Master, do you know, how loved you are?
Our shining light in a world of grey, facing it's darkness your smile never wilted. Was there something you saw, that we never could? All mere mortals, at the whims of destiny and the hand that paints. Yet you chose to believe, to keep walking, leaving only footsteps for us to chase. Did you really have faith that we had a fighting chance? Many felt you were always naïve, yet somehow so many rallied to help whenever you had another whimsical idea.
Lumiere isn't a land of sunshine or rainbows. But perhaps, only you were willing to look past that. In the face of helplessness, the despair and treachery of the human heart have tainted these lands. Yet you saw the light in the human soul, ablaze in a flame of hope. The same hope you trusted on our small shoulders, the burden; to watch, to maintain and to protect our last line of defense, the Dome. It had weathered the change of time, but alas, the dome only kept out the darkness outside, not the darkness hidden within mankind.
---
"Our inventory records show 4 missing grappling hooks, specifically from the stockpile kept at the Expedition Academy." read out a weathered stern clerk. Clearly sleep deprived & overworked, carrying deep black bags under their eyes, wielding rough unruly black hair, dressed in crumpled suit attire and constantly oggling a cup of coffee within arms reach. This was a result of prepping last minute for the bi-monthly assembly, mandated to all administrative staff, guild directors and council members of Lumiere.
"Ah, how unfortunate, I believe the initial report suspects negligence from the management at the academy, as our staff cross-referenced the records and can't locate a meager 4 hooks, a troubling matter indeed. When resources that are scrapped together with such difficulty, for our future generations, simply go kapoof into thin air." pressured our dear Deputy Councillor of Defence, a young fiery politician in her early twenties. Her chestnut brown hair, tied neatly in a braid, unable to hide the hunger for power, in her green bold eyes. Clearly an open taunt, Paquette glanced at Emma, flashing a subtle sly smile.
"Oh my, it seems the staff handpicked by certain councillors to investigate this, were not very competent. As per rule 33 of paperwork management, all warehouses have 60 days to file an amendment for small scale deliverables. Had they procedurally checked the revisions completed by end of day yesterday, they would have spotted this amendment and avoided wasting everyone's time today" smirked back Emma, whilst sliding over stamped and signed paperwork to the over-seeing administrative staff.
"Sixty days. A whole 2 months of incomplete record filings, yet this is the norm. How many administrative hours are wasted into tracking a mere 4 hooks today. What about the warehouses storing all our inventory of equipment, how many people are tracking instead of worrying about controlling or acquiring further resources? Especially with our increased demand for resources, with trips further and further out on the islands towards the continent. Just one less grappling hook could spell life and death, let alone four. For the scavengers, extended trips have become the norm, mortality is at an all-time high and yet their haul is the poorest it has ever been. Desperate times call for desperate measures. It is no secret we have been backed into a corner. Things can not continue like this, harsh reforms are needed, our inventory records need to be live, not 10 days delayed, not 30 days delayed and certainly not a whopping 60 days behind usage. The scavengers need to be well equipped, to survive the ever treacherous landscapes they navigate to bring back stock, stock that we are unforgivingly burning through every day, without remorse. A full flush of the system is required to better delegate what we have, and tighten our expenditure to the bare minimum for longevity. I decree a motion be passed to take action, I humbly request the council to push this through with a vote today" spring-boarded Paqutee. Flipping the narrative on it's head, to promote her agenda.
---
Mere weeks after your departure, the snakes stirred into movement. There had never truly been calm, just patient predators, waiting their chance. Vultures, circling around our heads, just biding their time for the perfect opportunity to act.
We recieved the minutes of the bi-monthly assembly from Emma, in which we observed how Paquette had masterfully spearheaded a political manhunt, sparked by an innocent investigation into missing grappling hooks from the Expedition Academy. That was clearly Maelle's handiwork, she always enjoyed the thrill of parkour and nothing could stand in the way of getting what she wanted. It wasn't a secret by any account, but soft-hearted Emma would typically shield Maelle from the repercussions, yet she did put on a strict face for the inevitable earful that followed.
Emma also told us to keep our eyes peeled and to watch our backs. With the Expedition Academy firmly under Emma's hand, the only other avenue, to overthrow Emma as the Chief Councillor, would be control over the Dome.
In a few days, an official notice was circulated and a poster campaign spread across Lumiere, Paquette would be visiting all the guilds and societies to facilitate improved resource tracking and efficiency, especially targeting "legacy ventures". A nicer way of saying, many activities and projects were about to get scrapped.
