Kael looked up at the sky; but all he could see was a veil of endless darkness. Everything swirling before his eyes was blurry, as if reality was slowly dissolving. In that moment, without even realizing it, the stool beneath his feet suddenly slipped — pushed by an invisible hand from behind. To our eyes, it might have seemed like a random, anonymous movement. But for Kael, it was the silent fate assigned to his life — nothing more than the hands of people who had burdened him for years, creeping in and finally dragging him here.
As he fell, a weight pressed down on his mind; this burden was made of people's prejudice, self-interest, and selfishness. On one side was the cold and ruthless face of the bourgeois class — their pleasures, luxuries, and power magnified Kael's helplessness in his final moments. That massive crowd, in the midst of chaos, seemed to derive pleasure from his pain and despair. With eyes full of hatred and anger, they took great delight in crushing Kael, in witnessing the weight of those heavy chains dragging him down.
On the other hand, there were those from among the common folk. On their faces, one could read a yearning for justice; yet this pursuit was also complex, clouded, and wounded. Some truly sought justice, while others simply wanted to scream out their anger and frustration. Who could say what was truly justice in all this turmoil — what was revenge, and what was blind rage? People had judged one another, blamed Kael. Yet Kael, in this grand tale, was merely a helpless figure — someone forgotten, pushed aside, judged and excluded by society for years.
Kael was suffocating — not only by the rope but by the very lack of humanity's conscience and mercy. In this darkness collapsing inward, it was becoming harder and harder to breathe. The towering buildings, the heavy stone walls, the pressing crowd had all closed in on him like a tomb.
But Kael knew: this fall was not just physical. What had truly brought him here was society's cruelty, its judgmental and merciless gaze. He writhed within a cage woven by unseen hands. The bars of that cage were forged from people's prejudice and selfish emotions.
And in that moment, a spark of rebellion flared within Kael. This injustice, this cruelty… it wasn't just his story, but the story of many innocents. A price was being paid, and more often than not, it was the most defenseless who bore the cost.
As Kael fell to the ground, these thoughts passed through his mind:"Is this my end? Is this the justice of the world? Or is it simply a final chapter written in the endless darkness born of prejudice and fear?"
Though he seemed lost in that moment, the questions rising inside him were perhaps the beginning of a new awakening.
But before a beginning could come, the heavy and cold hand of the end was already descending upon Kael. His breath was growing short; his body writhed like a slave in the merciless grip of suffocation. Like a fish thrashing in a dry pool, he drifted farther from life with every passing second. His consciousness began to blur, his thoughts shrouded in fog. A voice within him, faint but hopeful, whispered, "Maybe... I'll get one more chance..." But reality was unforgiving, slapping him in the face and slowly snuffing out the flames of his dreams.
Just then, an unexpected crash erupted around him. As Kael's eyes slowly closed, he could no longer see clearly; his senses dulled, his strength drained. Yet in that darkness, he could feel something had changed — the ripples of a jarring motion. The fog in his mind began to lift, his heartbeat quickened.
And suddenly, the deadly rope was cut — like a knife slicing through.
Kael crashed to the ground. His breath was gone, hanging by a fragile thread between life and death. His chest heaved violently, his lungs burning for air. He tried to open his eyes, but his surroundings were still a blur. Everything was covered in a thick, unknown gas; the air was sharp, suffocating, and breathing became even harder.
His world was foggy, the sounds chaotic and jumbled. As Kael tried to collect his thoughts, the urge to escape surged inside him, his heart pounding, his body resisting helplessly. He heard voices rising in panic: people shouting, calling out to each other; the sound of frantic footsteps filled the air. Everyone was running from something, trying to get somewhere.
As Kael struggled to comprehend what was happening, a tangled knot formed in his mind. When the images began to clear, he slowly noticed the clashing, trembling crowd around him. Fear was etched into every face; some sought help, others were frozen in despair. A growing desire bloomed within Kael to break away from the crowd, to do whatever it took to escape this chaos. But his body was still exhausted, his muscles weak — moving required a tremendous effort.
Gasping for breath, Kael tried to inhale deeply despite the choking air, closed his eyes and tried to calm himself — but the panic, fear, and turmoil around him kept dragging him under. As he tried to understand what was happening, the fear growing inside him only made his need to flee stronger. Amid the running, screaming, and confusion of the crowd, Kael felt completely alone.
Only one thought echoed in his mind:"I have to get out of here... I have to live..."
That desperate whisper rising from Kael's core barely made it past his lips:"I have to live... I must get up..."But every part of his body resisted the plea. His knees trembled, his muscles felt heavy, and he was nearly out of strength to move. It was as if his body had nailed itself to the ground. But he knew — if he didn't get up, this would be the end. Time was merciless, and with every passing minute, his life was slipping away.
His thoughts shifted rapidly, like leaves scattered by the wind — from despair to crumbs of hope, from anger to resignation, and back again to resistance. The injustices, the cruelty of people, the emptiness and losses of his life — they all blended together and gave Kael a new purpose. A purpose he perhaps never truly had before. That purpose had become the flame fueling his will to live. Maybe, just maybe, that was the only real connection he ever had to life: purpose. And because he had one now, his desire to live had intensified. Otherwise, he would have had nothing to fight for.
Then, just as he wrestled with these thoughts, a hand suddenly grabbed his arm tightly. Kael turned his head in surprise. His arm was firmly held, and someone was trying to lift him quickly. He was barely able to stand without support; limping, nearly crawling, he began to move with help.
The person whispered urgently, "Stay quiet... They'll catch us. I'll explain when we escape."
In that moment, Kael recognized the voice. A complex feeling stirred deep in his chest; that voice brought back a painful reminder—Liora. The woman from that first day they met, when trust had not yet been built, and betrayal still lingered in the air. No matter how much Kael didn't want to, he had no choice but to trust her now. He couldn't walk on his own; without support, he wouldn't survive.
Liora, with the same expression she wore on that first day, kept her eyes fixed forward — her face determined and a little cold. Her long, wavy hair flew freely in the wind as she ran. Kael, despite trying to avoid relying on her, couldn't help it — his weakened body left him no other choice. With support, with limping steps, they moved forward.
They blended into the crowd. Panic and fear ruled the atmosphere. Eyes burning from gas, struggling to breathe, the people were fleeing in every direction; screams, cries, and footsteps filled the streets. The people were like a river escaping its banks — they didn't fully understand what or whom they were running from, but they were doing everything they could to survive.
Meanwhile, soldiers were closing in, beginning to realize Kael was missing. As he and Liora pushed deeper into the tightening cordon, danger crept closer with every step. Kael's heart pounded, his breath growing uneven. Still, the growing purpose inside him kept him going — he resisted.
Along the way, Liora leaned in and whispered softly, "Just a little longer... I'll explain. But right now, we have to run." Her eyes were serious and resolute; in them, Kael saw the same mystery and coldness he had noticed the first time they met.