December 19, 1616 Central Calendar, 13:00
Roguerider Foundation Headquarters, San Redentore District, Runepolis
When the disguised Princess Lugiel stepped into the private lounge Meteos typically frequented, she found the boy and his older brother Ace taking a nap, sprawled across the couches. The moment they sensed her presence, however, their slumber came to an end as they quickly stirred awake and sat upright.
“Oh my… I’m sorry for waking you boys,” Lugiel sheepishly apologized.
“…Your Highness, you’re here… Sorry. We weren’t prepared for you,” Meteos shook his head and returned her words with an apology of his own out of courtesy.
“Apology accepted, don’t be so hard on yourself.”
As Lugiel approached and eased into an empty couch across from the brothers, hands folded in her lap, she maintained her relaxed demeanor, observed their groggy faces, and made a lighthearted comment.
“…Honestly, you two really look like you could use a slow weekend. Tell me, do you two ever go on double dates with your girlfriends?”
“I’ll pretend you didn’t say that last part,” Meteos groaned, rubbing the back of his neck. “But I really don’t mind a slow weekend or two…”
He recalled Nadia and Annette making a remark about seeing the penguins that had started moving in from the north in winter. And since there are no penguins in Parpaldia and its vicinity, he might as well show them to Kaios and the others. It’s just that duty makes it hard to box this weekend and of course it’s Zarathostra of the Messiah’s fault.
“It’s not that easy to find time with everything else going on,” Ace said as he grabbed a hair tie to tame his messy hair into its usual style.
Lugiel nodded once and took a moment for everyone to settle down.
“Alright. Anyway, His Majesty has decided on certain policies, so I came by to inform you in advance.”
Lugiel’s words caught the two’s attention.
“Hm, what kind of development?” Meteos asked, looking at her expectantly. Since Lugiel has a direct line of communication with Emperor Milishial VIII, being his spymaster, she can relay his decisions to the White Lotus without waiting for him to reveal it at the meeting with his ministers. This enables the White Lotus Leader to formulate plans in advance, either to support the emperor or to set him straight. But in the end, just like the Order of the Ancients before him, even Meteos can only give counsel. The final decision rests with the Emperor. He’s just that powerful as an individual.
“Well, first of all, His Majesty has decided to give a decree canceling the Foreign Ministry’s diplomatic visit to Bushpaka Latan and rethink the whole strategy now that the truth is out… A plausible excuse is being formulated, but it shouldn’t raise an alarm on the other side, right?”
“Alarming the other side…? Hm, I don’t think so. Diplomats from civilized countries canceling their visits to barbaric lands are commonplace in the known world. The current geopolitical situation works in our favor so as not to be seen as suspicious this time,” Ace mused.
“Besides, the other side’s response regarding this matter is one that Mr. Karl Krunch can inform us about, yes?”
Meteos nodded. Now if only their submarines would stop probing the Holy Empire’s defenses. Encounters with ‘unidentified sea monsters’ on the waters near the equator which always flee when sonar detects them are becoming annoying. While it’s tempting to sink one or two, doing so might unintentionally alert the enemy at an inopportune time. The enemy doesn’t escalate their actions because they’re smart and cautious. Unfortunately for the HME, they still can’t beat Annonrial even if they go berserk.
“So, the cancellation of that plan. We kind of expected this to happen.”
“But it’s rather disappointing,” Ace spoke of his brother’s unspoken thoughts aloud. “Meteos had plans for the branch expansion there.”
“…The situation is very dynamic,” the boy in question dryly remarked with a shrug.
Planning is essential, but no plan survives contact with the enemy. Even Meteos overrides his strategies with new ones from time to time. What truly mattered was one’s ability to adapt to the ever-shifting circumstances. Keeping that perspective, the reincarnator sank deeper into the couch, unfazed by the news that circumstances had forced him to abandon his plan to accompany the Holy Empire’s diplomats to Bushpaka Latan and recruit one or two Annonrials into the Seventy’s ranks.
“Then, the next option is for me to head over to another country,” Meteos spoke up. “But this will depend on His Majesty’s moves going forward with the foreign policy. Your Highness, does the Emperor plan to… spread the ‘truth’ to other countries anytime soon?”
