"The press is with you from the spot. We will follow with you what happened at the Nation's Private School."
"We don't have enough information about what happened here yet, but in short, that's what we've received so far: Two students have committed suicide, Kingsley Talys and Kyel Everhart. They jumped off the roof of a five-floor building. That's all for the time being; some suspect that it is a murder or…"
======================
"I despise you more than anything!"
A voice, powerful enough to tear the very fabric of reality, echoed through the dark void.
The space was shrouded in darkness, save for a single beam of light focused on one point. In that strange, wondrous space stood a colossal statue of a crucified figure.
The statue was crafted from stone, but not just any stone. It bore no discernible features or expressions, yet it conveyed emotions that transcended human comprehension.
Atop the statue's head rested a crown made of what appeared to be olive branches, illuminated by the focused light.
Kneeling at the base of the statue was a figure, his body marred by traces of black blood. Chains bound him, restricting his movements. His eyes, devoid of any sparkle or light, stared blankly in the direction of the light, seeking its source.
The light had been shining on him for an indeterminate amount of time, and he remained in that state, lost in the darkness.
"Should I be punished?"
"You should!"
"Should I be dead?!"
"You should!"
"Why am I alive then?"
"Because that is your punishment!"
"A punishment for ending my life? Or for ending another's life?"
"None of them. It's just that I despise you."
"Hh Hhhh hHhhahahahahahahahaha! Childish! Just kill me already!"
"Don't rush. Your death is near!"
"Glad to hear that! It feels like I'm detained here for an eternity."
"How selfish of you. You'll regret it."
Just like that, the sound faded away, leaving only the person at the top of the crucified statue.
His onyx-black eyes lost their brilliance; it seemed as if he was contemplating something while looking at the light pointed at him in this vast, dark space.
"Kyel… Kyel… Kyel… Kyel… Kyel… Ky k k k k KYEL!"
For an eternity, he lost track of time. There was no day or night here. For an eternity, he repeated his name once every while, for him to not forget it, to not forget who he was.
A divine punishment for him. He still recalled some events; he jumped off the edge after Talys, ending his life too.
When he opened his eyes, he found himself chained in this vast dark space.
Through the flow of time, nothing mattered, nothing stood against the river of time. He was destined to forget who he was, who he had been, his deeds.
But for Kyel, he didn't want to forget. He had fallen victim to a sin, yet he was thankful for doing so.
"For an eternity, I've found a meaning for both death and life."
"How can death be a blissful act? How does death grant you eternal peace?"
"How can life be a hellish act? How can life take the peace you once had?"
"I've come to terms with myself, my weakened soul, my body's inability, my mind's foolishness. I know who I am."
"I once overestimated myself. I was a weakling back then; even now, I still feel it."
"I don't know whether I am dead or alive for the time being. I lost my understanding of the concept of death and life because of the time I spent here."
But even then, I knew that life stood for misery, and death stood for peace.
Was this my punishment? To reflect on my past deeds or to derive meaning from all of this?
I was going crazy. I shouted hundreds of times, "GET THIS FUCKING LIGHT OUT OF MY SIGHT, PLEASE!"
I yelled, I cried, I got angry, I cursed, I swore. Gradually, I stopped doing so.
It's not because I realized that no one would fulfill my requests.
I lost those emotions bit by bit inside of me. I couldn't grasp the meaning of being angry, or blissful, or filled with fury, or grief, or any other feeling.
A state of emotionlessness. Before I knew it, I lost my desire for everything. I was hoping to die, just as a reminder that I was still alive. Perhaps because if this was death, not life, then I was in hell.
What kind of hell?
My envy and jealousy caused this. There is a question that I still haven't found an answer to.
Why did I throw myself off the edge? Why did I commit suicide? I could have escaped without anyone doubting anything. Yes, those who are in doubt are those bullies.
So far, I don't know why. Maybe it was my sympathy for Talys, or maybe the thought of living my life knowing I killed someone who was destined to stand at the top of the world.
Or maybe I was disappointed that I wouldn't get that system.
In that moment, I didn't think of anything else, but I pushed myself and fell as I looked at the sky, angry at my actions glowing and thundering, and the raindrops fell on my cheek before I broke down with the ground crushing.
None of this matters now. I have to live with it now; everything is part of the past now.
Yes, I remember now. I haven't closed my eyes for a while; maybe closing them will help me find some inner peace.
Just like that, Kyel, for what seemed an eternity, closed his eyes.
For better days to come.