Disc 2: Land of Castles and the Lion. Ch. 10: Nessun Dorma

The following days brought, at last, a bit of peace. The first important event was the capture of The Commentator by Floating Man, acting on behalf of the Arianism Order. This was a key moment in dismantling the radical group known as the Albigensian Counter Crusade. Most of the people in Strength, as well as neighboring communities in the Land of Castles, had no issue abandoning that faith after the fall of the Lion.

More difficult was the task of containing the resurgence of nationalism in the northern and western regions of the peninsula. Still, both the Harvesters and the Guild made efforts to boost trade in those areas, hoping to channel frustrations toward productive goals rather than a new would-be Emperor. The Guild, in particular, grew stronger by absorbing many demobilized soldiers from the Lion’s former army into its labor force.

During a few crucial days, the three entities rescued from the failed ritual were taken to Iron Bridge, a nearby community where the Arianism Order ran a hospital. From a theological perspective, the situation was delicate: their enemies had claimed to have achieved the core aim of the Order—creating a new tripod for the Trinity.

However, with the base flooded and later destroyed, no conclusive proof of such an experiment could be recovered. Humanity remained deeply reliant on electrical and/or nuclear energy, and without it, most technology failed to function. Neither the BEP nor Man in the Center were ever found.

The first to awaken was the naked, bearded man. He introduced himself as Rum but then laughed, admitting it made no sense to hide anymore. His true name was Cain, and he claimed to be immortal, the bearer of an ancient curse. Despite his past, he came off as sociable, even superficial, as if time itself had drained all weight from existence.

Still, out of gratitude, he offered a brief explanation to Common Day, Eme-chan, and Ms. South White—the only ones truly interested. He had been captured because his curse granted him perfect bodily immortality—his flesh could not be destroyed, though he was sure his spirit had left the world long ago. Apparently, Golden Shogun planned to use his body as a vessel to give the entity known as Jnum a physical form.

Valley Work, on the other hand, never woke up. Though not dead, parts of her body began to disintegrate, as if made of clay. The hospital’s doctors were baffled. Rum—Cain—speculated that she was used as a temporary vessel used by a demon in exchange for giving her body parts.

Not even then will I forgive you.

Satis was the only one who fully awoke, but she never regained her sight. Her eyes had been used in the ritual and were beyond recovery. Common Day never recovered his supernatural powers—but truthfully, he didn’t care. He had learned that a confrontational attitude, a well-placed insult, and the will to do what’s right were better weapons than any gift the demon (or was it a goddess?) had given him.

"Servant, I... I must make you a confession. All this time, this desire to cause chaos in the world, I truly enjoyed it. But at the same time, I don’t understand it. I simply exist this way, and not in any other manner. I barely have memories of my past. I don’t know who I am."

Common Day grinned maliciously.

"That’s what neither you, nor that demon, nor anyone understands. You think you’re evil because of your grandiose actions, but you forget the most important thing about evil: it’s a choice. None of you were free to desire evil; it was imposed on you ontologically."

He paused for a moment, standing up to look at the sky.

"Is rain evil when it floods a field? The rain just is, the demons just are. It is we, humans, who truly choose. Only we were given the right to be evil. That was god's greatest gift, and he paid a heavy price for it."

Satis seemed to blush, but also a little annoyed. The demon was always contradictory.

"If your words are true, then if I do something other than follow this call to perversion, does that mean I am free?"

The boy looked at her with his single eye and understood her words.

They embarked on the journey to the land of the end a few days later, once both of them could walk without trouble. The rest of their companions had already gotten ahead of them. Despite all the disturbances, the western routes were quite safe. Those who were still alive by then had no desire to cause trouble to anyone.

The climate changes continued, and although this region had once been known as the Forest of the People, there were many desert-like areas. In any case, the story of Common Day and Rowdy Deer (Satis, to their closest friends) was already known to everyone on the peninsula. They had earned the trust of the rest of the neighbors, so it was easy for them to find supplies.

Once they reached Finisterre, all their friends were waiting with a surprise party. After all, it was a unique day in life: it was the last one.

Some entertained themselves by theorizing about how the last movement of the sun would be, but in the end, for the first time in a long time, the sunset followed its normal course. Common Day narrated to Satis everything he observed, from the most beautiful things to the most irrelevant. Though by then, the word "irrelevant" no longer held any relevance.

The final hours were a unique experience. Some were just there, sitting on the cliff that had once been proclaimed "the end of the world" (and which would honor its name today) enjoying the good weather. Others began to cry uncontrollably (even though they had promised not to do so).

Inevitably, everyone started to hug. It was a natural reaction. Family, friends, strangers—none of that really mattered. Gradually, as the sun hid, everyone gathered closer together. Common Day hugged Satis tightly.

One of them (it would never be known who) said first:

"I love you."

The other responded with a kiss that lasted until the end of time.

The sun finally set, and it never rose again.