The first stop on her inquisition was our engineering guild, clearly showcasing how selfless this campaign was.
Of course, we suspected our expenditure on the Lumina Project would become a key focus area. Yourself & Emma had always been a thorn in her side, she would take any chance to trample on your legacy. In her eyes, you were elevated by the council & senior workers, presenting yourselves as hero's, yet doing little to change the way things worked. Using everything given to you, for your own selfish purposes. Over time this perception of hers only grew worse and she began to see herself as the only person who was willing to change things around here. But even for her, this was a step too far.
I still remember how you comforted us, when we questioned why this project needed to be maintained? Your answer back then was, "Lumiere stands as one, when our sword reaches the paintress, that is only the start of a new beginning. We will need as many well-equipped hands as we can gather to rehabilitate the continent, currently infested with swarms of vile nevrons. A brighter future awaits us all, but we need to be ready."
Unfortunately, the light is sometimes over-shadowed by the dark, there wasn't as much unity as you perhaps felt, and as inexperienced apprentices, our best might fall short, at this first obstacle. Let alone realising the extraordinary vision of retaking the continent. But as you would always say, one should never give up hope. By the same bureaucracy Paquette was vying to tie us up in. A hearing session with the Board of Directors from the Engineering Guild might help keep the lantern lit. With the presence of Emma, as our backer, being a huge boon for us.
Deep underground, hidden from view lay the Engineering HQ. After the fracture, the remnant Nevrons who had clung to the island were hunted down. The land underneath was dug up, just in case any Nevron nests were lying in ambush. That entire area, which was free real estate, became a highly desired space, with giant steel pillars propping the rocky ceilings. It became the only place with a vast, spacious structure, unlike the salvaged city topside. How did the knuckleheads at the Engineering Guild, beat out the beuracrats who always loved underground bunkers, we would never truly know. But maybe, the first few took the logistical advantages seriously, allowing our HQ priority over the rest:
1. Hazardous work environment: any failed inventions exploding could be contained & casualties prevented.
2. Logistics: Access to the waterways for maintenance & filtration. Easier access to any given point of Lumiere through tunnels.
3. Resource & Noise Management: Better storage of critical resources and isolating loud sounds from the rest of Lumiere.
***
Led down a labyrinth of scantily illuminated damp tunnels, with a sombre atmosphere and a cool breeze bushing our faces. We reached the 3.3 metres thick reinforced, blast resistantgates to the Engineering Guild. With hinges as thick as Grandis, towering thrice their height, it was a spectacle to see. It was not our first time here, but every time we came, the same reverence gripped our hearts. Intricate carvings adorned the collosal doors and the polished protruding giant spikes along it's face were a sight to see.
The guards gave us a slight nod, Gustave was a frequent visitor down here, his reputation well regarded. Now that same reputation was cascading down to us, as his torch bearers. However, today, their eyes were peircing, could we as flag bearers, truly hold onto what you had trusted in our hands?
Only after thoroughly checking our identification documents, our apprenticeship ribbons and the stamped summons to the HQ, were we cleared for entry.
One of the guards discreetly passed a capsule into what appeared to be a vent. In front of our curious minds, you had informed us this was a safety mechanism to share the entrants' purpose of visit, via a tube delivery mechanism. Whilst the second guard went to adjust the lantern, the adjustment of the lantern was a code to inner observers from hidden openings and the code would change every day. As a secure channel and sensitive location, this level of security was required. Considering the inventions of the engineering guild, could make or break the success of future expeditions.
A few moments later, a deep humming sound could be heard, followed by the roaring of pistons and the metallic groan of gears turning, to open these fortified doors, a trail of steam appearing as mist in the opening being created. No smaller exit had been added to these gates, to maintain the structural integrity and not add in stress points. After all resources were precious.
When the gates parted, a wave of dry air and heat rolled onto our faces, alongside the barrage of clinks and clanks expected from any engineering site. This place was truly alive and a nirvana for the mechanically minded. Taking it all in with a deep breath, we smoothly entered and made our way inside this voluminous space, paved with cobbled stones & reflective studs - truly a home for engineers.
Ahead in the distance, grand man-made structures blended perfectly into this underground habitat. To the left, rose a hand carved stone palace, with well adorned spires and a regal presence. To the right, lay a giant industrial structure of metal, with reinforced shutters on all sides, the home of our best engineers and their playground- aptly labelled as the Discovery Theatre.
