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The Ancient Pass

28 hours later

I see Gentor and the High Minister over there, on the cliffs. They're standing far apart as expected....Neighing? There must be a horse nearby. Must be that woman rebel approaching. It must be time.

The harsh, unforgiving winds made it hard to stay balanced, but I was firm, for perhaps the first time in... for the first time. I knew I was right, and if I turned out to be wrong... then I can finally, for the first time, learn to move on.

The winds begin howling.

...It is time.

A lone figure approaches from the cliffs. The shining noon sun blinds him to me, the glow making him look divine. An apt comparison, I suppose.

He slowly descends the cliffs. When he sees me, he pauses, and draws his sword. Even from here, I can make out the stains and residues of crimson left behind. He appears to be limping... and quite weak.

I close my eyes and wait for him to arrive. As his visage becomes clearer, I can't help but smile. Not grimace, not smirk, not scoff, not sneer.

I smile. Properly, from cheek to cheek. I smile, because I know I've been falling behind on smiles for a while now. I go down on one knee, and for the first and last time, I see the hero's face.And as he brings the sword down on my neck, I can't help but smile again at how he looks just like me. I can't help but smile, because as it turns out... I was the hero, after all.

And as I smiled, I drifted off- off into yet another sleep.