"It is me, Surica, The Flame Arsenal, The Hero of Worshiheim...and well Egleton, and Brimforn, Tornim, Blostix, Rech, M—"

"I think they get it already," an unseen voice called.

The man on the screen looked to be slightly shocked that the audience wasn't waiting on the list. He was a weathered man with a sweeping brown mane. It wasn't close to dark, but it could only be called light brown if he stood in a cloudless, high noon sky. The weathering creased and folded around the massive, healed gash on his forehead. A deeper and darker scar, cut through that one, danced with blindness before it crossed his nose, and stopped in his cheek.

His structure seemed to be average in terms of muscles and proportions, but the one chair in the broadcast seemed suspiciously small under him. The rest of frame provided no point of reference but was spectacular in its own right. Massive white and yellow pillars, with a painting of small silhouettes facing a horned, 6-arm bull-wolf creature on fire, displayed between the columns. Rays of sunlight fell in ways that some of the painted heroes were spotlighted by the architectural artisans.

"Anyway, I am here to tell everyone in the world that, we are pretty screwed." The man rested his chin and cheek in his palm and supported his elbow with a knee. His eyes looked soft but focused directly on the lens. Unwavering as he waited with his words. "We have been lied to our entire lives. From the first Drafters to the secrets of the Eternal Contracts.

"We are just playthings for the deities with no hope of it getting better. There is no end to the fighting because it is the purpose that Chaos and Order and the others have found for us. We are completely screwed, forever. Of course, we can live our lives and fight the Chaos Beast as we always have. There have been heroes before me, and there might even be after me, but not if I can help it. I want to save us all from this faith, and the only way I can think of is by leaving behind the truth, and starting fresh.

"I am not going to be here for much longer. Only a few of my friends know that I have a couple of years left, but I wanted to live and be a champion of the people for much longer, so I went to the Sun Eternal's castle. We figured that we could find the best healer in the world there, but that is when we learned the truth. They couldn't save me, and so my last act as a hero is to free you all from this curse. To do that, I have killed the Sun Eternal and taken the contract.

"I know that everyone must be thinking that it is impossible. They can't be killed, but the entire truth will be written down and shared throughout the world after this broadcast. For now, as proof, Order!" Surica called while leaning back. This was the second time his eyes shifted from the camera. Every Drafter knew exactly what he was looking at, and what they couldn't see right now. They knew that he could have said what he had to in his mind, but he was putting on the show. "Please show yourself for this Signing."

The direction his eyes were staring was intercepted by the sudden appearance of a white glowing orb no bigger than his face. It spread outward into a glowing woman's silhouette as large as the man that stood up to greet her. His eyes sharpened as if the form provoked him in a way. As if he had a grudge against the being he now invited.

The glowing dimmed and in its place was a flowing white dress, still glowing, but just slightly, just like her eyes. The skin of the woman was soft purple that leaked into her long hair, only divided by deepened lines of colour as if she was a painting shifting into place, standing before everyone.

"Here I am!" Her voice was cheery to say the least, but additionally supported by her slight bounce and gestures akin to a child receiving a present. "What can I do for you?"

"I want to set the new Order Rule." The man waited for the figure to nod. Her expressions still animated. "No one in The Sun Order may fight another Sun Member."

"Done."

"There is your proof. Call Order and ask her yourself if you are a Sun Member." The man took a seat once again. He looked towards the dancing deity. "Will you tell them the truth?"

"Nope."

"Why do you hide it?"

"Cause we want to."

"Fine. Then I would like to Draft a new contract."

"Ou! A new eternal contract! There hasn't been one in like an eternity," she said while she shimmied.

"The sun will go out." She halted, and her hand fell to her side. Her mouth slightly ajar with white glowing light barely escaping. The glow curled to a crescent until her lips sealed her smile.

"Okay." She became monotonous. "Surica Roycal is in ownership of the Eternal Signature. He is an S-Class Drafter Worthy of Making the Contract. There is no existing Rule Stall present. All the conditions have been met. In accordance with the Cost being much greater than the Ability Points, it will take 100 days before the contract is active. I shall take my leave."

