Despite the mask, I could still smell the foul stench of the system's cockpit. My arms were falling off from scrubbing floors, washing dishes, and bleaching warriors' uniforms.

  Meanwhile, Kaein lay upside down on the ceiling, casually reading his tenth novel. He refused to help, saying this was good training for my "strength and discipline."

  I broke a mop in frustration , but reluctantly agreed.

  Mikel of course came to help but he was to injured to be much help.

  I asked Kaein why he had fallen asleep during the mission.

  He shrugged it off like it was nothing.

  "Too hungry to focus," he muttered.

  I frowned, but my thoughts drifted to the battle it was like a haze everything was to slow I was screaming then darkness as if a force was controlling me just like when I pressed the red button.

  Mikel made it seem normal from his universe to chose between 2 gate though in his demension there wasn't a timer , mine was triggered by an act of suicide.

  And I didn't have the spiritual power he spoke of .I feel like there's something I should know but I'm chained like a bird .

  "I didn't know you that into women Kael ", Mikel glanced over his shoulder as he saw me holding a pair of weirdly shapped undergarments for a while .

  I blushed.

  "No I...I..I "

  "Ohhh you actually have some culture in you kid", Kaein commented as he gleefully slapped my back.

  "It not what it looks like!", I burst out .

  "He has good taste in women "

  "Agreed ", they said in union .

  "Enough !", I threw the undergarments at Kaein but it landed on Mikel's face .

  Kaein watched us with a grin as he stood on the wall.

  I slowly backed away from the sink as Mikel approached me with a traumatized face .

  "I..I.. I'm sorry I didn't mean t-", he threw a man's undergarment at my face .

  I paused lately it slide down until it tumbled on the ground. My eyes twitched, so did my hands .

  Mikel swallowed hard .

  "You asked for it "

  "Under war !"

  We were both in our undergarments throwing clothes and water at each other, we forgot how dirty the place was or that we were punished . We even forgot what our goals were we just merely existing, maybe this is what it meant to be a child to just exist with the ones you cherish is that what one would call paradise ?

  Kaein stopped the war after he became a victim by grabbing both of our undies at their waste .

  Hot steem feeled the room and fogged the windows. The 3 of us layed relaxed in a big hit tub .

  "Huh nothing like a good bath after all the hard work ", Kaein said.

  We both looked at him In disguste ,"what did he do again ?", Mikel asked .

  "No idea", I replied.

  "I was babysitting ", he said .

  "Put a sock in it ", we said in union.

  The water had a weired way of relaxing all my muscles, I wished this would last forever .

  This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

  "You know I actually wanted to fall in love they say love heals all wounds and makes you forget the pain , but I failed to find a woman with those eyes ", Mikel played around with the foam.

  "What is love ?" , I asked .

  "Beat me ", Mikel replied.

  We both looked at Kaein.

  "Huh , you kids are to young for such , but you feel love in your soul it doesn't have to be a woman it could be this bath ".

  We looked at him as if he was wise man with a long beard.

  "I love this soap"

  "I love the water "

  "I love clouds"

  "I love rain "

  " I love you "

  I sank into the water .

  "No that gay !",Kaein rebuked us.

  Later at noon...

  "Hey Kael are you awake ",Mikel whispered.

  "Yeah", I whispered back .

  "You said we live to find something to feel our vain lives , do you know what you're searching for ?"

  I thought for a moment as I stared at the ceiling in the dark.

  "Well I want to find my mom know who I am , where I come for and why I even exist and maybe...", my chest ached but I didn't know what I wanted to say .

  "What about you ?"

  "Paradise, the dagger I had it from my ancestors a man named Zoro . I wasn't blessed or anything my granny said they all died she survived because she had left the place before hand ,but the man named Zoro knew paradise some thought he was crazy but I believe him . "

  Though maybe paradise was death all along...", he said the last part like a whisper.

  We were quite for a while staring at the ceiling in the dark hoping for something, something we don't know .

  "Hey if things don't work out let go for a beer if you know what I mean .", Mikel broke the silence .

  "Deal"

  "Go to sleep!",Kaein threw a pillow at us.

  It was time for the election ceremony. Different squads mainly 3 analyzed our performance during that mission . We were to be assigned in one of them as per their choice .

  I knew I wasn't to be even considered as per system rules which I had broke. But a part in me hoped in it favor one more time .

  We stood in the huge hallway .Above us, 3 squad leaders sat, gazing down like silent kings.

  . Kaein set on the golden chandelier which matched his white robe with golden linings .

  Kaein, as usual, stood upside down on the ceiling, reading another novel.

  The commander stepped onto the podium, torchlight casting gold across the room.

  "My fellow warriors, we meet again," he said. "You will now be chosen by the squad leaders. If none choose you... well,Ecardwark await."

  I took a deep breath.

  "We also have an esteemed guest a goddess of light "

  Why are there so many important people today? I thought as I tried to control my breathing.

  Lucen was picked by every squad a rare honor. He chose the most dominant without hesitation.