Unfortunately, as apprentices, this space was off limits to us, only accessible by senior researchers, whose projects were approved by the council. Our everyday workspace was the Engineering Hub, above ground, not quite as grand as the workshop here.
Our destination today, was no doubt the palace like structure, which served as the administrative arm of the Guild and also was a gathering spot for the big wigs touring the HQ, with spacious luxurious rooms, opposed to the cramped houses upstairs.
Our escort walked us through the Court of Hero's, an open atrium on the approach to the palace, with decorative arches and a path flanked by statues of all prior Expedition Leaders and memorable figures who contributed to the society we live & breath in today. A list of all the expedition members was carved onto the plaques beneath, as a reminder of the brave souls that had departed. Luminant stones were embedded into the walls, with a green carpet of flowers bouncing back the light.
I swallowed hard as we passed the recent addition - Alan's statue. Tracing the letters on the plaque underneath, we found your name, alongside Maelle's. *Sigh* If only, you were still here with us, we would have been a lot more confident in the outcome. Yet, you were on your own path, so we at least had to speak the best we could to keep up with the footsteps you'd left behind.
A steward in a crisp uniform, yet still reeking of oil & ink, was waiting for us here, escorting us further inside. Walking through the garden of discovery, where different inventions were displayed with journals, introducing their functionalities. The likes of the rooftop windmills, which had become a necessity for every household, the rooftop garden watering systems & latest models of ships to traverse the continent, were just some of the proud accomplishments on display here. As was your Lumina Convertor, seeing which put a smile on our faces. The showcase, covered a large part of our way there, before we reached the palace doors, with the same scary doorkeepers that used to creep us out. They didn't seem to have any expressions, as they glared at us.
Of course, we weren't led through the main palace doors, those were reserved for the directors & council members. Instead, we were led through a smaller side entrance. The passage was no doubt quite luxurious, with high ceilings, gracious chandeliers and decorative pieces of calligraphy strung on the walls. The floor itself was polished wood, a nice change from the stone pathways outdoors. It wouldn't be a palace, without rich adornments of wood, leather & silk.
Finally, we made it to the reception area, which had a scent of flowers permeating the atmosphere. Of course, they needed something more fresh for the areas council members visited, wouldn't want them coughing from smoke, now would we.
Ophélie was the receptionist today. She encouraged us to try our best, with a warm smile, handing over individual flowers as luck charms, whilst we waited to be summoned inside the Chamber of Ordinances.
---
Inside a circular chamber, lit by an enormous candelabra hanging down the centre, with rows of seats encircling the space. The highest level was reserved for the council members, upon which the centre seat was taken by Emma, flanked to her right by the venomous Paquette, whose gaze fell on us like a hawk the moment we stepped in and she gave us an eery smile. On her left sat Bastien, seemingly the neutral party representing the council, who beamed encouragingly at us. It was comforting to see one more familiar face, so I returned the gesture with a smile of my own.
As we stood in a podium, the centre of attention, we glanced at the second tallest row, were 6 directors were seated, led by Bellamy, an authoritative figure from the Board of Directors at the Engineering Guild.
*Cough Cough*, "I call to order this hearing to review the status of the Lumina Project. I expect no interruptions please, except when called upon. I'd like to keep this short & sweet, I hope no grievances are formed by whatever decision is made today. Any arguments, objections or emotions you may have, should be vented in this room. Once this hearing is concluded, the decision will be final, understood?".
A heavy silence penetrated the room, whilst we let those words sink in. The good news was this seemed to be a neutral party from the Directors, so we still had a chance of keeping the project alive.
"Very well, I take it there are no objections. As this hearing was called at your request, you may start with your argument against this, Councillor Paquette" Bellamy mischievously echoed.
Paquette stood up, smoothing out her uniform, projecting an air of concern "It gives me no pleasure to say this, especially with how Lumiere is currently viewing Expedition 33. We've all seen the papers. Yet, the Lumina Project has been a vortex of resources, with little to nothing to show for it. It's practical significance on the continent remains untested, yet regretably, none of the data will return, as they will inevitably fail. As did the many expeditions before them, with far vaster resources and numbers. History has shown, each expedition values their own method. When, not IF, Gustave fails, Expedition 32 will need more than the same failed strategy, don't you agree Bastien - as their nominated leader? As it stands, we are funding a dead man's dreams. We need to be realists here, we simply cannot afford to waste resources pursuing this any further".
