The air hung thick and heavy, like the sky itself was holding its breath. Thunder growled in the distance, lightning scratched jagged scars across the clouds, and the wind howled like some ancient beast pacing in a cage.
And yet, not a single drop of rain fell.
Instead, all that filled the battlefield was tension—raw, suffocating, bone-deep tension. The clatter of metal echoed across the plain as thousands of soldiers shifted in formation, murmuring to themselves. Spellcasters whispered their incantations, little sparks of magic dancing between their fingers.
I can hear every heartbeat out here. Even my own, pounding like a crash drum. I'm standing with the greatest warriors this world still has—humans, elves, dwarves, dragons-in-disguise, even that one guy who insists he's "just a farmer." Friends. Enemies. Lovers. Rivals. Kings, queens, and plenty of nobodies who might end up somebodies today. All of us here for the same purpose… our final stand. If this is it, then I'm giving everything I have. I'm going home. I'm surviving. That's the only ending I'll accept.
"We can see it! Over the horizon! FORMATION!"
A wave of movement rippled through the ranks. The enemy surged forward, a dark mass crawling across the land like a living shadow. A cloud of corruption followed them—the mark of their presence. Every step they took killed the world beneath their feet. Trees shriveled. Grass turned to ash. Animals collapsed where they stood.
Emilia: "Hey guys, are you ready?" Kirian: "Yeah, we kinda have to be. No second chances today." Liliana: "This is our last stand… so yes."
The horde grew closer. I stepped forward, spear in hand, lungs burning with the words I was about to scream.
**"This is the final dawn! No retreat. No surrender. Together, we end this— or we fall as LEGENDS!
Combatants! UNITE!"**
YAAAWWNN.
I stretch like a lazy cat on my bed, chewing the leftover midnight snack still inexplicably in my mouth.
Emilia: "Is it morning already…?"
There's a strand of hair stuck on my tongue. I peel it off, scratch my butt, and squint around my room. It's surprisingly bright for someone who definitely closed all the curtains last night… unless I didn't. Again.
I shuffle to my desk and look at today's to-do list:
Hug Lili.
Put Kirian in a chokehold.
Eat a large breakfast.
Skip bathing if possible.
Find some ̶l̶o̶s̶e̶r̶s̶ customers to do business with.
Become filthy rich.
Scream in victory.
Also not bathe.
Sleep.
Uncertain.
A perfect schedule.
I stretch once more and head straight to Kirian's room. As the wonderful friend that I am, the best way to wake him is, obviously, with maximum violence.
I kick open the door.
Emilia: "RISE AND SHINE, KIRIAN!"
I launch myself forward— —and immediately slam to a halt mid-air.
Something wiggled beside him.
I land silently. Kirian is snoring like a dying walrus, totally unfazed by the explosion that was his door. But the lump beside him shifts. Then a sleepy head pokes out from under the blanket. Messy hair. Half-closed eyes. A very confused face.
Liliana: "Emi? Good morning. Why are you in my dream? And no, I'm not sharing my cake." Emilia: "This isn't a dream, and there is no cake." Liliana: "…that's disappointing."
I sigh.
Emilia: "Why are you sleeping here?" Liliana: "I don't know. I got up to pee, and when I came back I saw a bear sleeping… so I hugged it."
Emilia: "There's no bear here, Lili. That's just Kirian."
Liliana: "... I see."
We both glance at Kirian, who's smiling in his sleep.
Kirian: "Oh princess… please place my face in your bosom…"
We stare at him. Then at each other.
Without hesitation, I put him in a chokehold.
He convulses awake.
Kirian: "YES! HARDER, PRINCESS—wait—NO—EMILIA?!"
He sits up, horrified.
Kirian: "You menace! How could you ruin a man's dream like that?! I was this close to touching boobs!"
Emilia: "Dream boobs aren't real boobs."
Kirian: "They are to me." sniff
Emilia: "Stop whining. You haven't even greeted Lili."
Kirian: "Good morning, Lili." \
Liliana: "Good morning, big brother."
Kirian: "…Why are you on my bed?"
Liliana: "Bear." Kirian: "What bear?"
Liliana: "I was following it and ended up here."
Kirian: "Do I look like a bear?!"
Liliana: "You're cute like one."
Kirian: "I… okay, whatever."
He turns to me.
Kirian: "So? What do you want, Emilia?"
Emilia: "Glad you asked! We're making big money today."
Kirian: "Are we going to end up sleeping in a barrel with a raccoon again?"
Liliana: "Please… not the raccoons again."
Emilia: "Relax! No raccoons this time. We're going to the fare!"