Land Of The Beginning

The creature's voice broke through the suffocating silence, its words slow, dragging out like a dying breath. "I... will... let... you guys... live..."

The air was so thick with tension that Arpheus could almost taste it, like metal on his tongue. He blinked, trying to process what he had just heard.

What?

The creature's hollow eyes, those empty sockets that swallowed every ounce of light, locked on them. It didn't seem alive, not really. It was something else. Something far worse.

Anne, who had been standing tall just moments ago, dropped to her knees in front of the creature. Her eyes filled with desperation as she bowed her head, the action swift but almost mechanical. "Yes! Please spare us!"

The words were desperate, raw, but something in the way she said it made Arpheus's stomach twist. He wasn't sure if it was genuine fear or a plea for survival. Either way, the sight of her—this proud warrior—on her knees, begging for mercy, felt... wrong.

The creature's grin widened at her submission, a grotesque curve that stretched far too wide, exposing teeth that glinted with something unnatural. Its voice was even worse now, a croak, slow and broken, like each word had to be dragged out of the depths of its being. "On... one... condition..."

Anne's breath caught in her throat. Her fingers trembled as they pressed against the ground. "Yes, we will fulfill your conditions!" Her voice cracked, but she didn't hesitate.

Reia, standing beside Arpheus, shot a glance at Anne, then back at the creature. Her stance was tense, shoulders tight with the weight of the situation. "We'll do anything," she said, her voice cool, but even she was holding back the tremor in her words.

Holand, who had been clutching his side, clearly injured from their earlier battle, suddenly spoke up. His voice was weaker than usual, strained by exhaustion. "N-no... W-we can't let that creature beat us..." His words barely made it past his lips, but they held a sense of determination that clashed with the current situation.

It's not right, Arpheus thought. This isn't the way it's supposed to go.

But Reia, ever practical, shot him a glance. "Holand, we have no choice. We can't fight this thing." Her voice was sharp, cutting through his doubts. "This is the only way to survive."

Holand's jaw clenched, his eyes narrowing with resolve. He was a warrior. He had fought for his life countless times, and yet now, faced with this… he was willing to give up.

"I'm sorry, Holand," Reia said, her voice softer now. "But it's the only way."

Holand didn't respond. He just stared ahead, his gaze distant. A cold silence fell over the group.

The creature's voice sliced through the stillness. "You... wil... need... to... sacrifice... one... member... of... your... team..."

It wasn't a question. It was an order.

A chill ran through Arpheus's spine as the words sank in. Sacrifice. One of them would die.

No... no, no, no. It can't be true... Arpheus felt his heart hammering against his chest, a deep sense of dread seeping into his veins. The thought of losing someone, someone so close to him... it made his stomach twist. But who?

His eyes darted to each of them in turn—Reia, Anne, Ivy, Holand. Who would it be? Who would have to die?

The weight of the decision crushed him. How could they possibly choose? How could anyone choose?

The creature stood there, still smiling that grotesque, mocking grin. It was taking its time. It didn't care about the pain it was causing. The silence stretched on.

"I will give you five... minutes..." The creature's voice was cold, final. "Five minutes to decide."

Before anyone could respond, it vanished, disappearing into the air like smoke, leaving nothing but an eerie silence in its wake.

Just like that. Gone.

Reia's shoulders sagged as she leaned back against the tree where Holand had been thrown earlier, the sound of the impact still echoing in her mind. She closed her eyes for a moment, her breath coming in ragged gasps. "I don't even know what to do anymore..." she muttered, almost to herself.

Arpheus stood there, his mind spinning, his thoughts racing. Five minutes. That's all they had. Five minutes to decide who would live and who would die.

Who gets to make that call?

Anne was still kneeling, her face pale, her hands shaking as she pressed them into the earth. "W-what do we do?" she asked, her voice trembling. She was trying to keep herself together, but it was clear she was falling apart inside.

"We have to make a choice," Ivy said, her voice low and steady, though even she couldn't hide the unease in her tone. "We don't have time for hesitation."

Arpheus could feel the weight of her words pressing down on him. The decision wasn't just about survival—it was about choosing who would live and who would die. One of them would have to go. One of them would have to be left behind.

He glanced at Holand, who was leaning against the tree, breathing heavily, his face pale. He was clearly struggling. The damage was worse than we thought...

Holand cleared his throat, his voice hoarse. "W-what about me?" he asked. His eyes locked with theirs, the exhaustion in his gaze giving way to something more... resigned. "I could sacrifice myself. I'm already dying..."

There was a beat of stunned silence before Anne snapped her head up, her eyes wide. "NO!" she shouted, her voice breaking with panic. "We can't let you die!" She pushed herself to her feet, taking a step toward him. "We can't lose you, Holand! You're... you're the strongest! You can't just give up!"

"I..." Holand's voice faltered. He opened his mouth to say something, but no words came out. His eyes were hollow, distant, filled with the pain of knowing what had to happen. One of us will die. Someone has to die.

The air felt heavy again, oppressive, as if the world itself was holding its breath. Everyone stood there, not moving, frozen in place. They all knew it.

Arpheus swallowed hard. His mouth was dry, his hands clammy. His eyes flicked from Reia to Ivy, then back to Holand. Each face was filled with a mix of desperation and fear. No one wanted to make this choice. No one wanted to be the one to decide who would live and who would die.