“No,” Lugiel shook her head at the question. “He deems that the timing isn’t right to speak about it so openly. Since it’s hard to coordinate unreliable nations whose contribution to the cause might as well be deadweights, we might as well stand up alone, no?”
“Is that really what His Majesty said?” Ace raised an eyebrow.
“No, that’s just my opinion. The storyline the defectors gave the Emperor convinced His Majesty that outing them too soon would force Annonrial into a corner when the Holy Empire is still not strong enough. It’s dangerous to set everyone on an unpredictable rampage while we still can’t capitalize on our own advantage, he said.”
“Hm…”
Still, in reality, the Gynamo Kingdom’s leadership is already aware of the Annonrial Empire’s true situation. However, the knowledge was passed on directly to King Abre by the White Lotus Leader himself, so he can be trusted not to leak it. Meteos hoped that his own Emperor would handle the sensitive information with caution and not act impulsively due to how personal this matter was for him. Since it was chaos that Zarathostra of the Messiah wanted, he automatically won when there’s well… chaos, due to mishandling of this information.
“…Even to the dragonoids?” Ace prompted again, pointing upwards to hint at a certain northern country.
“Especially them. In fact, Emor is the country that the Emperor is wary of exploding the most.”
Ace and Meteos exchanged a look, then both sighed in relief.
“Good decision.”
“Yeah, that’s probably the best for now.”
Given that the Holy Milishial Empire and the White Lotus’ anti-Annonrial strategies are still being developed, they wouldn’t want complications that are hard to control to occur. But in the event the Emperor insists, then the White Lotus has no choice but to move ahead of him in order to maintain control over the situation.
Meteos nodded to himself.
“In that case, the next main quest for me is to go to Mu to help the Ikaruga sort things out,” he said as he shifted his gaze between Ace and Lugiel. “What do you think?”
“That perfectly makes sense, but… does this mean you’re confident in the Middle Lands’ state of affairs?” the Princess inquired, just to be sure.
“We’ve been pushing so that Meteos has greater freedom with his plans too. Don’t worry, you can leave the further development to us,” Ace stated.
“I see.”
Considering the target of the Annonrial Empire’s ongoing scheme to incite chaos, it only makes sense that Meteos focuses his effort there. Leveraging his public image as a privileged brat on vacation that no one suspected to be the leader of a deep state-like anti-Ravernal organization, he can use his ability to undercut their nefarious designs for the Second Civilization Area. If the White Lotus can secure firm control over the situation in Southern Mu, then no matter how much Annonrial’s covert operatives try to destabilize Mu, they will never succeed if the White Lotus Leader doesn’t allow it to happen.
When assisting the Order of the Ancients in identifying and dismantling the Muish spy network within the Holy Empire, Meteos also used the Temple of Heaven. Those Muish humans were the complete opposite of the Winged People. Their underdeveloped mana system resulted in an utter lack of magical resistance, making them highly susceptible to the spell. With the aid of his Drivers, Meteos could potentially do it on thousands of Muish individuals in a single day.
Perhaps Meteos could also do something to finally put an end to their Royal Navy’s absurdly barbaric doctrinal disputes so that their oppressed engineers can finally unleash their potential and produce something worthy of the World’s Defense Line Plan. As an engineer himself, Meteos has a soft spot for these people despite their scornful attitude towards him in his First Timeline and wishes to see the potential of their creations. You can say he’s fond of the Royal Navy. But not to root for.
Hahaha, no, no, no.
It’s to compete against, as worthy opponents.
Honestly, Mu already possesses the technological capability to produce all-big-gun battleships in decent numbers. However, the factions within their decision-makers, further hindered by an indecisive executive leadership, are too ready to literally kill each other over whether a “green water navy” suffices or if they should aspire to try harder and project more power across oceans like the Holy Milishial Empire. If there’s such a thing as the Kingdom of Mu’s greatest nemesis, it’s called the Muish Royal Navy. Yes, their economy never did well, but holy fuck you cannot make this shit up. Not even Parpaldian navy personnel are that bad (before Ludius comes and everyone turns into clowns, that is).
This pre-Summoning state of the Muish Royal Navy was absurd and Meteos despised that the cure for their problem was to get hammered by the Gra Valkans and then they went to suck the other summoned country’s dick. It was a source of secondhand embarrassment. It was ridiculous.
Anyway.
‘Speaking of which, has Myrus Leclerc been born yet…? Oh well, I can just check.’
