His mind has been wandering without rest for a while now. Ever since overcoming and succeeding in the Scarlet Tribulation, he would always find himself dreaming even in his waking moments. And from those dreams, he would realise simple Truths.
A thin layer of scarlet light enveloped the Earth. It was like a curtain that hid away the shyness endured by the bare vessel. The temptation it brought to peering eyes is contemptuous, but is that not a mere reflection of their sinful hearts?
Sin… perhaps the purest form of the evils that plague all existence.
And yet, Sin itself is not evil. It is but an abstraction, a word with which to describe the desperation of the soul, or perhaps its descension. That was why he thought to give them a chance. All of them.
The world knew of many faiths, each wielding their own hammers of justice, their own blades of mercy.
They were each of varying faces: the hanged man, the hermit, the sun, moon and stars, the hierophant, and many others.
All are proud pillars of civilisation. And all share a similar point.
Sin… a unit of measurement, a proof of judgement, a token for wisdom…, a means to an end.
Caelum's mind swam amidst currents of such thoughts. His contemplations seemed to stir something within him, a patient magnificence and magnanimous splendour.
It reared its head within the dark recesses of his soul, seeing through his eye, hearing through his ears and feeling through his heart. Something in him was changing, but it felt completely natural, like a long forgotten part of himself now waking from an ancient slumber.
His former indifference was no longer the root of his actions. There was an understanding. As to what, it had yet to be revealed even to himself. But it would only be a matter of time. The dreams, after all, do not end.
He opened his eyes just as a gentle breeze swept past him. Its tender touch on his skin sent a wave of comforting nostalgia running through his soul.
For a brief moment, he was reminded of a little girl he held in his arms, pearly hair and emerald eyes. Sadness filled his heart knowing he could no longer hold that sweet child in his embrace.
She was like the wind, playful and pure of heart. She had hold of his from the moment she appeared. She was always with him, never leaving his side even once.
But now, he could not feel her presence. He could not hear the soft giggles as she ran around him. Oh how he missed he precious angel.
As tears threatened to spill, a pulse of power woke him from his melancholy.
It was not the end.
Just as all the others, he would meet her again in due time… his sweet daughter. But for now, he had a job to do, a mess to fix.
Standing on the rooftop of Halo's headquarters, Caelum looked at the world below just as the Scarlet Light blanketing the world grew thicker. He could see it all.
The silent suffering of the people. The pain they endured as their minds had been shackled by scars from an abyssal flame that yet lingered in their souls. He watched it all with not a single change in his expression. Then he spoke.
"People of Earth, hear me."
His voice echoed all across the world. It was not carried by the wind nor did it enter their ears. Instead, it resounded in their minds if not their souls, and every single person on Earth looked to the sky as though sensing that the one who spoke to them was there.
And indeed he was. From the Scarlet Light, they all saw the image of the man clearly.
His steady gaze seemed as though he could see each and every one of them down to the very core of their being. Many of the Chosen also recognised the phenomenon.
It was very similar to the screen of mana that appeared over the first unique dungeon of the world, Avalon. But this was somehow much greater in scale with a terrifyingly grand power that they could not even begin to fathom.
And what shocked the world the most was the identity of the man shown through the screen of light. They all knew him, even those who had never seen him before.
"Before I formally introduce myself, allow me to correct your knowledge. The events that have occurred in this world since over three years ago are not a product of miracles.
This is a war between hundreds of thousands of worlds. You are fortunate that this world had emerged into this war only toward the very end, with only seven worlds left including Earth.
But you are also unfortunate, because these surviving worlds are the strongest among all those that have been dragged into this war."
The words he had spoken contained nothing but the truth. And although all the people had already known about it to a certain extent when the world was ravaged by the Black Immolation, they were still shaken at the full revelation. But they were not even allowed to indulge their shock as Caelum continued.
"The gates are passages created by the other worlds in order to invade Earth. The enemies you have been fighting, they are not monsters, at least not all of them. Each and every one of them belong to civilisations much stronger and more gifted than ours. But that does not make us helpless.
The Chosen who wield great powers have been given the responsibility of protecting this world. They are known as Avatars serving the world's Anchor, the one you call the World Tree.
Now hear its true name, the Imaginary Tree."
As he called its name, the illusory image of the crystalline tree looming over the world shone brightly. And for the first time since its appearance on Earth, a small fraction of its true body manifested, crossing the veil and showering the world with its Divinity.
And as the people of Earth witnessed it, they felt the urge to kneel. It was an urge that came from deep within their souls, especially the Avatars. But what was surprising was that it was not to the Imaginary Tree they wanted to kneel.
Despite the Imaginary Tree having been treated like a god for the past few years, no one thought to kneel before a mere tree, divine or otherwise. And now with its Divinity bathing the world, they could feel its intent.
The Imaginary Tree wanted the whole world to kneel and to submit, not to itself, but to the only being in all Existence worthy of being its master.
"Hear my words. I am the True Avatar of the Imaginary Tree. And all Avatars shall obey my words. So I command you, protect this world with your very lives."
~~~
There she stood on the precipice of time. Her gaze piercing the horizon to peer at what lay ahead. She could not see it. There was nothing ahead of her.
She smiled even as tears trickled down her flawless face.
She might have been the one if circumstances were different.
She might have not been abandoned by her father. She might have been able to keep the legacy of her grandfather. She might still have her mother and her grandmother. She might have still been surrounded by her friends at this moment.
She might have been chosen by the love of her life.
But that was not her. It cannot be her. She saw what lay beyond the horizon, and there was nothing. She laughed at the sick humour of it all.
She looked down at the city whose lights swam in the evening darkness. They were like a cloud of dreams, sweet but too far from her reach.
She wished she was there, dancing amidst the music.
She was she was there, laughing in merriment and glee.
She wished she was there in the company of the people she loved.
But she was here, standing at the peak of a tower that reached for the skies awaiting the blackness that would come.
Down below, she could see a small trail of people rushing. They were racing to reach her in desperation. They were shouting words that she could not hear, but she could feel it.
They were angry. They felt betrayed at the choice she had made. But what could she do.
Even if she wanted to be with them, even if she wanted the bright tomorrow to be hers, it was simply impossible.
The blackness was not coming for her alone.
It was coming for them all.
And so she did the one thing she could. She prayed to the sky and hoped it would be satisfied. The offering was a measly portion, but it was all she could afford.
And with that, she looked at his loved ones one last time. Then she sent them all to the bright yesterday to carve a path for a brighter tomorrow.
But she would not be with them... not anymore.
She wished she was there to welcome it with them.