‘This is a pre-recorded message from: Anonymous’

“The percentages were incredibly low, but I managed to make it!

I crossed the void sea, I don’t know if it’s possible to make it back, but right now my priority is survival,

None of my crewmates survived the trip however,

This could be the breakthrough we need for our science, finally we can have the upper hand!

This ring may have the secrets we need,

If anyone from the government does follow me, I apologize for stealing the prototype bow, but it is my invention and I choose to finish it here!

You already have the original blueprints, I will keep the one I made, and finish it,

I will make it into something irreplicable!

This might be my first and possibly last message,

Godspeed.”

‘Message End.’

……

“Well….

What did you hear Kage?” Karina presses

“….

More confusing stuff, I don’t quite understand it,”

“Such as?”

“Remember a while back when I mentioned the ocean and you all told me that it is not a real thing?”

“There are rivers, lakes and swamps, Kage, even waterfalls, but in no way could there be a body of water that takes up a majority of the ring,” Lyra debates,

“I know, but I have been slowly piecing this together for a while now,

Maybe there is another ring

Who knows how many,

One with an ocean, one I came from,”

(You are so confused it’s funny)

“And you got that from the flame?” Lyra jabs

“That isn’t what was said but I think, no…

I know that the person who made it is not from here,”

“Ok, I’m going to need a minute,” Apollo sits down,

“You have officially entered conspiracy theorist territory,”

“I can believe it actually,” Karina states

“I don’t understand any of it of course,

But I believe there might be evidence to prove Kage’s theory,

Like his bow for example,

We’ve all gotten used to it now,

Bu the fact that it isn’t like any bow that can be created,

Here at least,”

“Maybe it’s a requiem then,” Apollo proposes

“That is a fair point, but somehow, I feel like…

I am sure that this is different to a requiem,” I dispute

“Ok, then what do you say we do now?” Lyra asks

“I’m not really sure,

From the sound of the message this is most likely the last ‘flame’,

I was hoping I would get some sort of hint on where the person who made them came from”…

………

(We are close Kage

Close to what?

Not close enough, but close nonetheless...

…?)……

………

“Kage, don’t go daydreaming on us now,” Lyra shakes me,

“Eh hemm…, sorry, I was umm thinking about something,”

“Up the mountains it is then?” Karina suggests noticing that I had been staring up blankly at them,

…..

“Maybe I should go alone,

it may be dangerous….”

Whack!

“You don’t say,” Lyra slaps my head,

“It is obviously dangerous, you could never make it up alone,

Now stop acting weird and let’s go see whatever it is that’s up there….”

………

****

It’s, been much too long,♪

I feel it coming on♪

The feelings getting strong♪

It’s, been much too long♪

The feeling’s in my bones♪

From afar I thought the mountains looked silver because they were snowy, but that isn’t the case, the earth itself is grey, the rocks crumble easily as we struggle for basic footing, edging our way up the rocky slopes,

It seems like a deteriorating structure more than it does that of a natural hill.

Can you feel it♪

Oh, can you feel it♪

Can you feel it♪

Oh, can you feel it♪

………

“Maybe we should have begged Shiki sir, to keep the map,” Apollo grumbles,

“It would certainly help seeing our exact location right now,”

Pressed firmly against a grey slate wall we carefully step across fearing the daunting drop that looms below us,

We’ve already climbed a great deal up the mountain, the ground isn’t even in sight anymore, just a blur of the earth below,

Strangely enough we encountered no apparent danger…

(It has been suspiciously uneventful)

“I new we should have taken the other path,” Lyra complains

“I’ll take the blame for this one,” Apollo shamefully concedes,

“I should have listened to you…”

“I wish we still had the map too,” I add,

“There is something about it, that strikes me as peculiar,

I would have liked to see the full extent of its abilities,”

“What do you think was weird?” Karina inquires,

“Kage’s sees everything as weird or strange,” Lyra scoffs,

“The story behind it,” I answer Karina ignoring Lyra

“Why would someone who had fulfilled their goal of seeing everything there is to see on the ring leave behind a requiem after his passing,

A map no less,

Almost like deep down he knew there was more he didn’t see yet…”

“Or maybe he could have just wanted his followers to achieve his feat as well,” Apollo suggests

“Hmmmm, that could be true, but then why—

—Whoaah!”

I had gotten so wrapped up in my thoughts, forgetting where we are, I accidentally lose footing I fal—

“Kage!”