And then Terin was in the midst of a white void of space. Every step he took made ripples on the floor. Terin continued moving forward until he felt something trying to speak to him.

Hear me son of light.

A voice that seems to come out of everywhere and at the same nowhere.

A phantom appeared in front of Terin Gaspar. They were human made simply of light. As if the very light that was burning in them had shredded their skin. They all appeared in the opposite of him.

The wheel of destiny turns, the son of light, and the one who shines light, the one that blinds the eye of the world has come to this aged peak. Where all those who dare to go beyond the Great Seas.

Terin Gaspar felt a shiver coming from his bones.

The Age of Man, and the Age of the Other.

There is no meaning other than it must come.

Terin Gaspar was shot forward until he was in this tunnel shooting stars. Then as if he was a fish that came out of the water. He landed on another realm, but this time, this realm had a ground made of a canvas of stars. Terin Gaspar felt like he was walking on the very river of stars.

So you have come, Son of Light.

A disfigured voice spoken everywhere. The voice didn’t break the peace and silence of the stars. Terin Gaspar still felt the invigorating energy that he had felt. That vision that he saw back then lingered. He came to take a step forward, daring to ask what had been troubling his mind.

“Are we in the right?”

His voice was weak. His heart was wavering. He asked the same question that had been repeating in his head. The toil of seeing the innocent suffer under the banner of their own righteousness. To save everyone you would need to sacrifice others. Unless one has many hands and has the power everywhere.

Even if he had the power. He would be nothing more than a tyrant who ‘peacefully’ asked the common folk to move. Once they open the Great Gates of Brampi, then their livelihood will be lost, their lands, houses, and the very place they had cultivated throughout the years will be devastated.

But if they don’t open the gate, then the Reconnoiter Company Fleet wouldn’t be able to head to the Great Seas where they can continue their journey.

The ‘figures’ that were made of light were silenced. Then as if time was fast forwarded, the world of starry stars turned into the very sky itself. He was floating above the peak of the Icean Spine. Terin felt like he was walking on the air and below him was the figure of his companions staring at him who had touched the pillar

Your companions had crossed the oceans, fought terrible foes, and yet they muster the strength to take a step. To have a heart that is as warm as the sun is a blessing, but know that the sun harms as well. There is no journey that doesn’t wore the sole of thy shoes. There is no skin that does not get burn as they stay under the sun.

As flowers wither, as the bodies of water dry and turned into nothing but soil.

All must somewhat come to a momentary end.

“I don’t want that! I didn’t agree to hurt the innocent! I would never do so!”

To be kind if grace itself, however, you are running out of time, son of light. The light that guides the way will soon perish. Behold, beyond the Great Seas, beyond the oceans that your sails must cross. There is more than you think.

And then he was gone from the Icean Spine. Terin Gaspar blinked. He was in a field where the very itself was charred. The figure that took him pointed a finger at a direction. Craning his neck, he found a startling sight that put a shudder in his very heart. There was a black pit that stood vertically in the air. On this ‘entrance’ legions of beings from the interstice poured out like blood out of a wound.

Before the legion could truly come out. There was the thundering sound of cannons. The legion that came out of the interstice were devoured by the roar of gunpowder.

Terin looked to the direction where the cannon fire came from. There he saw soldiers armed in what seems to be colorful uniforms. There was a firing line of soldiers, though armed with bayonets and rifles, some were armed with plate armor. Though the United Aon had long abandoned wearing plate armor. Terin then came to understand why they still wore their plate armor.

Though the cannon fire had purged the beings of the interstice.

Those who survived shot like a bullet, crossing the field, arriving in front of the firing line. Before these survivors could harm the firing line, armed soldiers in full plate armor crashed their tower shields on the creatures. Their lances piercing through their bodies, harming the creatures who dare to continue forward.

Their movements were light as if the steel they wore were nothing more than a light cloth. They moved as if they were not held back by the very steel they carry.

You are not the only ones who are fighting to the bitter end. Beyond the Seas, far from the continent, there lies another Empire that stands tall in front of the coming woe.

“I don’t understand, why are you showing me this?”

For you must remember that if you cannot move, then more shall time is wasted.

You are the very light.

“Then give me an answer!? Do I have to trample on these people!?”

A question son of light, does the sun announces its presence to the world? Does it tell that it is morning?

“But I am not the sun!?”

Indeed, but you are the son of light itself.

The figure chuckled at his reaction.

