13:21

And so, hours later after a forced rest, He wakes up with His true love sleeping on His chest, while He looks around, waiting for her to wake up on her own. It's nothing much that He can do now. He looks a bit at her, as she was sleeping peacefully, kissing her on the forehead, then trying somehow to get up without waking her up again. He moves her head slowly from His chest, putting it on the couch and getting up silently, covering her back with the blanket. Then, He leaves the room, alone, towards the restroom, where He enters and starts washing Himself as a daily routine of every being of this city.

The routine isn't so complicated. He takes off His sleeping clothes first, a dark t-shirt and some pants, and as a consequence also staring deadly at His old wounds around His stomach which are now healed and covered by that corrupted black skin, as well as His right arm too, then washes His body after He clears up His mind, with some of this liquid Histvorh that they use. Then a bit His hair too, though it isn't much He can do with it so He just pours the liquid and uses a different ore that is present in the restroom, special for this part of the cleaning schedule, which He dips in a tiny vessel with Histvorh and then rubs His hair with it part by part for a few minutes to keep it healthy. That's all they can do when it comes to this subject, as they do not have all those cleaning things that we use, like soaps or shampoos. It is an advantage that the ores they use also eliminates any powerful smells too.

After He is done, He takes His clothes back and goes in front of a mirror, while yet again he takes even more of that liquid in His mouth to wash a bit His teeth too, then spits the liquid out in a sink. Not long after, He looks back at the mirror, seeing His face, which simply stops Him from doing anything, as He watches deadly those lifeless eyes of His. No light is seen in them, and even He knows that it isn't normal at all, yet what can He do about it? He takes a deep breath and then looks for a small and thin towel that they use to clean a bit His face, as if He tries to wake up from a dream. Yet in vain, as it is no dream, it is simply this painful reality.

So, when He is done with that too, He opens His eyes to try and get ready to leave. Yet when He looks a bit at the sink while doing so, He observes a black liquid dropping bit by bit on it from His hair and face. A strange one that not even He can explain for sure. Then He looks in the mirror once again, smirking for a little, before speaking to Himself.

[CHE5TER]-...Heh, I just woke up, god dammit. You won't leave me alone so easily even now? You really think you can trick me, even as sleepy as I am?

So you've learnt. Good job. But don't get yourself cocky, clever boy.

[CHE5TER]-Your mirages are child's play at this point. You take me of such foolish man? I know this black liquid of yours is only seen by me. You want to scare me so badly? Try better.

And then, silence. No response from the voice He talks to, nor from Him, as He stares at that mirror in front of Him, almost as if He saw something that we couldn't, maybe not a simple being, but a creature. Then He leaves the room, while on the mirror there still seems to be a weird figure that we cannot see clearly, watching Him walk away, until it too disappears.

So now He simply looks down as He wanders alone, while a person approaches Him from behind. Seems like it's MY4 again, though He doesn't really seem that lively hearing her for some reason.

[MY4]-What are you doing up so early?

[CHE5TER]-Heh, so you woke up, I see...

[MY4]-Of course! Wasn't the plan for us to spend some time together? Like the good old days?

[CHE5TER]-Right... So? What do you have in mind?

[MY4]-Well, I thought we could walk around the city first, then maybe we do whatever you want? What do you think?

[CHE5TER]-Alright... Seems good.

He talks so gently to her, yet His feelings are... strange. The eyes are empty as ever as said, yet they seem to look so annoyed. His smile isn't sincere either, such a horrific face that could take your life away.

[CHE5TER]-So? Are you going after to see what LUK3 has prepared for you?

[MY4]-Mhm! I mean, I promised him that I will do so. I can't just say I'm not coming anymore now.

[CHE5TER]-I see, I see... Oh, who knows what that boy did this time... Did you try to guess what he has prepared?

[MY4]-I mean, it will probably be like all the other years. I don't think it's something special, but he has good intentions as always in the end.