I had expected this, but not how personal her vendetta was steering. From the corner of my eye, I saw Guillaume digging his fingernails into his fists, his hands turning pale, with blood dripping on the floor from self restraint. "Keep it under control" I whispered, for my own self-assurance, as I was not fairing much better. We could not afford to explode here, or she would have what she wanted.
Before anyone could rebut, she cheekily added, "In summary, esteemed Directors, I urge you to approve the immediate suspension of the Lumina Project. An unfortunate sacrifice, but a necessary one for the greater good of our people."
Just as I was about to blow my head with a counter argument, Emma cut in: "Conjecture alone isn't enough to cut a project, especially not something as successful as this. I am sure the efficiency of the Lumina Converter has been put to display in many demos, we have seen Gustave venture out with the scavengers to test this. I am sure Alexandre here could present the logs if anyone is interested. But I do not believe that is enough to satisfy the culling you are after, I did hear you don't trust data. I propose we settle this in an agreeable manner. What better way to highlight the effectiveness of the tool than to see it in action, in a match between Gustave's apprentices and 3 apprentices of your choice on the obstacle course at the Expedition Academy, to gauge how much of an advantage it gives?"
That caught us unprepared, we could see the temporary shock on Paquette's face. Guillaume's eyebrows nearly leapt of his face and Adrien had his jaw hanging wide open. This wasn't even close to what we expected to hear. Especially as we had come with case studies, testimonials & witnesses who could help vouch for it's effectiveness.
With reports on how cost effective it was as a tool, requiring few precious materials - the only downside being the preparation time, which we were already working on optimising. Was this an example of to surprise the enemy, you must surprise yourself?
Before the shock could wear off, Bellamy tapped on the table and echoed, "I believe we have found a workable solution, is this agreeable for the rest of the council members present?"
"It's a favourable outcome from my side, let's pen down a suitable time" Bastien acknowledged, easing our discomfort.
"Agreeable" spat Paquette, with no other choice left at her disposal.
***
By the first rays of dawn, a large crowd had gathered at the Expedition Academy - clearly these people had no other form of entertainment. They had all come after hearing this gossip of a clash between Emma & Paquette, with us apprentices as the proxies. To be fair, if we weren't the ones in the thick of it, we would have been seated quite comfortably in the front row to watch the same. In this dying world, entertainment was rare.
Written out on a battered board in rough chalk were the details of the competition:
One vs One, Capture the Flag Race
Rules:
- Contestants may make use of Pictos and equipment in this race.
- Contestants must not carry spare pictos or inventory (anything not equipped is not allowed).
- Contestants must not make contact, impede or attack one another.
- There are 5 flags, contestants must find one flag at a time from the obstacle course and bring it back to the starting line before finding more. The one with the most flags wins.
***
We made our way to the starting line, the way this competition was set up - was a 1v1 race. Next to us, were the notorious three, Paquette's own apprentices who worked the admin team and had a bad reputation for being snobs. Sabine, Hector & Novis, an iconic trio - all top performers in their respective areas. Handpicked and selected by Paquette as her eyes & ears amongst multiple guilds. Sabine seemed to be their leader, with a presence despite her short height and spiky orange hair, looking as if she had suffered an electric shock. Hector looked lean and tall, with a salt & pepper hairstyle, seemingly in the image of Expedition 0 survivors. Novis was well toned with hefty muscles, perhaps indicative of his apprenticeship in construction, standing out with his shaved head to make himself look more mature.
Guillaume wanted to go first, he couldn't hold in his emotions any longer. He made his way to the starting line, where Bastien was overseeing the setup and would trigger the kick-off, as a neutral party, "Nothing too complex here, the rules are written clearly. Do remember this is a friendly match. Any questions, no? Perfect, 3, 2, 1 - Begin"
Guillaume looked back, gave a confident grin, and then darted off with a brisk pace. His opponent, Hector moved like a blur, disappearing off into the distance. Both were neck and neck, launching over obstacles using the grappling hooks.
Within a few minutes, we could see a figure racing back with a flag. We felt it was quite quick for Guillaume, but upon closer look it was his opponent. The notorious three all flashed a smile at us, as the hunt for the next flag began. Not too long after, we saw Guillaume return with a flag. Seeing the flag placed in the opponent's area - his smile cracked and a more serious look appeared on his face. He sprinted back, with more drive and determination to succeed.
