The morning air bit hard.
Snowflakes drifted lazily from the gray sky, catching in Matteo's messy hair as he stood near the edge of camp. His breath fogged with every exhale. Arms crossed, teeth clenched—he shivered beneath his layered clothes.
The sun hadn't even fully risen yet.
Why am I always the first one up?
Then came the familiar sound of crunching boots. Matteo turned. Captain Leon emerged from the heart of the camp, looking especially worn out. His face was tired, his eyes bloodshot from too many sleepless nights.
"Good to see you're early," Leon nodded.
Matteo offered a lazy half-smile. "Good to see you too, Cap."
Leon came to a stop beside him. His posture, as always, was rigid. But today, there was a slight slump in his shoulders.
"I've got a new assignment for you," he said. "You're taking the rear guard. I know it's sudden, but the other soldiers are either injured or needed on the flanks. We're stretched thin."
Matteo nodded. "No problem, Cap~ I got it."
No, it's definitely a problem.
Another solo mission. Again. Matteo's gut twisted.
Why does this bastard keep sending me out alone? And where the hell are we even?
So many questions with zero answers. He kept his thoughts to himself.
Leon continued. "The route we're taking passes the ruined castle Charlie was defending—"
Matteo stiffened. "With all due respect… isn't that too dangerous? The Titan was last seen in that area."
Leon's tone remained calm. "We've confirmed it disappeared last night. Returned to the Frost Mountain Range, we believe."
"Sure. Okay." Matteo didn't sound convinced, but he didn't argue.
"Go gear up. It's going to be a long march."
"Aye aye, Cap'n."
Leon watched as Matteo turned and jogged back into the half-packed camp.
"...He seems normal," the Captain murmured to himself.
He wanted to believe it. Really, he did.
Matteo hadn't shown any signs of malice. No ambition. No bloodlust. Just… sarcasm, weariness, and reluctant compliance.
But there was something buried behind those tired eyes. Something no one could place.
Still—Leon knew one thing.
This war wasn't the final battle.
If the prophecy was right, they were still in the prologue.
And soon… the world would fall into true chaos.
---
Matteo ducked into his tent, blowing on his fingers to warm them. The inside was dim and cold. He grabbed his pistol—still only two spare clips. A short sword one of the soldiers gave him. A basic shoulder guard for protection. That was all.
No armor. No fancy tools. No backup.
Just the mask, tightly strapped beneath his undershirt.
"Hohoho~ I heard we're going somewhere with beaches~!" the mask chirped gleefully in his mind.
"Yeah. Guess so."
"Aww, c'mon! Why so gloomy, Mister Broody?"
Matteo exhaled sharply. Annoying or not, the mask was his only real companion. Which… said more about his life than he liked to admit.
"We should probably split from the group after we reach Sedan."
"Oooh~ that's a terrible idea," the mask sang. "Very dangerous~"
"I know," he whispered. "But you felt it too, right? They don't trust me. If they decide I'm a threat… they'll kill me."
The mask fell silent.
Then, with a quieter voice: "Where would you go?"
Matteo's gaze darkened. "Sedan. Gather intel. Then I'll return to that castle."
There was something about that place. It whispered to him. Like it knew he didn't belong here either.
"Hey, Cap! We're heading out!" Elric's voice rang from outside.
Matteo grabbed his gear.
"Let's go…"
---
The journey began at dawn.
The path from Alpha to Sedan was long and treacherous—cutting through snow-covered hills, the haunted ruins of Baseline Charlie, and skirting the cursed shadow of the old castle. Beyond that? The Aldana Mountains, forever kissed by frost.
They marched in columns. Sleek, Aether-powered transports hovered just above the ground, gliding across the snow like silent metal wolves. They were stronger and faster than any Earth vehicle Matteo had ever seen—run by glowing blue cores instead of gas.
Matteo brought up the rear.
It wasn't all bad. He had peace. Quiet. Time to think.
This world… it was like a distorted reflection of Earth. Same human desires. Same fear. But stronger. Wilder. More dangerous.
Here, Aether had changed everything. Everyone was awakened. Everyone except Matteo.
Back on Earth, he was one of the 40% born without gifts.
Here? He was the only one.
And all he had was a gun…
...and a mask that made him look like a lunatic.
---
Then—rumbling.
A deep, thunderous sound that vibrated through the soles of his boots.
Matteo turned sharply. In the distance—back toward the forest they had left—trees were collapsing.
The earth shook.
His eyes widened.
A silhouette emerged through the snowfall—massive, towering like a skyscraper. A creature of stone and dirt. One eye glowing red with pulsing hatred. Roots and shattered trees clung to its back like armor.
The Titan.
"Oh no…" Matteo whispered.
Ahead, Leon shouted over the comms: "All units, move! Double pace!"
The Aether transports surged to life. Civilians and soldiers scrambled aboard. Snow whipped violently around them.
But Matteo stood still. Frozen.
A tidal wave of beasts fled from the treeline—smaller monsters scattering before the Titan's wrath.
He took a step back. Another.
His legs trembled. Then—he ran.
---
Back in the caravan, a soldier screamed, "Captain! Rear Guard is still back there!"
Leon's face darkened.
"We need to go!" another shouted. "We'll be wiped out at this rate!"
"We can't just leave him!" Elric yelled, reaching for the back hatch.
"There's no choice!" came the reply.
Elric stopped. Eyes wide.
The weight of the decision crushed him.
Inside the vehicle, guilt settled over them like the snow outside.
And then—through the rising storm—they saw him.
---
Matteo.
On his knees.
Staring after the retreating caravan as snow engulfed his silhouette. Hair whipped wildly in the wind. Alone, abandoned.
Behind him, the Titan drew closer—its steps shaking the world.
Elric clenched his jaw. Slammed his fist into the wall.
"He was just a kid…"
Quiet. Smart. Sarcastic. A little odd—but never cruel. Not once. He had helped save Base Charlie. Risked everything. And this was how they repaid him?
Left him to die.
The Titan's outline loomed behind Matteo. Two figures—man and monster—swallowed by white.
---
Elric lowered his head.
He had never felt so ashamed to be alive.