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Warning to Readers:
The ideas expressed through the character Suero do not necessarily reflect absolute truths, nor are they intended to be deeply analyzed or adopted by the reader. Their purpose is to highlight Suero's psychological development and showcase his complexity as a character, rather than promote any ideology or philosophy for adoption.
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Chapter 63
In the room bathed in the orange rays of the setting sun streaming through the window, the twilight shadows rested upon the walls, casting a somber atmosphere. Raizo sat on his bed, staring bitterly at the floor, as if it carried the weight of his sins. On the opposite bed, Maria, Leo, Amy, Samuel, and Emre stood, watching him with concern, observing his shoulders burdened with defeat.
Raizo muttered in a hushed voice, his words nearly strangled by his regret:
"This... this is all I gained from my campaign!"
But suddenly, Maria shattered the silence, her voice firm, like a whip that awakens the oblivious:
"Raizo!"
He slowly lifted his head toward her, his eyes frozen between tears that lacked the courage to fall. Amy, Samuel, and Emre stared at him in astonishment, as if witnessing a man wrestling with the ghosts of his past.
Maria continued, her voice unwavering:
"It wasn't your fault! You only carried out what was asked of you! Don't burden yourself with guilt that isn't yours—you simply followed the orders of The World Sages!"
Raizo looked at her, his gaze wavering between shock and admiration, as if seeing a lifeline in the middle of an ocean of despair. Then, Amy intervened, her voice carrying a strength beyond her years:
"That's right! You fool, Raizo! Those cursed ones... whether you conducted the forbidden experiment on them or not, their fate was sealed from the start!"
A glimmer of hope flickered in Raizo's eyes, as if their words were trying to pull him out of the darkness. Then, Leo stepped forward, his tone as reassuring as a gentle breeze after a storm:
"I trust you, Raizo! You had no other choice… Even now, you're punishing yourself for something you were forced into."
A sense of comfort settled over Raizo's features, as if he were clinging to a fragile thread of relief amid the storm. But then, Maria turned to Amy, Samuel, and Emre, her gaze questioning:
"You three…!"
The group exchanged confused glances before Leo broke the silence, his tone tense:
"Wasn't Ryan with you? Where is he?!"
Emre responded, her voice carrying an undertone of worry:
"We don't know… He said he'd be back, but he hasn't shown up yet!"
Maria's eyes wandered between the anxious faces, then flicked toward the sky, where the sun was dying behind the horizon:
"Night is about to fall… How will you get back to your homes at this hour?"
Leo grinned enthusiastically, as if the thought didn't trouble him in the slightest:
"Don't worry! Stay here for the night!"
Maria shot him a sharp glare, her eyes blazing with childish fury:
"You idiot! Marshal Chris will be furious!"
Leo laughed, placing a hand behind his head playfully, his eyes shut as if he saw no issue in the matter. Raizo watched him with bewilderment but felt a strange warmth in his chest. A faint smile crept onto his lips as his thoughts whispered to him:
"Yes… They have always been my family… My friends have always been my family."
As he watched them, the room suddenly erupted with laughter as everyone began teasing Maria over her frustration. She pouted in annoyance, her gaze threatening them in vain.
—
In a Mental Hospital
In the hospital courtyard, where withered trees stretched like the limbs of lifeless phantoms and neglected grass lay scattered like faded memories, a man sat on an old wooden bench, his eyes closed, his features as rigid as a statue carved from suffering.
His long brown hair fell over his face, while his thick, unkempt beard added to his neglected appearance. Dirty white bandages wrapped around his forehead, covering one of his eyes entirely, as if shielding a part of his past.
This was Suero Rashid, now 22 years old. His frozen gaze was fixed on the ground, where a book was slowly being consumed by flames, black smoke rising from it like its final wail. His face remained expressionless, as if his soul was there, burning alongside what he saw.
An old man passed by, pausing for a moment before sitting beside him in silence. Then, in a hoarse voice, he spoke:
"Oi... Mr. Brown!"
Suero did not lift his gaze from the fire, but he heard the voice clearly. The old man settled heavily onto the bench, sighing before continuing with a curious tone:
"Why so still? What are you thinking about?"
