Upon entering the realm of the cosmos, Bruno can see the colours drained from the world, leaving behind only light and dark. The shadows are impossibly dark and yet within countless stars shine. Every patch of darkness is a sight most magnificent, from one casted by the mighty oak to the shadow under every step. There was no light in the sky yet they can still see around.

“The shadows… They are glowing”

Bruno commented, noticing the stars shinning. But if that is the case, then what creates these shadows to begin with. He traces them to a point in the sky, and from it, something appears.

“That…”

A sight Father Walker can also witness. A piece that has been missing in the night sky, so familiar to all. The moon.

The man holds onto the barb wire tightly, the pain shoots up to his brain. It helps him to remember he is here, that Bruno exists. If not, he would have fallen into the shadows upon first entering as it is the fate of the weak-willed.

The countless stars, the countless lights whisper to Bruno. Every one of them a soul that sank into the darkness. And in this night, even more appear to adorn the night.

As the group continues to the end of their journey, the scenery of the forest soon fades away. They finds themselves in a home so lived in yet so empty.

“Are we entering the realm of the deity?” Bruno asked.

Only one has the answer to his question “No, this is the place that has sunk into the cosmos” Father Walker said, a hint of sadness in his voice “Pieces of the world taken as the deity’s influence becomes greater”

Lands swallowed by the Runesland, dragged into one. Along with them are people, living beings transformed together into stars united under the night yet so forlorn. They all exist in the cosmos, their light reaching each other but their distance impossible to cross. To be alone and together at the same time, a paradoxical yet calming existence.

The man doesn’t recognise the items in this place. The rugs are intricate, the clothes hanging nearby are soft to the touch. On the table are five dishes all filled with the most delicious treats. In the corner of the room is a small box containing trash with a white seal on top.

On the roof, the moon can also be seen in a patch of the night.

The priest approaches the box, he continues solemnly.

“This contains the baggage of the year soon to pass, ready to be tossed out” He looks at the hanging rack “This family is ready to celebrate the new year”

Bruno then understands, this belongs to a more civilised age, a world long past. The man looks at the priest, wondering what is going on in the mind of someone who had lived in that time. But there isn’t enough time for that, the old hunter continues to move on without saying a single thing.

The group exits the room, the Stranger turns behind, tipping her hat in goodbye. In the roof five stars can be seen shining slightly brighter than others.

They pass through a village of the new world, desolate and depressing, followed up by a bathhouse with architecture most inspired. A long ember within Bruno, long thought gone, lights up again. The curiosity of the scholar, of that once mage in training.

As they walk past the town packed with buildings and the street smooth as silk, he could only watch in awe. The man wants to bother the priest, to ask about this world but he decides not to. For Father Walker, this place is more than wondrous, it was home once. He had walked this street, ate these foods, lived in those cosy dwelling. It’s best to move on in silence.

But as the group finds themselves inside a majestic castle. Once bustling with servants and knights and nobles, the place is now desolate. The candles the magelights had all gone out, only the stars remain to light up this empty monument.

Up above, the moon is still there, always present throughout their journey. Bruno can feel calm gazing at this familiar present among the sea of oddities. He wonders if the Blind hunters and the strangers can also see this moon. If they will even feel the same as him. Probably not, Bruno sighs, he has been becoming sentimental.

The silence is suddenly broken as a sound rings out, echoing in the great hall. A call from the distant past.

[Who’s there!]

A bellowing voice wakes the night, it is followed up by a resounding war cry. The group is stopped by a line of eight Knights in intricate armours. The plates shine bright showing their quality and the credence of the wearers. Their shields are ornate with tales of their valour carved on, to show their might.

“That level of craftsmanship is not possible!” Bruno exclaimed.

“Not for this era” Father Walker answered solemnly “They are the Royal Guard, predating the fall of man”

From the behind the line comes the Commander with a phoenix adorning his helm [More monstrosity] Even behind the covers the sound of gritted teeth can be heard [Go forward men! For our kingdom! For the monarch! For God! This heresy must be purged]

The Knights of old draw their swords, which had drawn so much from cosmos they are stained by the night. The Commander himself brandishes a mighty hammer with his inhuman strength. With the power of the night, a hit from their weapons can spell doom to anyone. Perhaps but the Stranger. But didn’t she once tell Father Walker that the cosmos could end her for good? Was that a lie?

They charge forward but their advance is stopped dead by smoke bombs thrown by the hunters. Then from the blind, they strike, the steel sword of the old hunter runs through the slit in the helmet. A Knight falls to his knees slumming down, resting for good. Another is fell by a shot to the throat, the chainmail underneath couldn’t stop the steel bolt.

