A Chronometric Defect

First, the Emperor and one Viceroyal fled. Then, invasions on all sides. Then, another Viceroyal burned his whole damn capital to the ground. Oh, and as if that weren't enough? The Empire fractured and declared war on itself. Civil war in the middle of a mass invasion...

Some people really are crazy.

Being a citizen of The Purified Heavens' capital, I had little choice but to side with said capital. Did I still have a job? It was only a single day, and yet my so-called "unit" was already down to a few hundred professionals and however many unskilled laborers. I'd wondered how bad it'd get.

"Recon..."

No response.

"Mana..."

No response.

...

"Am I the only one alive?"

...

...

No response.

Well, wonder no more.

Seems everyone else is dead.

...

What was left of my so-called 'herd' fell like a bunch of sacrificial goats. For whom? For what? For hell's sake, why?

I realized what was happening when my secretaries, attendants, and couriers all started dropping. So there's one half of the who and what. I still can't understand why.

The only thing I can imagine is that that dragon, Chronomet, did something.

But this is not his usual method; not at all. Either he got his claws on another new skill, one that puts him entirely outside of mortal comprehension, or they were all sacrificed by someone or something... Else, I suppose.

Am I next?

I shakily stand from my desk during work hours; the first time I ever remember standing on the clock. Who'll reprimand me for leaving my post?

*shrrk*

I walk across the small room to the nearby hallway.

*tmp*

*tmp*

*tmp*

*tmp*

I walk down the aisles while checking each isolated work area.

*tmp*

*tmp*

*tmp*

*tmp*

*tmp*

*tmp*

I look into one stall and feel my blood freeze.

My... Herd? No... My... Former teammates.

Stall after stall, is either empty.

Or.

Or.

Piled.

Piled, with dead bodies.

*bleugghhhh*

I can't hold my stomach contents.

My mind. I can't handle this.

*bluraghhhhhhh*

*koff*

...

*heup-errrrr*

*bleaghhh*

...

*haa-haah-hah*

I stand back up. My head is spinning, but I just. I have to leave. I must find someone.

Anyone.

I walk toward the stairway.

*tmp*

*tmp*

*tmp*

*tmp*

*tmp*

*tmp*

Room after room. Littering the hallways. Laying in doorways. I don't dare call an elevator, for fear of what horrors I might find within.

*tmp*

*tmp*

*tmp*

*tmp*

*tmp*

*tmp*

I push the stairway door open.

*krrrrchk-er-er-reeek*

Laying on the stairs, having previously been ascending them, is my former boss. Urolia. She was a strict woman, but fair, and reasonable. She taught me how to treat my team with respect, but also how to avoid getting too attached. She taught me how to deal with our stupid bosses.

She taught me—

*blughhhhhaaaaaaa*

*schplat-tp-tp*

— too much to die like this. Oh, Urolia.

You were a great mentor to me.

No. You were my friend.

I carefully walk around her— ach, corpse.

*tmp*

*tmp*

*tak*

I then climb down the stairway, two stairs at a time.

*tmm*

*tmm*

*tmm*

*tmp*

*tmp*

*tmm*

*tmm*

*tmm*

Third floor.

*tmm*

*tmm*

*tmm*

*tmp*

*tmp*

*tmm*

*tmm*

*tmm*

Second floor.

*tmm*

*tmm*

*tmm*

*tmp*

*tmp*

*tmm*

*tmm*

*tmm*

Lobby.

I take a deep breath.

"Huuuuuup."

I press against the door's push bar.

*kach*

The door opens.

*chreeeeet*

Oh. Oh. Oh no.

I close my eyes. I can't look. I don't want to look at that. Why were so many people crowded around the elevators?

...

Never mind.

I walk forward into my self-imposed darkness.

My steps echo against the silence.

*tak-k*

*tak-k*

*tak-k*

*tak-k*

*tak-k*

*tak-k*

Those cleanly-polished stone walls, the ones which once filled me with great pride, now stuff me to the brim with existential dread.

I keep walking, hoping to bump into the front door.

*tak-k*

*tak-k*

*tak-k*

*tak-k*

Instead, my foot rolls on something. I fall over.

*t-hok*

My body lands on something warm. Soft.

*shuf-plud*

"NO!"

*~no!~*

I scramble to my feet and break into a sprint. My eyes are wide open but completely fixated on the exit.

I don't DARE glance to my sides.

*TAK-K*

*TAK-K*

*TaK-K*

*TAK-K*

*TAK-K*

*TAK-K*

OUT! I must leave this hellscape, RIGHT NOW!

*TAK-K*

*TAk-K*

*TAK-K*

*TAK-K*

*tAK-K*

*TAK-K*

I finally reach the door; my hands slam into it.

*CHUD*

I'm breathing so heavily.

*huaa-huaa-huaa*

I almost want to look back— one last time. Sheer dread of what I WILL see rips that thought from my mind.

I press the exit push bar, swinging the door open to fresh air.

*chink*

*krrrrrrrriiii*

I'm greeted by the busy main street.

...

*~shoooosh~*

...

By the busy...

...

...

I fall to my knees.

*thud*

My hips buckle. I roll down the stone staircase.

*shump*

*pfur-thok-thok-thok*

...

I can't.

...

I can't process what I just saw. My mind; it won't work. Nothing is working.

No, I don't ever want it to work.

If it works again, I might just.

I might just.

My hand moves. It's like I've lost control of my hand. I haven't. I want to continue.

I don't understand.

My jittering hand removes my magic wand from my suit pocket, then pops off the wand's cap.

*shup-thik*

A photo slips from my pocket.

*slitch*

I hesitate—

I hesitate, but.

...

I stare at the photo.

...

My hand... Stops shaking.

My thoughts sound so quiet:

{Oh. I do understand.}

...

I move my wand over to my side.

Its end pokes my temple.

I can't do this.

I do.