Rafiel Thompson POV
It was eerily quiet in the emergency shelter she was in. Hugging tight onto her brother, she saw that even the adults look unsettled, due to the horrifying broadcasts and the invasion of the so called 'Witch Cult'. It had been several hours since the announcement that the Control Towers to the Great Water Gates of Priestella had been taken.
Rafiel was a brave girl. At least, she thought she was. To be able to stand up against the Gorgeous Tiger, who was definitely a seasoned warrior although his looks are young, was definitely an achievement. Although she didn't know that.
What she did know that is that her home, the Water Gate of Priestella, is not safe anymore.
The event that has never occurred in history happened. So fast, in the blink of an eye, the emergency shelters that were not used for centuries were suddenly filled with people. That showed how severe the situation is. How grave it was, and how close everyone is... to death.
She wondered if the boy who saved her and her brother was okay, and she also thought of the Gorgeous Tiger. They were definitely fine, right? There was no way that the youths were killed... they were too strong... right?
With those thoughts in her mind, Rafiel shivered once more on her own, before calming her sniffling brother. It was the worse of times. Where was her mother, and her father? Are they perhaps... already...
The thought of it was too extreme. She didn't dare even imagine that. Then again, that vile woman's ear-piercing voice showered abuse upon the frightened people. Every one of her deranged, senseless words filled Rafiel's and the adults' minds with dread. Trapped in this dark shelter, they knew nothing of what was happening outside. It was only natural that as time passed with no improvement in sight, panic began to take hold.
First, the voices of mutual encouragement weakened, then gradually, anxiety and frustration festered in the silence. By the time anyone noticed it, displeasure had have become apparent on the faces of everyone around them, and the atmosphere had been infested with pent-up discontent and hostile gazes.
Once that begins, there was no stopping the tide.
Knowing this, the people in the shelter, who should be tied by their shared fates, began to keep their distance from each other, not only verbally, but with their gazes and their breaths.
As if to avoid being influenced by other people's consciousnesses, they shut out everything from the external world. Who knows what might draw someone else's attention, incite their anger, and end up pulling the trigger?
Suddenly, Rafiel lifted her face with a quiet moan.
While silently yearning for a change to come, she caught the subtle shift in the atmosphere.
Spurred to the same reaction, the people around her also turned their heads, perhaps for the first time in hours. This is because everyone living in this city knew that the faint tremble in the air―― was an indication that a broadcast was coming.
In that world of silence, it almost sounded like someone nearby sighing. That precursor to the broadcast sent a sense of physical revulsion throughout her body. The change they were hoping for should have been something positive. But a broadcast only brings the Witch Cult's malice.
What kind of impossible demand would that shrill voice impose next? But here, Rafiel's pessimistic prediction was betrayed.
Excuse me, but can you guys hear us? Is this thing on?
Uhhh... so um... can everyone hear us properly? Mic-test mic-test, one-two one-two...
The voice that came through was not the vile woman's, to everyone's surprise. Instead, it was two youths, sounding somewhat confused. Although it was not the charismatic voice of the man she used to hear every morning, it filled her with a tiny bit of relief.
The two made sure for a while that the broadcast was indeed going on, before officially beginning their statement.
Sounds like you guys can hear us, so that's a huge relief. So, first of all, sorry for doing a broadcast all of a sudden. I probably scared you, huh. Considering the circumstances, most of you must be on edge about what we're going to say. But don't worry. This isn't the Witch Cult broadcasting to you now. Please know that first.
One of the youths spoke up, reassuring people's minds as they suddenly felt relief and surprise. "It's not... the Witch Cult?" Rafiel muttered.
"Does that mean... we're saved?" A voice came from the shelter's corner, a hopeful message to everyone in despair.
Those words encompassed the hopes of everyone inside the shelter.
That's it. Isn't it? If someone who's not the Witch Cult is speaking through the broadcasting device, that can only mean that they've recaptured the City Hall. If someone managed to drive the Witch Cult out of the City Hall, then maybe the Witch Cultists in the Control Towers and all over the city are also――
Before she could continue that thought, it was crushed by the youth who spoke next.