  The doors burst open and Mikel came through his tie was in an awkward position and his hair looked as if he had been electrocuted . I gave him a thumbs up .

  "Why didn't you wake me up?", he shuffled next to me with a frown.

  "Dreams aren't supposed to be disturbed"

  One by one, those around me disappeared, chosen. It was like we were rotten apples in a basket of oranges.

  "It seems only Kael and Mikel remain."

  I tensed.

  "You still up for that beer?"

  "Yeah make it double "

  We were pulled back by the sound of a bell ,soft, haunting. Beautiful.

  We were told to kneel. Not to lift our heads. Lest we die.

  She was a goddess visiting the newly chosen soldiers. It was said that the neither noticed ant nor flies . All of us in the floor were like a pile of dirt to her.

  Kaein swang lazily on the chandelier gazing down at her . The candle lights went out .

  I lowered myself. My eyes stayed fixed on the marble floor as footsteps echoed. Soft. Graceful.

  A reflection rippled on the floor , a golden dress made from the finest cloth. Bare, feminine feet touched the stone with reverence.

  Mikel trembled," Fiona Goddess of light , she knows where paradise lies ",Mikel whispered.

  My warm perspiration fell on the marble floor.

  "Kael live half a jar of golden bear for me ok ", he said softly with a smile.

  I looked at him In dismay but I was to late . He grabbed the rob of the Goddess. For a moment his usual dead eyes had light, but it was a short moment .

  Lub DUB. LUb DUB . Lub DUB.

  His blood painted my face as I gazed at an empty neck . His body collapsed.

  Warmth soaked beneath my fist. Tears fell from my eyes as I saw his headless body .

  Why?why ? Why! I gritted my teeth. My fist bled mixing with his warm blood .

  She stopped in front of me. Her dress was now soaked in blood but her body untouched.

  I felt her gaze ,not cruel, not kind. Familiar, which made me tilt my head almost raising it.

  "Young warrior," she said, her voice like light through stained glass

  "what delightful eyes you have. How far can you see with those eyes of yours?"

  See what could I see ? What did Mikel see that I couldn't see ? What am I blind to ? Why ? Why? Why? Why can't I understand this damned life?!

  Everyone's focus was on me .

  "Who is this boy ?"

  "A system born child "

  "Yet also a rebell of the system "

  "Why does she take interest on an ant like him ?"

  "Why won't he due by her gaze ?"

  I took a breath .

  I opened my mouth. Closed it.

  Then finally, I whispered,

  "To the depths of life itself."

  Her tone shifted , now softer, like a cry across time:

  "Make it happen."

  Then she walked away, her footsteps fading.

  The air went still.

  The Mikel's blood cooled on the floor.

  Everything continued as normal, everyone left . Nobody payed attention to the dead nor the living we truly are a selfish kind.

  Tears wouldn't stop flowing. Why couldn't I stay calm? why can't I control my emotions?

  "Why do we survive...is there a paradise in this world ?"

  The truth was clear now yet I still wondered if there was a paradise in death, I wondered if there was something on the other side of this life and I wondered what his eyes looked like in his final moments.

  I went to a nearby cockpit and vomited , it felt like I was vomiting my guts out .

  Admist that I saw a pin stained with blood . It had the code 222.

  I slowly stepped back then ran but I collapse in the hallway.

  I felt weak and in fatigue, I leaned on the wall slowly walking towards the roof.

  Suddenly the walls opened and I fell inside.

  I reached for my knife ,but he caught my hand and covered my mouth.

  "You still can't relax," Kaein sighed.

  "How can I meditate when life keeps moving so fast?" I muttered.

  "Yeah let slow it down shall we ", Kaein said in a sad voice like a father comforting a child. I tried not to cry infront of him but when he placed a hand on my shoulder I broke .

  "I'm scared", I whispered

  "Sorry for your loss", he said as I grabbed his clothes and cried my first and last loud sob.

  He led me down the passage .

  Candlestands lit up as we walked, bursting into flame like magic.

  "Where are you taking me? " I protested.

  He snorted.

  "You act older than you are, Kid."

  We stopped at a wooden door. He pushed it open.

  The air inside reeked of beer and sweat ,but also something warmer. Familiar. Not drunk... just alive.

  The room turned. Faces grinned, tankards raised.

  "Hey guys!" Kaein called. "Brought fresh meat!"

  They all looked my way. I froze.

  "He's young , perfect test subject."

  "Let's fight!"

  "Drinking contest?"

  " I don't think I properly introduced myself ",Kaein began.

  "I'm Kaein, seventh squad leader," he announced. "This chaotic crew? We're the Angel Heroes. Losers, mostly. Wanna join?"

  No time to respond. Someone threw the uniform at me.

  "Try not to die, kid!" someone laughed.

  And I... laughed too.

  Laughed hard.

  They paused, confused.

  "He's crying," one of them whispered.

  And yeah, I was.

  I laughed and cried and grabbed my hair as I finally understood...

  There's no such thing as paradise