Stand Up and Walk

Only the Strong Survive

"Can't focus; my body is still puzzled about what to do. I'm trembling; I can't stop even if I try to control myself. Although neither sun nor moon are on my side, I've got no choice but to try... Those were the words I muttered to myself. The odds aren't on my side, but running away would be weakness. Even if I can't see the future, I'll just have to win it over with courage. I need to keep distance from the targets as I hold myself back. All that's needed for victory is pride to win! Will we celebrate with the wine of victory? Or will we end up kissing their feet in defeat? There are two outcomes to everything... I want to control destiny! I need to seize this golden opportunity with my hands! I'll finish it up with my best poker face, and drag them into a world of illusions. I'll find my way out of this endless pressure game, and leap over the borderline of honor. How many? What will I need to sacrifice to make it happen? What's the one thing I don't want to let go of?"

—Sukima Switch, Golden Time Lover

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You shiver viciously, burrowing deeper into your fur-lined black coat as the horse-drawn cart rattles along on the snowy path. You rub your mitten-clad hands together, trying to generate some frictional warmth for your numb fingertips. Your teeth chatter as you sniffle miserably, the cold air causing your nose to run.

Ed elbows you in the ribs. "What, are you cold or something?" he asks, pulling his hood down lower over his head. He glances behind him at the path ahead. "We're not even at the mountains yet—it's only going to get worse from here!"

You glare at the boy beside you as your body trembles. "Y-You're n-not cold?" you stutter, trying not to bite your tongue. "W-We're too damn small for weather like t-this!"

A vein pulses in his forehead. "Speak for yourself!" he snaps hotly. "I'm not too small for anything!"

But after a moment, his face softens, his golden eyes seeming like liquid sunlight as he gazes down at you. "C'mere," he says suddenly, wrapping his arm around your shoulder and pulling you tight against him.

The image of The Lovers card flashes through your mind, and you feel your cheeks redden from more than just the cold as you stare up at him. "W-W-What're you d-doing?" you stammer, thankful for the warmth in the tips of your ears as you feel blood rushing up in them to color them pink.

He glances away from you, his own cheeks dusty pink despite his claims to not feel the cold. "We can't have you freezing to death before we even get there," he teases, and Al nods thoughtfully.

"It is smart of you to stay close to conserve body heat," he remarks, glancing down at his own gauntlets, dejected. "Sorry I can't help much with that," he says sadly.

You frown, turning to say something, but the cart jolts to a halt. The three of you glance up at the driver, who is looking at you over his shoulder. "Alright, kids," he huffs, his breath visible in the frigid air. "This is where I let you off!"

You glance around at the barren wasteland around you, the mountains visible in the distance. " Here?" you demand, leaning into Ed's warmth as you stare up at the man, appalled. "This is the middle of nowhere!"

His lips quirk up in a faint smile. "Not exactly," he informs you, and then points off to his right, off of the main path that you're on. Squinting down the way, you can see that there is indeed a winding trail there, albeit covered in a thick layer of snow. "If you follow this mountain road, it'll lead you straight to Fort Briggs!" he explains as the three of you hop off the back of the cart.

You squint against the blinding snow, raising one arm to shield your eye as you press yourself again against Ed's side.

"Okay, thanks!" says the boy, waving at the man over his shoulder with the arm not wrapped around you. He opens his mouth to say something to you and Al, but the man speaks again.