A mild grumbling sound could be heard, followed by loud chewing of gum and a cluster of footsteps. Each feet scraping, colliding with the veiny tall grass that kissed against the rugged shoes. Beside Teysu were buildings still lit on fire, not due to Adolla’s rampage but…

  Campaigns.

  Banners flying around the bright baby-blue sky, disdain from the populace. Survivors of Adolla’s attack sat in a herd within the grass, staring at the boy. Scorn in their monstrous eyes. The propaganda read, “Samiel as our God? She let us die!”

  An ape-like old creature covered in snow hair cupped his face as Teysu walked by, caviling.

  “If you got something to say old man,” The teenager snapped his neck behind, his brow furrowed as he grit his teeth. A retalliation of contempt within his hazel eyes, “Say it to my face!”

  “I’ll say that you failed young Hama!” The Yeti croaked, lifting himself off the grass. Leaning on a metal stick as he glared at Teysu.

  “W—What?” Teysu stumbled back, almost collapsing into the grass as his eyes loosened. His jaw dropped, agape.

  “You let us die! My son and his wife, my bloodline now is in tatters. You should’ve been more careful.”

  “H—How was I supposed to know about Avar— Adolla. Nobody could’ve known!”

  “But God is here is she not?”

  Teysu grabbed his shoulder, mummering.

  “Clearly she would’ve known.”

  Zoom!

  A creature, Cerberus flown past them. Soaring the skies as he was collecting dead bodies— no longer piling them but instead filling up individual graves. The shapeshifer was howling in the wind as his fur sat up straight. All his heads gave a look to Teysu, nodding before flying past. Bodies of innocent children: elves, basilliks and even werewolves still transformed laid in his jaws.

  “Not only is the drug problem major in this world, but so are the major problems!” The Yeti sprung his left arm toward the people staring in the grass. One of the younger individuals wearing a shirt with an X across a spiral.

  “Kids will be kids. So what do you mean by that?” Teysu returned his gaze to the Older Yeti who stomped his foot.

  “Have you not heard that people are wishing to leave Invalia! We can’t just submit ourselves to death, it’s ludicrous.”

  The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  “But that’s what the Loraq states. The worlds will surely end and look at it from this perspective.” Teysu cupped the Yeti’s face, leering into his eyes as a manic smile crept. “Is it not perfect for them to die so early? The world will end, what is the point of a continued life if everyone will die at the end. Better for them, they won’t see the bloodshed that’ll encore.”

  “What the!” The Yeti backed away, foundering toward the ground as he attempted to crawl away. His bright pale-blue eyes still staring at Teysu who stood firm. “What delusions has that woman fed to you! A mere boy!”

  “Calling the Lord— no. Calling my lover ‘delusional’, you should be made an example of.” Teysu’s eyes spiralled as he stared toward the crowd, then back at the old Yeti.

  “Too far gone! Too far! Maybe… maybe Thidos was correct to orchestrate the demise of this universe! If this is what comes from it, we should all rea—”

  A patch of metal flung out of the staff which was still standing upward. Strapping across the Yeti’s lips as a gag.“I never got to know your name, a shame your daughter in law died. I’d have so much fun with her.” Teysu’s right hand pointed at the Yeti before flinging it toward the staff. “Have you ever heard of an Old-World technique, utilised for punishments? I was fortunate to read some of the scriptures, also being advised by the True God.

  It was named ‘The Brazen Bull’, in this punishment— well…

  You’ll be the demonstration.”

  “No he will not.”

  A feminine voice echoed in the wind.

  Teysu solely spun around, dropping the metal that was floating toward him as his eyes dilated.

  Viewing on one foreign silhoutte, a woman dressed in a dull silver poncho. Her royal vibrant cape jittered in the air as her leather boots which thudded to the ground. A crimson-gold spiral circulating throughout the centre of her cape.

  “How the fuck?” Teysu spat his gum out onto the grass. “How the hell are you here!”

  Saraline Grover stepped forward.

  Each step caused Teysu to back up and panic.

  “What the hell?” The Yeti darted away from the boy, scurrying along with the crowd as soon as they saw him.

  “Stay! Stay away!” Teysu grumbled, pushing his arms forward. Attempting to swat away the Rebel who walked closer and closer.

  Until Teysu fell on the floor.

  Looking up from the grass at the woman, with the sun glowing on her back.

  “No! Get away!”

  “You rape women because you’re weak.”

  “Shut up! DIE! GO AWAY!”

  “You assualt women because you’re weak, you can’t stand your own against someone who’s in your league.

  Not even me.”

  “DIE! SHUT UP!” Teysu crawled into a fetal position, rolling the grass as he covered his head. “GO AWAY! DIE! DIE! DIE I SAY!”

  “I should’ve killed you, maybe you wouldn’t be this bad if I did. On the Third of October.”

  “Shut up! Die!”

  But her voice faded. She faded from his view.

  Teysu shot back up, sitting down as he was panting. Sweat dripping from his face, leaving a marking in the ground as he jittered. Staring around, left and right, everyone was gone.

  “Tch. You really are a disgrace to the motherland.”

  A familiar voice spoke from behind.

  “Don’t you dare turn around Teysuo. I don’t wanna see your face.”

  Teysu didn’t turn around, kneeling his head down in the grass as he covered his ears.

  “I haven’t seen you personally in years. Remember, we fought in this same realm. Back when Invalia was just a wasteland, I don’t even know how we got here. But we did.

  You never even fought like a man, you’re manipulating metal and doing telekensis. Against a man who has no power at all.”

  “Shut up. Shut up.”

  “Say that louder, maybe if you’re louder. Those kids at school won’t beat the fuck out of you.”

  “Shut up. Please, stop. Brother.”

  “You lost your right to call me brother. I’d never be brothers with someone whose this stupid.”

  “Huh?”

  “That girl’s using you, she’ll discard you anyway.”

  “Shut up! Samiel loves me!” Teysu turned around, staring at…

  Nothing.

  The voices parted as the teenager was alone.

  Standing in the grass field.