I still have things to find about myself. No matter the questions I put, my answers are in what I was suppose to be. And if it is for me to accept every side, good or bad, about me, then it would mean that you are also a part of me..."

"...And I will never be able to change that matter. Even if I meet my end."