128 An Endless Tu-dey In Mediocrity (1/2)
It was a world created for the sake of the word 'today'. As a result, the words 'yesterday' and 'tomorrow' lost their original meaning.
Yesterday, tomorrow, and today. The beginning of one was the ending of none. Such was the will of the people.
Written the same way. Spoken the same way. Discerned the same way.
Shattered pieces of glass melted into sand. His mind had come undone like rainbow confetti that'd turned into grey-matter-spaghetti in his pursuit for, well…
The twilight sun had melted him down into a bubbling puddle of sand over the course of a billion and one 'to-days'. What remained of him couldn't be considered 'him' anymore, the one who had initially found himself stuck in an endlessly looping version of his hometown.
Around the one hundred millionth 'tu-dey', the poor fool had finally drawn his last breath.
The only thing left of him was a nameless, shambling figure that lived in Cem-Elle's shadows, far away from the light of the twilight sun. A vagrant that possessed neither a name or a coherent mind.
\”To-day, To-day, Too-day, Two-day, Tu-dey.\”
Like a broken record, he repeated the same word in a soft, sing-song voice as he hugged a fist-sized stone heart — his only possession. There was much to fear outside the confines of his hidden sanctuary.
The dreadful, ever-presentlight of the twilight sun, for example.
He knew that it was the cause of the evil that had befallen the town. It affected all who were touched by it, sapping them of their will to live until they became walking husks.
That he was being punished by the Shadow of the Sun. The cruel fiend had rejected his answer. He was the creator of the twilight sun, the wretched star, that would not move.
They had reached an impasse. Neither accepted the other's will.
One had dedicated himself for that which greater than his life — the salvation of his entire world. For this, he had strived to be better. He had spent entire lifetimes to create the circumstances needed to accomplish his life's work.
Walking down his own path, he put aside the world and walked away from anything that could have distracted him — the petty worries, criticisms, temptations, and oppressive moral values of the people.
In contrast, the one that was supposed to have inherited his life's work was a miserable thing.
A weak, mediocre creature that lived only for the next day without reason. Lived only to eat, breathe, and sleep. He was a disappointment that had been seduced into living a comfortable, mindless life like a domesticated animal.
Only when confronted with pain and fear of loss, had the other one stirred to finally stand up for himself and do something. And as if it to add insult to injury, he had only chosen to step forward because he wanted to protect and eventually return the mediocrity of the masses.
Yet again, you have forgotten me and therefore, yourself.
I would not ask ANYONE of this because I have no right to do so, but YOU are an exemption. Shame on you. Look at yourself and repent!
The poor, nameless creature yelled at the shadow in front to leave him be, to no avail. His torment would continue for as long as it was necessary.
There was too much at stake for him to allow the poor creature to pin the salvation of reality itself on the dream of a simple life, much less a single woman, whoever she may be to either of them.
This is bigger than both of us, don't you see?!! EVERYTHING! That's what we're fighting for, you spineless fool!
How in the FUCK did you come to the conclusion that I'd EVER accept your 'answer'?!
Because you love her?!! Because you want to live a peaceful life?!!
Do you really think that'll be enough to get you through what's to come?!!
DON'T FUCK WITH ME!! I KNOW YOU'RE A BETTER MAN THAN THAT! YOU'RE CAPABLE OF FAR MORE THAN THIS! YOU'RE MEANT TO SURPASS EVEN ME!
I KNOW YOU'RE IN THERE, REED!!! COME OUT OR ELSE, I'LL—
The stone heart shook violently and let out a blinding light that swallowed up the furious phantom before he could finish his sentence. It had driven him off, but only for a short while.
Before long, he would return to hound the nameless vagrant. Again and again, until he finally got he wanted. He would accept nothing else.
Only then, would he release the nameless vagrant from the twilight world and grant him the power he had taken…