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| ==Diary== | | ==Diary== |
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| {{Verbatim}} | | {{Verbatim}} |
| ===Deserter=== | | ===Deserter=== |
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| ''[A record of a trial for desertion, tucked between the pages of the diary.]''
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| Crime: Stealing food in excess of allocated rations. Deserted and fled the city, but encountered Fallen forces and was forced to return and deliver a warning.
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| Deserter's Testimony: My lord, do you have any idea how it feels getting only ''crumbs'' for dinner? Have you ever seen the corpse of someone who was so desperately thirsty that they drank polluted water? Have you watched struggling soldiers bleed to death without any medical assistance because they were beyond saving? No. You're ignorant to it all, my lord. All you care about is that we achieve glory, that we fight, cripple ourselves, and even sacrifice ourselves for our ideals—no, you ''Lightbearers<nowiki>'</nowiki>'' ideals. In the end, if we win this battle, it'll be thanks to the mortal troops under you Lightbearers' command. And if we lose, then it'll be the mortal troops that hold off most of the enemies, still under ''your'' command. But regardless of the outcome, my lord, you Lightbearers will always be the righteous, brilliant heroes who survive to see the ending. As for us mortal soldiers trembling in the trenches, howling on the front lines, or feigning death when defeated, we don't know what we'll be facing—could be the Fallen's energy bullets, a Ketch's electromagnetic bombardment, or a blade through the heart. All we know is that death's always right around the corner.
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| I took a new recruit out on patrol the other day—a scrawny kid, young and full of excitement. He told me that his first meal at the barracks was the best one he'd ever had. Kid was glad to join us because soldiers are kept well fed, and he went on to tell me how much he was looking forward to dinner. Before I could respond, though, a Fallen sniper's bullet shot right through that dream of his. When I close my eyes, I see his own, wide in disbelief. My lord, the lives of us mortals are like candles in a hurricane, snuffed out by a single blow. All I want is to stay alive.
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| Verdict: Soldier is found to have been in severe breach of military discipline and undermined morale, and shall be executed by firing squad at once.
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| ===The Republic=== | | ===The Republic=== |
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| "What exactly is this 'republic'?" Rossi's question dragged me deep into thought today. They've been pondering my answer about the meaning of war: to build an ideal republic that protects us all. Now I'm posed the same question once again, yet I find myself unable to say a thing. Such grand concepts of justice, peace, and freedom are far too idealistic for our current situation.
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| So I told Rossi that I needed some time to think it over. And they said, as the first citizen of this 'republic' and my right hand, they need to hear this answer—or rather, they need to know what they are working toward.
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| ''[The content below looks to have been added later.]''
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| I thought it would take forever to come up with a precise answer, but it seemed that Rossi and fate were both determined to pry it out of me. We rescued a group of wandering mortals from the Fallen. Given the state of things, these folks want the Lightbearers' protection, but what they want even more is a leader capable of granting them a peaceful life. After a whole night of arguing with Rossi and Marbas, I finally agreed to their request.
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| From now on, I, Darius-5, will officially rule as lord, with Rossi-11 as my lieutenant. I issued four rules to our first subjects:
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| 1. The strong shall protect the weak.
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| 2. Those who contribute to the territory shall be rewarded with supplies accordingly.
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| 3. Those who steal shall be flogged. Those who cause harm shall receive the same injury as punishment. Those who commit murder shall be sentenced to death.
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| 4. Traitors to the Light or the territory shall be treated as murderers and suffer the same fate.
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| ===Doctor "Rossi"=== | | ===Doctor "Rossi"=== |
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| Five years ago today, Maria's asked me to go somewhere with him. So I followed him through a desert and up a mountain, until we finally reached our destination—a very special settlement. There were mortals there, not a single one without injury or illness, but not a Lightbearer or militia in sight. The leader of the place was glad to see Marbas and I. He hobbled over on a crutch and shook my hand with excitement, explaining how this place was for the exiles—the wounded and disabled who couldn't make a living and were even kicked out from other settlements. After introducing the situation, he told me their doctor had met an untimely end while gathering herbs. They'd been desperate until I came along. "Who would've thought we'd get a Lightbearer doctor!" he'd exclaimed.
