Tales from the Former Universe

33. Heart at Moonlight

"The only cost, we can only cover," the insurance officer said. "I am sorry."

"No, I read all your policies! Sue you, I will if you declare such a piece," Hwillfyrd argued.

"Try, you can," the officer said. "But we know what you did," they brought it back. "If anything, just be grateful for what we gave you. Else... your family, you can try to beg to!"

"SCREW YOU!!" HWILLFYRD ANGERED AND FOUGHT WITH THE OFFICER, AS LEPILLE AND DOIANA STRUGGLED TO PULL HIM AWAY.

Hwillfyrd's once-thriving business lay in ruins, devoured by flames and malice. His spirit, like the charred remains, was shattered. Days blurred into nights as he languished in regrets in bed, each moment a reminder of his profound loss. The weight of defeat pressed down relentlessly until, in the depths of despair, he made a fateful decision. With a heavy heart and trembling hands, he resolved to surrender, to let go of the dream he had nurtured for so long, consumed by the bending inferno of adversity.

"Do you Hwillfyrd, accept and acknowledge the closure for Yeastyotic?" the legal robot officer said.

After difficult considerations, Hwillfyrd chose the easy way out: "Yes."

Outside, his manager was waiting for him to finish the bankruptcy filings.

"Hwillfyrd... sorry, I am," his ribot manager said. "There was nothing we can do to prevent that."

"THERE WAS!!" Hwillfyrd shouted. "URGH! TELL ME THE GUARD WHO STAYED THERE!! PUT HIM DOWN, I WILL, AND MAKE HIS LIFE A MISERY!"

"I am sorry, he tried his best—even he did not make it," his robot manager said. "It's all on us..."

"Go fool yourself then," Hwillfyrd spoke. "Your functions are fruitless for me."

Despite promising guidance and support, the manager callously departed, leaving Totevia waiting in a storm of disappointment, anger, and resentment towards Hwillfyrd's perceived weakness in decision-making.

"Totevia, I..." Hwillfyrd stuttered.

"Why did you do it, Hwillfyrd?" Totevia questioned.

"Totevia..." Hwillfyrd struggled.

"ANSWER ME!" Totevia shouted. "HOW COULD YOU?!"

"Totevia, it's over. There was nothing we can do!" Hwillfyrd argued.

"After everything, give up, you chose after all this?!" Totevia angered. "Your people were counting on you, Hwillfyrd! You were changing things, and now you... you chose to give up?!"

"Totevia," Hwillfyrd hugged. "Money, we still have. Chance, we still have!"

"Screw you!" Totevia pushed away. "I thought I saw the real you in that desk... I was wrong!"

"Totevia, let me make it up to you..." Hwillfyrd said.

"No! Damage, you've caused for everything in your weakness!" Totevia said. "You and I are done!"

There was never a larger adversity for Hwillfyrd than that sentence: "What? Totevia, no..."

"It's my decision, Hwillfyrd..." Totevia said.

Totevia's parents came to pick her up.

"Totevia," Hwillfyrd kneeled. "Please..."

"YOU BEG FOR ME AND NOT FOR THEM?" Totevia questioned. "YOU ARE AN ABSOLUTE DISGRACE, HWILLFYRD! YOU ARE NOTHING LIKE YOUR FATHER!"

HWILLFYRD ENRAGED AND PUSHED HER DOWN THE PUDDLE.

"HEY!" Totevia's father rushed and strangled Hwillfyrd.