Silence filled the hospital courtyard for a moment. Suero turned his eyes toward the other patients—one was banging his head madly against the wall, while another was engrossed in a child's toy, as if trapped in worlds unseen by anyone else.
Slowly, he raised his head, his eyes studying the orange sky melting into darkness, then spoke in a barely audible voice:
"I was thinking... about our actions."
The old man gave him a questioning look.
"Our actions? What do you mean?"
Suero did not answer immediately. His silence stretched, as if his words needed time to ripen. Then, in a cold voice, he said:
"Are we the ones who choose our actions... or are they merely the inevitable results of nature and biology?"
The old man remained silent, while Suero lowered his head again, staring at the flames before continuing:
"I believe we choose our actions... but imagine if we weren't free in any of them."
The fire's glow reflected in the old man's eyes as he pondered the thought, while Suero's voice deepened, as if he were unlocking doors to an abyss of thought:
"If we are not free in our choices, then it means they were predetermined... And if that is the case, does blame and punishment become nothing more than illusions?"
The old man's gaze drifted into emptiness, as if seeing a question he had never considered before.
Suero continued, his voice growing heavier, as though his words carried the weight of existence itself:
"And if punishment is meaningless... then what is the meaning of life? And if life is meaningless, why do we continue to live?"
Bit by bit, the old man's hand rose to his head, as if the thoughts were gnawing at his skull from within.
Suero's next words came in a whisper, yet they pierced the soul like a dagger:
"And if life itself has no meaning... are we nothing but illusions? And if so, what purpose does death serve?"
At these words, the old man froze for a moment. Then, as if his mind had suddenly shattered, he began clawing at his face with his nails, his breathing growing rapid, his eyes widening with madness.
Then, slowly, he began to scream...
At first, the screams were faint, but they rose gradually until they became a terrifying wail that filled the hospital courtyard.
Suero remained seated, watching the flames with an eerie calm, unaffected by the chaos, while the old man shrieked in agony:
"Are we real... or just characters in a story written by history?!"
Doctors quickly gathered around him, one of them shouting:
"Sedate him! NOW!"
A nurse rushed forward, injecting him swiftly in the neck. His body trembled for a few moments before his strength gave out. He slumped against the doctor's chest, the remnants of his cries fading into the air.
The doctor lifted his head toward Suero, his eyes filled with suspicion.
"What happened to him, Mr. Brown?"
Suero remained silent for a moment before lifting his cold eyes and replying indifferently:
"I don't know."
His voice did not sound convincing, but the doctor did not press further.
Before leaving, the doctor turned back to him and said:
"By the way, the doctor wants to talk to you about your condition."
Suero remained silent, watching as the doctors carried the old man away. He stayed on the bench, gazing at the fading sunlight until the courtyard lights flickered on, casting their pale glow over the place, as if trying to keep the night's phantom at bay... even for just a little while.
Suero silently stared into the void, contemplating without showing any expression. Suddenly, the silence was broken by a distant voice shouting:
"Mr. Brown..!"
Suero slowly turned toward the source of the voice, finding the boy, Ryan, running toward him with enthusiasm. When Ryan arrived, he stopped in front of him, panting slightly, then said cheerfully:
"Mr. Brown! You're late tonight, aren't you?!"
Suero responded in a calm voice, as if carefully weighing his words:
"Yes… I am late. We cannot stop time, so we must make use of it."
Ryan sat beside him, looking at him with regret before saying:
"I'm sorry!"
Silence settled between them for a moment as they both gazed at the hospital courtyard. The dim lights cast long shadows on the ground, and the cold air gently rustled the tree branches. After a brief pause, Suero broke the silence with an unexpected question:
"You won the war, didn't you?"
Ryan eagerly nodded, mumbling with pride:
"Yes! We won the war!"
Suero looked at him for a moment before commenting in a low voice:
"Good job… but…"
He stopped, then shifted his gaze to the charred book beneath him, now reduced to scattered ashes. In a quiet tone, he added:
"Will you win every war?"
Ryan hesitated for a moment, then shrugged innocently:
"I don't know! But we'll do our best to defeat the enemy and send them to hell!"
