On the Precipice of Tomorrow

We finally reached the base of the summit. The staircase kept ascending into the clouds, so we knew we were about to face off against Rellik, the scourge who had nearly ruined all lives time and time again.

I saw the anticipation in everyone's eyes. All of us had trained so hard, surviving all the broken bones and emotional turmoil that Rellik and his minions put us through. Not a single one of us dreaded this day. We all wanted to pay back Rellik tenfold for all the cruelty endured during our long journey.

It's funny how we all got to this point. Each one of us started out as a loner, so untrusting of anyone even with enormous potential. If you asked me back then, I'd rather throw my comrades into the trash for how they treated me when I first met each one of them.

But now, I'd lay down my life for each and every one of my comrades at this precipice. The mage who had all the self-confidence in the world but couldn't even burn a housefly with her spells. The priest who had been so meek but just wanted to protect all those he loved and cherished. The monk who had a mind that was so unshakable but couldn't master any of the routines she was taught. I gradually came to love each of them, as they surpassed my initial expectations.

And then there was Maya standing right beside me, the swordswoman who changed my life so long ago. The girl who had so much potential as a rookie, the one whom the world had already proclaimed to be its savior. It was clear to everyone who saw her in action that she would gain the skills necessary to rid the world of Rellik all by herself.

But when she entered my guide shop, I knew that I wanted to follow her, regardless of what she might have felt for her mission or how she thought of me. I didn't care that all she sought at that time was my experience in the dungeon that she needed to clear. Heck, she cleared that dungeon without me doing much of anything.

I knew she was someone special to the world, but I wanted her to be just as unique, or even more so, to me. And from that day forward, I never turned back, and now we were on our way to save this world together.

As I thought over our long journey, I looked over at Maya and saw that smile she reserved only for me. She then looked up to the staircase.

She stepped forward. "…" Maya hesitated at first, but after taking a deep breath, "…This is it, everyone. This nightmare is about to end! We're the only ones who can defeat Rellik, and we have to do this. Not just for the world, but also for ourselves and the lives of peace we want to have!"

I saw the looks of determination on everyone's faces, and I even had to pop a smile at Maya's words. We all recognized her as our leader, and no one else inspired us like she could.

And as our tradition became, Maya reached out her left hand to grab my right. I felt the ring on her hand. And she whispered, "And, Haru, to get back to our home, to spend the rest of my life with you…"

The swordswoman who had been so arrogant and vain when we first met. The girl who refused to look my way because I was so insignificant to her. The same person who I fought for her affection and proved how much I would give to her. The same Maya who I was just one step away from living a life of happiness with.

We were just one step away from ending this journey. And what a journey it was to get here…