[CHE5TER]-I know that.

[MY4]-*giggles* Then why do you ask?

[CHE5TER]-Just a thought. Oh, and... what about my medicine?

[MY4]-...Your medicine?

MY4 looks confused at Him though, as she thought that CHE5TER cancelled the whole schedule completely from now on because of this new state of His, yet He still has that creepy expression on His face.

[CHE5TER]-Yes. My medicine.

[MY4]-But you told me that you don't need it anymore, that you've recovered completely and that this new state of yours is nothing I should worry. Are you alright?

[CHE5TER]-Oh, right... Heh, seems like I forgot. Yes, I am alright.

[MY4]-Why don't you... need it anyway?

[CHE5TER]-Well, I told you already. Do I need to repeat myself now?

[MY4]-No, no... But I'm not quite... sure what this condition of yours is...

[CHE5TER]-I'm not quite sure myself. But I told you, my wounds are now fully healed. If anything, I just need to supervise this new state of mine for a while. Anyway though... So? Should we get going?

[MY4]-Mhm!

[CHE5TER]-Alright. Then lead the way, Miss MY4.

So, MY4 goes forward, while CHE5TER simply doesn't want to let go of that expression of His. But then He puts His left hand behind His back, and stopping MY4 from going any further by taking her by an arm as if He just remembered an idea.

[CHE5TER]-...Wait, MY4. I almost forgot something.

[MY4]-Hm? What did you forget?

[CHE5TER]-Well... since today is your day and all... wouldn't it be rude of me to not give you anything special?

[MY4]-CHE5TER...

[CHE5TER]-Don't think about it too much. Now... cover your eyes, turn around and count to five, alright?

And she does as He said. He seems like He is creating something with His left hand, helping Himself with His powers in the meantime, a reason why He told her to turn around.

[MY4]-One... Two... Three...

So, MY4 starts counting not long after...

[MY4]-...Four... Fiv--

...only for her to uncover her eyes when she was done and turn around to see her true love shooting her in the head with a gun He has created. As a consequence, her body falls to the ground, surprisingly... dead?

[CHE5TER]-Happy day... "MY4".

From the mark of the shot, the same black liquid is now flowing from the wound resulted, while the body lays on the ground, not moving at all, as if she really is taking her last breaths in those moments. Or at least... that if it was truly her.

[CHE5TER]-...You think you are smart, don't you, Demon? But if you think you can copy her, you are more delusional than anybody in this world, even more than that General. You could never copy her, nor anybody that I care about! Don't you see? You will never win, no matter how hard you try to fool me!

Yet when you look again on the ground, now it seems like the MY4 from that moment simply disappeared before anybody could see what truly happened, like a mirage that finally came to an end. How exactly did He knew it was all fake? Only He knows. Maybe it really is true love which can never be copied.

[CHE5TER]-But... I will have to admit. You are getting stronger. Horrifically stronger... You learn... You adapt... And yet, you will never take me down. As long as I am keeping myself numb, you will never take control over me. Not even in your dreams.

The Underground City

17:19

And so, when true MY4 finally woke up, they went alone to walk around the city as promised, even for a bit of moment to enjoy this love life they wished to have earlier. Yet CHE5TER doesn't seem to be allowed to be Himself, even in these special moments, as He is disguised as a random man so nobody else will recognise Him. A pity for sure... Yet MY4 knows who He truly is, of course she knows. But wouldn't it feel strange to see a different face in front of you rather than the one from the person you love? Yet it is the only way for them to be themselves without hiding in the shadows. At least for MY4, while for CHE5TER is the same old story of "become the shadows in order to survive".

It's a strange life, a merciless fate, a harsh present. Such a beautiful culture living in the underground just because of the decision of one man alone. Such devoted people kept in chains, unable to show their true potential. Such kind souls being tortured by rules and lies... and such a beautiful love that they all could've had being crashed in front of them... What is this life? ...Or can you even call it life?

