Page 3 of Echoes of Eternity

“This is what it’s come to, Matsui,” I whispered to myself, partially uncaring and partially dreading what my family would think of me once they found my body.

The ground beneath me began to rumble, shooting me to my feet. An earthquake? Now, of all times? But itwas the petrified scream following a masculine shout that made me furrow my brows in confusion. Who in the world would be up on this mountain with me?

Following the noise through the surrounding forestry, I lost my footing as a strange man ran into me. A gasp escaped me when I caught sight of his bloodstained face full of terror as he looked beyond me toward the trees. The ground continued to vibrate. I followed his line of sight, my heart hammering inside my chest when I saw the horrific sight of a bird-like deity rising from the earth.

My body was frozen, my gaze locked on the towering bird deity. Its colossal form loomed over us, casting an immense shadow that swallowed the forest floor. The otherworldly screech it emitted was more than just sound—it was a force that reverberated through my very bones, a primal terror that seemed to paralyze everything in its vicinity.

The man who ran into me fell onto his knees, his face contorted in a mask of abject fear. He reached out, his arms trembling, as if he could somehow appease the creature or plead for mercy. His words fell broken from his lips, indecipherable, while I continued to stare at the humanoid deity.

This Harbinger seemed as indifferent to his pleas as I was. With a sweeping motion of its enormous wings, it struck him down with a force that sent him sprawling across the ground and to the edge of the secluded overlook. I remained sitting on my side while my eyes widened at the predatory movements of the divine beingbrought to life. The man’s screams pierced the air, mingling with the deity’s rumbling footsteps as blood sprayed beyond the overlook with each detached limb. A crimson pool began to seep into the dirt beneath him like dark paint, creating macabre artistry against nature.

I could do nothing but watch, my mind a whirlwind of horror and fascination. The sheer power of the Harbinger, the absolute finality of its actions—it was mesmerizing in its brutality. The way the man’s pleas dwindled into desperate whimpers before being silenced entirely left an impression on me. There was something almost serene about the finality of it all, a harsh and definitive end to his suffering.

Is that what I will sound like at my end?

In that moment of awe and horror, a strange thought began to form in my mind. Here, in the face of such divine wrath, there was a clarity in the way life and death were so starkly presented. It was as if the Harbinger had rendered the complexities of existence into a simple, undeniable truth.

It was my answer.

I felt a pang of introspective melancholy. My own life, so entangled with fears and uncertainties, suddenly seemed insignificant in comparison. If I were to face my end, would it not be more honorable to meet it in such a dramatic fashion?

There was a certain romanticism to it—a way to escape the constant struggles and to bow out with a semblance of dignity. If death were to come, what better way than in a moment so charged with awe and terror,surrounded by the raw, untamed force of nature itself? The thought was strangely appealing.

I had to act.

The Harbinger’s gaze shifted again, and the forest seemed to close in around me. I was alone, with the choice of remaining passive in my fascination or finding a way to escape the impending doom of my life while still holding onto my honor.

2

Getting to my feet,I approached the deity with a trembling but resolute step. The air around it was charged with a terrifying energy, yet my desperation seemed to cut through the tension. I was drawn to its ethereal and masculine energy, not by a desire for survival but by a deep, unspoken need for an end that made sense—that felt right.

The deity straightened and shook out his massive wings as he took in my form. “And who are you? Or are you with the mortal who dares play foolish games with summoning powers beyond their control?”

Casting my eyes down, I took a deep breath before lifting my eyes to meet his. “Though I had no hand in whatever that man did, I will admit that I do not regret his actions since he brought you to me.”

Was my growing apathy the source of such boldness?

His eyes, the color of flames, contracted for a fraction of a second before he spoke again. “What need do you have of one of the guardian units of the Eight Legions? Divine warriors are set for the intervention of moral realms when necessary, not for trivial human matters.”

So he’s a warrior. Though not of this realm, still a being of honor. My mind worked quickly. “From what I’ve witnessed, I believe you when you say you’re a warrior. What is your name? So that I may address you correctly, divine one?”

My attempts to gain favor may backfire, but the thought of another day in my existence…

His massive form leans down and though fear runs through me, so does a sliver of hope.

“Noboru,” he answers with a curious head tilt.

“Noboru,” I began, my voice wavering but carrying a weight of resolution. “I understand the gravity of your presence here. If you are to end my life, then please, grant me this one request. Let it be by your hand, in this moment of grandeur.”

The deity’s eyes, pools of piercing luminescence flame, bore into me with a deeper measure of curiosity. His gaze was as inscrutable as it was intimidating. “You seek an end, but not merely any end; you seek it adorned with significance. Why?”

I swallowed hard, the thrum of my heart reminding me of the life I wished to leave behind, trying to keep his gaze with unwavering sincerity. “My life has been plagued by endless hardship and suffering. I’ve beengiven nothing but a series of cruel trials and a future devoid of hope. If I am to go, let it be with some semblance of honor, in the presence of a being as mighty as yourself.”

Any other male would have preened with the praise, but not this being.

Noboru’s wings rustled slightly, a sound like a secret whisper, as he pondered my words. “You wish for a dramatic exit, one that transcends the ordinary demise. Yet, I find your plea curious. You would trade your life for this spectacle, seeking meaning in a final moment?”

I nodded, my heart pounding louder in my ears. “Yes. In the face of such a magnificent force, my end would be something grand—a release from the chains of despair. Can you not see the logic in that?”

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