The immutable axiom echoed through the annals of time, a relentless mantra that transcended epochs and geographies: "The strong will always oppress the weak." It was a testament to the cruel hierarchy of existence, where predators lurked in every shadow, awaiting the perfect moment to strike.
January 7, 2026, 11:49 PM – Jaden's Final Epilogue
The room was a sepulcher of quiet desperation, the air thick with the weight of mortality. Jaden lay supine, his chest rising and falling with a cadence that seemed to slow with each passing breath. The curtains, like spectral fingers, billowed in the gentle breeze that whispered through the open window, casting eerie silhouettes on the walls. The full moon, a luminous orb, cast its argent glow upon the scene, bathing Jaden's face in a pale, ethereal light.
As he gazed up at the celestial body, a sense of solidarity washed over him. "You are just like me," he whispered, his voice a fragile wimper, "known but ignored, when trying to make a difference." The words were laced with a profound melancholy, a recognition that even the most radiant entities can be shrouded in obscurity.
Jaden's thoughts meandered, like a stream flowing into a tranquil lake. "Soon I will join you up there... become one of your companions... You won't have to be alone again, neither should I. I won't forget or leave your side, but in return... will you be my friend—" His voice trailed off, as if the effort of speaking had become too great. His eyelids, heavy with the weight of exhaustion, drooped, and his chest stilled, the only sound the soft whisper of the curtains, and the distant, mournful cry of a nocturnal creature.