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"A world without hope."

"A world without salvation."

"A world wherein despair lies."

"However, even in a world of darkness, children can still dream."

Standing atop a majestic palace balcony, a man eloquently delivered a speech as his tranquil violet iris' observed his wide view. Chunks of stone and pieces of broken architecture were scattered across the surface below while small groups of survivors wandered towards him.

What differentiated this man from every other individual was not only his royal golden robes nor was it the magnificent crown on his head. It was the bright violet light which was being illuminated from his own body — as if he were a 'Deity'.

Taking notice of a bright glint that was coming from the crowd, the man saw a child standing below. He was dressed in long black royal robes while adorned on his head, was an intricate golden crown with a flawless amethyst gem fitted in it.

Splattered on his porcelain pale skin — was crimson red blood.

A fire was blazing within the child's golden-emerald iris' as he glared up at the man standing grandiosely on the balcony — as if he were above all things. The child had awoke to a nightmare which devoured his dreams; instead of wallowing in despair, the child now dreamed anew.

With a single step forward, the man who was previously standing on the balcony mysteriously appeared right in front of the child as he calmly gazed within the child's eyes. The bright violet light blinded the child as he took a step back; his knees felt weak from simply the invisible pressure that was being exuded from the man's body.

However, it did not bring a halt to his sharp glare which was directed at the man. Clearly iterating each word perfectly; the child seethed with increasing resentment, "You. Could. Have. Stopped. Them."

The man chuckled at the child's words, "I would not stop their noble pursuit to serve humanity." as he slowly added, "Even if that meant their deaths." Yet even though the man seemed at peace with the child's accusation; there was a rare wearied look in his eyes.

The child rooted himself on the gravel below his feet as he silently scowled at the man yet all he did in response was swivel his gaze towards a certain direction; north-east. Feeling confused, the child followed the line of sight to where the man was looking; however it was nothing but empty space. They were his friends; yet all he chose to do was stare absentmindedly at empty space.

However, unlike what the child had thought; the man wasn't looking at empty space. Instead through his own sense of vision, a massive pillar of violet light which was being shot up into the sky as it fuelled an ever-expanding barrier of light that was covering over a chaotic empire. A speck of anguish lingered within the depths of his eyes as he silently gazed at the sight before nodding his head slightly.

Coming to the conclusion that he would receive no help from this unfeeling man; the child began returning to his carriage as he furiously gripped his hands so hard that his knuckles became white. Yet the expression on his face was no longer one of fury or anguish; but of distant indifference.

However, as he began walking past each survivor, the child began to notice a single peculiarity that each and every survivor had. Their eyes seemed slightly dim and lost as it wandered throughout the area as they gazed at the collapsed buildings around them and the web of cracks running from the palace. The Eternal Peace Royal Square would usually be filled to the brim with masses upon masses of people cheering; yet now hollow and cheerless.

The clear sound of tapping had suddenly brought the deafening silence to a halt, as the an old man worriedly called out, "Has anyone seen my dear Cecilia? She was just here a moment ago... I am sure she could not have gone far..." The old man ruminated over each short sentence he spoke, before continuing to search — in vain.

The old man stumbled from survivor to survivor as he asked the same question over and over again, "Where was my granddaughter?" Yet each answer he received was either insincere or negligent as they led him in circles for amusement. One of the survivor's even asked where the old man had last seen his granddaughter; a question which caused those around him to derisively smirk.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

An anxious smile formed on the old man's face; as he felt optimistic that there were some kind-hearted survivors left that were willing to help. While the old man began lifting his walking stick towards the empty swings; the sound of clear crisp crackling suddenly began revibrating from his fragile arm as it echoed throughout the silent area.

The man had been closely watching this whole scene transpire; his gaze fixed on the child's indifferent expression as the child gazed at the old man. The man shook his head slightly before walking towards the old man who was pitifully weeping silently; a bone had stuck out of his arm as the blood slowly dripped on the floor. The survivors that were smirking all laughed loudly.

