Chapter 52

In front of each of the six large trees, there stood their respective Protogni:

In front of the purple-pink tree, roses covering the ground beneath it, stood Purest Love.

In front of the blue tree, steel instead of flowers covering the ground beneath it, stood Father Time.

In front of the golden tree, only leaves covering the ground beneath it, stood Sir Fate.

In front of the glowing tree, small glowing flowers covering the ground beneath it, stood Little Light.

In front of the black tree, the ground being completely covered in shadow and darkness, stood Endless Darkness.

In front of the white tree, lilies covering the ground beneath it, stood Lady Death.

Thus, they all were present. Even if the distance between them was great, they were able to talk to each other.

“Is this the end? Has it come, Lady?” Little Light looks at the night sky, being lit up by the tree behind her.

“... We shall see.” Lady Death smiles charmingly.

“Whether or not there will be a future does not depend on the world itself. It depends on those inside of it, correct?” Father Time leans against her tree.

“Indeed: For a book would neither work without characters, nor would it work without a reader. Our world does work in the same way.” Sir Fate slowly picks up a single leaf from the ground and holds it high above his head.

“Let us talk once more. Maybe this will be the last time we talk.” Endless Darkness lays down, slowly closing his eyes.

“It has truly been an honor to have talked, met and watched over this world with all of you.” As Purest Love talks in union, they slowly undress, revealing themself naked in front of the upcoming end.

“You should not think that this is the end and act accordingly.” Lady Death slowly takes a small sip of the tea she is still carrying with her.

“Is it not, Lady? Is there still hope for us? Will there be a tomorrow?”

Lady Death smiles. She smiles, accepting true freedom.

“It is not important. Your lives will not change, even if you will die tomorrow. Whether or not you die today or in a thousand years… The way you live your life today should not ever change, even in the slightest.

Live your lives as if you will never die. Or, better yet: Live every day as though it will be the last one. That is the only answer I can give you.

After all, Father Time does not know the future. Sir Fate does not know what is set in stone. Purest Love does not understand love. Neither Little Light, nor Endless Darkness truly know themselves. Just like them, I do not understand when the End of all things will come. I do know however: The end will arrive. And because it will arrive, no one should act as though they have infinite time. Everyone will die. Everyone will end. Precisely because there is an end… People should use the finite time they have.
Nothing is infinite. In the end, everything will crumble to dust. And even that dust will disappear one day.”

None of the Protogoni say another thing. Purest Love looks at the sky with both of its heads. Then they smile.

“I love every second of my life. And if my life will end today, then it will not be a sad moment. After all, I am surrounded by the people I love. Is that not the perfect end imaginable?”

Father Time laughs. “You think so? Well, it does make sense… I cannot differentiate past from future… At the very start, at birth… You are surrounded. You are the center of attention… It is only logical that at the very end, at death… The same conditions should be met.”

Sir Fate claps. “Bravo. Now, whether or not this is the end, I pose another question: Does our existence truly have a meaning?”

“No, it doesn’t. Our existence is utterly meaningless.” Endless Darkness doesn’t face the rest of them directly. He is crying tears of pure shadow, though he would never admit that.

“Yup, you’re right, big bro. Nothing truly has meaning… So we do not have to feel bad about anything we do! If there is something you truly want to do, then you should do it.”

“You should listen to your little sister. She is more wise than you are.” Father Time grins a bit.

“No… No, you simply do not understand: There is no purpose! There is no meaning! Everything I will do and do and did will be utterly futile in the end! If I were to kill myself, there would be no difference in what I did.”

“You truly think so, Endless Darkness?” Sir Fate smiles a bit. “I believe there is a purpose. I believe that all of life has a certain purpose, a certain role. Thus, you are important as well… But that is not my point. My point is that my opinion of everything harshly differentiates from yours. And, because it differentiates, there is no clear answer. But there is one thing I know for certain: Whether or not my opinion is correct is irrelevant. What is irrelevant is that I believe you to be important. Even if you think of yourself as useless, meaningless and all of this, you are - still - important to someone. Like to me.”

Endless Darkness looks up at the night sky, then he looks to Lady Death.

“Endless Darkness, do you know what they say? They say that after Death, the only thing awaiting them is: Endless Darkness.

There are people who need you. People who desire you, even.

I do need you. For you shall bring peace to those. And as soon as I bring you to peace as well, you shall simply stay a part of me until I end.

All of you shall.

Have you enjoyed your life up until this point? For I have: And I will enjoy it until my heart stops beating.”