My mouth hung open. That’s the only thing that could happen. I was left shocked, unable to grasp at the straws of what I had been told. “E-excuse me? What did you say?”

“The old commander is dead, alright kid. I can’t tell you more than that. He died on a mission after bleeding out to death. He had one note in his hand that was discovered on his corpse. It’s for you. Read it, and report back to me by the end of the day. I have more news for you, but it seems like you’ll need time to comprehend what’s happening.” His words were blunt and didn’t conceal anything. He didn’t even wait for me or tried to comfort me, he just simply left after relaying the information to me.

I sat in the quarters on my bed, unable to read the note left to me. No one was present in the dorm, so my mind at least felt at ease, but my heart was in extreme turmoil.

“How? How did this happen? He was literally still alive a few weeks ago! Congratulating me. Smiling at me.” Tears slowly began to dampen the longer I droned on. His image echoed in my mind. The man who was my father, left me and my mother when I was a kid. Now a father that actually wanted me, disappeared from my world all too quickly.

The sun soon began setting for the day. I needed to read this and compose myself. To stop dwelling on the inevitable.

“There’s no time like…now.” I recalled his old saying, mumbling it aloud.

don’t know what to say to you. Really. I feel so many things need to be spoken, but I guess I should first tell you why I’m writing. I’m currently on the last mission I’ll ever partake in. Not because I’m retiring, but because an old friend came to collect the debt I owed. As my hand scribbles on this paper, hoping it’ll get to you, I lay on the battlefield, bleeding out, hidden in a huddle of bushes. I can only sustain myself through restorative mana conversing around my wounds. However, I will not last. I’m glad time at least managed to provide me with a long enough lifeline to see my son's wedding. You really looked happy that day, you know? That woman, your wife, keeps her close and dear to you. Don’t argue with her and be the best you that you could be for her. She deserves it and so do you.

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Now, this letter is directly averted to you and not to the whole squadron for a reason. Whilst I grew close to each one of you, I think only you cared enough for me to truly think about me a year's time from my death. Also, because I love you, son. Though we were not blood related, I was so happy to be able to be your father for your wedding. I had a son, when I was younger, with the love of my life. She unfortunately died during childbirth, but the baby survived. He was my beacon of hope, my one and only memory of my dead wife. Yet, I couldn’t become a good father for his sake. Things got so bad, to the point he isolated himself and eventually died from an illness. At the time of his death, he was surrounded by no one. His mother was dead. His father was dead to him in his eyes. He had no one and suffered alone. I guess it’s only fitting I receive the same fate. Anyway, what I was trying to say is, thank you for giving me the short time to become a better father than I was for those fifteen years previously.

What to say now? I feel like I’ll run out of breath before I finish this. Oh, I didn’t mention this to you when I dismissed you before your wedding, but you have been promoted to the actual main squadron. Congratulations. But do let me warn you, if you do not pick a direct goal for yourself in the squadron, you will die a suffocating and painful death embraced by solitude. Don’t let yourself become me. Be better. Finally, I want to repeat this. I love you. Thank you for giving me the joys of becoming a father again and thank you for putting up with an old man like me. Maybe my ideal of justice didn’t plan out, but I hope you won’t carry the torch that dazzled and blinded me also. NO matter how beautiful nor tempting it may be. It always ends in death.

Tears slowly trickled down my cheeks. A muffled grunt under my nose as I rested my back on the dependable bark behind me and collapsed to the floor. The letter shrivelled up in my tightened hand. “It’s a terrible day for rain.” I mumbled, covering my eyes and peering up to the setting sun.

For you, dad, I will do anything. You will forever live on in my memory. No matter how unfortunate or meaningless life you led, I will give it meaning by remembering you. By refusing to forget you and holding the torch you couldn’t see past. I will overcome the bright light and be the inferno leading it.