The woman vanished before the hero could open his mouth. His eyes finally met the camera again and he exhaled a deep breath as if the weight of the sun was lifted from his back. His fanged smile emerged as two fingers pressed into the rip on his forehead.

"Well, I didn't expect it to work right away anyway. Looks like you have 100 days to get everything in order. We will all be free. For those that disagree, then come and stop me, well unless you are in the Sun Order. We are in Knos. The city has been evacuated and is now overrun with Chaos Beasts. Let's see if there are heroes worth of leaving this world to.

"How was that? I was a bit nervous wi—"

"Wait I think I am still rolling," the hidden voice quickly called.

"But your thumb wa—"

***

"They are meeting in the recreation centre at 6." Her blonde hair bounced as she struggled to slip the cloth over her boot.

"That is perfect. Dinner should be ready by 4," a blonde boy called while peaking his head above the counter. "Watch out!"

The girl tripped over a smaller blonde child causing them both to crash to the ground. The tiny one gripped onto the black cloth that caused all this and dragged himself towards the girl.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

"Yup! Yup! Yup yup yup yup." He climbed over her with snot creeping out of a nostril.

An older child came and scooped the young boy off and swiped the free-falling mucus with a napkin. The two tasks prevented her from stopping the other identical boy from flying at the girl just sitting up.

"Dena! Dena, Dena, Dena, where are you going?"

"Your big sister is going to save the world!" The grounded girl smiled while wrestling the little one away.

"You should try and put your pants on yourself before taking on such a grand task." The other girl rolled her eyes and held out a white rope while bouncing a little one.

"Help me please." Dena chuckled.

"Don't be so hard on her Miri," the voice from the counter called again.

"Dena is going again?" the boy in Miri's arms asked. She nodded and turned to her sister. Dena could feel hesitation in words as Miri looked at the scar from her ear to her chin. She put down the boy and went behind her sister and pulled the excess cloth into a bunch. She tucked it and the ran the rope to Dena's hands.

"Where are the guns?" Miri asked.

"Fin has them. He was working on them for me," Dena answered.

"They are on the table," the voice left from behind the counter to get them himself, "I got them to load when you press the trigger. These are the lead magazines, and these are the rose thorns magazines." Fin chuckled.

"No, no no no, don't go," one of the twins chimed in.

"Are you really sure about going?" Miri asked.

Dena ducked down and extended both her hands. The boys understood and before the limbs were fully stretched, they buried themselves into her.

"Luka, Maka, I will miss you two so so much, but Fin and Miri will have so much fun that you won't even know I am gone. I will be okay, Hilt and Pom are going to be there with me." Dena looked up at Miri.

"That makes me worry me even more," the girl replied.

Dena laughed out loud. "I know, but I have to go. I wouldn't sit right, not helping out. Besides, I am only a D-Class, so they will probably have me evacuating people, or standing watch or something."

"That is if you listen to them, no one knows how your mind works." Miri dragged her steps and crashed into a hug over the twins. Fin patted the top of her head. "Okay, go save the world."

"For sure," Dena memorized the warmth.

***

This was the first time that Wran could hear the sound of voices over the sound of marching boots in the hallway. Everyone on edge, and those past the edge were vocally trying to escape the stronghold. Her own footsteps couldn't reach her ears, but the constant melting stare from her comrade was clearly making it to her. Forward was the direction of her footsteps and her eyes to make it all easier. Doing what she trained to do was always easier than dealing with people.

She reached a door, and the soft eyes focused on every muscle contraction required to turn the door. Only missing a few steps while he glanced at her calm expression. The door swung open, and her heels clicked, back straightened and her hand stretched horizontally in front of her body with her fingers set to grip a pen.

"You called for me, Commander?" Wran asked.

"I did Lieutenant Lynix. Take a seat." The soldier did as ordered and sat in the lone hard chair in front of the massive hardwood desk barely holding up the towers of paper work. The Commander exhaled causing some of the workload to dive away at Wran's feet. She reached down, but the other soldier was quicker to them, however he gathered them slowly. "I hate to do this to you—"

"Then don't do it!" the soldier called into the collection of papers.

"Olec!" Wran stomped her feet. "That is the commander."