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| This had me at a loss for words, but Marbas looked at me and cautiously suggested, "Try igniting the Light—''your'' Light."
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| I didn't know if he was right, but the folks there did need a doctor. So I settled down there, taking up the duty of gathering herbs and healing people. Whenever I saw the pain on a patient's face give way to relief, it felt as though a spark flickered inside me, shining through the darkness, even if for just a moment. It was not ''that'' Light, yet it felt comforting all the same. Was this...what atonement felt like?
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| Five years have passed. Most of the settlement's residents got better, and their leader has garnered enough medical knowledge to tackle the more common injuries and ailments himself. It was time for me to leave. I told everyone about my plans, and the kindhearted residents all gave me their blessings. But the leader made a request. The settlers had been calling me "Doctor" or "Masked Fellow" for five years, and now they wanted to know my name so as to tell generations to come about my good deeds. I thought it over for a moment, then told them that if they wanted to thank someone, they should that Doctor "Rossi."
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| ===Rialto Bridge=== | | ===Rialto Bridge=== |
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| We've encountered too many Fallen recently. Back when it was just the two of us Lightbearers, this nomadic life was still a tolerable option. But now, we have mortals needing our protection, and our first 'troops' are just a few youngsters with guns. Besides, we have to realize our dream—to build an ideal republic. We needed a home. Or rather, we needed to find one.
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| And so we embarked on our journey, driven by this mutual with. Marbas joked that we were just like a bunch of kids searching for a secret base. Unfortunately, we searched for several days, only to find that most of the Mediterranean cities that were still functional had already been occupied. The rest had been destroyed in battles. But we eventually found a city surrounded by water, abandoned yet not without a lingering grace. We swam into the city along the canals, clearing the few Fallen soldiers within. Then I checked its facilities. Luckily, they were all intact and functional.
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| When I went to tell Rossi the good news, I couldn't find them anywhere. Marbas eventually spotted them, staring at a bridge in the center of the city. I didn't interrupt them, instead following their gaze to take in the sunset. The radiance reflected in the water illuminated the whole city, turning it into a hearth, welcoming and warm.
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| They said, "Rialto Bridge." So that was its name. I told them this place was still largely functional, making it an ideal foundation to build upon. They asked if I wanted to hear a story about this bridge. Naturally, I said yes. Long ago, the City of Water was occupied by invaders, serving as their transportation hub. The only entrance into the city was the Rialto Bridge. To cut off the enemy's front line and stop them from assembling, the guerrillas inside received an order to blow up the bridge within a week. They formed a team and, after enduring many hardships, found a demolitionist. They went on the destroy the bridge and claim victory.
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| "But the bridge doesn't seem to have been repaired," I said with doubt.
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| The cunning fellow laughed at this and admitted to only having just made the whole thing up.
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| ===If=== | | ===If=== |
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| The darkness faded gradually, flooding my consciousness with an awareness of my surroundings. The first sense to return was smell, overwhelmed by the unique and unmistakable stench of the battlefield. Still, I was relieved. It was neither the sickly sweet, metallic scent of blood, nor the fervor of the Fallen and their Ether. Then, I heard the song of victory—the Mediterranean tune that we always sang after winning. Finally, vision. Though it was a struggle, I slowly opened my eyes and saw that I was slowly traversing the bombed ruin of the City of Water, likely headed for a hospital. I blinked and tried stretching the limbs of my newly revived body, only to find myself being carried by a familiar figure.
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| "Oh, are you awake?" It was Rossi's voice.
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| "What's our status?" My greatest concern was voiced subconsciously.
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| "Our defense was flawless, and the Fallen have retreated. Our soldiers asked men to tell you that you're the bravest, fiercest lord they've ever seen. You're their hero." I could hear the conviction and pride in Rossi's voice.
