Mysteries: Arcana Wars

Past confusion and mistakes, amplified by the pollution, surged forth like a tidal wave from the deepest recesses of Luna's heart, overwhelming all her reason.

Rad's voice transformed into layers of murmured words, like a deadly curse, haunting Luna's world relentlessly.

As the little boy's voice spread, something strange happened in the pristine white preparation room.

Streams of scarlet blood gushed from the ceiling, flowing down the walls like a waterfall to the floor, and soon gathered into a shallow pool of blood at Luna's feet.

Blood seeped into the walls, the filthy red eroding the pristine white, spreading like mold until it engulfed the entire room.

"You arrogant, conceited, and cowardly brat!"

"You are the root of the disaster!"

"It's all because of you, because of you!!"

Because of you! Because of you!!

The bright lights overhead flickered incessantly, and the light suddenly lost its pale white, turning into a chilling blood red, reflecting Luna's face, which was distorted by pollution.

Blood, tears, sewage, and murky liquid streamed down Luna's face.

She screamed in agony, scratching her hair and face, trying to escape the endless pain through self-destruction.

But the more she did this, the stronger her guilt and disgust became. Driven by the pollution, Luna was dragged into a swamp of pain until she began to believe that she truly deserved to be punished for her many sins, to suffer endless torment, and to perish.

...I...I...

I am a sinner, I am a bastard, I am the root of all suffering...

My father committed suicide because of me, my mother died because of me, and now, my sister is being forced to step into the endless starry sky because of my cowardice.

It's all because of me!

What reason do ugly, lowly cowards like me have to live in this world?

The crimson liquid continued to rise, and the pool of blood gradually submerged Luna's legs.

Countless gray arms surged from the pool of blood, enveloping the distraught Luna. Cold knuckles gripped her bulky spacesuit tightly, pulling it downwards without hesitation until she was dragged into the pool of blood and drowned.

Luna showed no reaction, letting herself gradually succumb as she was dragged along by the arm.

...How about...we'll just leave it at that...

“...Luna…”

It seemed as if some voice was calling its name from afar.

The voice was soothing, gentle, and filled with indescribable warmth and familiarity, like a good friend you see every day reuniting after many years.

“...Luna…”

Luna couldn't help but reach out and grab towards the direction of the voice, desperately trying to grasp the only glimmer of light in that bloody world.

"...Luna Abraham!"

She finally caught that bright star.

Suppressed memories poured out, forgotten voices arrived instantly, and a continuous stream of recitations and verses swept through her mind like birds in flight.

This being was so unfamiliar that Luna had only met it once.

Yet this presence felt strangely familiar to Luna, as if they had been bound together by fate long ago, as close as bosom friends.

All the fragments of memory, under that call, sketched out a figure.

Bessie Sigurdsson!

The poet lady I met in the well!

"Take me with you when we run away! Please! We'll go anywhere!"

She had pleaded so desperately with the poet, frantically seizing any chance to escape her fate.

Looking back, Luna realized that she had looked incredibly pathetic, seemingly struggling with all her might, but in reality, everything she did was in vain.

The fate of astronauts is what it is; if they are unwilling to shoulder this responsibility, then someone else will have to bear this sacrifice.

That night, Bessie reached out and grabbed the distraught Luna, and under the warm light, offered Luna her sincerest blessings.

"Miss, I wish you a smooth journey!"

This blessing resonated deeply within Luna's soul, like a long-awaited rain washing away the gloom in her heart.

"Luna Abraham!"

She responded to the other person's call, shouting her own name loudly.

The light responded to Luna's expectations, shining brightly, transforming from a flickering star into a blazing sun.

The golden sunlight, like a thousand spears, pierced straight into those gray arms, breaking their hold on Luna.

The pierced arms, like candles scorched by a raging fire, melted and rotted in the blazing sunlight, turning into blood that flowed into the pool of blood beneath Luna.

The continuous torrent of blood stopped, and even the pool of viscous blood trembled and receded under the scorching light, gradually evaporating and disappearing.

"Yes, I am Luna Abraham!"

"A selfish, incompetent, untrustworthy, arrogant, and cowardly wretch!"

"That's right, I accept all your criticism and accusations, because I now fully understand that I am that annoying coward who brings disaster to others!"

The light dispelled the spreading pollution, and the uplifting warmth restored Luna's reason and soul, allowing her to regain her faith and resolutely tear off the gray and red slime on her body, loudly proclaiming to the omnipresent Rad.

"Even now, sitting here, I am still afraid!"

"I am afraid of death, I am afraid of the starry sky, I am afraid of the chaotic unknown, I am afraid of the terrifying aftereffects of the starry sky."

"I'm afraid my life will end in a twisted way."

"But what I fear even more is that the people I care about will die again because of me, this coward!"

"It has nothing to do with responsibility or identity; it's just about Mia Abraham, my only remaining sister."

"The departure of our parents cannot be changed, but the image of my sister can still be preserved!"

Breaking free from her restraints, Luna staggered to her feet from the pool of blood. She grabbed the sun and pulled it downwards, transforming it into a spear made of golden sunlight.

"I'm sorry, Rad! I couldn't save you."

"I will not deny my mistakes, nor will I deny the facts of the past."

Luna raised her spear high, held her breath, listened intently, and seized the opportunity to open her eyes and thrust it fiercely into the ground!

"At the same time, I also respect your perseverance and beliefs, and will never allow these filthy and evil things to desecrate your will!"

The bloody illusion shattered with a crash, the entire red preparation room collapsed, and Luna plummeted into the endless darkness.

She did not panic, nor did she scream; she simply gripped the spear forged from the light of hope tightly and roared at the pollution chasing after her from the void.

"My past, my pride, my perseverance, have all fallen into the well along with you!"

"Now, I am a coward. Only by venturing into the starry sky can I atone to Abraham and protect the rest of my family."

Only then can I protect... the last bit of beauty I have left!

"Father, Mother, Sister..."

In the illusion, the spear of hope pierces his own chest.

"Now, it's my turn!"

Luna woke up from a nightmare.