I finish my burger, licking the melted cheese off my fingers. I get to my feet, holding my scythe. I should pick up where I left off. I go and grab some automatons from the other side of the training ground, three of them, and bring them to the center. Surrounded by various peices of training equipment you'd see on a military training course. In case you didn't know, here, we play hardball.

That's just how it is. How it's always been. The Author creates stronger and stronger foes for us. The Void War is his greatest idea, because our foes shall be eachother. If only I hadn't had been lured into a false sense of security. I could've beat Hatred. I could've done my job and protected the world.

The automatons activate and attack. These, more simple, unarmed ones that use fisticuffs. The first one lunges at me in a full swing. I wait as it grows closer...

Wait for it...

Almost there...

Little more and...

Now!

As it's just inches from my face,  I melt into darkness and reappear behind it, catching it off guard and destroying it. The other two attack. I wait for them to get close and then conjure up an explosion of flames, melting both of them.

Well, that went well. I walk across the field and prepare to activate three more. Let's see, what type? Flamethrowers? No. Spear users? Nah. M.S.? No. Don't wanna fight her. Wait, what?

"Hey Reaper" I smile, turning my  skin back into flesh, "gotcha didn't I?"

Quick, act cold!

"What do you want?" He demands with a certian coldness.

"The Hollow War is gonna start in about..." I check my watch, "sixty seconds. I wanted to let you know that. Maybe we can even work together in it. I mean, it does allow couples to win after all. King and queen for a day, and even if it's only an honorary title, could be fun. Rule as equals. Won't that be fun? If even for a day?"

"Eh," he shrugs, "I've got training to do. So unless I actually end up in the barrier-"

The barrier goes down, the Hollow War has officially begun.

"Well," Reaper sighs, "shit. OK. Best deal with this."

I grip my scythe and sling it over my back, holding it behind my neck. She smiles at me. She planned this, didn't she? I know she did, but... I'm not mad. I know I need to keep training, but maybe it's not a bad idea to take a day and actually see how far I've come. Besides, I get to spend it with M.S., I mean, works for me.

"Come on," I try to hide the warmth she brings into this cold abyss, acting as cold as I can, "we've got work to do."

"You're not doing this alone!" She exclaims with a premeditated answer, "I'm- wait, what?"

"Let's go," I reply, "get this over with."

"Man," she chuckles, "I was expecting you to argue a bit more than that."

"Eh," I shrug, "way I see it is: If I go with you I'm less likely to die and waste precious time. You know?"

"Oh," she looks away, "that the only reason?"

"Yeah," I lie, "that's it."

I feel his wind magic flare up, brushing on my skin gently. He's lieing. Man, I thought he'd be trying to practice that, but I guess he doesn't care. Not about that anyways. At least I know he still cares about me to some extent.

"So," I smile, "ready to go?"

"Sure," he replies, "let's go."

We start walking, following an aura nearby. I look at him. His face seems worn out and his build is thin and frail. I wanna ask him if he's OK, but he'll just lie if I ask right now. I take a deep breath and reassure myself. Somewhere, behind the lies, behind the hatred, behind the pain, is the man I love. The man who has so many friends. People who loved him like family...

And all I have to do is find him...