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| "Come now, a real hero wouldn't need to be carried back. If it weren't for you, I could've died my last death out there."
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| I felt somewhat ashamed.
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| "Marbas, send the word to reinforce the city's defenses, and keep an eye out for any follow-up attacks from the Fallen. When I wake up again, I'll reward everyone according to their contributions."
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| Then the weariness of battle once again took its toll, and I returned to total darkness.
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| Later, when I awoke from that dream, tho cold mask on my face reminded me of who I was—not the heroic lord who led the defense of their city, but a cowardly deserter.
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| ===Expostulation=== | | ===Expostulation=== |
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| ''[This page has completely different handwriting and has been tucked into the diary.]''
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| Dear Darius,
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| I can't remember the last time we had a heart-to-heart. With our city's developing influence and military strength, as well as the increasing number of residents, you've become more like a king, and the distance between us has grown greater. Yet as your sworn comrade and courtier both, there are still some things I feel I must tell you.
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| Facchetti came to me yesterday, asking for more bread to feed his starving kid. Do you remember him? He was from the refugee group we met at the very beginning and the first one who raised his weapon to join our troop. Unfortunately, he lost his left leg and right hand in an explosion while defending the City of Water. So I took him to the quartermaster, who told me that your order was to halve the rations of non-combatant family members. Just when I was about to scold the quartermaster for this cruelty, Facchetti stopped me, explaining that discipline and reasonable distribution of resources are the keys to our army's strength, and that he and his son should not be exceptions. All I could do was give him my own rations for this week.
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| Over the past few months, I've seen many mortal soldiers—our allies—bowing and scraping for but mere morsels, to say nothing of the elderly, sick, and disabled begging for food on the streets. Thus, I wish to ask you this: as their Lightbearers, protectors, and even their lord, are their plights not our responsibility? Do the promises we made still stand? So I sincerely hope that you, my friend Darius, can abolish this torturous ration system. If it's an issue of supply, then stop expanding our army and shrink our territory so that at least the mortals currently depending on us can live better lives. I know you care about them just as much as I do, and thus I believe you will make the best choice for us all.
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| —Your friend, Rossi-11
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| ===Patient No.1090=== | | ===Patient No.1090=== |
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| It has been fourteen years since that tragedy, and thus fourteen years since I put on the mask. More and more people know about Doctor "Rossi" now. Marbas told me that we've already healed 1,089 patients—only one more to reach our goal. One thousand and ninety people. That was the number of residents in the City of Water before its downfall. Marbas believes that we can atone for our crimes by treating 1,090 patients.
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| Today, we arrived in a new settlement and almost immediately received a child with severe burns all over his body as our patient.
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| The leader of the place told us he lost his home and family in a fire yesterday. He was the sole survivor. He finally woke up after a whole afternoon on the operating table, though he was not out of the woods yet. The settlement's medical supplies were extremely limited, leaving us no choice but to operate without painkillers. The kid grimaced and cried in agony. Unable to keep watching, Marbas suggested we search for herbs to ease his pain.
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| However, such plants are rare our here in western Asia. We spent two hours finding one herb with slight anesthetic properties. We returned to the settlement only to find that the boy, unable to take the pain any longer, had taken his own life.
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| Perhaps losing our "last" patient was a message, telling me that my sins could never be forgiven.
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| After we gave the poor kid a proper burial, Marbas suggested that we speak with the Iron Lords and put these dreams to rest. He is right. It is time we face reality.
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| ===The Haunting=== | | ===The Haunting=== |
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| August 18
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| We encountered a group of mortals being chased by the Fallen near a giant castle. As usual, I helped them out of danger. Marbas was curious as to why they didn't hide in the castle—its intact structure and heavy, sturdy doors would be more than enough to protect them from the Fallen's attacks. But as soon as Marbas asked this, the mortals fell quiet, overtaken by a fear seemingly greater than what they'd felt while being hunted. Only one of them—a trembling young man—dared to answer. He explained that they were refugees who had grouped together, and that they had actually lived in the castle...at least until they saw something terrible. Some said it was a tall, slender shadow, some claimed it to be a giant spider, others stating it was rats in the wall... Whatever you feared most, you would see lurking within the castle's shadows.
