Upon the Flying Ship: Rewritten Records of the Illiterate Author

Chapter 14

Bellarmine runs away from the iron diminishing her magic. Up the stairs, through corridors, using all the shortcuts she's ever known. Sure, she can run fast and long distances, but fear is clouding her vision and her breathing is erratic and when she gets to the top deck, she collapses.

Bella takes the time she needs to steady her breathing and calm the stitches in her stomach to think about her next speech, one that the world will remember. She had to get it right - and make everybody understand the importance of even a single life. The weight of decisions. Believing that not only you are important, but the people you've never seen before are too.

The consequences if she fails are drastic.

"She's thinking just like you do, Liblie. Do you want to tell her that?"

Liblie stared at Satan. "What?"

"I will grant you your wish. To tell someone meaningful something meaningful. In the Holy lands, all is possible. And this is your possibility to tell dear Bella the words she so desperately needs to hear. Are you willing to tell her this?"

"I am! What kind of question is this?"

Satan smiled. "Go." He blows, and the wind takes her to where Bella sits, watching the destruction from above, crying, her tears dropping down the sides of the DSS and sparkling in the sun.

"Bella."

The song Mage turns. "L-liberty!" She wished she could ask about how this is happening, but she knows there isn't time.

"Bella. You're right. You're the most right person on this entire continent, this entire planet, for the thoughts you are thinking right now. Bella, I trusted a person I had never met before. He was brandishing a knife and had put me in iron chains. I followed him, because I knew that turning him in was wrong. I also wanted to die, but that's really not the point. After my death, he said things about me that made me realize I wasn't as much of a monster as people and I thought I was! Even though some of the blame for my death rests in his hands, he spoke up for me, he spoke with his words, he spoke with his actions. And this gave me the reassurance I needed to become someone else. He changed my life, well, my death, and you have the power to share this story. He knows who he is, and he'll know what you're talking about. Bella. You need to explain to them that because you don't know them doesn't mean that you should hurt them. Trust should be automatic, and those who betray it kill parts of themselves along with everything. Bella, you now know my story. Tell it to the world, let them know that people are good inside. Everyone has that spark, everyone has a diamond. It may be cracked or dirty or barely glowing, but it's there, and your job as someone outside is to FIND IT, not bury it deeper in dust, hate, and tears. I'm sorry for leaving so early, but you guys did better than I ever could in my years as Ruler. Forgive me."

Now is not the time to faint, Bella reminded herself. "I forgive you, Liberty. You have done nothing wrong but listen to the idiots around you. Goodbye, and it's nice being able to say goodbye. Keep that for the next time you decide to go die without saying farewell."

Liblie was blown away by the wind. She was crying, and those were tears of joy.

Czar leaped off the horse, sending it cantering wildly away through the crowd. Czar's sword came down on Mondy's head, but she blocked it, scraping two knives against the long blade.

When Zydexo reappeared again, it wasn't because he wanted to. A chunk of iron had flown through him, and he materialized, right in the way of a charging hulk of a man. The guy speared him like a kebab without even slowing down, and the intangibility Mage is offended. He had imagined his death to be a courageous sacrifice, with friends saving themselves while he gave them extra time. Zydexo guessed that maybe war wasn't a glorious adventure. It was pure pain and sorrow.