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Liv: Empyrea I
>Have you ever thought perhaps the reality you are living is just a dream and your dream is the reality?
You wake up to see nothing but snow that extends beyond the horizon. The cold wind is blowing.
You have been walking for seven days in a row, but still, all you see is snow. Your human body cannot hold on any longer.
Suddenly, you step on something hard buried in the snow. The day is dark, but with the dim light, you can vaguely tell it is a corpse dressed in a military protective suit.
You lay your hands on the corpse's neck. It is cold and stiff. Then, you rip off a slightly-worn name tag.
You wipe off the bloodstain on it and realize this name tag belongs to...
[player name], the Gray Raven Commandant.
You wake up from the nightmare and your pillow is soaked in your cold sweat.
Hurried footsteps come from outside the door. A figure in pink pushes open the door and looks at you with a worried look on her face.
Morning, Commandant... Did you have a nightmare?
Liv takes out the handkerchief that she always carries with her and wipes away the sweat on your forehead.
What did you see in the dream?
...
It's okay. The nightmare is over.
You let out a sigh and notice that you are not familiar with this room.
What? You don't recognize it? This is our home. The four of us live together now.
Lucia, Lee... you, and me.
Five years ago, the disaster caused by the Punishing Virus came to an end. Now, we are rebuilding a town in the western part of the world.
You try to search your memories, but everything is fragmented and blurred. You can't seem to reminisce much.
Well... It's probably because of your head injury.
You have recovered, but since that day, you haven't been able to recall your memories.
She caresses your head where a scar once was. It is not there anymore, but Liv remembers exactly where it used to be.
...Let me take a look.
The girl closes her eyes and uses the built-in diagnostic device of her Support frame to do a basic examination.
Hmm... Looks like you've been too tired lately.
You helped us greatly when we were rebuilding.
Having come to such a conclusion, she still looks worried. With her hands holding your head, she looks at you while stroking your cheek with her skinny fingers.
I'll give you another examination tonight. Take it easy today.
Yes. We agreed yesterday that we would hang out at the newly built amusement park together.
Though she wants to spend more time with you, Liv turns around, takes out an outfit from the wardrobe, and puts it on the corner of your bed.
It's 10 am now. We'll leave at 11, Commandant.
Would you like me to help you get dressed?
Well, breakfast is ready. Lucia and Lee are waiting for you downstairs.
...I'll be there too.
With an amiable smile on her face, she nods at you and leaves the room.
Something doesn't seem right. No matter how hard you try to remember, you just cannot reminisce about anything that seems out of place.
You feel like you should remember something about how the Punishing Virus disaster ended five years ago and how Gray Raven helped people rebuild their homes.
But the memories are vague and strange. It is almost like you are reliving someone else's memories.
Perhaps it is as Liv said. The nightmare you had was too realistic and long-lasting. Is that why you are having trouble recalling memories?
—Commandant!
You hear Liv asking for you from downstairs.
I should've put you in Wanshi's room had I known you would oversleep this much.
...
Then another leader would try to wake you up.
Lee frowns and looks like he wants to say something. But before he can speak, Lucia comes in from another room and interrupts him.
Good morning, Commandant.
Liv made breakfast today. Lee and I didn't help much.
At least I did something instead of staying in bed and oversleeping.
Come on now, Lee... Commandant overslept because of a nightmare.
A nightmare?
That reminds me of the Gestalt Theory.
Speaking of which... I think I too have heard of it.
By Gestalt's calculation, we only had a 0.031% chance of living through disasters and war.
That was a reckless move to make, after all.
Well, hadn't it been the miracle that day, we would've all died in that unforgiving winter.
You repeat these words in your mind and realize they don't sound strange at all.
Before the war came to an end, these words had become a synonym for several humans and Constructs that were able to create miracles. And apparently, you were amongst them.
In the sea of blurred memories, you recall the speech of peace given by Hassen, "Every survivor who stands here today is a child of miracles."
But are you really... standing here today?
But those things are in the past. There's nothing to be worried about now.
All we have to do is rebuild our home.
Well, it has been only five years, but since we started using machines to help with the rebuild, things have been moving forward much faster.
While they are having a conversation, you look at the bedroom and see sunlight shining through the leaves and into the room.
A few birds flap their wings and fly to the treetop, chirping and tweeting while dancing in the shades.
All of this is a sign of what you've been hoping for: peace.
Commandant, do you not like your breakfast?
Having noticed that you are lost in thought, Liv waves her hand at you and then stands in front of you.
Commandant's probably just spacing out.
...Commandant...
Is it PTSD? I heard that many retired Commandants suffer from that.
I am not very good at mental diagnosis. When we are done today, I'll take you to the hospital and get you checked.
Well, let's do it.
Okay.
What matters the most right now is to have your breakfast.
She raises a scoop of soup and hands it to you.
Try it. I made this according to the new recipe you told me about.
You drink up the scoop of soup. It tastes as sweet as Liv's smile.
During the endless fighting, every soldier was hoping for peace as you are living now. They just didn't realize it.
And now, you have awakened from the long-lasting nightmare you were previously trapped in. This beautiful world is your new reality.
...Don't ruin the peace with your anxiety and doubt... Right?
