Watching the grey fade into the air, Snow's heart caught in his throat; the man,,, he was gone like he’d never even existed.

hearing screams behind him he turned to see more clouds of grey moving through the air, and within seconds he could hear the whole world screamed as people started to run.

Becoming infected with the mass hysteria, he started running as well, the sight of thee old man’s end, the sight of him becoming nothing replayed in his mind. He ran and ran, the screams, cries and prayers melting his mind as he ran and ran, not looking back, just forward, fear of him being next pushing his body, instinct, habit, and memory all laying the path his body followed.

He pushed and stumbled as he ran, but a sound never came from him, not even as he watched the people running around and beside him become nothing, because he felt everything, every emotion, every instinct; he felt so much that the only way he could feel Sain was if his brain told his body he felt nothing as he ran, surrounded not by the world he knew but by the end of it.

all until his body had led him there… to death. But not his own; it led him to the death that had shaped him, the death of his parents.

He was away from the city now; not even the trains or roads led here, nor did the air vehicles come here. You could only get here by foot. It was a crevice he’d dug many years ago, behind one of the nearly abandoned agricultural centers. life still grew there though, freely forgotten by most. it was ironic he’d built a tomb for his parents behind a place where life continuously grew; it was on purpose, of course. 

In front of him, two wooden coffins lay next to each other; they were decorated, clean and painted black. Many people were obsessed with color here, but his parents weren't; they'd always talked about how comforting the color black was. He sat in between the coffins; his legs held tightly to his chest.

To most this would've been a morbid place, but to him it wasn't. It was comfortable and peaceful when he was here. He was a child again, protected by his parents.

Protected by their love.

He stayed there for hours, maybe even days, before he left, the hunger growing too strong in his belly. There were no screams when he exited, just silence, more silent than it had ever been, in that moment he knew he was alone. Not even the purple light remained, only the moon and him. For days he survived there, getting food from the agriculture center; that was his life. Until the water came…

He had no idea where it came from, but it came and washed him out from his parents' grave, forcing him to run and climb and pillage. He’d seen more of the city than he’d ever seen in those days.

But he wasn’t amazed by it like he had imagined he'd be all the times he dreamt of it. he ran and climbed running away from the water, he had gotten so high he could see almost everything. in the beginning for while he'd even told himself it was all a good thing, that he'd gone from the lowest the dirt of society to the top. that he was a king of sorts now the lone ruler of everything, he'd gone insane... he didn't know it, but he did... no one could stay fully Sain alone in that dark silence. he was just like the world around him cold, empty and timeless. until the water came for him nearly killing him in its depths. and that chance with death had re sparked the hope in his heart the hope he’d held on to, his whole life after his parents died the hope for better life. The hope to live

And in thee end it'd worked out for him because he was here now explaining this to the woman in front of him.

His mind replayed it all with clear detail, but he told her only the most basic version of his experience and thoughts. Her face never changed as he spoke and when he finished. She smiled a weak and pity filled smile.

I’m sorry you’ve had to endure so much snowfall. Thank you… for telling me.

Snow didn’t say anything, just looked down at his clasped hands, and then lifted his gaze as he spoke to her.

So, what do you know? I know there’s more to all of this that you know about and that I don’t.

She let out a sigh through her nose, resting her head on her hand.

You're smart, so I'm sure you know my answer.

I wish I could tell you, kid, but I can’t.

“You can’t be serious,” Snow replied tentatively.

I’m very serious. She replied, meeting his gaze.

But there is a way to get the information you want to know: join the military. You're already magically awakened.

Snow leaned back in his chair, still meeting her gaze as he spoke in a void tone.

You just wanted a firsthand telling of what happened. And you can’t just let me go free, not fully; you need a way to keep tabs on me. What better way than the military, and even better to dangle the one thing that I want in my face to lead me there. Well… all this might have led me there anyways.

Sighing snow released the tension that had built in his body.

"Fine," he stated plainly.

And the woman, Lady Astoria, smiled and looked at something behind him.

Good, good, and look at that, you're only a year away from academy graduations. There is one thing, though. We can't just let cha in you kind of have to earn it, so you’ve got a year, kiddo. Work hard to pass that graduation exam.

Her voice faded, a direct contrast to the surge of light filling the room; it overwhelmed Snow’s eyes, forcing him to close them until her voice was completely gone and he felt air hit his face.

Still seated in his chair, he was now outside the cathedral, looking out at the stupidly colorful and bright world the huge steps below his feet led to.