Ignoring the laughter, the man gazed down at the trail of blood; while he followed behind the old man that was crawling towards the empty swings as the old man outstretched his bloodied broken arm towards the empty swings. Kneeling beside the old man, the man curiously asked, "What was it that you seek?"

The old man that was previously weeping; quietly tried to hide his arm as he turned to look where the voice had come from before excitedly answering, "My granddaughter! Please, you must have come to my aid to give good news! Where is she hiding? Don't tell me... Under the palace stairs?"

The man sincerely studied the old man's peculiar cloudy eyes; before his eyes trailed down to his badly hid bloodied arm, before asking once more, "What was it that you seek?"

The old man anxiously begged, "Please... I know you know where she is. Please... Show me... She is waiting... And-" Just as he was about to continue, the man had uncharacteristically spoke over the old man as he added, "And she is lonely."

The old man's pitiful expression had finally been uplifted as he excitedly asked, "Where is she?"

The man felt intrigued by this old man, "She is within a different plane of existence. She can no longer see you, nor can you see her." The instant these words left his mouth, the last streak of light was slowly dimming. That was until the man continued, "But she is still waiting for you." As these caused the last streak of light to cease dimming.

The old man looked towards the empty swings in bewilderment once he heard the man's words, before quietly confirming, "She is... Still there?" Yet there was no longer a voice that was answering back.

There was no longer a guiding light which appeared in his sense of vision, but complete darkness. The old man took a deep breath in, before letting it out slowly; as he used his walking stick as a support the old man lifted himself up from the ground. Slowly stumbling towards the empty swings. No matter how long the trail of blood became; nor how mangled his bloodied arm had become, the old man kept — moving forward.

A look of fascination appeared on the man's face; as he continued to study the old man that was going through such pain. The willpower of a human when they have found their reason to live, was always so beautiful yet bitter-sweet.

The closer the old man was to the empty swings; the more visible the illusory outline of his granddaughter became. With a wide grin on his face; tears flowed down his cheeks, the old man made a last bout of effort as he forced himself to make the last few steps. The bottom of his shoes had been ripped halfway through from the top, as his bloody feet were revealed.

Now right behind the empty swings, the clear form of his granddaughter has finally appeared, as she turned to look to him before curiously asking, "Will you push me grandpa?"

The old man slowly lifted his trembling arms; the blood dripping down even faster as he grinned, "You aren't alone anymore, my dear Lilia." With a single gentle push, the old man's body suddenly collapsed — it was now hollow without a reason to live.

"I saw his majesty do it! He made the poor old man walk to his death! He has gone mad!" An accusatory voice revibrated out from the crowd.

"Murderer!" The others shouted in unison.

"The Eternal Emperor is a murderer!" The rest condemned.

"Who called him the Eternal Emperor? He is the Eternal Fool!" The cunning and deceitful mocked.

The Eternal Fool merely chuckled before slowly walking back up to his Palace of Serenity; as shards of stone began being thrown at his back. Yet every single time a stone shard reached the bright light surrounding his body; it was instantly crushed to fine dust mid-air.

Once the Eternal Fool had reached the highest point of the staircase, he turned towards the chaotic crowd that were furious and bloodthirsty. Pointing his finger towards the eerily cloudy dark sky, the Eternal Fool spoke softly yet his voice clearly revibrated clearly within their heads, "I have returned my Sky." Before he then pointed towards the Sun whose sunlight was blocked out by the eerie 'clouds', "I have returned my Sun."

The instant the Eternal Fool stated these two points; the crowds slowly began turning quiet as some survivors even looked down in shame. Now with the crowds calmed down, the Eternal Fool granted a final gift to humanity, "Those who place their faith in the Rising Sun; will have the doors of Eden opened up to them. No matter your sin; no matter your virtue — as long as faith exists. " Without wasting a second longer, the Eternal Fool mysteriously disappeared from where he had been standing; as chaos begun ensuing.

Amidst the silence of the crowds, up above in the very same sky; it was raining down dust.

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