Ashes

Arch III. The Longest Road. Entry 12. The Time Has Come

The autumn morning on Xentaron began with a heavy snowfall, the likes of which people had never seen before. Snowflakes, like falling stars, covered the streets and houses with a thick blanket of snow. People had become unaccustomed to winter for many years, but it was here again. But the people of Xentaron were already prepared for difficulties, knowing that the Darkness was protecting them and would not allow them to die of hunger or the bitter cold.

As he watched the snowfall, a memory of the girl flashed through Eclip's mind. The first time they had left the castle. She was making snow angels, and he was watching silently. He didn't like cold weather, but if the girl was happy, he didn't mind. "Eclip, look!" she shouts, pointing at another angel. He never understood why she thought he was one. The girl takes his hands. "It's you!" Her ringing laughter echoed in his ears. Memories washed over him, no matter how hard he tried to push them away.

A cold wind blew into the room, throwing the windows wide open. Snowflakes swirled around the boy, not giving him a chance to breathe. He took a step closer to the window with difficulty to close it, but at one moment something resembling a small golden butterfly flew into the room. The wind went down, and Eclip was able to close the window.

He stared at the butterfly. It stopped at chest level and flapped its wings even faster, flying through the Dragon's body, filling him with a strange, yet so familiar warmth. He turned around and saw the butterfly fly out into the hallway. "I have to find out what that was," he thought to himself, starting to follow it. Hallway after hallway. Room after room. It seemed to be playing with him, forcing him to follow it. Very often he lost sight of it, thinking that it was just an illusion created by someone to lure him into a trap or, worse, kill him.

Eclip ran into the throne room. Ahriman stood in the center, his hand outstretched as if holding someone back. When the Dragon looked closer, he saw this butterfly. It was flapping its wings in panic, trying to escape from the trap.

"Any guesses as to what this is?" Ahriman asked, not lowering his hand. It seemed he had strengthened his defenses a little. The butterfly continued to thrash about, as if it was in great pain.

"A threat of war from another continent not under your control?" the young man suggested.

"I wish I could say yes, to amuse you a little. But no. Such wonderful and beautiful messages come in very rare cases. Usually before an impending catastrophe, to buy a little time and call for help. Or when the catastrophe has already happened, and people just want to say goodbye to everyone. How strange. This came from the Arishta continent." he answered and, seeing Eclip's surprised and frightened look, continued "Perhaps the cage was destroyed, and..."

"Don't you dare say that!" he shouted. He knew how much Ahriman enjoyed making him angry, although he didn't fully understand why he did it. But he didn't want to think about the bad at all.

"I was just guessing, calm down," the man growled. "Let's find out what this message really is."

Ahriman clenched his fist, and the butterfly disappeared. A girl appeared in its place. She stood before them, as if she really was here. She was dressed in what could hardly be called clothes. She was covered in bruises and abrasions. Her short hair was pulled back into a sloppy, disheveled ponytail. The girl looked very tired and scared, and despair was visible in her eyes.

"Whoever this letter reaches, please save us," she began to speak. Her tired and sad voice was like a knife to the heart. "It's been many days since the Dragon Flu reached our continent. We tried to save people. There were a few of us, but soon I was alone, like an abandoned and broken toy. I saw how this virus took the lives of those dear to me. And I see how it continues to destroy this wonderful place. It hurts. I'm scared. I don't know what to do." the voice dropped to a whisper "I try to save people, but even my best efforts are not enough. Death is walking somewhere nearby, taking more and more people with it. There is void around me, only the weak breathing of those who are struggling with the last of their strength against the inevitable. I know Death will take them too. There is less and less time. I am terrified. Seeing someone die before your eyes... It is unbearable." She wiped away her tears and, taking a deep breath, continued "I'm rushing around in the dark, hoping for a miracle, it seems even my dreams have died along with those who have already gone to The Far Side. I don't know who this letter will reach, but please let me know that it has reached you. Somehow... I am tired of fighting. Every day is getting harder and harder, and I feel loneliness growing somewhere deep in my chest. I can't handle this alone, and I'm afraid I never will. This is my last cry for help. Whoever reads this letter, I want to thank you in advance. Even if you can help... I'm unlikely to be here to say "thank you" to you personally. I'm afraid that I will die too. Not from illness, no, but from extreme fatigue and hunger. There is also less and less food left. Please help..." At that moment she looked aside. It seemed as if she was looking straight at Eclip. Her sad eyes seemed to penetrate the soul of the young Dragon. "Anybody..."