Suero raised an eyebrow slightly, but his expression remained unchanged. He murmured to himself in a nearly inaudible voice:
"Hell… Right, it is hell."
Ryan looked at him in confusion, his eyebrows furrowed in curiosity. After a moment of silence, he spoke hesitantly:
"Mr. Brown, ever since I met you, I've started seeing the world differently… You made me hate wars and fighting!"
Suero remained silent, staring into the darkness. Ryan then turned his gaze back to the courtyard, smiling innocently. But suddenly, Suero interrupted the silence, speaking in a calm yet firm tone:
"I think I was mistaken."
Ryan was taken aback and looked at him, puzzled:
"About what?"
Suero replied with a steadier voice:
"About hating wars. I don't have a clear vision of this world, but I believe in my convictions."
Ryan stared at him in surprise as Suero continued in a low voice:
"Whatever hell may be, it is not singular. It is ever-changing."
A cold breeze made the grass in the garden sway gently as Suero went on:
"Even if hell seems the same, it differs depending on each person's perception of it."
He stood up from the bench while Ryan lifted his head to look at him. Suero then pulled out a handful of letters from his pocket and turned to him, saying:
"Can you send these letters?"
Ryan smiled as he took them from him:
"Of course! This is the second time, isn't it?"
Suero looked him directly in the eyes and said in a calm voice:
"I apologize for the trouble."
Ryan laughed confidently:
"Don't worry! I love and trust you!"
He took the letters and watched Suero walk toward the hospital entrance. He kept smiling as he watched him leave before turning around himself, heading to the post office to send the letters, then returning home.
---
At the Soldiers' Headquarters
In the massive dining hall, soldiers were sitting around large tables, filling their plates with a variety of foods—grilled meats, fresh vegetables, fruits, and hot pastries. The place was filled with movement and laughter, and the sounds of eating blended with side conversations.
At one of the tables, Amy was devouring her food eagerly, her eyes sparkling as if stars were flying from them. She exclaimed with admiration:
"This food is delicious...!"
Meanwhile, Samuel was savoring a piece of meat, mumbling as if in a dream:
"Am I in paradise now?!"
Emre shot him a look of disdain before speaking coldly:
"What are these vulgar actions?"
Samuel raised his head toward her angrily, then mocked:
"Shut up! You civilized queen!"
Maria laughed, while Leo sighed, resting his head on the table in frustration:
"What is this life? Oh, the misery! You didn't give me what I want!"
Maria looked at him with boredom before whispering sarcastically:
"I know what you want, you depressed soul... You want death, right?"
Leo nodded in resignation, while Raizo watched them all with a calm smile.
But suddenly, the hall's door opened, and Marshal Chris entered with steady steps, his hand behind his back, his sharp gaze inspecting everyone. All the soldiers stood up immediately in respect. Chris glanced at them carefully before speaking in an official tone:
"Listen carefully, soldiers! An announcement has been made by the World Sages: The day after tomorrow, Tuesday, there will be an official announcement, and Elder Arkadius will speak on Stage."
A tense whisper spread among the soldiers, while Amy turned to Samuel and whispered:
"What?! One of the World Sages will appear to the public? That's strange!"
Samuel nodded in agreement.
At that moment, Marshal Chris's gaze fell upon the three children: Samuel, Emre, and Amy. He squinted as he stared at them, then said sternly:
"You three! What are you doing here?!"
The three froze in place, not expecting this question. Marshal Chris waited a moment, then looked at Raizo, who stepped forward confidently:
"Marshal Chris, I am the one who invited them."
Chris stared at him seriously before asking sharply:
"And who allowed you to do that?"
Raizo hesitated for a moment, unable to find a suitable answer. But Marshal Chris didn't wait and continued in a stern tone:
"Alright, this time I will allow it because we are busy preparing the stage for Elder Arkadius. But next time, I will not allow any violations of the rules!"
Raizo nodded respectfully, saying:
"Understood, Marshal!"
Chris turned without adding anything else and exited the hall with steady steps. As soon as the door closed behind him, the soldiers exhaled and returned to their tables to finish their meal.
—
After Midnight
After a long day, everyone retired to bed. Raizo lay on his bed, as did Leo, while Maria lay next to Emre. On the floor, Amy and Samuel rested on the mats provided. Maria stared at the ceiling of the room deeply before whispering softly:
"Do you think Ryan has returned home?"
