"This pain and suffering will end. Everything will be alright. The stars will shine peacefully once again. Calm down, Semira... Just breathe."
As I whispered to myself, I heard my father's voice echo in my mind.
"Semira, my daughter. Didn't I tell you not to leave the cabin? Get back here immediately—it's dangerous out there."
Three years ago, my country—once the pride of planet A-8, known as Night among the common folk—was among the most respected nations. At least, that's how I remember it. Then the war began. A weapon unknown to us, a terror called radiation, was unleashed upon us. It completely reduced the eastern side of A-8 to ashes. According to reports, not a single soul survived... though that's only speculation. No one has been able to reach the area in over two years. Every team sent there... never returned.
We lost the war.
Other nations—Y-4, G-1, Z-3, and L-7—united against us and destroyed everything we had. My father, once a prestigious general, now spends his days tending to the garden. Our country is no longer ours. It's governed by the representatives of those four nations.
"Fools. They think they can destroy and rule. But I won't let them. I'll take everything back. The pain my people suffered as they slept that night... my country's former strength... my father's honor... I'll reclaim it all. Let the stars bear witness to this vow I make beneath their light."
I stood up and made my way through the woods toward our small cabin.
"Dad, don't you think you're overreacting a little? The only danger around here is birds. And that's just because you snore like a monster at night."He chuckled—a rare sight.
"My little star... still using every chance you get to tease me, huh?"
He started muttering to himself again, grumbling about me wandering past the garden boundary.
"My darling, it's dangerous outside. Stay close. You're safe with me..."
I rolled my eyes and flopped onto the bed. For two months, this tiny cabin and its uncomfortable bed had been my home. Honestly, I'd gotten used to it. Considering the state of my country, this was like paradise—a heaven my people could no longer reach.
Three hours after the young girl fell asleep, a sudden noise jolted her awake. Her father's voice.
Semira jumped out of bed, grabbed a knife, and stood by the cabin door.
"General Marek Zen. I won't repeat myself. Stop resisting and come with us to Base 4.1.3.7. Accept your sentence with dignity."
Marek was cornered. There was nowhere left to run. He took a deep breath and glanced at the more than twenty men surrounding them.
"So... you're Supreme Commander now, Thiven?"
The man gave him a cold glare. His voice cut like steel.
"You don't have the right to ask questions anymore, General."
"LET ME GO! TRAITOR! BLOODLESS RAT! I HOPE YOU ALL ROT!"
"Shut it, brat."
One of the soldiers grabbed Semira by the arm and dragged her to stand in front of the man who had spoken.
"Sir, we found this girl inside the cabin."Thiven looked at Semira, then turned to Marek with suspicion. Just as he thought—Marek had dropped his guard. A sinister smile crept across Thiven's face.
"You made the gravest mistake a soldier can make... You started a family Marek."
Marek met Thiven's gaze, cold and unwavering.
"That's none of your concern. Let my daughter go. She has nothing to do with this."
"You're wrong, General. You took an oath. Did you forget? As elite soldiers, we swore that any spouses or children—born or unborn—would share the consequences of our actions. That oath was made on our bloodline."
"That's not an oath. That's a curse. And you? You're just a puppet. A soulless sheep, hiding behind rules."
"Watch your tongue, General. Rules are law... until they are replaced."
"And who makes those rules?"
The question hung heavy in the air. They stared at each other, unspoken words flashing in their eyes.
Marek's hand moved subtly. A small smile touched his lips.
"Hey, Thiven..."
He whispered something inaudible, then drew the weapon hidden inside his coat.
Thiven raised his hand—but it was too late.
A deafening sound tore through the air.
Semira's world blurred. Time froze.Silence, like the stillness of a broken clock, swallowed everything. And there, in front of her... her father's lifeless body lay sprawled on the ground.
Her hero. Her everything.
Gone.
His blood was on her face.
She didn't feel sick from the sight—but from the thought of breathing the same air as these monsters.
She screamed.
"H-HHHAAAAAAAĞHHHHH... YOU BASTARDS!"
Hatred. That was all she felt.
She reached for the knife hidden in her boot, even though it had cut into her skin and her leg was bleeding. She didn't care. Staggering forward, she charged at Thiven. No one stopped her. They almost seemed amused.
So weak. So helpless.
The man didn't even flinch.
Thiven easily disarmed her and grabbed her arm, then turned to one of his men.
"Les. Take her to the prison at central base."
Thiven turned back toward the body and stood in silence for five minutes.
"Rest in peace, old friend... if your sinful soul can bear the weight of all the innocent lives you've taken..."
He closed his eyes, then walked away toward the military vehicles.