Before the war, Nore was an orphan. He had never known his parents, who had died when he was five.
He was of medium height, with black hair and blue eyes. He often wore dark-colored clothes.
But he had managed to survive, he always managed to survive.
Alone.
Well, not quite alone. There was only one person in his heart. She was the one girl who had helped him and his first love. Her name was Nix.
She had an ordinary appearance, which suited her perfectly. A frail, soft figure, brown eyes and hair that fell around her pretty face.
Right now, they're both in a basement in the city. There are other refugees, who, like them, are trying as best they can to escape the numerous enemy bombardments.
Nore was watching a family with several children playing, oblivious to the danger outside.
Poor children
Suddenly Nix gently shook him out of his thoughts:
"We'll be able to take Nore out soon. Ready for a new day?"
Nore looked at her, huffed and finally said:
"As usual."
***
About fifteen minutes later, an obviously tired male voice came over the many speakers in the basement:
"No bombardment detected around the city, so you may leave."
'At last! We can stretch our legs!'
Nore stood up and said:
"Come with me Nix, let's go."
Nix stood up too:
"Okay."
Together they made their way to a large armored door and out of the basement.
Outside, there wasn't much to say except that half the neighborhood was still standing while the rest had disappeared. Normally, at this time of day, there were a lot of people out and about. People working, walking, going home. But now there was nothing but debris and sometimes, sadly, corpses still fresh from the previous day's bombings.
'Poor people, they didn't make it to the shelter in time.'
Nix called out to him again and suggested:
"How about a little walk in the park? It's been a long time since we've been there."
"Yes, why not, I need to take my mind off things."
After passing through several neighborhoods, also in ruins, they arrived in front of the park gate.
'Here? The gate's still standing? It's been months since the war started and it's still there?'
They entered the park and began to follow a dirt path.
The park, despite the countless bombings the city had suffered, was still beautiful. The trees, the benches and even some rare bird were still there. Even the famous hundred-year-old oak was here, towering above all the other trees like a leader commanding his army.
"Do you remember the time we spent here?"
Nore replied with a broad smile:
"How could I forget all the good times? Those were the days."
'But finally all changed overnight. The war, general mobilization, ... . And by some miracle I wasn't drafted yet. That is, if we're still alive...'
But deep down, he knew it was coming soon.
'Damn war.'
Then suddenly, after a long silence...
Boom
Nore looked north in the direction.
Don't tell me it's what I think it is'...
Boom
This time, it was south.
No, no, no!
Three new detonations were heard.
A sound, a single sound that everyone knew. A sound that inspired fear and dread.
Then a siren sounded, followed by the same voice as in the basement. This time she was panicked:
"Alert all civilians! Bombing has just been detected! Please take refuge in the nearest shelter! I repeat..."
Nore stopped listening to the voice and shouted at Nix to drown out the sound of the bombs:
"Run now, come with me!"
Without waiting for his reply, he grabbed his arm and sped out of the park.
"Shit, shit!"
Boom, Boom
This time, we could see the buildings collapsing.
'It's close, too close even '
Turning the last corner, Nore said to Nix:
"Run with all your might! The entrance is just ahead!"
Nix, his face full of sweat, said in a slightly breathless voice and with a smile:
"Don't worry about me, I'm athletic unlike you. "
'Even at a time like this, she manages to keep a smile on her face and joked. At least she still has her sense of humor. '
Boom
This time, the bang is different.
'Here? Why don't I touch the ground anymore?'
A second later, he hit the ground hard. He realized that the bomb had exploded right behind him ...
"Wait, but behind me, there was..."
He didn't finish his thought and tried to stand up. Fortunately, he had only minor injuries and a high-pitched ringing in his ears. He looked around and saw Nix lying on the ground.
"Nix!!!"
He rushed to her and surveyed the damage.
"She's not dead... "
The wounds she'd received weren't lethal, but if she wasn't treated quickly, she'd die.
Nix slowly opened his eyes and said in a weak voice:
"Don't worry, this isn't going to get me..."
Nore was already ignoring him, had put him on his back and walked as fast as he could, despite his wounds towards the basement entrance.
He walked, a man carrying his wife walked amid the bombs.
I'm going to make it, I can't die now!
Along the way, he struggled against the pain and to keep from falling unconscious.
Boom
Another bang.
Each step brings him closer and closer to the door.
Boom
Another one.
Step after step.
100 meters
75 meters
50 meters
Nore looked up at the sky for a moment and saw a black dot getting closer and closer. The high-pitched noise grew louder and louder.
Nore then said in a strangely calm voice to Nix:
"Well, I'd have done anything to survive, but today's the day it all ends. "
Then he closed his eyes and waited.
Five seconds. Ten seconds.
Nothing, nothing fell on Nore and Nix.
Instead, he opened his eyes and looked ahead.
Around him was no longer the ruined city, but a magnificent field of flowers and trees. Nore stood in the middle of a stone circle with various engravings. They all exuded something Nore couldn't describe. Even the air was different.
In front of him were nineteen people:
Eighteen were human-like people, and the nineteenth person was an angel with a magnificent pair of wings.
Nore sensed that Nix was waking up and asked two simple questions:
"Who are you and where are we?"
The angel detached himself from the group, stepped forward and said in a soft, welcoming voice:
"Excuse me... I didn't introduce myself directly after your arrival. I'm Ramiel, leader of the angels and welcome to Arkanos, nineteenth creator and last creator."