Not too long after, we saw Guillaume tailing the opponent back, both with flags in their hands. It would be the final flag that would decide the victor. We flashed him encouraging smiles and a thumbs up - he could do this, he nodded back at us before sprinting off.
Time seemed to be trickling slowly, our anxiousness was visible on our faces. Until finally, the crowd was cheering again, was someone headed back with the last flag? A silhouette could be seen in the distance again, as he loomed closer, grim expressions made their way to our faces. It seemed we had lost the first match. How were they so quick, we cast puzzling expressions towards Emma. She left the area - seemingly to investigate if any cheating was taking place.
Shortly after, Guillaume seemed to be headed back with a downtrodden face. Adrien comforted him, we still had a chance - both of us had more time using the lumina converter with Gustave. He bought back preserved nevrons on his hunts with the scanvengers, frozen at their last breath and then keeping us in proximity with the converter equipped, we managed to train our pictos. Guillaume had the least time, as he was unfortunate enough to be picked for manual duties repeatedly by the instructors. Maybe it was their way of pushing him to work harder, but he never did slack, despite not having the highest level of talent.
Emma came back, shaking her head, "Paquette registered high grade pictos as standard issue for her staff this morning. There isn't anything Bastien can do to disqualify them. She's not just trying to win, but also showcase her hoarded resources strategy has a better payoff than our innovation, as the council isn't blind to her bending the rules".
We had no choice but to face this head on. Emma offered to give us her Pictos, but both myself & Adrien turned her down. If this was what they planned, we would crush them with our lower grade Pictos - that would elevate your achievement the most.
Next, it was my turn, my heart was hammering against my ribs in rage, this wasn't about the project anymore, Paquette has made this about your name & legacy, I wouldn't let you down. The lumina converter was securely fastened to my belt and I had been cycling various pictos. Also, Maelle dragging me for practice at the Expedition Academy course, was something that would pay off in this instance.
Within a fraction of a second after Bastien set us off, I was whistling through the wind. My eyes like a hawk, sweeping past most of the obstacle course. My strategy was different, tailored to my strengths. I had already spotted 4 flags. This was going to be a slap on their proud faces.
With unrivalled swiftness, like a fish in fresh water, I was traversing the terrain like my back hand. Those evenings spent training with Maelle hadn't been wasted. I pinged between the flags and the starting line with startling speed.
In no time I had collected 4 flags, whilst the opposition could only gather 1. Now it was our turn to grin back. The advantage the lumina converter gave was enormous when used properly.
Finally, Adrien was up - he ran like his pants were on fire, no flourishes or looks back, just pure efficiency. He did have the speed advantage on the competition, but it wasn't as sweeping a victory as mine. Nonetheless, we took the cake with Adrien scoring 3-2 and our overall wins being 2-1.
Looking at Paquette's expression, resolved any fatigue we had. Her lips were pursed so thin and her face was trembling with a rosy colour so vividly, we thought she would explode like a tomato. If looks could kill, her own apprentices would have gommaged in childhood.
Quite a few council members were present to watch the spectacle and senior management from the engineering guild were in full attendance in solidarity for Gustave. Her momentum had definitely taken a nosedive and hopefully splashed water over her greed-laced dreams for control of the Dome.
Bellamy seemed to be tactical and broadly concluded the success of the Lumina Project, but he did leave Paquette with a warning that he would be writing to the council to ensure Pictos reserves would be audited and kept in the same tight regulation as the rest of the resources highlighted in her campaign.
It was a night worth celebrating, yet there was something missing - your presence.
---
The next morning, at the precipice of crooked tower, with a cool refreshment in our hands, all three of us were glaring at the monolith. The etched "33" a reminder that you were still out there. Jules was also here, he helped repair our apprentice uniforms which had gotten scuffed up during the obstacle course yesterday. No words were spoken, a comforting silence hung in the air.
In the distance, we saw a shimmer, almost like a screen cast in front of the monolith. Within a moment, a giant X appeared on that screen and it shattered like glass. Leaving behind black mist and small shards that glittered in the distance. However, that lasted for only a few seconds, was it an illusion? Had my will to see a sign and the recent stress made me hallucinate? I looked at the others, and saw the same shock in their eyes. "Did you, did you just see that?" asked Guillaume. "Did you see that too?" echoed Adrien, "He's still fighting for us" I said solemnly back.
