Life, fast yet everlasting.
A concept filled with moments of suffering and despair.
And with such tragedies, a constant to live and change is established.
Death.
Bitter-sweet, both merciful and unforgiving.
A presence that kills, conquers, and destroys, yet cradles you with care.
Both holding equilibrium.
Both important.
And both are absolute.
...
"But this story isn't about such base concepts..."
"No. This book is different."
A world of ink and paper.
One of a kind, yet blending with the others.
Everyone yearns.
Everything stays.
And yet...
The world keeps turning.
The turning hand of clocks continues to tick.
And the flowing veil continues to sway, ever secretive and mysterious.
"In a world where truth and falsehood bridge together... What is real and what isn't?"
--------------------------------------------------------------
The Past is Ever Haunting.
"Bran!"
A boy called out at the top of his lungs, with hair of ash silver flowing along with the wind.
"Bran! Where is he hiding this time..."
'Grrrrr...'
Growls of monstrous origin, the ripping of cloth, of skin, of flesh, and the breaking of bones.
A body of a boy laid beneath a tree, a beast of monstrous proportions gnawing at his flesh, and the shaking of a hidden observer, held down by strong experienced hands.
The breaking of innocence...
And the Unveiling of Secrets.
The Present Restricts in an Instant.
"Zephia! Look at my present!"
A girl happily says as she held a box of intricate designs, countless gales, streaks of thunder, all sculpted onto the exterior of the box.
Teal irises, filled with innocent excitement and joy as they stared straight at her sister.
"Oh? What's inside of it, Euria?"
Zephia, the older responded, her dark blue eyes filled with gentleness and care for her sister.
The two sisters gathered together as they excitedly opened the gift. Their hearts connected as one as the smooth current of wind around them gathered curiously as well.
'Which one will it be?'
'Who shall bear...'
'Will they share?'
'Will they bend...?'
The two sisters remained ignorant to the whispers of the wind as they undid the final knot of the gift's seal.
And then...
Silence.
Nothing remained.
Nobody Remained.
The Future Burns Infinitely.
"Mother! Please! Let it be me!"
A child yells, crimson eyes filled with tears as jet black hair is covered in dust and ashes.
His small hands desperately tried to grab onto his mother's coat, his sight blurry from the tears and heat of the chamber, a loud and deafening roar echoing from their opponent.
"Asch! Stay back! Get out of here!"
The woman pushed him back, desperation in her voice as she held in her hands a greatsword inlaid with rubies over their handle.
"N-no! Mother!"
The child yelled out, desperate to be the one who keeps their mother out of harm's way.
Dark blue irises slowly filling with a burning determination as the deep black scales of the creature they were forced to fight were reflected onto them like the deepest void willing to swallow everything...
'Who will burn?'
'Who will be the burner?'
Combust, Compress, and Explode.
Let your 'Will' rekindle the flames of ancients.
'Each piece is set...'
'A mind, a body, and a soul.'
'All for the cause to stop the clock.'
"May this be..."
"Our final Epilogue."
________________________________________________________________
End of Prologue