One of Mu’s talented people, but related to the above rant, this particular individual was one of those who ‘did it’ the hardest. The boy’s father, Roche Leclerc, was the owner of an aviation company commissioned by the Muish government to develop a fighter derivative of Meteos’ Dreaming Child biplane, therefore he had assigned the White Lotus to look after them as well. However, he had not yet been informed that his wife was pregnant, a detail that would not go unnoticed by his collaborators.
However, if the butterfly effect can alter Remille’s name so that she was born in this timeline as a sweet innocent infant named “Kyrie,” something similar could happen to the circumstances of Myrus’ birth. It’s possible that he might never even be born.
Oh well, maybe the greatest blessing for a soul is not to be born into this ugly world. This world is a fucked up one because of Pestilence, anyway.
The Muish people have no idea that the magic-wielding humanoids physically similar to them that they interact with, including himself, are descended from literal creations of the Ravernal Empire, this world’s worst invader. And then, just observe how unhinged people seemed to appear in droves when the main stars of the Civilization Annihilation Game were thrown into this world. By then, Pestilence had already dominated the debate with his claim that mortals will always be comically evil monsters, and that the creation of monsters will always be monsters. That was his ‘proof,’ although that edgy bastard was cheating by forcing them to turn that way, reversing cause and effect in the most absurd of ways just so he could win his debate.
Try as you will. Set your foot on Hyperborea, venture past the Fortunate Isles to Palamecia, dive to the deepest gorges of Ginnungagap and make way to Mictlan, and cross the peaks of Jotunheim and find Antichtonia. Reach Kosmos, and see Ars Goetia in its full glory. But in the end, you are but one of the five facets of the Ravernals. Worthless invasive species with delusions of grandeur, created as inferiors by none other than the Devils themselves, released out of confinement as the ultimate middle finger to the rightful natives of this world. That’s what he said.
But the worst of it all? This is the true origin of mankind in this world. The Five Peoples’ history can’t even start without the Ravernals unsealing the Cradles out of sheer spite, which allowed mankind’s ancestors to step into a world nearly raped to oblivion, survive, and ultimately complete their blackhearted precursors’ unquenchable vengeance—even though the Ravernals themselves were lost to the depths of time and space.
This background is the ammunition used by Pestilence, who loved his brother enough to show deference but due to his own unrelenting sense of justice, still utterly obsessed in winning the debate. He refuses to let mankind rise above the sinful baggage it carried and become better to prevent them from undermining his argument. Who said that Nosgorath is the only monster around? Mankind too is a creation of the Devil, and as such, they were, are, and always will be monsters. One-dimensional caricatures for everyone to hate. Such beings ever developing depth of character or even becoming virtuous is breaking immersion and lacks realism.
Stolen novel; please report.
Before he rejoined the discussion, Meteos leaned back, shook his head slightly to banish further stray thoughts, and glanced at the window panes. The glass reflected the faint golden hue of a sun dipping closer to the horizon. It was just two days before the Winter Solstice, and already the daylight was fleeting. Only two hours of sunlight remained before twilight would blanket Runepolis in its serene cold.
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December 21, 1616 Central Calendar
The First Civilization Area is bordered to the north by the Goldras Sea, a body of water that also marks the boundary between the temperate zone and the frigid region surrounding the North Pole, known to the people of Middle Lands as the “region beyond Boreas,” Hyperborea.
But despite its high latitude, the warm North Minerva Current flowing from the south ensures relatively stable and high water temperatures in its western part, making the coasts of the Gilliseira Principality that borders it ice-free throughout the year. Penguins, large flightless alcids with black back and white belly plumage, could often be seen gathering in flocks on the rocky beaches. During this time, many of these birds migrated south from their nesting grounds on the uninhabited archipelago littering this region, sometimes as far as the shores of the Holy Milishial Empire’s capital Runepolis.
It should be noted that these penguins are not the same bird as the Spheniscidae family of birds whose counterpart on Earth was called “penguins” in the modern day. On that planet, those birds were in fact discovered later when humans went to explore the Southern Hemisphere and named after their resemblance to the great auk (Pinguinus impennis), the original penguins that were hunted to extinction by the mid-1800s AD. While great auks were also highly sought after in Ars Goetia, people preferred to hunt for them in the nesting colonies between the First and Second Civilization Areas where the climate is friendlier rather than risk facing the extreme cold with no urgency like an idiot and venture all the way north, allowing their population to remain intact and thrive so close to the presence of mankind. In contrast, the Earth penguins’ Ars Goetian counterparts no longer exist, reduced to atoms by the Ravernals. In essence, the fates of these two species are completely reversed between the two worlds.
