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Requiem of the Forgotten

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Synopsis
It was supposed to be something special. They called it the most beautiful sight a human could ever witness—a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle. And for a fleeting moment, it truly was. On an ordinary day—March 31st—the entire world turned its gaze to the sky. News outlets, streamers, streets filled with people; everyone waited for the meteor shower that had been promised. Cities held public viewings. Strangers gathered on rooftops, in parks, on balconies, all united in anticipation. But when it began, it wasn’t what anyone expected. The sky didn’t shimmer with falling stars. It split. Like a zipper tearing through the fabric of reality, it revealed something else—something terrifying. Through that gash poured creatures. Not of this world. Twisted. Ruthless. Unstoppable. They descended like a plague and killed without hesitation. Within moments, cities burned. Within hours, humanity fell. It was a massacre—almost no one survived. One of the few was a seventeen-year-old boy named Aleks. He didn’t know it yet, but he was about to become the main character of a story far greater than anything he’d ever imagined. The survivors—those lucky or cursed enough to still breathe—were thrown into a foreign world. But they weren’t alone. In that same moment, elves, dwarves, goblins, and other mythical beings were ripped from their own dying worlds and hurled into the same alien land. Each species believed it was the end. It wasn’t. Now, they all share one fate. They’ve been given six months. Six months to prepare. Six months before the same creatures that erased their homes and erased their histories. To survive, they must unite and work together or be erased. Expect twists losses, impossible choices and a truth that changes everything. Because the battle in six months… …isn’t the end. It’s only the beginning.
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Chapter 1 - The End Before the Beginning

"And now, to something a little more magical. Something that beautiful, that we can witness only once in our lifetimes."

The screen flickers briefly as the camera cuts to the studio. A man and a woman sat behind a news desk, both smiling with perfect smiles. 

The woman leaned toward the camera, her eyes ready to read her next line."Tonight marks the peak of what astronomers are calling the 'once-in-a-million-years meteor event,'" she said, with that strange artificial smile. "Thousands of meteors visible across nearly every part of the world. Scientists say we won't get another chance like this until long after humanity's gone extinct."

The man chuckled, adjusting his tie, "So basically, you miss it tonight, and you'll regret it for the rest of your life."

"Exactly," she grinned. "Cities everywhere are holding public viewings. Parks are packed. Rooftops. Beaches. Everyone's coming together. If you've got someone special, bring them. If you don't--"

"Bring a blanket and some snacks and think about a wish you want to wish for later."

"No matter where you are," she continued, her voice softening slightly, "look up tonight. Even just for a minute. The universe doesn't usually make appointments like this."

The segment ended with a slow zoom of sparkling simulation footage with stars flying over a model of Earth and a gentle piano track that faded as the screen switched back to ads.

I blinked at the TV for a few seconds.

Alright.That kind of convinced me.

My phone rested in my hand, unlocked. I'd been scrolling through nothing—just swiping out of habit, not even looking. Some meme. An ad. A blurred selfie someone had posted with the caption "ready for tonight ". I had no idea who they were.

I already knew that in 50 years when someone would ask me what my biggest regret was, I would answer that I lost too much time on my damn phone.

The phone screen dimmed and shut off. I didn't bother turning it back on.

I finally stood up and looked around. My room was a complete mess—tissues and dirty clothes scattered all over the floor. It was pitch black inside, the only light was coming from the TV mounted on the wall across from my bed. Right next to it stood my gaming setup. If I wasn't wasting time on my phone in bed, I was probably sitting there.

The setup was pretty basic: a desk, two monitors, a PC, and a worn-out gaming chair that had definitely seen better days.

I usually kept my saved-up cash in the top shelf on the right side of the desk. So I walked over and opened it.

"Weird," I muttered to myself. For some reason, my wallet wasn't in the shelf. Maybe it was lying somewhere on the desk, but it was hard to tell with all the dishes and empty plastic bottles cluttering the surface.

I couldn't be bothered to dig through that mess. So I just grabbed my debit card and made my way down the hallway toward the bathroom.

The mirror lit up as I stepped in front of it. I took a look at myself.

Damn, I look like ass–

Dark blond hair-messy from the way I'd been lying on my bed. I ran a hand through it to flatten it down a bit. My eyes were grey, but their colour often changed with another lightning. I was 5′8 tall and little under wage, but my jawline was very soft. This and my chubby cheeks gave me a so-called "babyface" which made me look as if I was 13. 

I brushed my teeth without thinking much, rinsed my face, patted it dry. Fixed my hair a little more..

Done.

I walked back to grab my keys and wallet. The hallway lights were off, but a faint yellow glow came from the kitchen.

"Where are you going?" my dad's voice called out.

I leaned around the corner just enough for him to see me.

"Out. Meteor thing."

He glanced up from his chair, one hand on a mug, the other holding his phone.

"With Noah?"

"Yeah."

I lied.

Noah was an imaginary friend I created because my parents became very concerned that I didn't go out much with friends. So to make them less concerned I created him. 

He didn't question it.

Just nodded once.

"Aleks, don't come back late."

"Got it."

