Chapter 36: Why didn’t you tell me?

Elir emerged from the bathroom and found that Nier was no longer in his bed at the clinic. He searched all around the infirmary but couldn’t find him. Anxiety crept into his chest. He went outside into the courtyard under the dark night sky. It was deserted and quiet—everyone asleep. Everything seemed normal, except for those flickering flames in the distance.

Elir quickly moved toward them, heart pounding, breath growing ragged as he rushed with all his might until he reached the fire. And there stood Nier, facing the flames. Puzzled, Elir followed Nier’s gaze into the fire. He saw… what was burning… pieces of cloth and paper. Some fluttered out of the firepit—strips of cloth holding scraps of paper with soldiers’ names. Name tags.

Elir said anxiously, “Nier…”

Still staring into the flames, Nier replied, “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Elir gave him a baffled look, and Nier went on, “Why didn’t you tell me how childish it was… collecting these tags…”

Nier crouched near the flames, speaking, “It’s so foolish, saving these name slips… It was selfish… and childish of me! Like I could do anything for them…”

Elir stood there, rooted, at a loss for words. Nier glanced up at him with emptiness in his eyes and said, “I’m sorry… you gathered some of them as well.”

Elir said, “I don’t understand…”

Nier said, “Not everyone even has a name tag, right? Where was the name tags of people at the festival… and our people at Bial… And besides… what good do they do for the dead, collecting their names?!” Anger crept into his voice, “It was selfish… and childish of me! They can’t even rest in peace if they died!”

Nier continued, “Tell me—why am I in this army? What am I doing here? Why are we here, Elir?”

Elir replied, “Isn’t this what you wanted, Nier? Didn’t you want to join the army and help everyone?”

Nier shouted, “How?? How can I help anyone?!”

He lifted his shirt to reveal the huge scar across his torso, looking like spirals of rotted flesh. “How, when I’m like this?! My body can’t keep going!”

Elir gripped Nier’s arm, “It doesn’t matter! Your body will heal! And if it doesn’t… You have me! I’m your weapon! I’ll carve the path for you, Nier!”

Nier looked at him and remembered what President Arni had told him earlier at the office. After Nier had gone into Arni’s office, Arni gestured for him to sit. He studied Nier for a moment, then said, “Boja told me that you’re the only one Elir listens to. If Boja hadn’t told me that, I would’ve ordered his execution on the spot.”

Nier cried out, “Execution?!”

Arni continued, “But… if you think you can keep him under control… If you can direct him to protect Frata and its citizens, and contain his powers…”

Nier was stunned, and Arni explained, “This isn’t a threat. If that boy truly listens to you, then please… guide him so he protects Frata. I’m placing my complete trust in you, letting a Light walk among humans once more. But we need him to defend Frata from what’s coming.”

Nier stood, astonished, “President Arni… what’s coming for Frata?”

Arni looked at the ripened plants and blooming flowers on his desk, then turned to Nier with a pleading expression, “Please!”

Nier blurted, “But if something’s about to happen, you have to tell everyone—”

Arni wore a strange look as he replied, “That wouldn’t change anything.” He stared at Nier, “The future of Frata depends on you. You’re the one who can save us!”

Nier’s eyes lit up as he clenched his fist, “Alright!”

…

Back in the present, Nier’s eyes welled with tears as he looked at Elir standing before him, as worry danced across his face in the glow of the flames.