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

"I know who it is." Olec stood up and placed the papers on the table with exceptional grace for someone with trembling hands. "Does it really matter. We may not be here in three months. What is rank if we won't be here after three months?"

"Isn't that what Commander Isan has called me in for? I will be fine..." Wran began to reach for his hand but held herself back as a lump in her throat occluded the rest of her words.

"Exactly. We both know that it isn't always safe."

"I have to admit that I agree with Olec on this one. I don't like it one bit, but we don't have any choice really. The higher ups all asked for you immediately. The girl with the electric transport contract, or the best spy, their breaths full of praises to anyone that could take the job. A room full of the greatest soldiers and none of them offered to take the contract and do it themselves. Getting rid of the contract now will be seen as treason, but—"

"I know. I know you are here for me Commander. I know you are as well Olec, but I have had this contract for years. I am the best for the job."

"You really are. The mission is to go to Knos and record the state of things. You are to infiltrate his stronghold and gather as much intel as you can for us to plan an attack. You, Wran Lynix will be the second in command in the attack, working under Brog Treenmen when you get back. It is similar to the mission you have taken up thousands of times." The commander turned her chair to face the window behind her. Wran couldn't see what she was staring at exactly, but she knew the courtyard was in plain sight. Whatever the view, it held her words for a few long seconds. "but, Surica Roycal."

"Wran, don't do this. We call him for things we can't handle. In and out isn't that simple."

"They all know that and are afraid to admit it. Everyone one of them in that room has met Surica. I know I have called him in on a fair few missions myself. I was there at Brimforn and...Wran, I am saying this now, we can figure it out if you decide to not go." The older soldier turned her chair to face them again.

"Commander, I will make it back with what we need. The world is at stake, I can't stay behind. I don't deserve to stay behind." Wran stood up and saluted again. No more words were said as she walked to the door. Her mission stated and accepted.

"Wran! I am coming with you!" Olec burst from the room.

"No. There is no way I can take a partner again. Especially you."

"You are planning to die on this mission aren't you. You don't plan to come back."

"I will definitely make it back. I am not going to throw away the life that Olin gifted me. I will never disrespect your brother like that, but I can't take you. I will get this mission done. Wait for me."

***

The clouds were heavy over the massive building, grazing the pointed roof. Large sections of buildings that were impressive enough to be called a mansion was joined like finely crafted pieces to a finer castle. The curved black roofs and intricate design screamed money, and that much money screamed powerful warriors.

And now the only thing separating the powerful warriors and him was the enormous double wooden doors reflecting his breath. His palms pressed to each one, but he didn't push. A decade ago, he would have barrelled through, but today he was hesitant. He was sure that he would go in, the many mile hike through the forest surrounding the fortress would have deterred him otherwise. He was just waiting to see if there was luck on his side.

The weighted sky dropped his favour. Water pressed down his clothes to his body and pinned his hair to his scalp. It just couldn't stop the corners of his mouth from rising.

"It looks like my blessings have arrived just in time," the voice in his head mocked.

"Ou, you haven't used your contract in ages. I can't wait, I can't wait. Water was right, her blessing is so the best," another voice spoke giddily.

Hmph, you both know that the Anto family will have plenty of Water Drafters, so don't pretend like it is for me, the man replied in his mind.

"Maybe, but you are still you. Remain calm as always and trust in your power," Water said.

Huh, when have I ever been calm. It really must have been ages if you forgot how I fight. He stared at his boots. Waiting for water to gather. The orange painted gourd, strapped around a shoulder, swung into his view occasionally. Where is Order? She doesn't have anything to say.

"You know that she is just waiting for you to use your contract. Waiting on the numbers."

Yea, well let's go.

He pushed the door with as much force as he could. It smashed into the walls, and one snapped off the hinges. The stonework of the courtyard was divided into tiles with a gorgeous black gravel soaking all the water in-between. He clicked his teeth. Standing on the stonework was a couple of dozen men all holding various weapons, all blunt and all hesitant.

He looked pass them to see the woman standing behind the elegantly stained banister. Her brown hair matched the expensive wood. Her smile smothered his eagerness.

"Shit, it is Tennebrae," a man from the crowd said.

"You mean The Tennebrae!" another said. "Do we have to fight against him?"