Perhaps capitalizing on people’s reluctance to venture into the dreary northern ocean, a group of people assigned to a specific mission arrived in this area where human activity is nonexistent.
…………
16:45
Goldras Sea on the 65th Parallel North
The shortest day of the year finally drew to a close as the sun, which had barely lifted above the horizon, sank back and plunged the region into an early night. The sky above was dark, but it held a peculiar beauty, as the northern lights danced in a vibrant display of greens and purples.
At that moment, a dark-colored object emerged from underwater near the Tarpian Rock, the largest landmass located at the western end of a cluster of islands known to the cartographers in the Middle Lands as the namesake for the extreme north, the “Boreas Archipelago.” It was long and slender, with an angled front section that cut through the sea’s surface and a protrusion rising from the middle. Its strange shape and metallic surface were dead giveaways that it was a machine, albeit one that most people in this world had never seen before.
This unusual vessel was the U-20, one of the Pattern II “undersea boats” assigned to the Advanced Naval Training Flotilla 1 Division 2, the Holy Milishial Empire’s de facto submarine fleet in disguise. Designed as secret weapons to the known world that were unprecedentedly comparable in treatment to the Ancient Sorcerous Empire’s Pal Weapons Group, the U-boats were chosen by the higher-ups for this covert survey mission of the northern uninhabited islands. As a result, the U-20 and her crew found themselves on standby in this remote corner of the world, while the rest of the division established a picket network around them.
“Radar reports no abnormalities in the area. Everything appears clear.”
“Mana detector reports no unusual readings. There are no life signs other than our own or the native wildlife on the island.”
“What about sonar?”
“…Sonar’s clear, sir,” the operator responded at the inquiry.
“Alright, then…”
As some of the crewmen emerged from the hatches, some manned the guns mounted on the deck while the others prepared for the survey mission, so too did the Lieutenant Commander captaining the boat, accompanied by his XO as he stood on the conning tower and scanned the rocks with his binoculars.
As expected, the only signs of life he witnessed were the native alcids and phocids inhabiting this region.
“Nobody else but penguins and seals, huh…”
“Better flightless birds than flightless bird people, don’t you think so, Captain?” came a retort from his XO that left the Lieutenant Commander smirking at his wisecrack.
“Heh, damn straight.”
Since the U-boats were treated as clandestine operations units even within the Holy Empire at this time, naturally the White Lotus Leader sought to ensure they became reliable assets for advancing his plans. To achieve this, he coordinated with the Order of the Ancients to ensure the Undersea Boat Command was manned by his collaborators. With the guarantee that no information about the White Lotus would leak, the White Lotus Leader ensured his collaborators were well-informed. This led to a submarine crew operating nowhere close to the equator being aware of the true state of the Annonrial Empire, leading to such banter between the Captain and the XO.
To further add fuel to the roast, the five marines boarding the U-20 for this mission were equipped with ODM Gears. He wasn’t sure if the Annonrial Empire possessed a similar magic technology, but at least they, the wingless people, had figured out how to fly without wings.
The Lieutenant Commander adjusted his binoculars one last time before lowering them with a quiet sigh. The cold wind had picked up, and the boat’s crew was getting into position.
“Alright then, let’s get started—hm?”
He paused mid-sentence when his sharp hearing overheard the conversation between the marines who were getting ready to depart the boat.
“What’s wrong, Lieutenant!?” he called out, startling the marine team leader who straightened his posture and snapped in the conning tower’s direction.
“…Nothing’s wrong, Captain…!” he shouted back, his voice steady but with a faint undertone of confusion.
“Huh. That little one is grumbling about the cold just now. Could it be that his temperature regulator malfunctions?”
The youngest marine in the team, a boyish-faced ensign, froze at the accusation.
“N-no, sir! There are no abnormalities with the gear! Sorry, sir!”
“Good!” the Lieutenant Commander barked. “Let’s keep things clean and clinical. Lieutenant! You may begin when ready.”
