Dragomir - The Swamp of Maledictus | Wattys2024

The Parade and the Future

Like a lullaby, the nightingale sang its song, a unique symphony in the crown of the mighty oak tree, while the moonlight shone through the freshly appeared leaves. Under the tree, yet there stood a recruit with a sunken head and hat in her hands.

Avery Dragomir spoke no word, yet she thought a thousand thoughts. Her eyes kept staring at the gravestone—a white cross—and the name 'Hugo Dragomir' engraved in it.

Behind her, a pillar of smoke rose out of Fort Fedon North into the starry sky. Voices rang through the air—of joy and pain alike. Most were celebrating; some were grieving.

Avery took a deep breath, and, in her exhaustion, she finally sat down before the grave, where a bunch of small tulips were blooming all colourfully, like small Easter eggs. Who planted them? Who had taken care of his grave and the other ones in this graveyard behind Fort Fedon North, a graveyard with a small white wall surrounding it? There were flowers everywhere and small, blooming trees. Not far from Hugo's grave was even a small yet beautifully built chapel with fine details engraved in its walls.

Avery sighed and silently began to talk: »Whoever took care of this place is to whom I'm forever in debt. I couldn't be here, Grandpa; no, I couldn't, even though I should've. Time was cruel to you. I always wished that you might still be alive, to see the things you wanted to see, and, of course, to be with me. I'm sure you know that I miss you. You were like my father to me. You taught me so much. You gave me this thirst for revenge too, you know? The revenge, even though the Fedonian conflict has ended and your murderer is gone, is still not satisfied, and I believe it never will. «. Avery began to take out the small, growing grass peeking out of the grave and began to collect the small leaves of last autumn still around the gravestone.

»Time is cruel. «, she nodded and sat back, watching the cross and listening to the nightingale. »You'll forever be in my heart, and your mark will never leave the Snow Patriots. They're all talking about you, you know? When the soldiers marched on to Fort Fedon North, they all knew your name. They all knew why they had to win back Fedon. They had to prove that the Blue Navies were cowards who had only won, because they had sneaked in and not because they were brave warriors. We attacked them offensively, and we won. You won. «. Avery hit the dust off of her beret and sat it back on her head. »I will come to this place whenever I can, and I'll make sure to tell you everything. Because now it's our time. But for now, goodbye, Grandpa Hugo. «

She stood up, saluted before the grave, marked a cross, and marched off.

Under her feet, the stones were crunching, while behind her, the nightingale sang ever stronger, as if wanting to tell Hugo, who'd met his grave. Avery smiled and opened the metal gate of the graveyard, looking back over her shoulder one more time and finally leaving the place.

Outside of the wall, there was a willow hanging over the white wall, under which there was a wooden bench. On it, there sat a recruit, who obviously had dozed off. Avery sat down next to him. The man moved and lifted his head, letting his headgear fall to the ground.

A very sleepy Mendel Mendelson looked over to Avery and seemingly tried to wake up. Finally, he whispered, »You back? «. She nodded silently, gazing at the many lights in Fort Fedon North. »You said you'd need ten minutes. «, Mendel whispered, tapping his watch. »That was more than ten minutes! That was an hour! «

»Paul is dead. «, Avery said, looking over to the now-surprised Mendel. He waited, but Avery said no word.

»Who is Paul? «, he finally asked.

»A man whose voice will always be in my head. He hummed the song, you know, before we left the trenches. And now his voice is in my head, as if he sang the song. «