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Traces of blood, signs of war, remnants of chaos. this is a battlefield. There is no remorse on the battlefield, no kindness, no peace. What awaits is only death, destruction, and the end.
“Pf—Haah! Gha..! Wh-what happened!”
A man, brutally wounded, was crawling through the debris. His arm was bloody, and injuries and scars that were life-threatening engulfed him in searing pain. Under normal circumstances, this man would be dead. Mystical abilities shot out everywhere; poison, curses, and even explosions.
Perhaps by luck, or by a miracle? He was still able to move. Slowly crawling his way to a destination even he does not know, what may only await him is eternal slumber, back to the embrace of his Deity.
But this man was finding someone. Someone precious and dear to him. The both of them was swept into this battle, and he promised to protect her and escape under all circumstances. Because he was a Beyonder. He has the power.
no. He didn't have it. Because he had failed.
He was powerless. When they were blown away, he couldn't grasp her hand. He had failed to comfort her, to save her. An undeniable truth.
“Haah— Nie… Where—Where are you!” Even when his throat could barely speak, he managed to shout. His determination and anxiety overpowered his weakness. He continued to shout until his throat gave up on him.
“Nie… Please. Please. Please be alive..”
—
The man crawled until all of his joints were screaming. Barely holding on with his last bit of consciousness, he still persisted. How much time had passed? He couldn't know, as that was not important.
Amidst his blurry thoughts, he saw a figure not far away.
“N-Nie..! Don't worry, Don't worry! I-I’ll help you out there right away!”
His pace quickened, his breathing ragged. But first of all, this blurry figure in his eyes, he couldn't be mistaken. It was definitely her. He couldn't mistake this presence only from her.
He digged out the debris and rubble with all his might, not caring if he got calluses, injuries, or even his nails rotting.
Just a little more, Just a little..!
With the only sole reason of saving her, he mustered the last bit of strength he had left to forcefully pull her away from the rubble.
At the time he could finally hold her, his sight blacked out. He was falling unconscious. But all that washed over him was deep regret and relief. He thought he had saved her.
I… I managed to save Nie. I'm sorry, I’m sorry Nie. You had to go through this. I'm sorry… Forgive me. I couldn't protect you… But now, I'm… here…
Was it because of his blurry mind? While in her embrace, he slowly lost consciousness. Both of them were hugging each other. And his final memories were of how both of them were just enjoying each other's company. Before all of this had happened.
He was holding her hand.
It was just that both their hands—
They were cold.
–
It was then a man appeared before the two, holding each other's lifeless bodies in their embrace. Inseparable until death.
Among the lifeless and quiet atmosphere of the once chaotic battlefield, this was not a rare sight. Countless bodies were hidden beneath rubble, lifeless corpses scattered. That was a battlefield.
A Beyonder Characteristic of a Winner seeped out from the man. The young man with white hair picked up the characteristic. He looked at the poor couple once more. He couldn't help but sigh.
“…”
Perhaps out of pity? Or perhaps out of respect, this robed man decided to bury them. Together.
Along with a piece of stone placed on top of their graves. This was their epitaph.
“Fate… Can be a cruel joke.”
The man slowly stood up and vanished, as if he was never there in the first place.
As he left, the epitaph began to glow. It was then imbued with the essence of Misfortune. An ill omen.
Written upon their epitaph was only a few words, etched out forcefully using unknown means.
”He, who is fated.
She, who is hated.
Each other forever, until separated.”
—
“Mierna! Don't ever let go of my hand. I'll get us out of here, I promise you that.”
“Mm. Y-yeah. I'm sorry. You had to go through this. It's all my fault. I’m sorry..”
“ You don't have to. It was my selfish decision to bring you in this dangerous place. I should be the one who apologizes.”
The mourns of a couple could be faintly heard from within a field of beautiful flowers. At least, that's what it seemed to look like.
But in their eyes, it was a sea of hell. Pitch-dark fire was slowly engulfing the field. The sky turned gray, and everything was dreary. They were trapped in an endless stream of fire. It was getting hard to breathe, and the heat was starting to creep up to them.
–
The flames were reaching up to them, so they ran. They ran as fast as they ever could. When she fell, he helped her back up as fast as possible. When she was tired, he carried her. His determination to protect her made everything possible.
And at the same time, he was thinking of a way to save her from here.
What do I do? I can't keep running for longer, and if that happens…
Then, it was when a past memory struck him. A day before the trip. He met a man with a monocle.
–
”Good morning, esteemed gentleman! Care to buy some of our supernatural products? Hmm? I can give you some good deals that will he worth your money!”
”I'm not interested.”
”Please, you won't regret it! Ah, how about this Beyonder charm?”
”You… You are a Beyonder?”
”Indeed, indeed! But please keep this humble merchant's secret for yourself! How about a 75% discount?
”How much for that charm?”
”Well, good sir, I know for a glance that you might be special! So I’m giving you this charm for cheap! 50 pounds.”
”What charm is this?”
”Hehe, well, good sir. This charm is—”
His eyes were now filled with hope. The charm he had bought from the man would actually prove useful!
He quickly retrieved the charm from one of his pockets and gave it to Mierna to hold. He visibly relaxed, and gave Mierna a comforting smile, saying "It'll all be okay, dear."
Injecting Spirituality into the charm, he made Mierna hold it as tight as possible.
With this, I can save her.
The charm was glowing.
Hugging her tightly, he kissed her dearly one more time before muttering.
“Mierna, I love you.”
He spoke with a fleeting voice. Amidst the sounds of fire, she heard him well. Her eyes widened.
“Wait, dear, what is this—?” Perhaps her intuition had told her, but she had a feeling that what he would do would be the last time he's gonna see her.
“Travel!”
“Dear—!”
Then, Mierna vanished. Perhaps she had teleported somewhere, or perhaps she went into a safer place. The man, foolishly enough, blindly believed that the charm was going to save her.
But he didn't know that this place was inescapable.
Breathing a sigh of relief, his legs fell weak, and he slumped to the ground, panting heavily.
But even breathing was a burden, as the flames carried toxic air, making him unable to breathe.
Knowing his final moments, he gave up on being able to stand. He knew he would die here.
So, he knelt down praying.
“Haah— Haha. Please, please. Just let her. Heavens above, just let her live. Please. I beg of you. Gods, I beg of you.”
Tears flowed out of his eyes, but it was quickly dried up by the flames. As his skin charred, his flesh burning, all he could think of was the smile that meant everything to him. The reason of his happiness.
“Mierna. I'm sorry.”
Those were the man's last words before he was consumed by the flames.
–
A man with a long, pointed hat, wearing a monocle was walking around the burned field. Once full of life, it was now charred and ashen. He was walking idly, and it only seemed like a daily stroll for him.
“As expected, there were visitors.” His walk was abruptly halted when he saw a man, now indistinguishable, now burned and lifeless.
He turned around to look at the distant horizon. There were signs of life.
“Oh? There's another one.”
“Hm? Too bad. She died too.”
He helplessly smiled. Adjusting his monocle, he clapped twice.
“How pitiful. How pitiful indeed.” He shook his head. Walking more around the field, he stopped at one point.
It was a graveyard. All with gravestones, rings, withered flower bouquets, photos, memoirs. It was a sea full of memories.
Each epitaph was also in pair. Every single one of them.
“Fate truly is…”
Placing down another photo, with a man holding a woman in his embrace, smiling happily, showered with the joys of the world. He chuckled.
“…cruel.”
This yard full of memories now entered a state of slumber once again.