The sounds of agonizing screams filled the air as I desperately covered my ears to try and block them out. Men, women and children were dying and for what? The name of freedom. When I made the decision to come to this place, I had the intention of learning more about the people who brought me into this world, not watch the beginnings of a war.
I could still remember the day my false image of the world broke down. The day I watched my older brother simply outstretch his hand to identify my parents as enemies to my home. Within minutes, I was pulled away from a life I saw as normal and thrusted into reality. I quickly discovered that this world was nothing more than a mix of lies and deceit. And to the Eldian people, this world was hell.
My body was held tightly within a seemingly unbreakable shield as I felt a strong impact of rubble collide with my protection. I felt little to no pain due to the impact, but my eyes pinched closed as I tried to ignore the increased terror around me. I wanted nothing more than for the desperate cries to stop, to go silent for even just a moment. Stop it… Just die quietly…
He had told me this would happen, tried to make me aware of the death and destruction I would see if I followed my friends here. His words continued to echo through my mind, leaving me wishing that I had listened to them months ago.
"The answers you're looking for aren't on that island. The only thing you will find is pain and suffering. The suffering of those on that island as well as your own when you realize everything I have told you is true."
I had committed myself to this choice. He couldn't possibly be right about everything. I needed to see for myself what my parents abandoned me for. Yet, I still found myself desiring to turn around and head back home, straight into his arms and tell him I should have never left. He only had just over ten years left before I lost him forever and here I was, wasting that time. If only I could wait till he was gone to see my parent's choices, but time was limited. The war against humanity had already begun.
A single tear fell from my eyes as I opened my eyes once more and lowered my hands from my ears. I leaned forward and peaked through the tiny opening of my shield, getting a clear view of just what was happening outside. Bodies littered the ground, but a crowd of people gathered at a river where two boats were already exiting the scene. Would those two boats be the only people that survived this attack? I can only assume that would become the truth.
Parents screamed, begging for their children to be allowed on board only to be denied, sentencing not only themselves, but those that they sought to protect to death. How many people lived behind these walls? How many more would have to die? No… I needed to throw my care aside. These people were devils. They could bring our world to the brink of extinction.
I pushed myself back and did my best to drown out the conflicting thoughts as we moved forward. Soon enough, I would have all the answers I wanted. Then I would never have to question what was real ever again.
"Quit your crying. You'll see soon what this world really is. You'll see what we're fighting for."
Something about the words and who spoke them brought me comfort. A breath escaped my lips as I let my body relax. I made these choices for a reason, I would find the answer to every question I had and return back to my home. Back to my family, maybe even to newfound peace.
All I needed to do was keep moving forward.