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| So, Marbas and I decided to investigate. As I pushed open the door, I was greeted with the smell of mold and decay. The first floor of the castle was occupied by only cold, mossy stone walls and cobwebs on wooden beams. But as we climbed the rickety wooden steps, we heard a brief yet sharp titter—eerie, certainly, yet somehow synthetic. Then we saw the so-called ghost they described in a dim activity room on the second floor—a motionless, giant shadow on the pale wall. Luckily, all it took was a scan from Marbas to uncover the cause of this supposed haunting: a seriously damaged projector. Once we took out its batteries, the "ghost" vanished. Due to faulty circuits, it had been constantly displaying frightening images. Once we explained the truth of the matter, the refugees moved back into the castle.
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| August 25
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| Marbas managed to fix the projector. We watched the three horror movies stored in it, yet we never saw that motionless ghost. So what on earth did we see back in the castle...?
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| ===Veridia=== | | ===Veridia=== |
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| July 25
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| Saladin said he wanted to hear about my plans for the future, so we went to Veridia again today. We talked for a few hours, during which he invited me to join the Iron Lords, but I refused—I do not have the right to such a futile, at least for now. But I told him that I would stay in the Red Sea Rift for a while. When I excused myself, I found a bunch of familiar militiamen waiting by the door. They were the champions who had defended the city. When they saw me exit, they started to call my name loudly—"Darius! Darius!" They thanked me for serving as their commander in that battle and called me their hero. From the founding of the City of Water until now, it has been nearly twenty years since I last heard someone call me like this—be it the name "Darius" or "hero."
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| ...
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| July 30
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| Today was my fifth day serving as a doctor in Veridia. I had a special patient—a middle-aged man who was supposed to take my life. They one who brought him here told me that he was now a Red Sea Rift militia member who had used his drones to help many people. However, the drones went offline this morning. When we found him, he was already gravely injured, with his respirator and AI-speaker both damaged.
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| The outlook was not good. Some fragments of his respirator got lodged in his respiratory tract. He couldn't speak and was struggling even to breathe. But I knew he was awake. He was staring me straight in the eyes as I administered the anesthetic. I guess he didn't want me of all people to save him, but there weren't any other options.
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| Fortunately, the operation went well. After that, I fixed his AI-speaker with Marbas's help.
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| July 31
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| He regained consciousness and said, "Thank you, Doctor Rossi."
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| ===Eulogy=== | | ===Eulogy=== |
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| I remember the first time we met, when we were both just vibes by our Ghosts. We were like twins newly born into this world with neither names nor memories. All we knew was each other.
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| They said I should be named Darius, for they thought I had the makings of a great warrior. I told them they should be "Rossi"—a crimson flame that ignites the whole sky.
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| They asked me many times what death felt like. I couldn't answer, because Marbas always revived me before I could even feel anything. So each time, I would throw the question back at them. And over time, I heard many answers.
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| "Like sinking in an ocean with neither surface nor seabed, where you don't need to breathe or think. You just keep swimming along."
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| "Like being in space—silent, where you can't make a sound even if you wanted to But it'd be a nice place to sleep, I think."
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| "Like becoming a beam of light embraced by a greater radiance. You're enveloped by a vast expanse of whiteness, warm and reassuring as a mother's hug."
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| "Like falling into a bottomless abyss. I tried to adapt to the sense of weightlessness, but eventually, that's basically flying, right?"
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| Like a thanatologist, they had a brand new description every time their Ghost revived them. I wish I could hear even just one more answer. But unfortunately, I'll never have the chance.
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| ==Appearance== | | ==Appearance== |
