Chapter 2: Prologe 3: Tears of a boy

I lay on the cold ground, struggling to get up, but my body felt heavy and sluggish, as if resisting my efforts. The cold of the ground penetrated my clothing, yet strangely, it felt comforting. I decided to close my eyes and savor the unusual coolness.

Suddenly, a childlike voice broke the silence around me. I opened my eyes and saw a boy with black hair and dark brown eyes sitting beside me. He wore a black t-shirt and white pants. His face exuded a kind of tranquility and calmness that fascinated me.

"Pleasant, isn't it?" he asked, smiling at me. I nodded and said, "Yes, truly pleasant." The boy seemed to understand my thoughts as he replied, "True, but sometimes you want to be alone to enjoy the tranquility. Yet, at the same time, you don't want to be lonely, so the silence doesn't become unbearable."

I looked deep into his eyes and found a strange familiarity. Without further words, he also lay down on the cold ground, gazing into the endless void above. "Don't you want to wake up?" he asked gently eventually. I closed my eyes again and smiled.

I struggled to rise from the old, tattered bed, my body feeling drained and exhausted. The mattress was in a pitiful state, and I could feel the springs through the thin spots where the fabric had long torn. My shaky hands wiped the tears from my cheeks, still moist from the latest nightmare.

The room around me seemed gloomy and abandoned. Cracks adorned the walls, running like fine veins through the crumbling plaster. The smell of dampness and dust lingered in the air. My black hair clung wet with sweat to my forehead, and I brushed it away in frustration.

A deep sigh escaped my lips, accompanied by a soft curse. "What a crappy Monday," I muttered to myself as I gathered the strength to open the door.

The heavy door squeaked in protest as it moved on its rusty hinges. I stepped into the shabby hallway, equally rundown as my room. Wallpaper hung in tatters from the walls, and the floor creaked unsettlingly under my steps. I followed the hallway down, the staircase with its railing already decayed and unstable. I stopped at the next door, staring at the damaged knob. With a soft sigh, I turned it and entered the kitchen.

The kitchen's stone wall bore the marks of time and neglect. Cracks and crevices gaped at many places, revealing darkness beyond. These cracks in the wall almost seemed like the smile of an invisible monster. The once sturdy tables, undoubtedly providing a place for joyful meals and social gatherings, now lay in ruins. Overturned and broken, their surfaces were marked by countless celebrations and stories.

As I looked around, my eyes fell on a green glass bottle lying on the floor. I picked it up carefully, examining its neck. The contents seemed intact. The bottle felt cool in my hand, and memories of times gone by surged within me. With a touch of nostalgia, I continued my path through the debris, my hand tightly gripping the bottle.

Finally, I reached a large room that had once been the heart of activity. Here, life and the joy of people had unfolded. I sank onto the destroyed counter, which had once proudly stood in the center of the room. In my mind, I could hear the cheerful laughter and the clinking of glasses that had once resided here. But now, only silence and devastation prevailed, and I missed the lively hustle that once reigned in this place.

I closed my eyes, attempting to recall the better times. The cheerful laughter of guests, the clinking of glasses, the sound of music wafting through the air. Yet, all of that had now fallen silent, and only the silence of the abandoned place surrounded me. "I miss the laughter and the clinking of glasses," I whispered softly, memories of happier days haunting my mind.

The street I walked along stretched beneath a radiant blue sky, and a warm tingle ran through my body as I snapped my fingers. My hair transformed into a fascinating mix of white and black, with broken horns protruding from my upper forehead. This metamorphosis had catapulted me into a new world that I didn't fully understand.

My path led me further through the streets until I arrived at a building with a wooden door, a sign reading "Mother's Shop" hanging on it. A familiar name that stirred memories. I continued my journey and eventually reached a vast, empty street.

In the midst of the deserted street lay my backpack, lonely and abandoned. I bent down to pick it up, feeling the weight on my shoulders. A mighty leather backpack adorned my back, filled with an impressive arsenal of weapons. Among them was a pitch-black sword, its blades gleaming with darkness, a crystal-blue sword pulsating in the sunlight, a silver staff of sublime elegance, and many more, each with its own story. A thick strap secured the weapons firmly to my back.

I fastened the backpack tightly, feeling the familiar heaviness of its load. With every step, I felt ready to explore the road ahead, as if it were a portal to a world full of adventures and secrets.

In the distance, a wide meadow extended, dominated by a solitary tree. Next to the tree stretched a weathered wall, barely a meter high and two meters wide. On this old wall, many people had left their memories, covered with numerous names and messages.

I dropped my backpack on the ground and took out a glass from my bag. It was a blue-green glass sparkling in the sun. I placed it on the ground before me and opened a bottle I had brought from the kitchen. I poured the drink slowly into the glass, filling it halfway.

Then, I leaned against the solitary tree, raised the glass, and symbolically clinked it. "Cheers, Shinoa, Nia, Asia, Mirajane," I whispered with a smile overshadowed by sadness. I took a sip of the drink, now tasting sour. Yet, despite the sour taste and the tears rolling down my cheeks, I couldn't stop smiling.

Memories of past times, adventures, and the people I had known here flowed through me like a river. I closed my eyes and tried to relive these precious memories. The smiling faces, shared successes, and unforgettable moments felt so vivid, as if they had happened just yesterday.

Finally, I opened my eyes and stared at the bright blue sky above me. "I wish you were still here," I whispered softly, hoping that my thoughts and wishes would reach those I had lost on my journey.