“Aye, aye, sir!”
The marines continued their double-checking of their equipment prior to the deployment. Alongside the Holy Empire’s latest cold-weather tactical equipment, each of them was equipped with Pedanium-based ODM Gear, enabling them to launch off the U-boat and fly to the island by themselves. Calling this equipment invaluable would be an understatement.
And then, with the signal to start the operation, the five marines took off one after another from the U-20, soaring toward the largest island in a way that made the U-boat look like it was launching guided missiles. Rising into the air, they gained altitude before angling their bodies toward the rocky island in a tight single-file formation. From the conning tower, the Lieutenant Commander and his XO watched the scene unfold, their binoculars tracking the team’s movement. As the marines advanced, the U-20’s engines also roared to life, propelling the metallic beast forward as it began a slow circuit around the island, slicing through the waves.
…………
As the marines neared the island, the rocky terrain grew clearer. Jagged outcrops jutted upward, dusted with patches of snow. Dark crevices on the south and west hinted at caves, while the squawking of penguins echoed through the air. Seals could be seen sprawled lazily along the shores, seemingly unbothered by the mysterious visitors gliding silently above. The marine Lieutenant signaled his squad to spread out and begin their survey from the air. Each marine adjusted their trajectory, their flight paths diverging slightly as they attempted to cover the largest island. Below them, the U-20 slowed her pace and came to a standstill north of the island, her engines idling as she awaited further orders.
A team member veered slightly to the northeast of the island, scanning the shoreline for anything resembling a good spot. As his trajectory took him closer, he spotted a section of the coast that seemed well-suited for mooring. Sheltered by natural rock formations on either side, the small inlet featured a gradual slope leading into the water, with the seabed visible beneath its icy surface—shallow enough to work in this very early phase but deep enough for smaller vessels, such as the Pattern II U-boats with their nearly 5-meter draft.
“Leader, this is Byron 3. I’ve spotted a suitable mooring site northeast of the island!” he called into his manacom.
The Lieutenant currently overseeing the team’s spread-out survey adjusted his trajectory to join the member. Hovering above the site, he gave it an assessment with a measuring eye.
“Good find, Byron 3,” he replied, glancing at the inlet again to confirm its potential. Switching channels, he raised the submarine. “U-20, this is Byron Leader. We’ve identified a potential mooring site northeast of the island. It’s sheltered, slopes gently into the water, and appears stable. Request confirmation for the next phase.”
From the conning tower of the U-20, the Lieutenant Commander immediately acknowledged.
“Understood, Byron Leader. Site assessment sounds optimal. Proceed to establish a pier at the designated location. Maintain caution. Over.”
“Copy that, U-20,” the Lieutenant replied before switching back to his team’s channel. “Alright, Byron Team, regroup at Byron 3’s position. We’re setting up a pier. Keep your guard up and land cautiously.”
The five marines adjusted their trajectories and converged on the inlet, descending one by one into the snow-dusted ground and securing the perimeter. And then, two members proceeded to the designated site and started executing the next phase of the operation with their Manadrivers at full force. Concentrating, they began to bend the terrain, coaxing the earth to rise and shape itself into a makeshift pier. Chunks of rock broke away from the surrounding terrain and floated as if weightless, gliding toward the water. With deliberate precision, the two marines shaped the rock into a stable platform that extended from the shoreline into the inlet. One marine focused on the foundation, ensuring the pier would remain anchored against the relentless forces of the waves, while the other smoothed the top, creating an even surface for future use. The others stood watch, scanning the surroundings for any signs of potential threats.
…………
After some time waiting, came the contact from the marines on the island.
“U-20, this is Byron Leader. Operation complete. The structure is stable, and the area remains secure. You’re clear to approach the site.”
The Lieutenant Commander acknowledged with a satisfied tone. “Well done, Byron Team. We’re moving to your position. Stand by.”
Once again, the U-boat’s engines rumbled, bringing the vessel approaching the inlet. As the U-20 neared, the Lieutenant Commander used his binoculars to inspect the team’s work.
The pier was solid, its natural aesthetic seemed to blend with the terrain. He nodded in approval as the U-20 eased alongside it. Once the vessel was safely moored, the Lieutenant Commander went off the conning tower and stepped onto the pier. The cold wind bit at his face, but he barely noticed, his attention entirely on the handiwork of the marines.