"Mother of the City" and "Ruler of the Lands" are just titles after all. They are nothing but simple people too. One achieved her title because of her ambition and the help she gave to the people of the underground, yet the other was simply struck down by a cruel destiny, unable to live the life He always dreamt of having, unable to spend time with those He loves and unable to be His true self. To think that they will meet one day and get to have feelings for each other from their very first moment? Hard to believe... but not impossible. But it's even harder to believe that the Great Leader would choose such a simple girl of the city rather than someone like Him, isn't it? Yet He saw something in this girl, didn't He? And that is... true love... in the end.

And so, they spend a great time together. They show this love to each other, forgetting for at least one minute the problems they endure in these hard times. The ruler even brought her a real gift, not something like what had happened earlier. Something real this time. And MY4 doesn't seem as she wants to leave this little helper in her soul at rest so much, as she does help people around that they randomly find, whether is something insignificant like saying a location or helping someone to feel better when they feel down. CHE5TER doesn't really get bothered by that. In the end, maybe that's what He loves at this young soul, so why should He stop it?

And yet, the happiness of these moments have an end, don't they? All things have an end after all. And she promised, didn't she? So after the time spend with Him, she goes with her best friends together, while He refuses to continue any further and stays behind. A small goodbye between them, not one to represent a long waiting for the next meeting, but one to simply say "I will see you later", before both of them going on their separate paths. It is maybe time to go back to work for Him, and for her to meet up with her best friend and continue what should be her amazing day.

And so He leaves, maybe going back to His usual things, like investigating the City of Above or extracting information from the crevaators. But that doesn't really matter what He chooses to do now. And MY4 meets up with LUK3 not long after, who was waiting for her all this time.

[LUK3]-MY444! MY44, over here!!

[MY4]-Morning, LUK3!

[LUK3]-So? What did you do? Don't tell me you just went alone and wasted time...

[MY4]-Oh, no, no. I managed to convince CHE5TER to come with me this time.

[LUK3]-Wait, really? Well, that's a surprise... Last time He accepted was around two or three years ago. So He really is in a good mood these days, huh...

[MY4]-Seems like it. But even so, it feels a bit... strange. After all the events of the past, seeing Him now act so lively puts me more in a worry than it did when He isolated Himself.

[LUK3]-Well, at least He won't beat my ass anymore, so I win from this change!

[MY4]-Well, He wouldn't "beat your ass" if you weren't doing such stupid things every single day, LUK3.

[LUK3]-Oh, don't you DARE start being against me as well now! I'm only living my life, alright!? It's not my fault that all you dream of is work! Seriously, Mimi! Don't you think you should live at your highest levels? You only have one life after all, god dammit!

[MY4]-And shouldn't others live theirs as well? I'm only trying to help them with it, it's not like I'm torturing myself. I love helping people after all. It's not such a big deal.

[LUK3]-Yeah, yeah... *sigh* Wish I didn't have such a stupid best friend...

[MY4]-What did you say?

[LUK3]-Oh, nothing, nothing! Come on! Let's celebrate your day and stop wasting time here! Happy day, MY4!

Yet before she follows the weird guy that is her friend, she looks with such a gentle expression at him, such a smiling little child that she thinks she is, as well as him.

"...I was called by the people of the shelters MY4, a name that was told to represent a being which takes care of everyone. And somehow my fate also proved this name of mine, as the people of this city think me of another god. One that looks over them all.

But truth to be told, nobody is truly a god. Those are just titles given to every being alive that proves to be worth of the worship shown by the souls of these lands. The truth is that I was just a simple girl and remained just a simple girl. Nothing really changed me those years of my life, no matter what I've experienced.

When I was little, I was dreaming of helping this world when I would grow up, and I was telling the person that had her bed next to me everything that I was thinking of, even probably making her believe that she should do the same. But KYR4 didn't really mind that, or at least she didn't show it. And look at us in the present, being still together and fighting for a better future.

