He exited the main door and looked up at the night sky. — Time flies. —Every star had gone out, including the moon. That darkness was like an enormous vessel, a vast void. The darkness stretched to the horizon, with the only sparks of light in the valley coming from Gamini, his village. Faint sparks in a vast ocean.
Vanrra moved away from the cabin and sat on the grass. He admired the view in complete calm. —I wish it never dawned; I do not want tomorrow to come. —He exhaled. —"I didn't do anything; why, I'm a failure. It all has to come out the same anyway. I live of dreams. I was three years; how did I waste all that time." —I am unsure if I want this to happen.
He lay down and looked up at the sky. He was very worried. How can she be with someone as crazy as me? I'm not one of those. I will never be, not even if I marry her. I'm sorry, brother. You were the only one who cared about me. Because you were a coward and a fool. —I wish I could go back three years. Tell her how much I care about her.
He sat silently, listening to the crickets. —My only happiness is that tomorrow I'll have what I've always desired. —Doc, don't let me down; you are the only person who cares about me. —He turned to see the village's distant lights. One of the gardens was lit up with dozens of lanterns; the wedding would take place there. —What shall I do? Run away with her? I'm not sure if the doctor would accept it, but it would be ideal. Run away from here; forget about those damned people. That way, they won't be able to tell me they hate me because I'll be too busy traveling with Devi. —He closed his eyes and thought about her face. He fell asleep.
He eventually opened his eyes. He had no idea how many hours, or even minutes, had passed. Felt revitalized. He lost his eyes on the far horizon. Could it be that there are no problems out there? Nobody will hate me. I can start from scratch, free of these burdens and surrounded by stupid people. —He closes his eyes. He repeatedly inhaled and exhaled fresh air. Why am I lying to myself? Surely, the world is full of villages like this one; perhaps that is why Doc resides here. Is he like me? No, he is far stronger than I am. —I wish I could erase everything, rid the world of fools like myself. Begin from zero. Turn off all the annoying noises.
He close his eyes again. At least I told her. I already did the hardest part; now I just have to keep going. A deafening roar filled the whole valley, like a sharp whistle or a big blizzard. Like the sound of an explosion, it came with a strong wind. He had to put his hands over his ears. The whole valley shook, and small animals and birds that were scared ran and flew the other way. That roar came from the horizon he had been staring at.
The roar stopped after a few seconds. He felt hysteria and fear run down his back. —What was that? Doc. Hey! —He ran back to the house. A second round of roars came before they got to the door. These were different; they sounded softer than the first one. They sounded like the noises of Hiram's machines.
He looked again at the horizon. He spotted a few tiny bright stars moving across the sky. They became more and more brilliant at an incredible rate.—Where have they come from? Why are they moving? —Hiram rubbed his back. He had not heard the door open. Vanrra jumped in fear. —Doc! Have you heard that? Do you know why the stars are moving? —He pointed to the lights.
—Don't be afraid; you don't have get upset.
Another great roar was heard, followed by a massive explosion, and one of the stars stopped. That massive fire fell to the ground, consuming everything in its path. The lights descended slowly to the earth, landing in the pastures surrounding the village. Those things let out repeated booms, like loud cannon blasts that hurt his ears. At that distance, they appeared to be mere points of light.
He broke his voice. —What are those things?!
Hiram couldn't believe it and was perplexed. —What is going on? ... This... can't be...
—The village! Those things are going to Gamini!
—What's happening?
Vanrra grabbed Hiram by the forearm. —We have to go! We'll help evacuate!
It took him a moment to react. —You go ahead; I'll get my horse. I'll catch up with you soon.
Vanrra ran as quickly as he could back the way he had come. The great blaze could be seen among the trees, and it allowed him to see through the darkness. Those lights took shape as he got closer. He mounted his horse and galloped towards the village. The fire consumed its surroundings. After a few perplexing minutes, screams of despair and agony reached him from men, women, and children. He could see silhouettes of terrified people fleeing in all directions, many of whom had been set on fire and were running like great torches.
