Their feet pounded on my flesh. Some saw my body as an obstacle and tried to avoid me, others failed to notice. Bruising me, crushing me, they continued on, unstoppable, not at all noticing my broken body lying on the ground. I've always known that the people of Zaibach are mindless sheep who won't care for the well being of others. It didn't surprise me.

I cried out for them to stop as they continued to trample me, ignoring my pleas. The pain was close to unbearable as I clenched my teeth and choked back tears. It had been a long time since I had felt so desperate for help, calling out to those who'd never give a second glance.

I fell silent as I accepted the grim fact that no one would see me. Small children even began stepping over my body. Seconds passed like days, minutes seemed like weeks. I made a few small attempts to move, but I could feel that my legs were bound to the pain. I closed my eyes and silently waited for it to be over…

…until I heard a familiar call nearby.

"Lord Dilandau!"

I opened my eyes and witnessed Gatti forcefully push his way through the stubborn crowd. He had finally reached me.

"Dilandau…" He scanned my body quickly, analyzing the damage done. The surrounding people continued to step on me…until Gatti had his say.

"GET OFF OF HIM!" Gatti furiously pushed away all of the civilians near my body. He lifted me up with both arms as I leaned against his shoulder, short of breath. I had never recognized such loyalty in him; it was something I would not soon forget.

I forced myself to speak in whatever unsteady voice I had, assuring that Gatti's concern for me would lessen.

"What took you so long…?"

Gatti's eyes widened at the sight of my speaking.

"Lord Dilandau…I'm so-"

Suddenly, the crowd fell silent and still once more, including Gatti and myself. Our heads turned in wonder as all of our eyes were fixed on the great screen. An image was projected, unclear at first, slowly forming a face, old and wise. The mob instantly fell to their knees.

A deep and commanding voice echoed throughout the city, ringing in our ears. He spoke.

"Citizens of Zaibach, the Battle with Basram is coming to an end. The technology we have requested of them is finally close to our grasp. Countless men have given their lives to benefit Zaibach and our advances in this world. However, the final battles are still taking place, and the casualty rates have increased greatly. We will now be recruiting younger soldiers in this war. These young men will be expected to fight for Zaibach as any adult would. We are too close to achieving our goals to simply give in to countries that have no real comprehension of our ideal future; a future that will no longer depend on bloodshed to better ourselves, a future free of war and mindless slaughter. The future that is the will of Atlantis!"

The crowd rose into a roaring applause, screaming their allegiance to the face on the screen. I shuddered as the pain suddenly fell numb. My heart raced in the excitement as adrenaline rushed through my blood and filled my spirit with a great sense of pride. So this was Emperor Dornkirk.

In a great white flash, the face had left the screen, and there were several announcements made. The officials were telling parents where and when their sons would report. I heard the scattered sobbing of heartbroken mothers throughout the crowd, though they would quickly be silenced. Past the crowd, I could see that there were two men who had been standing near the screen, making the announcements. They were heavily armored; very similar in appearance. These were men with authority over my country…I didn't like that.

There was another man standing at the front of the crowd, seeming somehow distant from the two armored men. He remained very close to the screen, as if he held a silent authority over everyone below him, and a bond to Dornkirk. Never speaking a word, he stood high above us, wrapped in a dark cloak. I knew that cloak well. I knew what he was.

We waited for the crowd to scatter a bit before trying to make our way back to the fortress. It was rather humiliating on my part…I couldn't walk on my own. Gatti knew this.

We both remained silent as I was forced to lean against Gatti to maintain any balance. Every step back to the fortress meant a sharp pain piercing through my leg, up into my lower back. I hated dependency.

As we walked, I could feel a trail of fresh blood rolling down my neck. My eyes stayed focused on the ground, watching drops of blood from my fingertips hit the stones of the road. I hadn't the strength to lift my head; I was forced to trust Gatti to guide me back to our home.

It took some time, but eventually we made our way back to the fortress steps, which was quite a humiliating challenge for me. Gatti tried to assist me, but I became frustrated and pushed him away. I forced my beaten legs to lift the weight of my body up each grueling step. Though my stubborn will pushed me up the steps, I collapsed when I reached the top.

