A Proclamation of Ruin

I'm...

In big bold and red letters, their system says... I am Ruined. A white screen that contrasted all their yellows. Nothing else written but the word; RUINED.

Their systems are visible too. All with the same warning... [!DANGER!]

Ruined? Danger?

People with that label are the bad ones right? Have I done anything wrong? I don't think I have... They're all scared. What are they scared of?

Is it me?

Why is it me?

Ruined?

Why am I Ruined?

Whispers cascaded through the endless crowd, all collectively stepping back from me. Eyes wide, fingers pointed. Guards are ready in stance and Princess Arianne and Edriane have drawn their swords. The Heroes have summoned their affinities, fire, water, air and ground surrounding their bodies with a fresh light.

I feel the food I shoved down my throat minutes ago come up. Bile burned my throat and out came all that I consumed, even the stain stone.

People scream and panic.

"THE CROW!"

"Doomed! Doomed are we!"

"KILL HIM!"

"OH DEAR SAINT!"

I'm not the crow.

Amidst all the screaming, Priest Dottir has begun praying, falling to her knees, tears welled up in her eyes as she called out for Saint Rubaine.

Saint Rubaine...

What's happening?

My mind gets pulled into a space I don't recognise but holds familiarity.

[She's not a Saint child. She won't answer anyone's prayer.]

The same text, no voice but I felt the somberness. I felt the disappointment. I felt the dread.

Then what am I supposed to do?

[Stay alive.]

My head goes quiet. They're here but they're not. I don't understand.

A ring tortures my ears. I watch Edriane bark for guards and a troop comes marching in. They grab me, shackle me and pin me to the ground.

I try to speak but I do not hear myself. "Wait...WAIT! I...if I am not a hero as you thought, send me back home." I speak anyway. "Please. Let me go home."

Edriane mouths words I could not catch. She says them too quickly.

Yet somehow, I reply, "You promised."

She lightly stumbles from my response, her sister coming to her aid, looking angrier by the minute. She glares as if I had pushed her sister. She barks orders at the guards and I try to fight them. Every article of clothing had restricted movement.

I do not succeed.

"Edriane!" I called. Does she hear me? Did I make a sound?

I try again.

But they silence me with a muzzle. It pierced my skin and sealed my lips, digging into my cheeks. I taste the hot seeping metal at the back of my throat.

"DIE!"

"YOU MONSTER!"

"THE CROW! THE CROW HAS RETURNED!"

"HE'S HERE TO KILL US ALL!"

"KILL HIM FIRST!"

I was dragged out. The cold burned my skin. I'm naked. When did I take off my clothes? No... No. They cut it off me and burned them right in front of me.