He reached the outskirts, where many of the roofs were on fire. He couldn't speak to anyone; they shouted nonsense and acted like terrified bunnies. He entered the village, and smoke filled the streets. The houses' roofs collapsed gradually. It appeared to be a labyrinth; no one knew what was going on or why.
He yelled with all his might. —Mahia! Mahia! Cough! Cough! —The smoke filled his lungs, and the air smelled of burned flesh. The streets were littered with debris and charred remains. People trapped in the rubble screamed for help. He was about to throw up. He didn't stop until he saw the blue house at the end of the street. The large fabrics that decorated the facade had not yet burned. The house appeared to be unaffected by the chaos. He rushed down the avenue. —Mahia! Ma...
A few meters above the house, a series of bright orbs appeared. Ten of them, in a way that is familiar. The first one is at the top, and the second and third ones are on the sides, a little lower. The fourth and fifth are right below the last two. The sixth, which is a little lower than the fourth and fifth, is right in the middle of both. The seventh and eighth are on the sides, and the ninth is in the middle, a little lower. The tenth orb fell to the ground. As soon as he saw that tree, a huge bolt of lightning came down from the sky and hit the orbs. Steam and wind came out of the terrible impact, which was a force of the universe.
The blow and steam made Vanrra fall to the ground. The house fell down completely, and from the dust cloud came a huge splendor figure. A huge humanoid figure came out of the rubble and steam and slowly got up.
It was at least fifteen meters long. Everything around it seemed small; the houses only came up to its knees. The giant was covered in white armor from head to toe. The orange parts were its shoulders, neck, chest, forearms, and hips. The rest of the armor had black patterns where the pieces fit together. The plates of its armor bent back, and at the back, they ended in what looked like thin fins.
The titan wore a war helmet that was the same color; it had no face. The plates around its head looked like thin fins that had been bent back. On its temple, there was one that resembled a thin metal horn bent back. A metal plate covered his mouth and nose. There was only a big amber visor where its eyes should have been, and the metal plates on top made it look like it was frowning. A roar came from inside the titan, and time seemed to stop.
The titan glared at him; the frown on the metal seemed to look down on him. His legs shook; he couldn't hear the screams of the poor people anymore. His heart was beating a thousand times a minute. The titan stood up completely; the earth rumbled with each of its movements. The titan left Mahia's house in complete ruins.
More houses fell down; people died, struck by debris that flew through the air as the titan moved. The giant moved toward him, crushing everyone who was running down the street. They burst like bags of flesh.
Vanrra's body wouldn't move; he was frozen in fear, like a statue. He stood still as the monster came toward him. Esau threw him down. —Vanrra! Answer: You need to run!
—Ma...hia...
He tried to lift him. —Where is she?! Have you seen her?!
Esau's chest blew up before he could answer. A fast-moving stone hit him and split him in half. His blood soaked Vanrra, and his hair turned red. He was shaking like a lamb. There was blood and burned flesh all over the village. The yelling stopped. The smoke made it impossible for him to see anything else. When he looked up, he saw that big amber with a lot of hate in it. It let out steam. He couldn't say anything.
What's happening? He didn't know; he couldn't think. Time stood still; was stuck in that hell, under the monster's watchful eye. He could be crushed like an ant at any moment, and he wouldn't even know it. Why? What are you doing? What are you? He didn't care about any of those questions; he just want run away and hide in a cave. If you're not alive, you can't know the truth. Mahia? What happened to Mahia?! Did the monster crush her?! There is only a piece of her flesh left. Why? Why Esau? Why today? This monster killed everyone in the village. Damn you, bastard! Dirty animal! I really don't like you! I want kill you, my whole life! What made you do it?! What the hell are you?
The titan slowly moved its hand toward him. He saw that its palm was stained with blood and bits of flesh, and Mahia's dress was stuck between its fingers. Is it going to kill me? Will I die like cattle?
He put his hand to his chest and touched his medallion, that cross. His heart glowed with an intense red, beating with a rage greater than any titan. An intense hatred ran down his spine. The only thing he felt was hatred and fury. His heart was about to explode. He squeezed the cross with all his strength until he bled; the ruby burned him like hot steam.