I don't know how much time passed between that moment and when I awoke in the corner my chamber. My body was throbbing and bruised, it would need more than a few nights to recover. Shortly after, there was a knock on my door and a voice outside my chamber.

"Lord Dilandau? Are you awake yet?"

I remained silent, wanting to be left alone.

Gatti cautiously opened the door, most likely presuming that I was still passed out.

"Lord Dilandau…?"

I stared at him through the dark of my chamber impatiently.

"What do you want?" I tried to make it clear that I wanted the conversation to be brief.

He entered my chamber letting in the pale light of the hallway torches.

"I went back and found some food…"

He held out a small loaf of bread.

"…Please eat something."

I grabbed the bread from his hand; I was actually quite hungry.

"You found this?"

He lowered his head.

"Well…I stole it."

I smiled and nodded my head, placing the bread by my side. I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply.

"I also retrieved these…"

He placed several white bandages and an old bottle of antiseptic by my side.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't find anything else for you. I asked around, but…all of the healers in the area charge for their services. Isn't there anyone in the fortress who could help you?"

I shook my head at his ignorance.

"They let the wounded rot. If you're dumb enough to be injured seriously, you deserve to die. It's what they've always believed."

Gatti let his inquisitive nature get the better of him.

"Is that what you believe, Lord Dilandau?"

I shook my head slightly.

"It doesn't matter what I believe."

I kept my eyes closed, keeping my focus off of my wounds.

"Maybe not the remaining soldiers…but there are others here who could help you, yes? Those men who wear cloaks, they must have knowledge of medicines."

My eyes opened.

"You've seen the cloaked men…"

Gatti nodded as he spoke.

"Well…yes, Lord Dilandau. They roam the halls every now and then, and I thought since they clearly aren't soldiers, maybe they were healers…"

I lifted my body slightly up against a wall, wanting to stand, but unable to.

"They are not healers. If you ever see them in the halls, I want you to stay out of their sight by any means necessary."

I had strained my body by moving, and was suddenly reminded that one of my ribs was most likely broken.

"But, Lord Dilandau-"

"You will not go near them."

I slid my body back down the side of the wall I'd been leaning against.

An unwanted silence passed between us for a moment.

"…What are they…?"

I inhaled deeply and sighed. Gatti, being as stupid as he was, would have probably sought out the men themselves if I were not at least partially honest with him.

"I don't know…" I sighed once more.

"I don't know. But they have no interest in helping others."

Gatti sat down on the ground, most likely feeling uncomfortable holding his head higher than mine.

"They're the ones who have been doing something to the rations, aren't they…?"

I nodded silently.

"They've done more than that…?"

I closed my eyes and kept silent for a moment. Gatti listened obediently. I tried to explain the situation as clearly as possible.

"That screaming down the hall, you hear it every night, don't you?"

He nodded his head and replied.

"I had always imagined they were young wounded soldiers in surgery…"

I smiled and laughed silently.

"No, Gatti. It's children. Orphans, I imagine…"

I became lost in my own words. It was the first time I had said such things aloud; I imagine my mind had trouble adapting.

Gatti made a bold move and spoke softly with a question.

"…Lord Dilandau...are you an orph-?"

I immediately stopped his inquisition.

"Never ask me such a question. Never."

He lowered his head in a silent apology as I continued speaking what truth I knew.

"The cloaked men use them."

I could hear Gatti's breath quicken.

"They…use them sir?"

"I don't know why…I don't know why they do what they do, but I do know why they scream."

I lowered my head and dug my face into my arms.

Speechless, Gatti's eyes widened as he continued to listen.

"Some survive, others don't. I think most of the survivors are trained…fed those chemicals through our rations…forced to battle in that room that you were thrown into, where you should have died."

Gatti's wide eyes remained focused on me.

"They all end up in that room at some point, and none of them ever leave alive."

I raised my head to Gatti and smiled.

"I make sure of that."

I didn't know if Gatti could really understand anything I had said. He was young, and his mind was simple. I think whatever shred of innocence he had remaining was now gone. It was all for the best…innocence would do him no good in Zaibach. I knew that from then on, he wouldn't be able to ignore the screaming any longer. There was no room for oblivion in that place.