Samuel replied, his eyes also fixed on the ceiling:
"Of course! Where else could he have gone?"
Maria nodded in agreement:
"Yes, that's true..."
A moment of silence passed before Maria closed her eyes and said sleepily:
"Good night."
The other three responded in unison:
"Good night!"
And so, everyone drifted off to sleep, while the soft moonlight streamed through the room's window, casting a gentle glow on their faces.
---
Monday Morning
A new sun rises over the land of Arcadia, heralding the start of a new day. Everyone is busy with their tasks, while in one of the hospitals, Suero walks towards the doctor's office. He stands before the door, knocks gently, and a voice calls out from inside:
"Come in!"
He opens the door and enters, greeted by the doctor with a welcoming nod before she gestures to the chair in front of her.
"Mr. Brown? Please, have a seat."
Suero sits quietly, then speaks in a low but firm voice:
"The doctor told me you wanted to talk to me about my health condition."
The doctor nods in confirmation before speaking seriously:
"That's correct. During the recent examinations, I discovered an abnormal growth in your brain...
Suero looks at her intently before repeating quietly:
"A tumor?"
The doctor continues, trying to mask her concern:
"Yes. The strange thing is, it wasn't there when you first came. It appeared recently, quite suddenly."
Suero remains silent for a moment before asking coldly:
"What should I do?"
The doctor sighs before answering honestly:
"Unfortunately... there's no treatment available at the moment. The most you can do is make use of the time you have left. Based on your condition, I believe you have about a month, at most..."
Suero slowly stands up, muttering in a quiet but resolute tone:
"Death is the fate of all... so one must make the most of the life they have left."
The doctor watches him in shock as he turns and leaves the office without saying another word. He heads again toward the hospital courtyard, where he silently observes the patients.
---
A Short Time Later
In the hospital courtyard, Suero stands, staring at the patients sitting around. His eyes are still, reflecting vague thoughts, until someone catches his attention. A person approaches, carrying a bouquet of flowers, their face partially covered. Suero narrows his eyes as he watches them, until the person raises the bouquet, revealing a familiar face with a bright smile:
"Mr. Brown! Did you miss me?"
It's Maria, laughing comfortably as she sits beside him, placing the bouquet of flowers on her lap. Suero looks at her calmly before replying in a soft voice:
"Maria??"
Maria smiles reassuringly before saying:
"Yes. I felt I should see you today... it might be the last time I see you."
Suero watches her for a moment, then turns his gaze back to the patients around him before asking coldly:
"Why?"
Maria clasps her hands in her lap, speaking hesitantly:
"I don't know... it's just a strange feeling. Maybe also because of the sudden announcement from the World Sages? No one knows what they'll talk about..."
Suero's expression freezes for a moment, but he quickly regains his composure, speaking in a mysterious tone:
"Perhaps... they'll want to talk about someone trying to destroy the world?"
Maria blinks in surprise before looking at him seriously:
"What do you mean?"
Suero responds in his usual cold manner:
"Just idle talk."
Maria stands up, placing the flowers on the chair, before saying as she prepares to leave:
"I have to go now."
Suero watches her for a moment before asking:
"That quickly?"
Maria's face blushes slightly before she stammers:
"N-no... actually, I wanted to stay with you longer, but as I told you, we have a lot to prepare for the announcement."
Suero silently shakes his head, while Maria turns her back and begins to walk away. She waves her hand with a warm smile:
"Goodbye, Mr. Brown!"
Suero's gaze remains fixed on the patients, while the sun sends its golden rays over the hospital courtyard, casting long shadows across the place.
—
Beside Ryan's Family House
Ryan sat on the doorstep, tightening his shoe laces firmly while placing the meal he had prepared beside him. The sun had started to rise, casting its golden glow over the quiet neighborhood. As he lifted his head, ready to leave, he suddenly stopped, his eyes widening in shock when he saw Amy standing in front of him.
"Amy?!" he said in surprise, as if her appearance before him was an unexpected shock.
Amy looked at him intently, her eyes clearly filled with suspicion, before asking in a reserved tone:
"Ryan... where were you last night?"