“DO NOT FEAR THEM, THOSE RAISED FIGHTING MAN”

The call was sudden. The old hunter, always so calm and speaks with the lowest volume, bellows out. Perhaps he sees something in the Knights of old, something that is also a part of him. That has carried him through life to such an age.

“You still haven’t changed” Siobhan commented with a giggle.

And so, the two groups clash, Blind steel against the construct of old. All except Father Walker who stands there watching the mighty heroes. He had grown up on tales of their valour. A time he had thought long forgotten yet returning so vividly. It tugs in his heart, the pain of a world loss is unbearable.

Yes, this is also pain, the instrument of the great Azu.

Perhaps in their time, the Royal Guard was the mightiest of the heroes. But they ranked among the known, along their fellow kind.

But they are now facing against the creations of the new world, one forged from slaying monstrosities that could not be comprehend. The old hunter weaves among the stained blades, untouched and vicious. One by one he falls the champions of old with ease.

[DIE!] The voice of the Commander thunders out.

One of the Knight charges against Bruno but he dodges the blow. The man tries to attack but his spear couldn’t find any point of entry. With a might shield bash, Bruno is knocked off from his feet. An attack of that magnitude would kill a mere human instantly, crushing their bones like crackers. And yet, the Knight couldn’t believe it to see the man stands up once again. Forever changed by the spiral, Bruno is no long a mere human.

But even with the ‘blessing’ of Scy’lla, he is still no match for this champion of man.

It dawns on Bruno, this is just the first hurdle. But he is not suited to complete this journey. Behind the threatening figure of the Knights the man can see the old and Smiling hunters, back to back, they fend off against their attackers with ease. The great Commander himself swings his hammer in vain for it could not touch the Stranger. With her modest frame she steers the mighty weapon with her lasso, the sound of spur lighting her every step.

[I shall end you, monster!] The Knight decrees.

He swings his sword at Bruno, who could only narrowly dodge the slash. But now he is stuck, without room to avoid the follow up.

But that final blow never comes, as a blade through the neck smoother the Knight for good. He falls down and behind him stands the Smiling Hunter. “Maybe you should have this” She said, throwing Bruno a steel knife.

The battle comes to an end as the Commander is toppled by the Stranger. A stab through the eye slit and he stops struggling. The mighty Royal Guard had seen many triumphs, but this is their end, and no one shall remember their names or sing songs of their deeds.

Throughout the short skirmish, Father Walker knells and he prays, whispering words that hasn’t escaped his lips ever since the end of the world. May the Knights rest with their people in the Eternal Garden.

But even in their ends, the Knights refuse to let go of their arms. Their grips like iron and so are their wills, unbreakable.

“The cosmos couldn’t take them in. But it has eroded their minds” The priest stands up.

“Ya sure about continuing?” The Smiling Hunter asked mockingly.

“Yes, I won’t sit still again” Father Walker replied “The time for prayer is over”

The group continues their journey again. The old hunter brushes away the encounter out of his mind, not caring about the vestige of the past snuffed out by his hands. They walk on, all except one.

The Stranger turns back to face him “So you have made your choice” She said.

“Yes” Bruno admitted, his head hung low.

“Live” She told him “It’s never wrong to want to live”

Those were the words that Father Walker also once told him. Bruno understands that him stopping now isn’t a surprise for them. It’s not a sin to exist.

“Please! Kill them all, I beg you” The man yelled out.

Everyone moves on but the Stranger who turns back to him. With a smile on her face the woman answers “I will”. Tipping her hat, he bids him farewell.

And so, there Bruno stands, unmoving. He can’t move on but his conscience doesn’t allow him to return. The man made a promise to see to it that his friends will all die. But here he is, breaking that own vow.

Why does it hurt, this time? Bruno had broken many vows before.

“Let’s get married when we are older” He once spoke with Marissa so long ago. But after the day of their inductions into the Fisherman he hadn’t conversed with her since.

Then there was the time he spent with his dear friend, his roommate Mordia “When we graduate, let’s go outside, together. We can ask Mark and Marissa as to go with us as well!”

“I will take you to that tavern thing next time we can go out” He said with David. That day never came for them.

So many vows, all broken the day his life changed for good. Was it when Mordia decided to leave or when they were all crucified and left to dry? Bruno can’t even tell anymore. Ever since he discarded the mage in training, he hadn’t made a promise since. He is supposed to be a killer of man, a cannibal, a Fisherman. Yet here he is thinking about none of those things.

Bruno wants to cry but no tears could come out. His eyes had been dry since the day he decided to become a raider.