Before I opened the front door, I took a deep breath.

It had been a while since I last left the house—unless you count going to school.

The streets still held the warmth of the day. Shadows stretched long across the sidewalk as the sun slid lower behind the rooftops. Streetlamps hadn't flickered on yet, but the sky had already started shifting-colors bleeding from blue to purple, soft hints of gold melting into the clouds.

I passed by people heading toward parks, carrying foldable chairs and bags of snacks. A couple laughed as they juggled a rolled-up picnic blanket between them. Kids ran ahead, yelling about the event. A group of teenagers in matching hoodies was taking selfies near a fountain.

The whole city was preparing to look up.

I kept walking.

The corner shop was open. I normally go there to buy something to drink, soI pushed the door open, the little bell above it giving a tired jingle.

Inside, the air smelled faintly of old candy and cleaning spray. Shelves lined with snacks, energy drinks, and a fridge humming quietly in the back.

I made my way straight to it and opened the cooler. The cold air hit me in the face, crisp and sharp. My hand hesitated for a moment before I grabbed the familiar glass bottle-dark red, a faint cherry-vanilla tint swirling behind the label.

I closed the door, bottle in hand, and made my way to the counter.

That's when I heard the little bell above the door ring behind me—and then I saw him.

Brad.

He was leaning casually against the wall next to the exit, like the store belonged to him. Tall, athletic, the kind of face you'd see on an ad. Everyone at school talked about him, especially the girls. Standing next to him was Carmen. Her dark, straight hair fell over one shoulder, brown eyes shining in the fridge's neon light. Her skin held the warm brown of her homeland—she'd moved here from Spain a few years ago. Back in middle school, she was my best friend. Ever since then, I've had the dumbest, most hopeless crush on her. And now she was standing beside Brad.

Brad looked at me and grinned—not in a nice way. More like a cat spotting a toy. He raised his voice so everyone could hear.

"Hey Carmen, look. One of the weirdos I told you about."

His words hit like cold water. My mouth went dry. I knew what came next: mockery, maybe even a shove later behind the school building. For years, he'd humiliated me, treated me like garbage. Like I wasn't even human.

Carmen tugged on his sleeve gently. "Brad, stop. That's not funny." Her voice was soft, almost apologetic. But she didn't move away. Her eyes met mine—recognized me—and then slid away like I was nothing.

I wanted to say something. Something clever, or angry. Anything. But I just stood there, frozen. My legs didn't feel like mine. The debit card in my hand trembled.

Moments like this are why I won't leave the house for the next few days.

Brad stood up straighter, stepped toward me. Just half a step. He leaned in, voice low so only I could hear.

"Do my math homework by tomorrow morning, got it? Or you won't be counting stars ever again."

His breath stank of energy drinks. My fingers tightened around the soda bottle in my hands.

I turned to the cashier, placed the bottle on the counter, stared at the card reader. The numbers blurred.

Just pay.

Just get out.

Just breathe.

Beep. Payment approved.

"Have fun tonight," the cashier mumbled without even looking at me.

I grabbed the bottle and headed for the door. In the reflection of the glass, I saw it: Brad wrapping his arm around Carmen, kissing her temple like it was nothing.

The door slid open. Cool air hit my face.

It wasn't until I was outside that I noticed how badly my knees were shaking. Brad was still laughing inside; Carmen's voice was just a faint echo.

I looked up at the sky as it started to darken.

Maybe, I thought, maybe the universe really will send some magic tonight. Anything would be better than this endless feeling of being broken again and again—without the strength to ever hit back.

I walked out, the cool glass bottle sweating slightly in my hand. 

A few minutes later, I turned onto the quieter path. The sounds of chatter, music, and cars faded behind me, replaced by the crunch of gravel under my shoes and the soft rustle of wind through trees.

The path wound gently uphill, flanked by overgrown hedges and an old metal fence on one side. Faint outlines of distant apartment windows blinked in the growing dusk like lazy fireflies.

My spot came into view, a half-buried bench sitting slightly crooked under a lone streetlight in a mostly forgotten corner of the park. The light flickered once, then held steady, casting pale gold across the worn wood and cracked pavement. I alway go there when I tell my parents that I'm going out.

I sat.

The bench creaked beneath me, like it always did.

I popped the cap off the bottle and let it fall to the ground. Took a sip.Perfect.

The sky above had darkened just enough to show the first stars, tiny white dots blinking into existence one by one. The clouds were still pulling apart slowly, streaks of purple and orange slicing across the horizon.

I leaned back.

If this was the peak of teenage life ,sitting on a crooked bench with a bottle of sweet soda and a view of the sky .well... maybe it wasn't that bad.

Then, the first light appeared.

The first meteor started falling ,it drew a blade across the sky .A searing line tore left‑to‑right across the heavens, so precise it felt intentional, as though someone had unzipped the night with a molten scalpel. White‑hot brilliance followed in its wake, scorching the air, every hair on my arms stood at rigid attention. 

It looked beautiful.

Then the wound widened, and the sky itself unraveled.