Reach out to the sun that is burning in you, reveal your light, your voice, and let it guide a way. Those that refuse to heed the burning radiance of your light, then they are moths.

“But…”

The figure thrust his light-molded hand on the forehead of Terin Gaspar. His eyes glowed like the sun itself. There was a burning radiance that seems to suck all the light around him until there was none left. Terin Gaspar blinked. He was back to the very skies of the Icean Spine.

He took in the same form that he had when fighting that monster back in that coral island of Orcy. On his light-made hand was the lance that he used to struck the great evil that he fought back in that coral island.

Hear me sons and daughters of the Icean Spine!

Terin didn’t know why he felt like his voice was bouncing on every corner and crevice of the Icean Spine. His voice were made of many voices. It was soothing and striking at the same time.

The time has come where you shall make a choice!

Abandoned the banks of the river, steer clear before the flood comes.

I bear the sun!

I carry its warmth and wrath.

Children of the light!

You have been warned of a great flood.

Believe and be saved.

Doubt and be perished!

It was a threat and a warning of what was to come. His voice was like a soft lightning that was carried where every light of his touch in the Icean Spine.

“This is the choice you’re giving me? A warning?”

Yes, we must no rob them of their choice.

“This isn’t a choice. This is nothing more than a threat to them! If they don’t obey then they will die!? How is this any different!?”

Perhaps, but you gave them a choice to do what they think they must do. Son of light, you are their guiding beacon, but if the light falters against the winds of the interstice, then they will lost their light. To give them a choice, no matter how wicked such choices can be made.

Terin thought that he was talking to a stone who could muster a voice. No matter how much he expressed his thoughts to this tone, it wouldn’t change its way of thinking. Perhaps, this one had been through the hardest time of the world, that this was someone who had made these choices for others as well. Did they question as well? The very light that saves them that was also burning them?

Terin didn’t understand. He was just a farm boy that was chosen by the light to act as its vessel. Before all of this he wanted nothing more than to find a good place to build his cabin, marry a darling, and be a good son to his father. And yet where was he now? He had crossed seas, turned into a giant made of light, and was going through such strange things.

Terin felt tired.

He thought that he was ready. That he could muster the strength to lift his leg and continued ambling forward. But every step there were chains weighing him down. There were only questions, and not a hint of anyone who may know where he might be going. To where he must find answers, and finally understand all of this.

The light that burned him started to fate. His gigantic form made of light started to dim and he found the raging light simmer like water during the hottest days. Terin Gaspar once again blinked. He found himself standing in that glassy voice where there were only ripples under his feet.

His eyes on the figure made of light. His expression weary and crumpled. With his brows meeting, he took a step forward, then stopped himself, and held a hand to his forehead.

The light that flows in you have grown stronger. You carry more light than those who have come before you. Yes, you shall be strong, son of light.

His mouth opened, but no voice came out. He shut his mouth gently, looked down, and didn’t raised it. The figure that spoke everywhere and nowhere was silent for a moment before it spoke again.

There are cloudy days ahead of you, son of light. Days where the light is dimmed by the clouds. But do not fret, in every cloud there is a spot where the lights goes through, and you shall come to find this light no matter you go.

Terin Gaspar looked up. His face still weary, and the choices still weighing him. He wanted to ask something, but before he could the figure spoke.

But be warned, child of light.

The voice this time was unkind, like a voice of a father who had come to witness his child do wrong. Terin Gaspar raised his face, he looked the figure. He didn’t understand the sudden change, but he somewhat knew that the time for this figure to cater to him had passed. The once warmth he felt was replaced with nothing but still air. It was neither cold nor warm. There was only the voice that warned him.

For there is a man who walks the lives of three.

A man raised by butchers.

A man raised in stone and iron.

“What?” Terin asked. The figure continued.

Beware of the man who walks the lives of three.

Beware of the man whose heart had rotten.

Enemy or not, he shall one day asked a question.

And when the question is asked, the eyes of the world will come to witness, and when the question is asked.

The heart of the world will listen.

Beware of the man who walks the lives of three.

For he brings questions and doubts.

“What? I, when can I know this?”

Be warned of the man who walks the lives of three.

For when the times comes, you shall know.

And when you do.

What will you answer, son of light?

The figure and the world broke into shards. Terin Gaspar looked around him, then as if strength had left him. He fell back-first and once again heard the voice.

Beware of the man who walks the lives of three, sons of light.