A day later, after the letter was delivered to Mako, the heavens darkened to an ominous red, and the crosses shifted their hues to a searing orange. It was all over in a matter of seconds. Among the crosses, a circular gap of blackness appeared. From within it, a blinding beam flashed from the skies, leaving behind nothing but black dust where the walls of the city had once stood. The gap disappeared, and the crosses moved to their normal formation. Later, above the scarred earth, a floating island was raised, and a new city was established, for the ground beneath could no longer sustain life.
The Rohai never communicates directly. Their will was always conveyed through the messengers of the Church of Harmony. And they are a rare occasion to be seen in public, save for the conclaves, when a new Rohai journeyed across the cities of the Rohana Federation to bless its officials and rulers.
After what felt like an eternity, Alex steadied himself, his trembling hands reaching for the letter, focusing his eyes on what the actual text was. He feared that if Rohai had turned their gaze upon them, then their fate would mirror that of Mako's.
His thoughts turned to his wife and daughter, waiting for him at home. The day before, he had chastised his daughter for leaving her things scattered about. It had spiraled into an argument, ending with her fleeing to her room in tears. Now, the memory cut him deeper than any blade. How insignificant it all seemed now.
All Alex wanted now was to hold them, to tell them how much he loved them, to beg for forgiveness for his harshness. If the Creators had any mercy left, perhaps, in death, they could forge a new beginning.
Alex forced himself to read, avoiding letting his tears mar the paper. After a few moments, he began laughing like a madman and turned to Sergei, kissing him on both cheeks. Sergei, who until that moment had been in a state of lifelessness, was utterly bewildered as he felt Alex's kisses. He pushed himself away from Alex's embrace.
"Have you completely lost your mind at the end of our existence?" Sergei roared, shoving Alex away with a force born of confusion and fear.
"Sergei, my friend, my colonel..." Alex gasped, his words tumbling out in fragments as he struggled to catch his breath. His heart thundered in his chest, a drumbeat of adrenaline and disbelief. Grabbing the bottle of mead, he tipped it back, gulping its contents with abandon.
Then Alex handed him the letter from the Rohai. Sergei began to read it, and his demeanor shifted as well. Tears streamed down his face as he lunged forward and embraced Alex tightly. The letter slipped from his hands and fell to the floor.
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Beloved servants of the Creators,
Hear these solemn words, for a grave and monstrous act has transpired within the sacred lands of the Scallia Republic. The perpetrator of this heinous crime does not merely challenge our laws and values but threatens the very harmony of the Rohana Federation, the life we hold dear under the watchful gaze of the Creators.
Thus, I declare this with divine urgency: the truth of the massacre in the village of Marcialla must remain veiled in secrecy. The Church, in its infinite wisdom, has appointed its shepherds to guide the people toward a narrative befitting the order and sanctity of our land. It is your sacred duty to provide them with every measure of support they require, that their mission may be fulfilled in harmony and righteousness.
Let it be known, without question, that those who seek to spread whispers of the forbidden truth shall face the Creator's wrath—a wrath swift, unyielding, and righteous. To you, the stewards of military might, I entrust this holy charge: root out the seeds of heresy, silence the tongues of falsehood, and protect the innocent by whatever means are required.
Should you falter in this sacred task, the heavens themselves shall bear witness to your failure. The skies will run red, a tapestry of judgment woven from the blood of the guilty and the innocent alike.
From dust we were created, and to dust we shall return.
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"Alex, do I have your permission to call it a day?" Sergei asked, his tone lighter than it had been in hours.
"Of course, my friend," Alex replied, a soft smile spreading across his face. "Go home, take some time to clear your head. I'll be heading out soon myself. I need to hold my wife and daughter, to tell them how much they mean to me. The Creators have given me a second chance, and I intend to make the most of it."
"No, no," Sergei interrupted, shaking his head with a grin. "Do you remember that waitress I told you about? At the inn, a few days back? The one who seemed interested in me, but I couldn't summon the courage to say anything? Well, if this isn't a sign from the heavens to ask her out, I don't know what is."
Alex laughed—a genuine, hearty laugh as tension disappeared from the air. He embraced Sergei, and together they walked out of the office. They knew tomorrow's hardships would begin, but for today, they'll praise this small path of hope.