Not clouds parting.Not weather.A careless stitch tugged loose from the tapestry of reality.

Then something shifted inside the gap.

Thousands of small black dots fell from above .I looked closer and saw that this were shapes that slid out the sky. Some were spear‑long and angular, others broad and skittering, their outlines glitching as if existence were missing frames. Limbs bloomed where limbs had no right to be. I didn't breathe. I heard explosions everywhere. 

Suddenly one of these alien-like creatures fell before me from the sky. It moved but without moving. The best phrase to explain it is that it moved like it would have a bad internet connection and would have a low ping. One second it stood over a frozen minivan. The next, the van was gone, crushed into a metal pancake. No sound.. Just gone.

"The fuck" I took a step back and started running.

Faster than I ever had before. Down the street, past shuttered shops, past the corner bakery with its glass already shattered. My feet hit the pavement like drumbeats. My chest burned. My legs screamed. I didn't stop.

I couldn't.

Screams erupted behind me. People were dying. Buildings collapsed. A man sprinted past me with blood on his hands, shouting something about his daughter. I didn't stop to ask. Another blur dashed across the sidewalk, chasing him.

No. Not chasing.

Hunting.

And then it saw me.

I turned down the alley behind the gym. Narrow, tight, steep. Dumb move. Halfway through, I realized--

Dead End.

"Shit." Shitshitshit"

A shape slithered into view, limbs twitching in wrong directions. Its whole body shimmered, like it wasn't really here. Like it couldn't decide which world it belonged in.

I raised my hands like that would help. My voice barely came out.

"Please don't"

The creature lunged.

Suddenly--

A blinding light.

Something pierced the air with a sharp crack, and a golden spear slammed into the creature's torso, pinning it to the wall beside me. It didn't bleed. It just convulsed ,glitching even harder ,then disintegrated into smoke and sparks.

I dropped to the ground, gasping.

Before me stood a shape, glowing so bright I had to shield my eyes. As it came near I saw two big wings on its bag.

Is that an fucking angel?

-Nah I totally went crazy. Was there maybe alcohol in my soda? No, alcohol doesn't work like that. 

The shape came closer.

"Endure a little longer aleksander. You're nearly safe."

I froze. "You-how do you know my name?"

He didn't answer.

Then he vanished. No flash, no noise. Nothing.

I sat there for a second, heart pounding. "What the fuck just happened?"

My hands were shaking. My legs barely worked. But somehow, I stood up.

Everything hurt. I walked. Through the empty streets. Through the smoke. Through the shattered remains of my town.

The buildings were hollow. The air was thick with ash. Somewhere, a phone kept ringing. No one answered.

A woman lay motionless under a broken streetlight. Her eyes were open. Her mouth, too. No sound came out.

I stepped over her.

One block later, a car burned in silence. Another creature crawled across the ruins like a drunk centipede made of glass and teeth. It didn't see me.

I kept walking.

My mind had stopped trying to make sense of anything. I was just... moving. Waiting for it to end.

Then I looked down.

A glowing circle spread beneath my feet. It looked like something people in movies would draw at rituals. In it were symbols I didn't recognize lit up one by one. 

"Holy Shi–"

The ground vanished and I couldn't see anything. I just felt like I was falling somewhere infinite. 

I couldn't feel my body. My thoughts scattered. Was I dying?

No. I hope not.

If this was death, it should've been darker. Quieter. I should've seen something. My parents. A memory. Anything.

Then , impact.

Hard stone beneath my back. Cold air in my lungs. I gasped, twisted onto my side, and coughed like I hadn't breathed in years.

What the hell just happened?

I opened my eyes.

Blue.

The sky was blue.

Not unzipped like before. It was blue, bright and peaceful.

I blinked.

I sat up slowly, my whole body trembling. My shirt clung to my chest, damp with sweat and dust. I wasn't dead.

I was somewhere else.

And I wasn't alone.

Voices surrounded me ,hundreds of them, maybe thousands. I turned my head and–

"Damn"

A massive crowd.

People packed shoulder to shoulder across a wide, grass field.

Some people were crying. Others were screaming. Most were just... frozen.

Everyone looked just as lost as I felt.

Men in office suits. Women in hospital gowns. Teenagers with school bags. Toddlers. Seniors. Everyone.

And mixed in with them...

"What the hell am I looking at?"

Elves. Freaking elves.

You know these creatures from fantasy movies and games. Tall, elegant people with long ears, glowing eyes, and clothes that shimmered like magic had barfed all over them. A group of dwarves huddled near a fountain, yelling in some guttural language I didn't understand.

And I just stood there.

My legs wanted to collapse.

This isn't Earth.

"Is this a dream?" My voice cracked. "Did I finally go crazy?"

No one answered.

The ground beneath us pulsed.

A voice echoed through the sky. Not from speakers. Not from anywhere physical. "You have been spared."

I froze.

"The creatures which destroyed your worlds will also come for this one."

My stomach twisted.

"You have six months."

Murmurs rippled through the crowd. Someone shouted, "Six months for what?!"

The voice ignored him.

"Unite. Learn. Survive. Or perish, like your world did."