Next, we have to apologize for getting everyone's hopes up, because the threat of the Witch Cult hasn't gone away yet. We were able to retake the City Hall, but they're still holed up in the Control Towers. Those guys' demands, and the danger of the city sinking beneath the water are still in play. Please understand that as well.
Someone who had unwittingly stood up with expectation in their eyes sat down again.
Nobody can blame that someone for feeling discouraged, being told that their hope of being relived from their fears was misplaced. Instead, the fierce point of everyone's anger turned to the youths making the broadcast.
We're really sorry. Really.
However, it seemed that the youths had expected this outcome, and apologized right away for their words.
Where are you listening to this broadcast right now? Maybe you're in one of the refuge shelters, and I'm sure there are those who didn't manage to escape into the refuge shelters as well. Everyone must be filled with anxiety, right? I can understand what it's like to be afraid and wanting to curl up into a ball. And I guess you're all thinking 'Who are those random guys toying with everyone's hopes at a time like this?'
We're... just nobodies. Like everyone else, we're just being tossed around by fate, getting crushed under the unreasonable circumstances, and so scared that our legs can't stop shaking. That kind of people. Even the job of doing this broadcast... we only accepted it after making a huge fuss. And we still think that the burden is too heavy for us. Honestly, there are others who are more qualified to talk to everyone like this. I'm sure there are...
The youths' voice was trembling, as if speaking straight from the people's terrified and cowering hearts.
And then, what followed was simply the honest thoughts of youths doubting their own value.
The attitude of the listeners had gone beyond surprise and disappointment, until all that was left was uncertainty.
Right now, when what everyone yearned for was hope, why did they put these youths in front of the broadcasting device?
Even the youths themselves said that there were more qualified people.
But why did they send them? Rafiel wondered that herself, yet she was unable to find an answer.
But here we are, talking to everyone. So many people greater than we are told us that we should do it. That it won't be totally pointless. But, can you hear us trembling? Speaking in front of people isn't our strong suit. I'm not good with words, and my friend doesn't have the charisma to lead anyone. In a lot of ways, we're weak, helpless, and even here, in such an important position, we can't help but want to run away...
The tone of their voice gradually fell, as if dragging the listeners' hearts into the abyss.
That weak, faltering voice sounded like it was creaking through a chest shrunken by anxiety, only to tangle up at his stomach. If the youths behind that voice was within arm's reach, she would've liked to plug their mouths to shut them up.
I don't know what I can do... what I really want is just to plug my ears, hold my head, hide in a corner by myself and wait for someone else to fix everything for me...
The other youth's voice continued, and Rafiel suddenly realized what the youths were voicing. It was every person here's inner feeling. Their fear, of the Witch Cult and the fear of everything that will befall upon them
I know. I know even if you don't remind me. Rafiel thought, sniffling once again.
What the youth was saying was nothing less than the inner thoughts of every person cowering under the Witch Cult's threat.
It was the weakness eating away at the girl's heart.
It was the cowardice rooted in the depths of the adults' minds.
It was the unbearable dread tormenting her little brother's soul.
Surely, it was something nobody could do anything about.
And to have to face that unreasonable reality in spite of this―
―But, since we can't run away, we'll fight. That's just the kind of people we are.
We'll stand up against... the threats that loom over us all.
Huh? Not sure if she had misheard it, the girl opened her eyes and looked around her.
The owners of the voices wasn't there. But all around, she could see astounded faces just like her own.
The voices paused for a moment, as if choosing their next words. Then,
Let us ask you again. Everyone listening to this voice, where are you now? Have you escaped into a refuge shelter? Are you hiding inside your house? Are you trembling alone?
Are you with someone? Are you with the person most important to you? Or, even if you're next to an unfamiliar face, is it a face that you have grown to know over the past few hours?
It's a pretty arbitrary request, and it may be quite difficult to say the least, but please don't be alone. When a person is alone, they'll just start coming up with lame ideas. We know that from experience. Trust us. So please, don't be alone. Stay with someone. And―
If you can... look at the face of the person who's with you.
