Farewell

It feels like a bright light took blinded my, but as I get back to my senses, I can sense the heat of the burning houses and the yelling through the city.

Daniel is sitting on the ground looking at Joy, who is tenderly hugging him, protecting from Sally's sword, which is inches from striking her from behind. Sally is lifeless, as well as all the undead all over the city.

Daniel's expression is one of confusion and sorrow. 

I'm in disbelief myself, my senses go numb, and I cannot stop myself from crying. 

Joy has bled out, there is no life in her body. Protecting Daniel was her last action, but I can still feel her in my arms. 

This can't be true … 

This is true ... Snif

The increasing heat doesn't lend me any time to mourn or try to leave reality.

"Daniel! We need to stop the fire!"

He is still very confused, but his instincts might've taken over, and all the undead move towards the river to fill buckets of water and help. The people hesitate to leave their houses in aid, but it soon changes and everybody around joins the effort.

Or almost everybody. There is one person that cannot go on. 

From the depths of darkness he emerges. His face and arms are bleeding, and he can barely lift his left arm, but he still wants to fight. My bow and arrows burned, and Daniel is still in a catatonic state. He points Joy's sword in our direction. 

"It isn't over. I just need to get rid of Daniel and … HUFF HUFF … Everything will be mine."

"Come on, Tarik. We don't need to fight. You're tired too. We can establish two countries! You can still rule, and we maintain things here as they are. We can live peacefully." 

"Peace won't ever be an option for me, that bus already left the station!"

Honestly, I was kinda hoping he wouldn't back down. I really want to punch his face.

His movements are slow, he tries to lounge forward, but his leg doesn't have the force it once had. He swings rashly and totally whiffs. I manage to quickly occupy the space after that and move for a hook at his jaw, he hits me with the handle of the sword.

I can feel my head shaking, and a little dizziness, but I can tell he didn't have much strength left either. He almost fell from my amateur swing. 

I circle around him to get closer to a piece of hardwood on the floor and waited for his next swing to roll and get it. At the end of the movement I turn, hitting his knee and then kicking the sword far away. 

I jump on him and start pounding his face. Defenseless and pathetic. 

After one or two punches, he is already knocked out. But …

I remember Joy's long dark hair and punch him again.

I remember her tanned skin and punch him again.

I remember Joy's eyes. Again.

I remember the feel of her lips. Again

I remember her laughing. Again

I remember her voice. 

…

~~~

"If Tarik dies, my brother won't come back."

~~~ 

TSK

I punch the floor and cannot contain my tears. I slowly recover my composure and move away from him. I still cannot stop crying.  

I turn my focus to aiding with the fire, and that was the last time I saw Tarik.

I sneaked Daniel out of the city first thing in the morning and by the next day we were already back to Fracaleza. Mar de Fevereiro wants vengeance, but we arrange for the liberation of Fracaleza in return for a pardon. 

The platoon has to move to the Clã de Ataque's camp, and I take upon myself the mission of teaching the kid soldiers basic literacy and math. I incentivize them to write their feelings, as they see fit. Maybe we can sell some poems?

Trading with Continuá is bumpy, as they are weary of the kids, but they need our help. They have all kinds of psychological problems that I couldn't possibly deal on my own, not to mention post-traumatic stress and the memories of the terror they themselves inflicted. 

Will I be able to forge relations with the rest of the continent? 

Are we going to be able to convince them that these children are victims rather than perpetrators? 

Are they going to live past their PTSD? What about their gruesome memories? 

I wish I had the answers, and I wish I could tell you I became the warrior of legends, but I can guarantee that I did my best and love all of them as if they were my sons.