[Arius POV]
Before even opening my eyes, I felt pain. I few dull aches all over my body and a sting in my head. Opening my eyes, I see the unexciting view of a stone wall.
"UURGH, Dakria, what happened?"
'After you warned your brother of the incoming attack, he managed to dodge but the landing knocked you unconscious. After a miracle, he managed to escape the stone monsters and arrived in the safety of this rock.'
"My god!"
Getting up, I walk over to Big Brother Jaque. He was sleeping against the rock, hair dishevelled and clothes black and burnt. Hearing his subtle breathing, I relax but notice his clothes' state.
"Dakria, why are his clothes all destroyed? What happened?"
'In short, he destroyed the mutated stone monster by combusting my mana right in from of himself. He's probably suffered many 1st and 2nd degree burns to the front of his body.'
"What!"
Moving closer with trembling hands, I open up his toasted jacket to notice the burns all over his body. I grimace just imagining the pain he must be in.
"Dakria, what can I do to help?"
'Let me analyze possible options we got, it will probably take a few minutes.'
After saying that, Dakria's voice completely disappears and I'm once again left by myself. With plenty of time on my hands, I go and peek past the giant boulder to see how the scene outside.
As always, I see a rough terrain with many holes and bumps. Not far from me is an area rendered completely black with only a weirdly shaped stone sticking out of the ground. Resting my head against the rock, I continue to scour the area. The number of stone monsters has only increased but the amount coming through the fog had decreased a lot. Their target was still the entrance of the S.T.A.
BOOOM! B...B...B
Looking at the blue barrier of the Adventurer guild, I had mixed feeling coursing through my veins. A sense of hope and frustration. As long as we get there, through that barrier, we will be safe. But with Big Brother Jaque out cold, there was a lot of frustration and anger.
'Why haven't they done anything yet? It's common knowledge that they're responsible for all things monsters, beasts, and S.T.A. related. Why are they just sitting there while many people who were in the S.T.A. get killed?'
The more I think about it the angrier I got. However, no matter how much blame I could place on the Adventurer Guild, I knew there was one thing that I was fully responsible for.
*Sniff*...*Sniff*
'Why couldn't I do anything?'
Over the past few days, I've accomplished the most in my life, yet I've lost and hurt the most in all my life. I already regret decisions that I made only mere days and hours ago. I wish I could turn back time and do something back then. I'm useless. It isn't that I'm unlucky or cursed. I'm simply weak.
...
...
[??? POV]
??? Years ago
"O Lord, we thank you for what has been done. Your deeds have pierced the gloom of our hearts. Your call has brought clarity to our minds. The power of the soul trumps the power of the flesh. In this fresh morning, I hope that you continue to shine a light during our darkest night."
Ta ta ta ta ta
"PRIESTESS!"
Feeling the unsteady footsteps and loud screams from a distance, I give a simple smile.
"No need to rush, Ciel."
"WHAT do you mean? All the leaders are here already! It's like you placed thirty lions in a sock of a hall. You have to hurry!"
"You always bring much-needed energy in these empty halls."
"Alright, alright! Hurry UP!!"
As I slowly get up and get dragged away by this energetic lion's cub. I give one last bow to the sole thing in the great hall, a pedestal.
...
"Do you really think this is going to work Priestess? Just the other day, they were at each other's throats on the battlefield."
"Once the soulful candle is lit, it shall burn with a fiery passion no matter the wind's of strife."
"AArrgh, I don't understand half the things you say. Just hurry up and get in the room. I can feel the heat from here."
Walking through the opened door, with a kind smile, I am greeted by a few groups of members of different races. All glaring daggers at me and the others.
"You Priestess! What do you think you're doing bringing me here with these mongrels?!"
"What did you just say?"
"YOU DARE!"
"Pathetic mongrels."
"I DARE YOU TO SAY IT ONE MORE TIME"
"ENOUGH!!!"
A yell that dwarfed the previous bickering. The room was quiet. Arriving at the center podium, I look towards the back the of the hall. A bearded man sitting all alone, clearly uninterested in all the alliances and politics. Giving him a slight nod of thanks, I look at the larger crowd.
"Today, I've brought all of you, the leaders of your clans, groups and organizations, to address a prophecy I have received."
Seeing the continued silence throughout the hall, I take out a scroll that shimmered with a golden hue. Unravelling it, I begin to read what it says.
"-------------
Millenniums of farce, tons of blood, untraceable debts. The era shall end. The world shall shift. None shall be left, all will be moved. The fire extinguished. The clearing of the skies to welcome a new morning. The bud of unity shall birth a forest.
As the day comes and goes, a dark night shall cover the forest. The disease will grow to encompass the very roots. A fire to ruin it all. That shall mark the end of the sun and moon.
Throughout the forest, they will be born. Unlike the old nor the young. They shall bring a cure to light another morning.
------------"
As soon as the prophecy was read, the small groups once again began to talk and discuss. Worry was evident on their faces. I did nothing to ease their worries, simply letting them take it all in.
"Priestess, are you suggesting that we all need to make peace?! It's impossible."
"I do not suggest such things, Monarch of the Vampires, for it is only written on this paper. Though you should know the cost of ignoring this paper."
"Arg!...Fine! But certain feuds can't be forgiven!"
"This is why I've gathered you here today. To sort out your difference and achieve unity."
"Impossible!"
"It's just a waste of time with these meatheads!"
"Exactly!..."
"..."
"..."
Seeing the guests all bickering like children, I wonder how most of them managed to lead a race, especially the more bloodthirsty ones.
'What a bunch of children that I have to deal with.'
"Everyone should know already that there have been important changes that have occurred within your races. Whether it is the restriction of strength or abilities, if you continue waging war against each other, eventually all will fall. Does anyone object?"
"..."
"I have drafted a 100-year plan that will lead to the eventual unification of our people to ensure our survival."
...
[Dakria POV]
'Perhaps it's just me but seeing Arius finally realizing his current place reminds me of him. While it hurts to simply watch the last of his kind in this state, it was inevitable that it will happen as history repeats... It will solidify him for the future.'
I had long found what we needed and was just letting Arius bode by himself for a few more minutes. Typically one would either need to bode throughout their entire life or a single moment to know what to do. Either or, we didn't have the time.
'Arius.'
"Dakria?"
'Everyone asks themselves that very question sometime in their lives. But to get the answer, you must act until you find the answer. I have scanned the surroundings and I found a way to heal Jaque. When he's healed is solely your decision.'
Ha hooooo
"Alright, let's get to work then."
With that, Arius gets up and walks back toward his sleeping brother.
------------------------------
'Often people find themselves trapped in their own emotions. Their emotions are so strong that they become miserable. Misery is a state strong enough to overcome a person's will to live. A single person's will may never overcome it. However, a gathering of wills can push them to step foot out of their cage. Once there, their willingness to live determines whether they swim or they drown.'