Mabel Donovan POV, Seven Years Ago
A young Atlas ran throughout an orphanage, playing with its other residents. They were all ages from five to eleven years old, with Atlas being nine. The laughter of children filled the air as they played tag, scampering about with each other.
However, an elderly voice interrupted their fun. "Little ones, I told you to eat before playing!"
The voice came from an old woman, dressed in a simple shirt and pants, wearing an apron. She had a hunched back and used a cane to walk, with grey hair tied in a bun, and a strict yet kind face.
All seven of the kids ran over to hug the woman, giggling as they did so.
"Yes, Granny Mabel!" they said in unison, beaming up at the motherly figure.
A gentle smile appeared on her face. No matter how hard she tried to be strict with these rascals, they had a way of tugging her heartstrings.
"Alright, then," she said before beginning to walk, the kids following her like little ducklings.
Cynthia, the oldest of the group, a young girl with fair skin and black hair, asked, "Guys, what should we play after eating?"
Immediately following her words, the others tried to pitch in at once, but realizing that someone else was talking, they all turned quiet, until no one had ended up speaking.
Atlas, being the boisterous boy he was, spoke up. "I know what we should play, Big Sis! We should play humans and Underworlders!"
They all shouted in affirmation, before breaking back down into chatter as they discussed the game. Eventually, they stopped talking upon arriving at the kitchen.
Walking through the door, they headed to the counter with stools designated for eating, climbing onto them. Granny Mabel began to move about the kitchen, cooking, and preparing food for the group of children.
The children talked about simple things, having fun with each other as they always did.
Soon, Granny Mabel set out a plate of pancakes for each of them and then poured milk for each of them.
They thanked her as one, "Thanks for the food, Granny Mabel!" before beginning to dig in.
Granny Mabel simply stood to the side and watched, content with them being happy. Suddenly, sirens began to blare from outside the building, deafening and piercing.
James, a little boy with brown hair and brown eyes, the youngest child, began to cry, hugging himself in distress. Before he could fall further into pain, the other children surrounded him, pulling him down and giving him a group embrace.
Granny Mabel had blanched, however, for she knew what that siren implied. The older children were at school, so they should be safe, but she needed to get these young ones to a shelter, immediately!
However, her body just wasn't what it used to be, and she would be holding these kids if she were to go with them.
Luckily, her dilemma was solved when a young soldier in combat gear slammed the door open.
"Ma'am, let's go!" he said, his voice filled with urgency. "I've been tasked with getting you and the kids to safety!"
Mabel loved all of the children at the orphanage; they were like the children she never had. So, firming her will, she responded, "No, you take them and go, I'll just be holding you back."
The soldier, immediately understanding what she intended to do, simply nodded. His mission was to bring the kids to the shelter; the caretaker was just an added plus.
Granny Mabel smiled at the kids, opening her arms to hug them for what may be the last time. They all ran to her, frightened by the siren. She kissed each of them on the forehead, giving each of them a parting word.
"Cynthia, you're a smart girl, but make sure to never let it get to your head."
"Kaiser, you have to be strong. Don't ever give up just because someone tells you to."
"Jennie, you are very lovely, but never toy with others' feelings when you grow up."
"Atlas, I'm counting on you to protect your siblings when they can't protect themselves."
"Helio, always work hard. Never let go of that drive, it'll take you to places you could have never imagined."
"Juniper, don't always be so shy, you have to make friends to live life well."
"And James, don't be so scared of everything, otherwise, you'll close your eyes to the light just to block out the darkness."
She hugged them one last time.
"Now, go with this fine gentleman and do whatever he says, okay?" she said, pointing at the soldier.
The children shook their heads and started crying.
"We want to stay with you, Granny Mabel!" they said.
Granny Mabel smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, little ones. I'll be right behind you. I just have some work to do."
Abruptly, an idea came to her mind.
"Why don't you play follow the Emperor with him? Just follow him, run whenever he runs, walk when he walks. If you stop following him, you lose! Okay?" she said tenderly.
The children stopped crying the second they heard they would be playing a game together, and smiled happily at Granny Mabel.
"Yes, Granny Mabel!" they exclaimed before following the soldier out the door as he left.
Mabel just sat down.
"You truly are too pure for this world, little ones," she said while smiling with melancholy.
She stood up and began to slowly walk towards the exit of the building. While she didn't wish to hold the children back and risk their death, she also wanted to survive!
~~
Atlas Vesper POV, Present Day
Atlas snapped out of his flashback. He was not ready to think about what had happened to them after they followed the soldier.
He noticed that he felt slightly better, to the point where he was capable of light motion. He flexed his limbs made of white light, noticing that many cracks had thinned or disappeared.
Assuming that the screech was a soul-based attack, since it affected his soul body, he speculated that time could heal damage to his spiritual physique.
Standing up, he lightly stretched his nonexistent muscles. He still felt tension and pain throughout, but it was not nearly as bad as before.
Atlas decided to continue with his previous course of action, since he could not figure out any better alternatives.
He began to walk, staying hidden in the shadows. Although the pain was mitigable, it left him no room to think about anything other than where he walked.
And so, Atlas walked and walked. For how long, he did not know. Despite not being completely mentally fit, he was able to notice that time was a difficult concept to grasp.
There was no sun, no moon, no night, and no day, just the same black sky. Eventually, he grew tired once more and had to sit down.
Atlas felt lost. He was just an average kid, how did he end up here? His dreams had been so high, but now it seemed he would wander this place forever.
He was drowning in hopelessness, in despair.
He just wished for release, to be free, to live a happy life without worries.
But then, Atlas remembered something Granny Mabel had told him. He felt as if she was standing before him, wearing her strict face to cover the love she had felt for them.
She had said, "Atlas, whenever you feel that you are at your lowest, when you think you can't go on any longer, that is precisely when you must push forward!"
She continued, "Who is the world to bar your path? Who is fate to control your future? Who are your enemies to stand against you? You are Atlas Vesper! You must hold pride in yourself! If all seems hopeless, then become hope! You mustn't let yourself fall without giving life everything you have, because then all you will have left are regrets!"
She smiled at him kindly. "I love you, Atlas."
He felt shocked, before he stretched his hand towards her translucent figure.
"Granny Mabel..." he whispered, tears streaming down his face. But before he could reach her, she had vanished, as if she had never been there.
Atlas felt sadness, then anger. Pain at his motherly figure's disappearance, and anger at the world for putting him in such a situation.
Atlas resolved then, in Granny Mabel's name, that he would live without regrets. He would live as he wished.
It was as if a surge of energy shot through him when he made that promise. He looked down at his body, and the cracks had completely disappeared!
He thought about what he could now. He hadn't found a spot where he could safely meditate for at least one day. Walking was also not helping, for he could see no sign of the mushroom forest's end. Atlas had to do something!