I admit though. What I'm doing doesn't compare to what my friends do. I am just helping the people of the shelters with their struggles, but I am not capable of defending anybody even if I wished. I'm not as strong as everyone says, at least physically. But I am not that strong mentally either... Though, sure, I am standing better than most of the people I know at the shelters. Yet I am obligated to do that. As a Healer, I am obligated to ensure everyone that everything will be alright, even if I feel like the world is burning around us myself.

And contrary to the people's belief that working at the shelters is boring, it isn't. Really! Each day you go and greet all kinds of people and learn something new every time. I know about the City of Above from them mostly after all. And the subjects discussed there are always amazing. Kids manage to bring joy to us Healers whenever we go to treat them, and older people teach us about their experiences in the City of Above.

But the most discussed subject of the shelters, or of the Underground City as a whole, is about our glory. Maybe it's not the first time this subject is told, and most likely not the last time either. Glory is seen to be like a gift of the gods, one that we have to keep it forever until the paradise comes for us. Legends say that a being's glory fades once the person loses its former self, falling into despair from which you cannot escape. And I fear that some people that I know already have met this darkness...

As for me, my glory remained with me even till this day. As I said, nothing really changed me. But I feel rather pity whenever I see people losing themselves because of their life experiences, especially when it comes to those that are close to me... And what's worse is that I am no god that can actually help them. All I can do is to make them feel better."

18:31

Her words are true though, as she is no god, neither are those that are called gods. But those people she refers to aren't just her friends. They are the people she cares about the most. Sorrow is simply the last thing she wishes to see from their expressions. Especially from the man that she loves the most.

Little liar. Little liar.

...Are you happy to see your present self, Little Ruler?

[CHE5TER]-...Oh? You want to speak again? Isn't it embarrassing for you though? You lose against me and still try to talk to me?

Do you have anyone better to talk with? Look at yourself. You are all alone, like you always are. Do you like it? Do you like being alone?

Where He went though... is not actually so far. He is still in the Underground City, standing on the roof of one of the buildings and watching the city on His own. What can you say? He loves to do it pretty often, whether it is His city or the City of Above. But... He despites loneliness though. Even if He would prefer for it to be this way, He still hates this idea. He hates standing alone and doing nothing but fight further. He hates isolating Himself from those He cherishes. But... if that's the price of keeping them safe, then He must pay for it, no matter how much He despises it.

The city sure is lively now, and the view is one to not miss too. Maybe it is why He chose to stay and watch it in the meantime, before He goes back to His work as usual and misses everything. And yet... there is that annoying thing that keeps Him from being happy. Whatever that is... Maybe it is a voice of regret? Or His sanity going down? Who knows... Maybe even He doesn't know what this voice is, but it has some answers that He searches for. A reason why He continues to speak to it.

[CHE5TER]-I would say it's better rather than hearing your nonsense all the time. How come you've decided to speak now and not do it when I was younger as well anyway?

You are weaker now. At least mentally... You didn't give a shit about anything when you were younger. Controlling you back then was like putting a stick on a rock. Simply a waste of time.

[CHE5TER]-Oh? Is that so... Then how come you can't take full control over me, huh? Did you get weaker as well in our small interaction between each other?

...When will you realise that you are not enough, Little Ruler?

[CHE5TER]-When will you realise that I'm not doing anything from what you're saying unless you tell me what the hell you are? You take me this dumb? I'm not playing games here, Demon. Tell me whatever you want, I've learnt all your moves.

When will you give up on these lies of yours that you are enough? You aren't enough. You never were. And the wounds you have are just proving my point. You need me, Little Ruler. Accept me as a part of you and you will get everything you've dreamt of. The peace that you are searching for.

[CHE5TER]-When will you learn to give up on telling me what to do? Did you already forgot what I did to you in the past? You will never take control over me. Don't you remember?

"...Even Death lost the battle against me."