Ryan froze for a moment, feeling droplets of sweat slide down his forehead. He swallowed before answering nervously:
"Umm... m-maybe... I was in the bathroom?!"
Amy narrowed her eyes, staring at him as though she were trying to read his thoughts. The tension remained gripping him, until, suddenly, a wide smile appeared on her face, and she gave him a friendly pat on the back:
"Alright then! I'll believe you."
Ryan could only match her with a forced smile, but his breath had not yet calmed down. Amy's eyes moved to the meal he was carrying, and she asked curiously:
"Who's this breakfast for?"
"It's for a poor person... I wanted to give it to them." he answered quickly
Her features softened with relief as she said:
"Where did this sudden sense of mercy come from?! But anyway, don't be late, we have a lot to do today!"
Ryan was a little confused before asking:
"Work?! What do we have to do?"
She slapped her forehead with her hand, as if she had just remembered something important:
"Oh... right, I forgot!"
Then she looked at him seriously:
"I should've told you earlier, but one of the World Sages is going to appear on Tuesday to give a speech to the public."
Ryan's eyes widened in shock:
"What?! One of the World Sages is going to appear before people?!"
Amy nodded, a look of doubt on her face:
"Exactly, it's really strange... nothing like this has ever happened before!"
Ryan shook his head, thinking for a moment, before turning and starting to run off:
"I'll be there on time!"
Amy waved at him with an amused smile:
"Don't be late, you fool!"
---
In a Mental Hospital
When he arrived at the mental hospital, Ryan found Suero sitting in his usual spot. He sighed a little before calling out loudly:
"Mr. Brown!"
Suero slowly turned his head, his gaze cold and devoid of any expression. Ryan approached him with a faint smile:
"Good morning, Mr. Brown."
Suero didn't respond, he simply watched him silently as Ryan placed the meal beside him and sat down as well:
"I brought you some food."
Ryan began opening the box with focus, but suddenly, Suero stood up and took out a set of letters from his pocket, handing them to him:
"Ryan, I'm sorry... but I don't have much time."
Ryan lifted his head in surprise, looking at the letters in his hand:
"Mr. Brown... you've never told me, what's the story with these letters? And why do you always refuse when I tell you I'll update my friends about you?!"
Suero sighed as he looked back at him:
"Ryan, can you bring Captain Raizo to me?"
Ryan stepped back slightly, his expression reflecting clear shock:
"Captain Raizo?!"
Suero nodded slowly:
"He's an old friend of mine... I want to surprise him."
Ryan remained silent, his mind trying to comprehend what he had just heard, but before he could say anything, Suero continued:
"I heard that the World Sages are going to give a speech... is that true?"
Ryan nodded quickly:
"Yes! But how did you know?!"
Suero didn't answer directly, he just smiled a mysterious smile before saying:
"It doesn't matter... what matters now is, can you gather us in a secluded spot inside the Stage?"
Ryan hesitated before replying:
"I might be able to find a way..."
Suero turned to walk away, but before leaving, he gave Ryan one last glance,:
"As for your question about why I refuse when you try to tell your friends about me... well, that's a question someone else wants to know the answer to, but you'll both find out soon."
Then he disappeared into the corridors, leaving Ryan on the wooden chair, his thoughts swimming in a sea of questions.
---
At the Post Office
Ryan stood in front of the post office, sending the letters one by one. In the distance, Captain Raizo happened to pass by, and upon seeing him sending the letters, he was surprised and called out loudly:
"Hey! Ryan!"
Ryan sent the last letter before turning around, only to find Raizo staring at him with interest. He ran towards him quickly:
"Captain Raizo!"
Raizo laughed cheerfully:
"Have you got a sweetheart at your age?! Who were you sending all these letters to?!"
Ryan smiled and shook his head:
"I don't even know what's inside them... they're for a friend of mine."
Raizo raised an eyebrow before placing his hand on Ryan's shoulder and said in an enthusiastic tone:
"We've got a lot to do! Let's get to work!"
Ryan smiled, ignoring all the questions running through his mind, before walking with him to prepare for the event where the sage Arkadius would give a speech in front of the public.
End of chapter.