Ethereal Paradigm: Arcadia of Darkness 109 Death Parade

- Ryuk

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Amidst it all, auto-playing in circles upon my head is 'Moonlit Night' by Hayashi Yuki, of which I commend to be one of the most classical-themed contemporary pieces there are, and is also, one of my favorites, despite its title also emblazoning the 'moon'- a constant sign that everything's gonna turn upside-down, not yonder.

(...)

New World Order. An assassin hired by the trusted pianist herself. This so-called plan that should follow a certain flowchart, and that... tomorrow, it all commences.

These are but a few of the things that have deprived me of my sleep that one remaining night of bloodless solace... Why? It's not because I'm all particularly troubled by not knowing any of what half of those really means. It's me realizing how dumbfounded I was during these days, to be so lenient, not even taking heed of the most obvious peculiarities.

I get that my frivolousness and nonchalance back then was quite stellar, but I never knew of my ignorance, and as to where it led me... is grotesque beyond compare. Looking back, I hate myself.

This is why the younger we are, the better it is to get rid of our immaturity, even if it means abolishing the adventurous side of youth. Well, it's not like everyone could approve of that either. And hell, the holy bible is even against this idea...

It's a matter of perspective. For some, enjoying the ephemeral youth is something natural, but apparently, for me and merely for the rest of this household, it should be the vice versa. And because of defying that certain norm of the top familial echelons, even if it was far from being called a 'natural law'... I paid the consequence, which is heavier than the equivalence.

And also, here I am... about to interactively reminisce the most grotesque picture of my past's black canvas again, and yet, only this time, in a more realistic way- certain degrees more than that everyday nostalgic nightmares I'm having randomly for the past few years.

(...)

Without having any sleep, and with a quite considerable amount of this illusory's timeframe used in self-pondering I now, am standing in the mansion's grand hall, as everyone's busy of the final preparations... with maids, butlers, and henchmen, united, on setting the most perfect atmosphere they could think of, for this event hours from now...

Moreover, as for me, I'm quite busy bombarding myself with repetitive questions...One; What is it that the Patriarch is trying to achieve by showing me all of this? It's unlikely I will die just because of a little reminiscing (so I hope). Two; How does this Paradigm Shift really work? As unacquainted as I am, I have no choice but to hold on to Azazel's redundant explanation, and that everything that I'm doing here, no matter if it is not, or in accordance to my acts in the past, it's not gonna change anything...Finally, three; What else am I missing to finally complete the picture-perfect of a moonlit derangement?

With the birthday boy himself, out of the picture, probably now in a hectic and pressurized schedule for the upcoming occurrence, and for his plans' undertaking that has this so-approximated 'hundred percent probability' of going his way, everything around me ... seemed to fasten up a bit. Like there's a hidden television remote, being controlled, forwarding the scenarios, four times than the normal speed.

6 AM... they started cleaning both the front and the back yard, leveling the grass by a certain inch without any taint of imperfection...

8 AM... General cleaning of the household's interior.

10 AM... they started cleaning up the halls, decorating it, not with the typical birthday-party displays, but with quiet grandeur ones. They set seats up, and with them, three lavish long tables that extend all throughout the hall, all covered with this royal blue silk...

12 PM... Rejuvenated the overall look of the mansion through refurbishing its externals with new white paint, which adds even more glory to the aloft picture prior.

3 PM... Everyone rested up for a bit...

4 PM... Placed red-cardinal carpet from the gates, towards the main venue from which nobles and their varied carriages from all throughout the land will not yonder trend.

5 AM... Everyone begins to dress up. The maids in their newest maid outfits. Butlers in their expensive suits... Henchmen in their formal attires which was given for free... Xerxes, the head servant in his white tuxedo, and his ever-silent daughter, in her white dress, signifying their quite-high position as the most trusted duo.

"Young master... why don't we get you dressed up now too? Miss Jean and your older brother has already worn their new apparel." Asked Xerxes, as he approached me...

"I'll do it myself..."

"Bu-"

"No buts..."

"Y-yes young master... but please do hasten. We only have less than an hour before they will arrive, together with the Master and the Mistress herself. I bet you're excited to meet them after all these months..."

"Hmmm... Yeah, probably. I'm gonna go change now."

"Okay, young master. Once you're done, I will be the one to pick you out from your room, together with Miss Jean."

With that being said, I got back to my room and wore my uncomfortable formal attire...

Hmmm... I remember all of this quite grandly. And as I reckon, I know that it will all happen very soon. But, why was I asleep this time again? I remembered being bored from watching all of the preparation. Yet, I don't remember going back to my room to change at all. nor attending the event itself.

All I know that night is that I was oversleeping, and when I woke up, the event has long-ended... and, feeling that I was missing something of value, I rushed through the verandas to meet my entire family in the living room... which is quite a rare gathering. Why? They're always away... Not your paternal and maternal materials. I can't even recall having them on one of my Christmas'. They'll just send expensive traditional puzzle games and imported books from overseas and that's it. There are times that they can surprise visit us, but that's annual without a specific date and would last for only about a month or less. Yet, the fun at those times when they do come back really is very memorable, which adds to its value in my memory, making them harder to forget...

Not that I was unable to understand why they're doing this. I understood so much that they are busy maintaining our family's stature abroad. And so I cared so little for the details. As long as I, the primal scion himself, and my little sister can feel them exist, it was more than fine...

And... of all times that they should have chosen to go home, it's this night, the appointed birthday of the heir... How unfortunate.

(...)

Quarter to 6 PM... They lit every room, putting the decorative lampstands in its appointed places, turned on the luxurious fountain on the front yard, and have had lightened up the grand chandelier in the hall's center. And not yonder...

The gates have been finally opened... And as I observed from my room's window, from the horizon came forth these carriages of the nobles, making their way towards the gates...

It's a parade towards death, little did they know...

"Hey, Jaiden. Why are you spacing out of all times?" Jean's voice suddenly came into the background as I was rather busy observing the carriages which have the country's total net worth combined. I looked at her direction, and I see her quite feeling nervous.

"Jean... Stay in this room." So, I wanted to say but kept it to myself as that would achieve nothing but a hopeless romantic with the impossible. I know too well, that whether I want it or not, I'm gonna see her, first-hand, grovel in blood soon together with the also upcoming Master and Mistress- my father and my mother, all in our little reunion...

"Jean... Stay by my side, okay?" words like that came out voluntarily... I was hoping 'let's die together okay?', but I can't forget now that I will be the one to be left...

"Okay... Will you protect me?" She responded and on return, a question that I did not expect.

Why say that now of all times...

"Yes, your highness." With a straight lying face, I replied...

"Good... "

"Jean..."

"Yes?"

"It was fun... being your brother."

"Well, I really can't argue with that... It was also fun... being your sister. Thank you, Jaiden... for all." She replied, not even wondering as to why we said that like it's our last day together... well, it is...

(...)

As we were both in my room, with me giving it my all to see her smiles, whilst witnessing the carriages getting closer and closer, another image is slowly eating up the skies... Yes. The abnormally-gargantuan full moon, soon to showcase its full gallant radiance upon us all.

Then, three knocks from the head servant himself suddenly disturbed us in our sight-seeing...

"Oh, Miss Jean, so you're both here... Are you both ready my young master and mistress? We've received a prompt that along with those carriages are your beloved parents. Shall we go meet them first? Your brother is also in the hall, waiting for both of you to be with him on the greetings."

"Oh my, Yes! I wonder what books do they have with them this time." Jean shouted ecstatically, looking forward of the reunion gifts that they always have with them, the moment they'll come home.

Chapter end