Down In Rain

The First Disappointment (1)

Ruin.

It is the mover of worlds, from one on to the next it changes. The form of ruin can come in many different ways, but for certain it will still destroy something. Whether it be our kin, our history, or even just our ideas. It'll make sure to crumble at least one thing within its short existence.

A blank canvas. Strewn about the room in such a way that it would make you embarrassed to have to see it outright. It wasn't a whole piece of canvas no, not at all. It wasn't allowed to be in such a way, in such a fashion whatsoever.

It was still blank as could be, rotting from the inside-out as each painstaking moment passed. Turning from white to brown, and then to black. It became nonexistent after. Becoming separated from reality, it has died. Tattered and torn apart, useless again, gone with the wind.

People will paint themselves into what they want to be, who they strive to be like. The world turns and turns relentlessly, no matter what happens, people will never live up to their own expectations.

No matter how wonderful and fulfilling their lives were, they will see the current and want more. It is within true human ambition that this occurs, a tragedy within itself.

So I'll tell you a tale of a man. Who even in his numbered days, tries to fill a void.

Another beauty of human life was freedom of choice.
What void he was trying to fill is now up to you.

Dima, Day 1, 10:52 AM
So much water poured over the The Eternal City, my country and homestead. That If you were to glance at its capital, the city of Attain, you would think tsunamis were drowning our city. Though that's what it felt like to me, and everyone else. It wasn't exactly the case.

It was instead an impending rain, unavoidable to all the city residents. It destroyed our families, poisoned our crops, and defiled our pride. Our bright gem that had once conquered history, was now the one conquered.

All traces of evidence that suggested why the rain was occuring were only known by the high council, the true reigning government of the city. Who had once been our guardians, now stepped into the shadows to unseat themselves temporarily from this tragedy.

Until recently, they had cut off all communication with the citizens, leaving all business to corporate heads who had ran the markets and stores. All government decisions were also to made by these businessmen, effectively making the city's democracy into a twisted type of aristocracy.

The people were scared. Scared that while they were away at work, they would get a letter that their possessions had been repurposed. Sold off to the most coin desperate, aristocratic bidder.

Sicknesses spread like wildfire, with families being ravaged by every sickness known to man. Within a matter of weeks unprepared family blood lines were completely killed off, being wiped clean off the face of the planet.

This rain not only lowered people's immune systems for sickness, but it also allowed waterborne parasites to form and mutate. They ate away at our crops and killed us if we ate them. It has killed thousands of people, and that total number just kept rising by the day. The rain seemed never ending, and our hope waned.

Then the council spoke. There old government speakers rang out throughout the city:

"Citizens of Attain, the Executive speaks."

"We assure you forthright that we have found the cause of the rain, and a team made up of the best men and women will cure this city's ailment. They have been spoken too, and they know who they are. We will meet shortly. Stay indoors and stay safe, this horror will soon be over."

With a note of finality they boomed,
"The council has now spoken."

I hid within my home, burdened by the weight of a decision I had no say in. I was chosen for this very team. So the joy of hearing from the original government was long gone.

"Do you think that when you confront the causer of the rain, the council will have you kill them? Dima...?"

I turned my head to the sound of the voice, my wife Meline. She began to develop concern in response to my silence.

"I don't know." I hesitated for a moment. "I think that they will have us arrest them. So that we can learn how this happened in the first place. It would be barbaric if we just killed them outright. That's why we were chosen isn't it? Because we are good people?"

Walking over to the kitchen, I grabbed my fathers sword from the counter. Still lined with metal shavings from when I sharpened it last month. The thing had not been used for a long time.

I do hope that I don't end up having to use it
Despair took me as I brushed the shavings off.

I looked over the 3 runes that were carved into its blade by my father, a swordsman who defeated the Wretch Atychi 5 years ago. Sealing it within the hell known as the Abyss. A place of no light and no substance, a void in the definition of the word.

The first rune, a "TL'' represented the unforgiveness of life and the need to overcome it. Literally meaning within translation to "Fight against life". My father always resonated with it very deeply, stating that life's shortcomings were inherently the true obstacle to truly living. It never made full sense to me honestly, but I respected his philosophical thoughts on it. He had never been wrong before.

The second rune, a beautiful "T¥", represented the fight against malice or evil. A topic which I understand way more than the first one, or I should say rather that I liked more. What was more noble than defeating an opponent who threatened your livelihood? I wanted to feel that satisfaction for myself if I ever needed to protect what was important to me.

Glancing at the third rune I paid it no mind. It was an almost alien looking "T8U" that was supposed to represent the fight against... something. The 8 and the U were unknown symbols to me, and it seemed that they were unknown to my father as well. As he never really told me what they meant.

I felt the blade's weight in my hand for a moment and sheathed it within its scabbard. Making a distinct "sssh" sound with it as metal met leather. Meline looked over at me with a look of understanding.

"It's time for you to go now, isn't it?"

I nod, afraid for the future

"It is, they'll be expecting me soon."

Meline walked over to me and hugged me tight, whispering softly to me,

"You stay safe, you hear me? Don't try anything stupid, stick close to the others and support one another. Got it? Don't go dying on me."

Sounding as confident as I can for her worries I proclaim to her,

"I will, I swear to you I will."

Standing still within her embrace, I solemnly let go of her and walked out the door onto the front porch. Now downtrodden with rain, it made a harsh squelch sound the moment I stepped upon it. As the rain tumbled down, no one even realized that I wept, tear and rain combining into one.

My goal now was that I needed to get to Attain's Town Hall. I swiped away at the rain that had latched upon my plastic covered map.

I was told about a week ago or so that today was the day we would all meet. So that we can stay on schedule with whatever the council commanded us to do.

This was the only way out of this hell, I was certain of it.

Though I ask now if the cost will even be worth it.