At this, Rafiel's eyes slowly drifted down to her brother, Fred, who was in her arms. He looked upwards to meet her eyes, his own emerald ones glittering with uncertainty.
Whose face do you see now? Is it someone important to you, or a stranger who you've spent these past few hours with? Or maybe it's a friend. ...But most likely, it's a wretched face. A face that's about to cry, a face that's in distress, and we imagine it probably isn't smiling.
No, perhaps there is someone out there who is putting up a strong face, forcing themselves to smile so as not to worry the people around them. If there is, then that's an amazing person. If someone you care about is smiling this way, you should be proud of them. But now, with that in mind, compare it with the smile you know...
Is this, truly acceptable to all of you?
Getting at what the youths truly mean at this point, Rafiel's first words of agreement came out in a hushed voice. "It's...not...no...way..."
It was a weak and broken sound that was impossible even for herself to hear.
Nevertheless,
We can't just accept this. We WILL not accept this.
The youths, as if hearing her reply, matched her thoughts.
We also have people we cherish. Friends we hold dear. And we cannot forgive whoever put that pained, sorrowful expression on the faces of the people we love. We don't want you all to force yourself to smile. You kidding us? Quit joking around. We want to raise our voice and shout that the smile of the girls we know should be way cuter than this...
We don't want to keep losing. It'd be too pathetic to give up here. There's no way we can allow it. They are the ones in the wrong. Even if you are too weak to do the right thing, to strike down those in the wrong, you should at least know what is right. And when you know that you are right, there is no way you can allow yourself to lose to those who are wrong. At least, we don't intend to surrender and bow to those guys, not ever.
We want to run away, really, but we can't run away. We want to cry, but we can't cry. The enemy is strong, but we don't want to lose. And so, we'll fight. We know that we're weak, and stupid, but still, we will fight. They are wrong. They are wrong to have made the people we care about look like they're about to cry. So, fight. We will fight for the people we all cherish, for the bright future ahead of us that we desire. ――And I want you all to fight.
Rafiel's breathing clogged a little as she was reminded of her own weakness just a few moments ago. She was ashamed of her own weakness. Yet, the voices of the youths speaking ceased to tremble, and pointed towards the road ahead.
She could understand the youths' feelings. She received the youths' message, painful and clear.
In her heart, the girl's will was the same as the youth's. She wants to fight. She wants to do all she could to drive out the thugs who had attacked their city. But, both she and her little brother were small, young, and their reach were far too short.
Don't get us wrong. We said we want you to fight, but we're not telling you to pick up a stick and fight them. In fact, please avoid doing anything so reckless. We don't want you to mob up and spill blood fighting against the Witch Cult. What we are asking you to fight for is to not look down.
Staring at your feet isn't going change anything. Your gaze isn't going to bore a hole in the floor, and even if it does, that won't fix a thing... So please, lift your face and look ahead...
"To not... look down..." Rafiel muttered the words of the youths, and met with many of the eyes in the shelter, all inspired by the youths' message.
If you look around you, surely, you'll meet someone's eyes. Like you, this is someone who is afraid and wants to run away... but, just like you, this is also someone who doesn't want to lose. There is the person you cherish, there is the person you are looking at now, and, if you add yourself to the list, that's already three people. There should be more depending on where you are...
Just as the youth said, the people's gazes intersected as they lifted their faces. The gleams within their irises were complicated, and surely, Rafiel's own eyes must've been the same. However, there now seemed to be something more than just tremors of terror.
If you can see that you are not alone, then that's enough. You are not alone. That in itself is powerful, don't you think? We don't want to see saddened expressions on the faces of people we love. And we don't want the people looking at me now to see a miserable expression in my eyes. We're not the only one who's so vain, weak, and stubborn, are we?
That beseeching, calling voice was trying to muster the people's courage. And yet, to the Rafiel's ears, the youth was pleading for help―― for something, anything, to cling to. And then, she realized it. The youths' feelings had never changed since the moment this broadcast began. While lamenting his weak, insufficient self, they did not give up. They were telling themselves that that was their only weapon, and telling everyone else that they were also the same.
