Shadows of the Fallen

Livio was the last to fly, trailing behind the others. The leaf he rode carried a smaller leaf from a different plant. As he picked up speed, the small leaf detached and drifted down, eventually landing on the ground. A passerby stepped on it before entering a bakery.

The bakery was bustling despite the early hour—8 AM—and filled with customers enjoying their meals. However, one person wasn't eating. Miles sat there, his gaze fixed on Eero.

Across from Nitwit, Zelen was eating, his eyes darting around as if expecting someone. A woman emerged from the kitchen, balancing an assortment of bread and a wooden bottle intricately carved with statues.

Envia entered the bakery and said, "Sorry, guys, I'm late."

Envia sat with Zelen and Nitwit, and they began enjoying their food and drinks.

"Here you go. Pack these quickly—I'll handle the rest of your work," Elena said, placing the bread and bottle on an empty table.

"Thanks, I'm on it," Eero replied, swiftly packing everything into colored bags.

But in his rush, he didn't notice the bottle was missing.

Just then, Livio appeared at the bakery's entrance.

"Hey, Eero! Get me my supplies—quick!"

"Sure, here you go." Without hesitation, Eero handed over the packed goods.

Livio grabbed the bag, stowed it in his inventory, and took off again.

"Finally, I can take it easy now," Eero muttered, exhaling in relief. Then his eyes landed on the wooden bottle, still sitting on the table.

"You idiot! Take the bottle before he gets too far!" Elena scolded, tossing the bottle to him.

"Thanks! I'll be right back!" Eero bolted out of the bakery.

He scanned the sky. "Which way did he go?" Then, spotting Livio at two o'clock, he sprinted in that direction.

Livio hadn't flown too far yet—his speed was gradually increasing.

"Hey, Livio! Livio!" Eero called, running as fast as he could.

"That bastard—wait, damn it! Livio!" he roared with everything he had.

Up above, Livio heard something faint. "Am I hearing Eero's voice? Guess I'm just paranoid. Gotta get moving before the higher-ups realize I'm missing." He ascended, increasing his speed.

Eero, panting heavily, finally came to a stop.

At that moment, Livio felt a strong presence on the ground—a surge of Pbv energy.

"What was that?" He glanced down and focused his Pbv on his eyes, enhancing his vision. To his surprise, he saw Eero, bent over and out of breath.

"What the hell is he doing here?" Livio immediately dived back down.

"You deaf bastard! I've been screaming my lungs out for you!" Eero snapped, thrusting the bottle at him.

"You were the only one chasing me?" Livio asked, catching his breath.

"Yeah. Why?"

Livio, still panting, sat on the road. "I sensed a strong presence earlier.... Looking at you, I can tell you don't know how to use Pbv. So there was someone else here..." He scanned the surroundings but found nothing.

"You should leave before the higher-ups catch you," Eero warned, meeting his eyes.

"You're right. Take care." With that, Livio took off at full speed.

Eero exhaled. "That idiot..... I just hope everything goes well for my friends." He turned and walked back toward the bakery.

"Alright, the leaves are about to expire," the higher-up announced as they descended to the ground, the rest of the group following suit.

"Is anyone missing?" Higher up asked, scanning the group. "I can't see.... What was his name again?"

"Sir, his leaf expired before the rest of ours. He's running toward us now," Nitin reported, his gaze steady.

"Where did he go along the way? I want an answer," the higher-up demanded, stepping closer to Nitin.

"Sir, he was with us the whole time. It's just bad luck," Sebastian said, stepping forward.

"Don't lie to me, kid." The higher-up's eyes narrowed. "All the leaves travel the same distance before expiring. If we started from the same point, then his should've expired at the same time as ours."

Without warning, the higher-up punched Sebastian in the gut.

"Oh?" He smirked. "You're tough."

But Sebastian hadn't taken the hit—Nitin had intercepted it. Now he lay on the ground, groaning in pain.

"Where is he?" The higher-up glared at Sebastian again.

Just then, a surge of Pbv flared up.

"There he is," the higher-up muttered, locking onto Livio.

Livio landed in front of them, but before he could say a word, the higher-up grabbed him by the chest and slammed him into the ground.

"Ahhh!" Livio gasped in pain, collapsing to the ground.

"Now, answer me. Where did you go during the journey?"

When Livio hesitated, the higher-up struck Sebastian again, but this time, Nicolas stepped in to shield him.

"Oh?" The higher-up chuckled. "Why is everyone so eager to protect him?"

"Don't—no, don't take the hit for me!" Sebastian protested, his voice firm. "I'm not a kid anymore!"

The higher-up studied him for a moment before laughing. "I see. So he's the youngest of you all. That's what this is about, huh?"

His laughter faded. "You guys are something else. But remember—good people burn before bad ones. Still, I'll commend you for sticking together."

With that, he turned away, and the group rushed to tend to the injured.

"You idiots!" Sebastian seethed. "Why the hell did you step in? If he had just hit me, everything would've been fine!"

"Quit whining," Nicolas said with a smirk. "You're still a kid if you're crying over this."

He let out a dry laugh, though the weight of the moment still hung over them.

The Battlefield

Time passed, and they followed the higher-up in silence.

Unbeknownst to them, seven figures in black cloaks trailed from a distance.

One of them from the group said, "I forgot the book."

The sun blazed ahead as they reached the battlefield. The sight of the blood-stained grass hit them like a punch to the gut.

The screams of their comrades, the sacrifices of Mr. Mogambo and the others—it all came rushing back.

Their legs grew heavy under the weight of their loss.

Sebastian collapsed onto the grass. Nitin and Livio hurried to help him up. Luka and Nicolas stood frozen, swallowing hard.

"Hey, you bastards! We don't have time for this!" The higher-up barked. "All those who died here were worthless pieces of shit. You survived. That means you are the only ones who matter to the king. Now move, or I'll send you to join them!"

He disappeared into the cave.

Livio and his friends barely had time to grieve. Nitin wiped Sebastian's tears, though his own were falling.

Slowly, they huddled together, seeking comfort in one another. But their resolve had already begun to crumble.

Tears rained down onto the grass, yet instead of the sweet songs of frogs after a storm, all that remained was the dark, hollow stench of sorrow.