"She didn't tell us it was him! Why would she do that?"

The man smiled as water streamed down his face. He ducked down undid his laces, slipping both boots off, he places them carefully next to him. Particular in the way he fanned the opening. The gourd clattered against the stone with the low motions. He gripped it and slowly stood back up.

"I see what you are doing, that is a calm decision if I do say so myself. It was like that woman designed the courtyard to counter your contract. That would be ridiculous wouldn't it..." Water waited, "Wouldn't it?"

"Isn't he the madam's friend. Why do we have to fight a hero?" another voiced chimed. This one caused a few heads to turn.

"What are you looking at me for? Go and get him!" she barked.

A glowing crest formed in front of the gourd. A white circle with intersecting lines forming around the centre piece of a wave. 5 diamonds accented the edge of the marker, as the man uncapped the container.

"He is an S-Rank! It really is Tennebrae!" an apparently doubtful henchman yelled.

Run directly at her, and dodge everything on the way there.

"Exciting," Water said.

"1247 principle and counting..." the other voice appeared in his head.

Water erupted from the gourd and formed into an identical copy of the holder. The clone darted forward, shifting anyone one trying attack him. The original warrior faced a couple of those that rushed at him. Elbows and timed punches kept them at bay, while his footwork and athleticism shifted him to the fallen wooden door. He held the gourd over the slab, and it glowed with the same crest.

Grab the door and throw it into the crowd.

Water emerged from the gourd to make another clone that did as commanded, before scattering into water droplets.

"2496 finished."

"Leave the one the running one alone!" the woman at the back called. The fighters looked at her with confusion but nonetheless parted from his path. The water clone sprinted straight up to the woman then scattered like the previous. She smiled while drying the misty vapour from her skin.

"1684 additional, total of 3743."

The man clicked his teeth again. He retreated to his boots that was overflowing with water. He dipped the gourd into it and the crest formed again. First the left and then the right, issuing the commands:

Follow me and fight anyone on my left. Follow me and fight anyone on my fight.

"Complex command used, 'fight', would you like to triple the points to execute the command?" Order asked.

Yea.

"I like that command. I can have some fun," Water laughed.

"6745 and 6745 principle and counting...any beginning additional?"

1300. Remaining?

"197864 and decreasing..."

Okay, let's go Water. Survive as long as possible.

"Of course I will, but you only gave me 1300," Water murmured.

Tennebrae rushed through with both clones by his side. The rain beating down on them kept him refreshed and looked cool every time he punched someone and saw splatter. It wasn't that difficult to work through the crowd and take down everyone. Surprisingly the right boot clone finished with him, while left boot was booted.

The clone disappeared and only in another step towards the clapping woman he felt his chest pound. His eyes blurred for a second and his head wanted to split open. Heavy breaths brought him back to normal, but he clenched his teeth thinking that it was only a court yard of rookies he fought.

The woman tossed a bundle of metal into the rain. Water running down the dulled midnight blue collection of an upper chest plate, shoulder and arm guards and medium length sword.

"Good work Twosies. Glad to see you still have some moves," The woman took a seat on the steps, just out of the rain.

"You really had to test me? You know that I would be coming for the Ace set." Tennebrae reached down for the sword. His hand hesitant to touch it.

"If you couldn't beat these guys easily, then there was no point in letting you go after Surica. You sure about this, Tenny?" The woman noticed his trembling fingers.

Her words steeled them into a grip on the hilt. He felt his head split for a second, but then all the pain was gone. His heart pumping quickly before fighting to settle down. He felt Water trying to say something, but he couldn't hear much for a second. His mind like a cloud of images his eyes collected but nothing making sense. He focused on the moving lips of the woman in front of him until all his senses returned to normal.

"It is happening already, isn't it? Does it have to be you?" the woman asked.

"Who else can it be? Pem, what the hell happened?"

"I haven't seen him in years either. I don't know, but it doesn't matter. He already made the contract, and we have to go stop him."

"I am going alone."

"As if I would let you, Two-man."

