WORLD TRAIN

The cell is cold and dark, the once-familiar sounds of footsteps and voices have faded into a haunting silence. Yuma sits on the hard, concrete floor, his back against the wall, staring blankly at the opposite side of the small room. Two years have passed since Lira's execution, and the weight of solitude presses down on him like a heavy shroud. The memories of his friends are like ghosts, whispering in the corners of his mind, but he no longer feels their presence as he once did.

"I'm truly alone in this world… I have nothing…" His appearance reflects his internal decay: unkempt hair, hollow cheeks, and sunken eyes that speak of countless sleepless nights spent wrestling with memories that now feel distant and surreal. The spark of defiance has long been extinguished, leaving only a void where hope used to reside. The world outside remains a cruel and oppressive reality, but Yuma has retreated into himself, a shell of the person he once was.

Days had turned into weeks, and weeks into months, as Yuma existed in a state of numbness. The solitary confinement has become a twisted comfort, a retreat from the pain of loss. He no longer feels the urge to rebel or fight back; he simply observes the passage of time like a spectator in a never-ending play. The faces of his friends haunt him, but their voices have become muffled echoes, fading with each passing day.

He thinks of Therin, who was executed not long ago, his lifeless body a reminder of the futility of resistance. Yuma's heart feels heavy with guilt for not being able to save his friends, but he has learned to bury those emotions deep within, refusing to let them surface. The idea of fighting back feels absurd now; he has come to accept his fate, a prisoner in both body and spirit.

"I… sit here… truly alone" As the sun sets, casting eerie shadows in the cell, a flicker of light momentarily illuminates the darkness. A guard approaches, the sound of heavy boots echoing in the corridor. Yuma barely registers the noise, lost in his thoughts. The door creaks open, and the guard steps inside, his face devoid of expression.

"Get up, prisoner," he barks, but Yuma remains motionless, staring at the floor. The guard's irritation grows, and he steps closer, looming over Yuma. 

"I said get up!" Finally, Yuma looks up, his gaze flat and unresponsive. 

"What do you want?" His voice is a mere whisper, devoid of emotion. The guard scoffs.

"Time for your 'exercise.'" He gestures dismissively.

"As if it matters." Yuma rises slowly, his limbs feeling heavy as he shuffles toward the door. The dim light spills into the cell, illuminating the cold, sterile hallway. He follows the guard in silence, the weight of despair clinging to him like a second skin.

-----

As they make their way to the courtyard, Yuma catches glimpses of the world outside—a world that continues to move on without him. The sun hangs low in the sky, casting long shadows that stretch across the cracked pavement. He feels an odd sense of detachment, as if he's watching everything from a distance.

"We're here" The light of the courtyard blinds Yuma, the guard pushes Yuma forward, and he stumbles slightly but quickly regains his balance. A small crowd of guards and soldiers stand watching, their expressions a mix of boredom and malice. Yuma feels their eyes on him, but he doesn't care; he's grown accustomed to their disdain.

The guard orders him to stand in the center of the courtyard, and Yuma complies, his gaze fixed on the ground. He can hear the laughter and jeers from the crowd, their taunts echoing in his mind like a distant thunderstorm. But he remains quiet, no longer feeling the need to react.

The guard stands beside him, arms crossed, watching the crowd with a smug expression.

"This one used to have fire," he sneers, looking at Yuma. 

"Now he's just a shadow." The crowd laughs, and Yuma feels a strange sense of peace wash over him. The pain and anger that once consumed him have dulled to a mere ache, replaced by an eerie acceptance of his situation. He is nothing now—a ghost in a world that has moved on.

"Demon Lord Ikati himself wants to execute this Man!" a large shadow walks from the tunnel. Demon Lord Ikati locking eyes with Yuma.