Rafiel's was inspired. She truly believed now, that the youths weren't doing it to simply make people realize that they're weak, but rather, they're saying that the weakness they have is the force to keep them alive.
Then, suddenly, the voice began to lose confidence, once again as it did in the beginning.
Please, help us believe this. We may be weak and hopeless, but we can't give up just yet. We're not the only coward who hates to give up... please, help us believe it...
Or... are we perhaps... the only ones?
A sense of agitation surged up within Rafiel. Don't go. Whatever it takes, she wanted to shout for them to stay. It was that hope that they all needed, and if they lose that, they might lose it all.
Who believes... even now, we can still fight... are we the only ones?
"YOU'RE NOT!" Rafiel screamed at the top of her lungs, voicing her genuine support for the broadcasting youths. Voices resounded throughout the refuge shelter. Not just Rafiel's. Others who had also lifted their faces shouted out as well.
We're not, are we?
"You're not!" Rafiel said, again, with more confidence this time.
You guys are still fighting, aren't you? You haven't been swallowed by weakness, have you?
"We haven't... we don't want to lose!" Rafiel voiced the thoughts of the people around her, and hoped that once again, they could reach the voices at the broadcasts.
The depths of her chest grew hot. The roots of her teeth were trembling, and a passion different from anger was raging. That feeling wasn't the girl's alone. It was a flaring passion engulfing everyone into a single inferno. The anxiety they had only recently shared now became a bonfire of a different emotion.
If you are with someone important to you, hold their hand and believe in them. If you're with someone you don't know, give them a nod and assure them you'll do your best together. Because neither you nor that person have been crushed by defeat or are about to give up fighting. And as long everyone goes on fighting, we will fight to the end as well. We will fight―― we will fight, and we will win.
The people here knew that in the end, this was just a shelter far from the city hall. No matter how loud they shouted or projected their voice, the youth couldn't hear them. However, the youths felt relieved, as if they heard it themselves. Then they projected that dream into a single, striking sentence: We will fight, and we will win.
It's not a question that if it was possible anymore. It was just plain faith of everyone's trust in the youths. Just like how the youths believed in the people's will to fight, they also believed their promise in return. But why did they believe it? Because surely, these voices-
My name is Natsuki Subaru. I am the Spirit-Arts User who defeated Witch Cult's Sin Archbishop of Sloth.
My name is Y/N L/N. I am the leader of the Liberator's Battalion who drove out Witch Cult's Sin Archbishop of Lust.
An uproar was created the moment they revealed their identities. At first Rafiel didn't quite understand the significance of that declaration. But this was not the case for the people around her. The impact was overwhelming, and certainly not in the negative sense. At first, they were startled, then, as comprehension followed―― hope and faith spread explosively as even the girl's heart was swallowed by that wave of emotion. Then, Rafiel recognized the second youth's voice. The hero who saved her and her brother before helping them into the shelter. He was alive. As for the other youth, if he was standing beside her hero, in the same space, then, he shall become her hero as well.
Our colleagues and ourselves will do everything to take care of the Witch Cult in this city! So, please believe in us and fight on. Hold onto the hands of the people precious to you and cast away the cowering part of yourself that wants to surrender. And...
...leave the rest to us!
Deafening cheers erupted, flooding the shelter with heated enthusiasm. Expectation became hope, and, in a single breath, one hope became hope innumerable.
Rafiel looked down at Fred in her arms and saw the undeniable light dwelling in his eyes. Just to be sure, she embraced her brother tightly once more. Her brother's arms wrapped around her body in return, and, while savouring the warmth of that embrace, the girl looked up towards the ceiling.
Unable to hide their fear or apprehension, the youths nevertheless took on the hopes of every person in this city and declared that they will fight. The girl closed her eyes, sketching out the image of the heroes whose face she didn't even completely know, and prayed for every imaginable good fortune upon them.
―Because surely, in the end, they must be just common-place youths, fighting for the sake of someone important to them.