***

His eyes pried open but couldn't continue the job for long. Not on the first attempt, at least. The second trial provided the information that the room he was in was very white. Darting vision was only met with white, too blurry to understand what the white room contained. The third attempt came with the realization that the room was very bright. Either well lit, or it was very sunny outside. His eyes shut and his body pulsated. His ribs in particular felt like they were moving the wrong way. Every breath felt like his body shouldn't expand any more and every release felt like it was caving in on itself. His arm muscles tensed to brave the pain, but what was he withstanding? What did this to him?

His mind raced to the last scenes his memories. Who was there? How far did they reach? No, no, it was so fast. There was too much of them for all of them to make it. Did all of them make it? Who fell? No, no no. His mind couldn't catch up to the images flashing as answers to his questions. The sound of the frenzied crowd mixing in with his own rampant thoughts to a point he didn't notice. No no no no no no.

The door clicked shut and silenced the voices behind it as well as the ones in his head. He opened his eyes again. She was wearing white. Black hair and a young, panicked face were above the white uniform, and she hesitated to approach him.

He himself hesitated to raise. He didn't know what part of his body would fail him in the motion, but he had to. He looked down at his chest. He was red. The bandages, sheets, the floor to the side, all red.

"Thank goodness you are awake! We were all worried." She approached a bit more.

"The others? There are supposed to be around five more where you found me." It hurt him to talk.

"You...You...um, it was—"

"What is it? Am I the first to wake up? How bad were their wounds?"

"You were the only one they brought in." Her voice trembled. "They said—"

"What!" He screamed with his entire body. He clawed forward trying to reach her words. His feet didn't find the ground before his shoulder.

"No! You can't! Doctor! Help, someone help!" She rushed towards him and pressed a button on the bed. She fell to her knees and braced his body. "You can't move like that. You are bleeding again. Your fever is coming back!"

He felt his head get cloudy. His breath escaped in ways he didn't want to. He was catching fire, but his mind couldn't stop thinking about it. How was he the only one? They all...he had to find out. If he could just move—

"Please, stop!" He paused and looked at her hands. Her fingers were pruned, and palm was scorched. "Please, let's get you back into the bed."

He rolled forward instead and took help guiding him to the wall. He took her by the wrist, and she gasped for a second before pulling them away. He closed his eyes and rested his head back with grunts.

"Did my contract activate? Is that why your hands are burned?" he asked.

"Mhmm. It only happened once when you just got in. I was careless." Her unpanicked voice was quite soft. Comforting.

"And why is it so pruned up?" the boy asked.

"Oh, your fever was really high. A healing contract was used, but you were still burning up. The doctor said it could have been due to your powers, but I didn't want to let it overcome you, so I just used water to cool you down as much as I could. I didn't want you to get touched by death. I have seen that happen a lot."

"You are so young, and your job has already led you through such a scary path. Jobs huh..." he covered his eyes and felt the pressure behind them. He was sure water would burst from the corners any second as he pictured his friend's faces. "You took care of me, and as I awoken, I've made your job more and more difficult. I apologize."

"No, don't be. It is part of the job."

The door opened and another in white entered. Grey and red hair and a wise, calm face stood above her attire. He eyes held kindness, but he felt like that came in briefer burst for her than the nurse sitting next to him.

"Thank goodness you are up. It has been 6 days since you came in. We were getting worried. What could a boy your age be doing to receive a wound like that? What is your name?"

"Nat."

"Surname?"

"My only name is Nat."

"Well Mr. Nat, there was a man that brought you in. He apologized and said that you were the only one alive. He said that if you want answers, that you can find him in town at the tavern. Ask for... I am not sure he left his name."

"Thank you, they really must be..." He clamped his hands over his eyes again. This time he couldn't help but let everything flow. His mouth contorted and his voice stifled. He felt the hand rest on his shoulder, and the silence in the room waiting on him, but he couldn't stop.

He never cried like this. He never knew he could. They were gone, and he was the only one left. He felt everything crash again. There was only one thing he could do. He had to.

"I will take my leave. I will be back soon. It will be a couple more days before you can leave." The doctor turned to the door.

"Doctor." He tried his best to catch his voice. "Surica...have—"

"How did you know?" the doctor alerted.

"What?" Nat asked.

"That man," the nurse took over, "earlier today, he said that he is going to stop the sun in 100 days."