“Impressive. Very impressive,” he muttered, more to himself than anyone else. Turning to the Lieutenant who had come to meet him, he added with a grin, “Heh, heh, heh. Fine work, Lieutenant. This will serve us well.”
The marine Lieutenant allowed himself a moment of relaxation as he stood alongside the Lieutenant Commander.
“Thank you, sir… Not to brag, but this is nothing compared to our missions back in the Far East.”
The Lieutenant Commander nodded, impressed but not entirely willing to let the marine team leader off the hook. He craned his neck exaggeratedly to the landscape surrounding them. Before they knew it, snow started to fall over the region.
“Well, Lieutenant, it seems you’ve got quite the résumé. But we’re still a long way to go from completion.”
…………
Throughout that night, four other U-boats from Division 2 took turns docking at the newly built pier, unloading the personnel and equipment needed for the next phase of the survey mission on the Tarpian Rock. These supplies had been prepared from the very beginning with confidence that the mission would proceed without much obstruction the moment the crew stepped into a completely undeveloped area on the first day.
This is the so-called legend of ‘One-Night Infrastructures,’ one of the greatest strengths possessed by the Holy Empire’s armed forces, on full display. While other magical civilizations could theoretically emulate such feats with their own mages, the August Star of Heaven held an obscenely overwhelming advantage over its rivals in terms of speed, strength, and precision due to its high-tech wizardry of the Manadrivers. With experience gained from deploying “special construction crews” to assist with projects in regions like Altaras, Sios, Rodenius, and Duro, the invention of pedanium and Amrita solidified the Holy Empire’s specialist military mages as formidable one-man combat engineering units.
What is taking shape on the Tarpian Rock from this day onward, only time will tell. The penguins were there amidst the ongoing operation, but it’s not like they can speak human.
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December 31, 1616 Central Calendar, 23:59:55
Albion District, Runepolis, Holy Milishial Empire
The crowd at the plaza surrounding the Monument of the Five Peoples was alive, and as the final seconds before the stroke of midnight were upon them, the roar of the crowd grew louder, voices rising in unison as the countdown began. Among the throngs stood Meteos and Nadia who were there with family and friends.
“Five…! Four…! THREE…! TWO…! ONE…! HAPPY NEW YEAAAAAAAR!!!”
“HAAPPYY BIRTHDAAY… SIXTEEN-SEVENTEEEEEEEEEN…!!!”
The countdown reached its climax, and with a final burst of energy, the plaza erupted in a cacophony of cheers and joyous shouts. Fireworks exploded above, painting the night sky in brilliant colors, and the bells of the clock towers all over the city rang out in deep sonorous chimes, marking the arrival of the new year.
A while later, their group made their way to a nearby park. It was quieter there, but the vibrant fireworks were still fully visible. When Meteos glanced at Nadia, he saw her face beautifully illuminated by the fiery spectacle as she watched them pop and dance in the sky. Captivated, he reached out, his gloved hand gently clasping hers. The subtle squeeze drew her gaze to meet his.
“It’s an amazing sight, huh?”
“Mm.”
Meteos couldn’t help but chuckle. It’s impossible to show a weary countenance to such a person. His girlfriend was as timid as ever, yet her eyes never lie in conveying the moments whenever she feels in awe or excitement. Somehow, the tug-of-war between her shyness and the spark of wonder she couldn’t hide only made her all the more endearing.
“I see. Well, I’m just relieved,” he sighed, “that despite how hectic the days can become, there are still moments like this to be found.”
Nadia blinked before she offered a small amused smile. “That’s… rather dramatic.”
“Oh, is it?” Meteos challenged playfully.
“Hehe. But… I agree with you. I hope it never changes.”
‘May this life never change us either.’
They both paused – neither wishing to break the perfection of the moment – but after a while Meteos quietly corrected himself.
“—I hope it does change,” he countered Nadia. “But only for the better.”
“Ah… you’ve twisted my words…”
The silver-haired boy grinned sheepishly. “Sorry. I couldn’t help myself.”
“Ah, no, I don’t mind that. I like it. Those are nice words, Meteos.”
Meteos smiled, more sincerely this time. Without her soothing presence, he would have broken down in solitude. His hope for the new year isn’t merely a heartfelt wish.
It’s an S.O.S. to the World.