Dawn still lacked so many emotions. Most people don't realize how vast the emotional spectrum truly is. Some feelings only emerge in specific environments—and sadly, this wasn't one of them.
But he didn't care.
Because after months of feeling like a monster, today, he felt human again.
The symphony that had entered his heart still played on, joyful and unrelenting. But Dawn couldn't sit still. In that moment, he felt invincible—like he could fight a god and win by some miracle.
Even he knew that was foolish.
"Yeah, right. I wish I could beat a god."
The words were simple. But they held truth. He wasn't even close to that level. Even if he shot to the stars, it would take him years to reach it. Then came the familiar weight—helplessness—lifting its ugly head again.
His gaze fell. The throne room shadows deepened around him.
"All this time... I've still been too weak."
Why?
No matter how hard I try—how many devils I slay, how many abominations I bring to their knees—why is it never enough?
Why can I choose how to live... but not how to die?
Will my end be happy?
Will it be swift? Painful? Merciless?
He'd carried these questions for months, unaware. His numbness never allowed space for doubt, only survival. But now, with his emotions rekindled, the questions clawed their way to the surface.
His mask of indifference cracked.
His breathing turned ragged. Fists clenched. But he was trying—genuinely trying—to breathe, to center himself.
Like I said in my first nightmare—death is all about acceptance.
What lies beyond it… who knows?
You can imagine heaven and hell, a black void, or endless rest—but there's always uncertainty.
You don't get to know how you'll die.
You only get to accept that you will.
After all, even death has died in this world.
You can mask the truth with happiness. Pretend you'll get rest one day. But what if rest never comes? What if it's just a different kind of suffering?
Life is the struggle. Death is the quiet that's supposed to follow. But what makes it the end? Even at the edge of a rope—there's still something beyond it.
Air.
Sea.
Land.
There's always something beyond.
So why worry if my end will be quick or cruel? If I can't accept death, I'll live in fear of it. I don't know if there's paradise waiting—but there are still too many things I haven't let go.
So what's the point in stopping now?
Inhale.
Exhale.
Repeat.
With each breath, Dawn steadied himself. The shadows in the throne room receded. He unclenched his fists and took a few shaky steps—steps that soon grew steady, confident, as he moved toward the camp beyond.
Sunlight met him at the exit. He squinted, blinking into its warmth. Then, the realization hit:
"I spent all night in the Bright Castle... just listening to the symphonies of the world—and of my heart."
Dawn chuckled. Not sad. Not joyful. Just weighted—with thought.
"I'm no god. I'll die one day. So what?
In this world, I'm not bound by fate's chains.
Why waste that freedom grieving the inevitable?"
In the distance, Nephis rallied the residents of the Forgotten Shore. The final struggle for survival was close. Too close.
Dawn smiled—a true smile.
His long silver hair flowed in the breeze. His radiant eyes shimmered with feeling.
Even his tattered armor, clinging to his frame, seemed to pulse with purpose.
He was so close now—so close to breaking free from his suffering.
So he ran.
A single tear fell. His smile didn't.
And that smile alone sparked a flicker of hope in those readying for war.
Author's note:
So I have decided to try to give you all two to three chapters a week I know that previously I was actually uploading fairly consistently doing one per day but with the current situation of my life although I still want to continue this story I won't be capable to do it as consistently so this is the best compromise I can give but a quick reminder that at the end of the day this will all depend on how I feel if I don't feel good or I'm just not in the mood then I'm probably not going to write that day
peace out hope you all enjoy the chapter