Standing atop a frozen mountain top, a lonely figure stands at its’ full height.

Which just so happens to be shorter than most people, much to the figures’ displeasure.

Despite the cold, the sparsely clad figure does not shiver nor tremble, nor make any attempt at conserving body heat.

This figure wore a cloak, gloves, and knee-high boots all made of cured leather. But on its’ face was a mask alien to this time.

The figure took out a scrap of paper, looking at the design upon it closely. Nodding to itself, the figure walked up to the lip of the cliff.

Without pause, it stepped off and plunged down at mind-numbing speed toward the ground several thousand feet below.

---

Standing atop the same mountaintop, a similarly vertically challenged figure sits, oblivious to the cold. Shaking her head at her predecessors arrogance and stupidity, she takes out the mask.

Long ago, the meaning for it was lost. The only reason she had retrieved the mask was because of a tradition.

One must always, always cover their face when killing the emperor.

Getting to her feet, feeling the wind whip the cowl of her cloak about her head, she also stepped up to the lip. Spreading her arms like wings, she fell.

Gravity was a jealous mistress, always vengeful against those who dare to defy her, and attempt to gain the sky. The girl had always wondered if the birds were men who had conquered gravity, and shed their former forms, or if they were machinations created by lady gravity to taunt mortals.

Going up against lady gravity was a fool’s quest. That was a simple fact of this plain. However…

The girl was no fool. Her descent was abruptly halted, a metal cord tightening around her body. She hung, suspended out in open air for one more moment-

And then centrifugal force smashed her body into the side of the cliff with bone-crushing force.

---

A lone figure sat, its’ legs swinging over the dark chasm below. A ragged cloak stained with the evidence of years of use wrapped its’ way around the figures shoulders.

The mask had one dent in the forehead, and a whole side was slightly warped. After all, the previous owners hadn’t met very peaceful ends.

Of course, this time would be different, thought the figure as it slid off the cliff.

---

A short boy peered at an abyss with an unknown depth. He slowly slid backward, and approached his very own method of descending from the height.

A large circle of cloth with a hole in the center.

The cloth would catch the air, and slow his fall, while the hole in the middle would let him not be thrown around by every fancy of the wind. Girding himself in leather straps and metal clips, he attached himself to the circle of cloth.

Taking a running start, he sprinted forward, diving down into the unknown-

As wind filled his sky-sail, he felt the weight leave his feet, and knew for the first time the wonder of weightlessness.

He had done it! He had conquered lady gravity, and now nothing was impossible!

With his eyes closed, and his mind filled with elation and peace, with joy and wonderment, the straps holding him to the sky-sail snapped in quick succession, and he plunged to the earth, still believing he had won.

---

Like the ones who had come before, the figure wore the mask.

Of course, the most recent dent made the mask slightly uncomfortable.

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Making certain that the metal cord attached to the three-pronged hook was strong and flexible, it checked the knot, making certain it was tight and secure, and would not come undone.

Feeling a sense of superiority, the figure stepped off the cliff, walking sideways down the cliff. Giving itself plenty of slack, it started taking hops and leaps, speeding its’ descent. Soon, the bottom came within sight-

And then the hook tied to the metal cord came whistling down, still attached to a rock.

The figure looked incredulously at the hook, then back up at the top of the cliff.

Seeing the metal cord tearing down toward it, it just had time to offend the divine before it gained the feeling of weightlessness.

It quite liked the feeling.

---

The mask.

What is it about this mask that is so important?

Why are there so many dents and scratches?

Why am I standing on this cliff?

Why do I have to kill the emperor?

I slid the mask onto my face, and for the first time since its’ creation-

It was a perfect fit. The ones before me had to keep it attached to their face with straps, but I…

To me, the mask feels as if it was made for me. All of the dents and scratches line up with my face, as if it was created just for me.

Standing up, I walk to the cliff face. It is the only way, to jump off into this abyss.

Or, that is what we who wear the mask have always thought.

I turn from the cliff, and walk to the side. There I find a long, winding staircase.

It is not shown on my map, but it goes where I am supposed to go.

Why have none before me taken this route?

Why did they all mindlessly follow the map, not deciding to take a route they themselves choose?

Why must I kill the emperor?

For two hours, I walk down the treacherous staircase. Ice and snow threaten to send me tumbling to my doom, but each time I slip I manage to recover.

When I reach the bottom, I take out a scrap of paper.

It is yellowed, frayed, ripped and cracked. Still, the way I am supposed to go is still legible. I guess I am still one who follows the map.

Why is this map drawn the way it is?

What is the meaning of this mask?

Why am I going to kill the emperor?

I walked up to the bottom of the cliff, and looked up.

How many of those before me lay here, broken and bleeding, looking up at the height they had fallen?

Had they ever even made it that far?

Why is it that I, out of all the creatures on this earth, have to kill the emperor?

Perhaps the answer is not as simple as I think, but for me, there has always only been one reason.

I am the only creature who can kill the emperor. The people who come after me can question why, but for now…

I have a purpose, something that only I can do. Why I do so is a question that can be left till I’m dead.

Those before me, they left dents and scratches.

I, however, will leave something more for those who come after.

I will leave behind the completed quest that so many have perished attempting.

When I have completed my work, maybe then I’ll know why so many have attempted this.