But they didn't have a choice.

"..." Holand finally spoke, his voice barely a whisper. "Someone innocent... is going to die."

Arpheus's heart sank as the words hit him. They all knew it.

They just didn't know who.

And then, in the quiet that followed, the world seemed to stand still. The ticking of the seconds stretched into eternity. And in that moment, Arpheus realized… they only had five minutes.

But there was already one person on their minds.

There was no choice.

Ivy glanced at the others, her lips trembling but her expression set like stone. Her thoughts were a storm of chaos, but one thing was clear. It has to be done.

She took a shaky breath and stood up, her face pale as death. "Anne," she said softly, her voice barely audible.

Anne turned her head, her face drained of color, yet she nodded silently, as if they had agreed on this long ago. A secret signal passed between them.

Reia and Holand exchanged brief, knowing looks. Neither said a word, but their grim nods were all Ivy needed to see. She swallowed hard, forcing herself to move.

She walked behind Arpheus, her movements slow and deliberate.

"Guys?" Arpheus looked around, confused. His concern was written all over his face, his brows knitting together. "Are you all okay? What's wrong?"

No one answered him.

The silence was deafening.

And then it happened.

…!

Ivy lunged forward and grabbed Arpheus's wrists in a tight grip, her hands like iron shackles.

"I-Ivy?!" Arpheus shouted, his voice cracking as panic surged through him. "What are you doing? Let go!"

He struggled, but Ivy held firm. Her knuckles were white, and her jaw was clenched so hard it looked like it might snap.

"Stop it! Ivy, please! What's going on!?" Arpheus's voice grew louder, tinged with desperation.

But she didn't respond.

Anne moved quickly, darting to his legs. She gripped them with both hands, locking them in place like chains.

"What the hell are you guys doing?!" Arpheus yelled, his voice trembling with fear. He thrashed, but the two women pinned him down with a strength he didn't know they had.

"Please! Stop this! Tell me why!" His voice cracked, the fear swallowing his words.

But their faces stayed cold, like strangers he'd never known.

Reia stepped forward, her hands shaking slightly as she picked up Holand's sword from where it lay on the ground.

She stared at it for a moment, her reflection distorted in the blade. Then she tightened her grip and walked toward Arpheus.

"Reia?" Arpheus's voice was barely above a whisper now. His panic was turning into dread, his chest tightening with each step she took.

"No. No, no, no—Reia! Don't do this!" His pleas fell on deaf ears.

Reia knelt down in front of him, her expression unreadable. The sword trembled slightly in her hands, but she steadied herself, aligning the blade with his knees.

Arpheus's mind raced, the realization crashing over him like a tidal wave.

No. This can't be happening. This isn't real.

"No, no, no, no!" Arpheus thrashed harder, his arms and legs jerking against Ivy and Anne's grips, but they held him down like anchors.

"Please! Reia, don't do this!" His voice broke into a scream, but it was no use.

The blade came down in a single, merciless stroke.

Cut!

"AAAAAAGHHHHHH!"

Arpheus's scream tore through the air, raw and guttural. The sound of flesh being sliced filled his ears, and then… the pain.

The pain was blinding, like a thousand burning needles stabbing into his legs all at once. It was fire, ice, and agony, all consuming him in waves that crashed against his mind.

He couldn't breathe. He couldn't think.

He looked down in horror. Blood poured from the stumps where his legs used to be, staining the ground beneath him. His vision blurred, tears streaming down his face as the realization hit him.

My legs. They're gone.

"No... no..." he whispered, his voice trembling as the shock began to set in.

But the pain wouldn't let him slip away. It anchored him to reality, forcing him to feel every ounce of suffering.

"You didn't even do anything for us," Anne said coldly, her voice cutting through his agony like a blade.

Her words hit harder than the sword.

"You have no right to complain," Ivy added, her voice icy and distant. She didn't even look at him as she spoke, as if he was nothing more than a burden being dealt with.

The words sank deep into his chest, sharper than any physical wound.

That's right, he thought bitterly, his mind spiraling into darkness. I'm useless. I always have been.

His breath hitched as he stared up at them, his vision blurring with tears. I was never their friend. Not really. Not even Reia.

Reia turned away, her shoulders tense but her face expressionless. She didn't meet his eyes.

Anne and Ivy hoisted him up between them, his body limp and unresponsive. Blood trailed behind them as they carried him toward the edge of the cliff that loomed nearby.

Arpheus's chest tightened as he realized what was happening.

"No..." His voice was barely audible now, a weak, pitiful sound.

Anne stopped at the cliff's edge, her hands gripping his shoulders as she stared down at him.

"Goodbye, Arpheus," she said flatly, her tone devoid of any emotion.

And then she let go.

Drop.

Arpheus fell, his body weightless as the wind roared past him.

For a moment, time seemed to freeze. He could see their faces above him, staring down from the edge of the cliff. Their expressions weren't cruel or triumphant. They were... relieved.

Relieved.

It made him sick.

Why me?

The thought echoed in his mind as he plummeted.

Why am I so weak? What did I do?

Did I commit some great sin in my past life?

Tears streamed down his face as the ground below rushed up to meet him.

If only...

The world blurred, the pain in his body fading as cold despair swallowed him whole.

If only I was given...

...

...

...

A second chance.