THE LAST DAWN

A few light rays of sunlight were sneaking through the clouds of a corrupted sky. It was enough to know that the day had begun. Asimil was standing guard atop the walls of Eldoria. The relief had not yet arrived. The air was cold, and the silence of the early morning was broken only by the distant murmur of the waking city.

— it's strange to be so calm, isn't it?  —  Mio's cheerful voice brought him out of his thoughts. She approached, Her pink hair swaying in the breeze. — Do you mind if I come with you? — She asked.

Asimil nodded, and the two began to walk slowly along the wall. — They told me what happened in the Pit — said Mio, her tone becoming more serious. — With Saitras. And with the creature. -She gave him a sidelong glance. You think the Void is something new, don't you? An outside invasion. —

— Isn't it? — Asimil asked, confused.

— Not quite — she replied, looking at the horizon. — The Void also presents itself in the form of emotions. Feelings. Anger, fear, despair... they are small cracks in our soul. And we ourselves are the ones who must decide if we let darkness enter through them, or if we fill them with light. —

In the distance, in one of the command towers, Sacres was conversing with an elf, his second in command. His gaze strayed to the wall and he saw the scene: Asimil, his ward, walking and conversing on a par with one of the most powerful players in the world. A smile of pure fatherly pride broke out on his face. What do you know, he thought. That weak, sniveling boy...

Asimil realized that he was watching him. He smiled at Sacres and gave him a playful finger signal, pointing downward several times, as if to say come here if you dare.

Sacres blinked, surprised by the audacity. Who does this brat think he is ?, he thought, and then let out a laugh so loud and genuine that it startled the elf beside him.

The day passed in a feverish flurry of preparations. In the afternoon, Luce and Asimil had a moment alone in a small indoor garden, one of the few places that had not been damaged. Luce, with a shyness that contrasted with his ferocity in battle, handed him a wrapped package. It was the dagger he had purchased.

— My old dagger broke.... — said Asimil, speechless. — Thank you, Luce. It is perfect. —

It was a happy, peaceful moment. But in an oversight, while getting up, Asimil stumbled over a raised root. He lost his balance and fell on top of Luce, trapping her against the grass. They stood like that, staring into each other's eyes, the tension and surprise of the moment a force field around them. Without saying anything, their faces, their lips, were inches apart.

¡SQUAWK!

A messenger bird landed abruptly on Asimil's shoulder, pecking his ear and breaking the spell. They both jumped away, blushing. The bird's message was an order, All fighters, to the central square. Immediately.

There, the last high commanders, including Sacres, were waiting for them. The atmosphere was somber.

— We have located the castle of the Void — announced a chief, or rather, the general of the largest remaining clan. — Intelligence confirms that they are preparing a final attack. We cannot wait for them. We will attack in a few hours. —

The news came as a shock. A sudden, suicidal mission. To try to raise spirits, they introduced the last remaining Firmament Stars: Mio, Valerius, Ragnar, Sylas, Aegis and the Sage.

But it didn't quite work. A murmur of panic ran through the ranks of the army. —It's suicide!, I'd rather spend my last remaining hours with my family! —

— Traitor! — Roared another. The argument escalated, almost killing each other.

It was then that Mio stepped forward. She slammed the base of her halberd against the ground, and a deafening but harmless sound silenced the crowd.

— They're right — she said, her clear, steady voice capturing everyone's attention. — They are afraid.  They have a right to leave... But consider, do you really want your family members, your children, your loved ones, to go through the same hell you know is coming? Or would you rather sacrifice yourselves here and now? To suffer that hell yourself, so that they never have to. —

These words were enough. The doubt in the soldiers' eyes was replaced by a grim determination. They were willing to go through that hell, as long as their families did not.

The army was organized. Hundreds of groups. Ikel, Mitsu, Luce and Asimil were left in one. Tenshi, Kenji, Sacres and Yumi, in another. They had until dawn.

Before leaving, Luce and Asimil had one last talk. — Luce, stay — he said, his voice a plea.—  It is too dangerous. —

She looked at him, and for the first time, saw offense in his eyes. — Stay? Stay here while you and the others risk their lives? Asimil, after losing everything in the Cataclysm... the only thing I had left was you. And I don't plan to lose you. —

He, convinced and moved, took Luce's hand.  — Then, together until the end. —

— Together until the end — she replied.

And they left the citadel, walking side by side toward the final battle.