Four in the morning they would stand off where they first met. Both would stand at the roof’s edge. Whoever stepped down first would be the loser…that is all. Across a vacant distance stood tall Saint Akli Graham, his black suit fitting his thin frame; barely able to swallow. Below eye level was illuminated by running lights below. A black coat and satin pants, bare feet, and a face masked by shadow.

  The nightly streets were empty; no brawls to be witnessed, no late drinkers, no ravaging of the body or mind. Taiga stood at ground level with Eurig following behind. From the ducts walked in Urjohar.

  “Hey, how come you’re here?” Eurig asked.

  “What…just strolling around,” Urjohar evaded Eurig’s eyes.

  “We need you too,” Eurig passed along. “Didn’t Horst preach it? If he wins and we get a skate park, I’ll go and teach him some proper tricks. Since Oti and you are such shitty skaters.”

  “Both of ya stop stalling and get over here!” Taiga said.

  “What’s Otie up to?” Akli asked.

  “Sir,” Horst replied.

  “An endurance test like this will take a while.”

  “Mayor, you have a conference at nine a.m. Be aware that we don’t have time for this foolishness,” Horo said.

  “Ooh, boohoo, a conference, that’s no fun…” Horst said.

  “I’ve heard about this fake Zodiac Palace group. With so many cameras set up they can’t possibly hear us, can they?” Horo questioned.

  “I have a mic set up myself, the result will surely be heard and seen,” Horst assured.

  “Skip it! As long as I win, nothing else matters!” Akli’s face tightened, his stomach twirling like a flushed toilet bowl.

  “Mayor…one more thing, before it all begins… I have a question. Do you know doctor Pedig of the Madvi university hospital?” Horst asked.

  “…”

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  “W-why…do you ask? Quiet boy…” Horo rattled.

  “I’ve done my research, he was oddly enough a student of our teacher Dr. Dushyanta, and also a member of the original Council Thirteen, the same time as the two of you. Ayihcah's…or rather, Jaromir Trafford’s hospitalization over there you initiated it, didn’t you mayor?”

  Dushyanta, you’re alive…how? No, I’m glad, but how did I never know? How did Horo not know? And… “Jaromir…? Horo, tell me everything later, understood?!”

  “Aye…” Horo took a deep breath as his hands buzzed without calm.

  Huh? What is this tension? Could it be…? Horo thought.

  Coming out from the roof door was Cherry carrying her hefty handbag. “Ayihcah.” Glancing over his shoulder, Otie saw the vibrant blush of Cherry run up from behind. Hopping over the railing to the tower’s edge, Otie began to speak. “I came to Ontiganel to avenge Jaromir and learn about his relation to Matysa, a good friend who helped both me and Jaromir. How assured I was… By the way, Jaromir visited me, at least I had that feeling. Though the picture of him has begun to fade, I still can’t forget that smile he gave me. Was he telling me not to care so much, to give up on our friend…?”

  You two always switched back in the day, but now Jaromir and Otie are within him. That somebody that stays beside you, that feeling…Jaromir, you’re still here, but just as much gone.

  “Cherry, you think I can stay here? Ya know, in Ontiganel, with the rest of ya.”

  “You’ve been here for ages, Otie. So stay around…don’t go away, ever!”

  The tightness in Otie’s chest lightened, his back straightened as he took in the air of Ontiganel, appreciating it for the first time. As if to grow wings he spread out his arms. Air caught the glide, a pencil turning mid-twirl, down came a rocket.

  “Ah…he jumped,” Cherry gasped.

  “Damn! So that was his plan!” Akli shouted across the river of emptiness. His foot turned back off the ledge. In this regard, who stepped down first? Otie, when he jumped, or the mayor when he stepped back… “I will catch him,” Akli took his start, diving into the void.

  “Akli!” Horo shouted, his reach too far before the inevitable plummet.

  “That wasn’t part of the plan!” Horst said. “Taiga, it’s time, but we might need the tarp!” Horst called on the radio-phone.

  “Huh, what is he crazy, why are both of them falling?” Taiga looked up to the pitch black sky, unsure where the two could be coming from. “Eurig, Urjo, get ready to catch!”

  “What?!” Eurig exclaimed.

  “Break an arm or a leg if we have to,” Taiga said.

  “Suicidal freaks,” Urjohar muttered.

  Akli could feel the rush of death approaching as a body length away he could see the serene face of Otie posing like a man on a cross. Embracing the wind, Akli couldn’t help but laugh. It all ended in a flash, for the moment the world stopped Akli could see it, the future.

  “I remember now…” Jaromir…he’s…