Character side story: The survivors

Time seemed to lose its meaning, and consciousness was quietly coalescing.

Once his thoughts were clearing from the Chaos, a man suddenly opened his eyes amidst panting.

Who I am?

I'm alive!?

Where am I?

The man instinctively sat up, the glaring sunlight immediately hitting his tear ducts, and two streams of clear tears flowed uncontrollably from the corners of his eyes.

He wasn't saddened or sighing; he simply couldn't adapt to the return of light.

Where am I...?

He stood up somewhat blankly, looking around at the dilapidated surroundings and the azure sky, only able to confirm that this must be the rooftop of a building.

But why does this building style seem so unfamiliar?

No, it wasn't exactly unfamiliar; he had some recollection of it, but his thoughts were extremely chaotic, and he couldn't remember anything for a moment. He couldn't even remember his own name.

What's my name again?

He forgot, he forgot many things, only remembering that there seemed to have been some kind of... game before.

His gaze shifted downwards to his chest, where he discovered a snow-white Mask hidden within his tattered clothes.

What's this?

He stroked the spotless Mask, feeling that it was very important to him.

He gripped the Mask tightly, stood up dazedly, instinctively pushed open the stairwell door, and descended the stairs. When he reached the bottom, he saw the deserted, broken city streets, and his doubts deepened.

There seem to be very few people left in this city.

Why? Apocalypse? War? Imagination? Dream?

The man walked on aimlessly, not knowing where he was going, but he just felt that he should go somewhere.

He walked for a very long time, so long that the puddles and wild fruits by the roadside could no longer provide him with enough energy and water. He felt that he was about to faint. He could no longer hold on, and his eyes closed, and his vision was completely plunged into darkness.

The man woke up again, this time not at the foot of the mountain where he had collapsed, but in a room that appeared to be well-maintained.

The moment he woke up, a steady voice came from beside him.

You're awake.

The man was taken aback, turned to look at the strange man in a white robe beside the bed, and said blankly:

"Here it is...?"

"Yunye Temple," the robed man said with a smile, "I saw you on my way to fetch water. I was surprised that he actually rescued you."

"Him?" The man was even more confused. "Who... is he? And who am I?"

"You don't remember? That's understandable. Given your loyalty to him, his departure is probably the most painful thing for you. The brain's defense mechanism makes you forget him, which is good..."

But I don't think that's what you really meant.

If you still want to retrieve those Memory, if you still want to remember him—no, you must want to retrieve those Memory, otherwise you wouldn't have come back here..."

With that, the man in white handed the man a Scripture Fold, "Take a look, this records all your past."

"My... past?" The man took the Scripture Fold, opened it, and looked at the writing inside, none of which he recognized. "... I don't think I can understand it."

"..." The man in white robes was taken aback, then chuckled, "Look at me, I forgot you're not from here. I'll read it to you."

He took back the Scripture Fold, unfolded it on the bed, and read it aloud, word by word. "[Truth] Scholar Katarro..."

"Katarro? My name is Katarro?"

"That's right, you are Katarro. If it weren't for the portrait of you in this Scripture Fold, I wouldn't be so sure that you are the person he recorded."

"Who is he?"

"My friend, [remember... Li Jingming]."

"Ji Li Jingming? What a strange name. And you, who are you?"

"Me?" The white-robed man's smile vanished. After a long pause, he replied in a heavy tone, "Mortals, Meng Youfang."

Katarro didn't understand, and asked in confusion, "Why emphasize Mortals?"

Because... it's all in the past.

My old friends have gone to such lengths for me; I cannot let them down again.

I must listen to Him, live well, and live like Mortals —that is His...

Final Decree!

Katarro still didn't understand, but he chose to remain silent. He listened quietly as Meng Youfang recounted the stories in the Scripture Fold, and gradually began to understand himself.

"... Finally, [Origin] abandoned the world and departed, and the gods either died or left."

Perhaps because [the Origin] still had a sliver of compassion, [He] forgave the world, and thus the world was finally freed.

But they... my old friends, will never come back.

"..."

Can Mortals be friends with gods?

Katarro didn't know that; he only knew that he seemed to have regained some Memory —no, not regained, but rather some fragmented pieces flashed through his mind.

He doesn't remember the past; he only remembers that some people were very important, so important that he could never forget them even if he lost his Memory.

So his subconscious led him here; he knew that the answer he was looking for must be here, and now he had found it.

"I am Katarro, and I always have been Katarro."

Seeing that the other person had suddenly become emotional, Meng Youfang echoed, "I am Meng Youfang, and I have always been Meng Youfang."

"..."

I don't understand, but I'm tolerant.

Katarro nodded; he already knew what he was about to do.

Seeing this, Meng Youfang asked curiously, "You seem to have rediscovered the meaning of life?"

Does it have any significance? I suppose so.

I just remembered something...

I remember a faint voice saying, "Katarro, remember your loyalty; wherever you are, you will always be His Believer."

At this point, Katarro touched the Mask still in his arms, "I don't remember how I felt at the time very clearly, I only vaguely remember what I was supposed to do."

I want to tell the world that I am His Believer, and I will travel the world wearing the Mask He gave me, spreading His Will to the world.

I want Him to look upon His humble Believer again, and to bless this broken world once more.

I don't know if it's possible, but I want to try.

And you?"

Katarro looked at Meng Youfang and saw a glint of light flash in Meng Youfang's eyes, but he immediately shook his head and said:

"I?

I'm just a Mortals; all I can do is live a good life.

But their images always linger in my mind. I think I will erect a monument for them, for my old friends, so that they can accompany me forever in this way.

Go now, before this world is rebuilt, go and find your own possibilities.

Katarro nodded and struggled to get out of bed.

There was no comfort, no encouragement, no farewell between them, only lonely perseverance and silent journeys.

With one person gone, the mountains and fields returned to An Ning.

Meng Youfang stood at the entrance of Yunye Temple, gazing at the departing figure in the distance, sighing with endless regret.

"I visited that Cemetery but did not find your tombstones, which means the Graveyard Management did not want you to die there."

I also found your unfinished replicas in that abandoned Experiment. Unfortunately, without the power of Divine Power intervention, how to infuse them with Memory became the biggest problem.

However, there is some good news. At least I have found your Memory here. Next, I should go to that carefully watered nursery to see if I can find some plants and medicines to bring Vitality back to life...

Even if not, I will still search for the place where the first Wise One once stayed. I think he might have left behind some 'scientific' notes that don't rely on theology...

Hopefully it will work.

Even if it doesn't work...

Don't worry, my good brother, under the protection of my old friend [Time], I've also gained some insights into 'Time'. I will definitely find you again, and reunite with you and all of you."

As he spoke, Meng Youfang took out the black hole model from his pocket, held it tightly in his hand, and looked determined.