We kept our eyes glued on the monolith, were they about to finally reach her? Even Jules, who was typically a chatterbox was eerily silent at this moment. It was weird, at that moment, it felt like suddenly someone was watching us - it was an oppressive feeling deep inside our souls. Like the world itself was watching. Moments turned to minutes, nothing changed - was what we had seen really an illusion or had they already fallen?
It was almost time for our shift at work, maybe we had just imagined something in a moment of desperation. As we were reluctantly tidying up to leave, another phenomenon occurred. On top of the monolith, swirls of white and black, twisted like threads leading to the sky. This lasted for a fraction of a second, an even briefer time than the glittering shards before. At this moment, we were fully attentive. I told the rest, "forget about the shift, if Gustave's fighting the paintress we need to see it", we were always rooting for you and Expedition 33 in association.
Another supervisor from the engineers guild had come to find us, after the match yesterday - many from the guild were hoping to celebrate with us. We told him what we just saw, but he refused to believe us. Somehow we talked them into staying for a while, so far nothing was happening from what we could see. A doubt began to fall in our hearts, had you fallen, was it over already? Did you fail?
The paintress hadn't even moved yet. Were we ultimately that weak, she didn't even have to move to crush the entire expedition? Surely not, that would be too devestating a blow. Perhaps that is the reason none had succeeded so far, was it that impossible a task - a seed of doubt had already sprouted...
Whilst I despaired, it seemed like the paintress twitched, I bit my tongue in anticipation, was this it? Then she slowly began to stand up - I looked at the others again and saw the same flabbergastedness in their eyes. *Dilaougue, Dialogue* "Dad,we might actually have a chance, if only you got to see this moment" said Jules.
We were expecting a showdown, but what we saw was mind-boggling, unexplainable, the paintress like King Kong, climbed the tower. Her torso and arms were above the monolith, she seems to be standing, yet using the monolith as a footstep at the same time. There was a giant hole in her chest, like a void, heartless as she was. The whole of Lumiere was abuzz - everyone was suddenly out on the streets, leaving work to head to either the harbour or the crooked tower. Soon it became cramped up here, we could see them fighting, *flesh out the fight*, then she fell of the monolith. The numbers on the monolith took a bit longer to disperse, but they faded away like the flowers during our gommage.
We rubbed our eyes, sighing in relief, finally! We were free from it's accursed spell. All of Lumiere was gathered here and celebrating! Simultaneously, decorations were being put up, a band was arranged and a welcome party being assembled for when the expeditioners returned home triumphantly.
A few hours later, in the distance, we could see the legendary Esquie flying towards us. Our hearts were in our throats, there were no ships. How many had fallen? Who had survived? Fresh on people's mind was the lumina converter, someone spread a rumour that this was what gave this expedition the edge we needed.
When we heard that, a spark of hope was lit, surely you must have survived, right?
Esquie landed gracefully, there was too much crowd to clearly see who disembarked. We waited patiently atop the stairs, we knew you would come find us. The buzz of celebration all around us, the joy infectious. Someone started clapping, then another, and another, until thunderous applause echoed throughout Lumiere. We were all beaming, then we saw Maelle coming up. You must have been right behind her right? We were peering behind her, but no one else came. The look on Maelle's face was somber. We could sense Emma next to us tense, when Maelle didn't say a word. When she kneeled down, our hearts dropped.
Trembling hands gave Guillaume your journal. He couldn't process what had happened. I put my hands on his shoulders, we mustn't sully your legacy. But it was too much, he dropped it and ran. I was left behind, my whole world crashing down. Tears were running down my face, I just didn't know it. My knees buckled, your journal resting before me. I picked it up and cradled it for warmth, yet it had none to give. Cold, rough and unfeeling. It couldn't replace your presence.
Maelle tried to comfort us, we heard of your bravery. Emma asked Adrien to follow after Guillaume, he did bring him back. The two huddled together, each looking to one another for comfort. This had become a ritual, even though we stood victorious, the grief was our price to pay. We wanted to hear more about what you had done, Maelle was sharing your adventures. It seemed only myself & Emma were listening, you would always be remembered. You had given us the chance to truly live.
Mid conversation, a heavy ominous whooshing sounds passed us by. The world shifted to grey. I felt it in my soul, the time had come. Our bodies decayed to white and red petals, with splashes of ink being left behind. Everyone's time to gommage had come. I just regretted that I did not get to say a final goodbye to you and would never see that cheeky smirk again.
---
To be continued.