The day had been far from over after the battle. The battered collection of survivors were forced to move at a more rapid pace than usual. Ralis of course joined them, but that process had been much different than what any of them imagined. He had hoped to find remnants of his clan, maybe even just the smallest hint that they were alive. That sadly hadn't been the case. Instead, they were what remained of a settlement called Rhine. Destroyed by Fallen, those that were left had been slowly moving their way across Europe in search of the City. A similar story, different people. They had been looking at him as a long needed savior to lead them to peace, to answer their many questions about a terminal and chaotic world. He could do none of those things. He was just a barely two day risen guardian and only held the unique trait of being able to die for them over and over again. He had no answers or plan, no way for them to take flight and escape this accursed dead zone. They had expected a knight in shining armor and Ralis could feel their disappointment. Grateful for his aid, but saddened he couldn't end their plight. A rugged, middle aged man, battle scarred with unkempt brown hair, had approached him after the battle. His name was Victor, his clothes were rags, but with the reverence the others held him, you’d think he was a king. At first he began to speak in a language that Ralis could only assume was German. When it was clear the titan didn’t understand he tried in English. Ralis nodded in acknowledgment and Victor continued in heavy accent. “A guardian!” Victor had smiled. “It’s been so long since we’ve seen one of you. Thank you. We’re in bad shape, lots of children with us, and no supplies. We need to leave, now if possible. Do you have a ship? Allies nearby?” Ralis had fumbled for the words as he realized they assumed he could take them away. “I’m sorry…but I’m stuck here, just as you are. I’m all alone.” The man’s smile had faded fast, quickly replaced by anger. Ralis heard a barrage of curses he didn’t quite understand directed towards the sky from the man till he was silenced by a younger fellow he later learned was called Theo. Since then the titan could only fall in line with the survivors as they fled the manor. Bishop had asked to be let loose to survey the area as they rushed to vacate the recent battlefield. He wasn’t sure what the Ghost had wanted to see, but Ralis had done his best to help gather their supplies with the others as they prepared to flee. It was during this that he realized how much taller he was from before, lumbering a good head taller than the largest man present. Once done, there was a brief moment of silence as they lined up those who had died in the firefight. Six men, some just boys, two women. Their weapons were salvaged and given out to those still unarmed. Theo had armed him with a rustic pumped shotgun and some ammo. “The way you fought, you could use this.” He had said. Bishop had been more useful to the survivors, offering directional help and answering a few questions tossed his way by a number of people. Ralis felt useless save for his likeness of a pack mule. The children were the ones that brought up his spirits as they had left, marveling at him like a legend come to life. Maybe he wasn’t taking them away, but he had saved them, and they thought he’d be able to keep them safe. Their lives were still partially in his hands. It was an emboldening and horrifying thought at the same time. Now, Ralis sat alone in the dark service tunnels they had taken shelter in. His Ghost was busy spending time among the survivors and he was okay with that. Shame still coursed through him and he didn’t wish to interact with anyone. He had always been shy, even amongst his own clan. Meeting new people in these circumstances didn’t serve to help that feeling. The titan held a plastic cylinder that glowed a soft orange, rolling it idly across his palm as it softly illuminated the isolated dead end he had chosen to rest in. Stripped to the black form fitting suit and free of his armor, his body sighed in relief as he rested in relative safety on a bundle of rags. He chewed on a piece of dry meat that a woman named Nele had said they synthesized. The lack of hunger he felt was surprising given the fact he hadn’t eaten in almost two days, but the food was still a welcomed sensation of being normal. Ralis was very much aware that wasn’t the case for him anymore. Setting the stick down at his feet, Ralis lifted up the data-pad into view and continued to enter characters into the device. He had a lot of time to be inside his head recently. The more he went back to his thoughts, the less he found. Things he remembered only an hour ago were suddenly gone. It was becoming alarming. So now he sat, frantically trying to empty out his memories into the pad to preserve himself. He sparred no detail and cared little for his line of thought or grammar. If anything from before could vanish there was no time to spare. The glowing stick had reminded him of something, yet as he had stared intently into the light, the thought never surfaced so he moved on. A great deal of his thoughts had been added to the device but more dwelled in his mind. He typed fervently into the pad. [i]: We took shelter in a museum once. Anything remotely useful had been looted long before but it kept us dry for the night. My mother wheeled me around to look at whatever remained while my father helped with setting up watch. I can’t remember everything I saw now, but I remember the sensation of wonder. The golden age had marvels that you keep hearing of, but hearing from the time before then? It’s wondrous in another way. Anything about knights I loved. My father would have made a great knight and I had wished to be like him. Strong, decisive, chivalrous.[/i] Ralis ran his fingers across his head as if to dig more thoughts from it. Hair now grew atop his scalp for the first time he could remember. It was short but still there, its color unknown to him. In his rebirth many things about him had been physically different besides just the fact he could walk. It was hard to adjust to. His height, strength, even his voice. He felt strong and clearly was, preforming inhuman feats while looking only leanly muscled. Perhaps that was from the Light. If he worked at it and got bigger like his father, what levels of strength he could reach? [i]: There were many settlements we encountered on our journey. I don’t remember all their names but here is a list of some:[/i] Ralis heard footsteps approaching and paused in his recollection, looking up to see a faint orange glow approaching. The outline of a figure was dimly silhouetted from the light as they approached him. Theo’s face appeared as he neared. His blonde hair was pulled behind him in a tail, eyes bright blue. There was the faintest hint of facial hair on him compared to the others that had wild beards. He wore a heavy ragged cloak due to the chill of the tunnels and almost seemed to waddle towards the titan. “Do you mind some company, guardian?” He asked. Ralis slowly shook his head, “No, but I’m not much of a talker.” “Then I’ll talk.” Theo said and sat down on the cold stone floor, cloak spreading out around him. “I’m sorry for what Victor did. He’s not angry at you, just the situation. He’s been a leader of sorts as far back as I can remember. Seen a lot, ya know? Lost a lot too. I think for a moment he thought it all over as you came up to us, got the better of him.” Ralis held the man’s gaze as he finished and then lowered his eyes to the ground, unsure how to respond. Theo continued. “You saved us, and trust me without you I wouldn’t be here right now. We all owe you and know it. Don’t think you’re not appreciated, guardians are like the stories of legend. I mean…what you did back there? That was something more than any fairytale I’ve heard. And now? You’re with us! We’ll get outta here much easier with you.” He wished to be so optimistic. “Thanks. I’m glad you said something.” “I felt like one of us needed to.” “I don’t feel much like a legend to be honest, just a regular chump given a strange gift.” Ralis sighed. “Like it or not, you’re our hero. I never knew what a guardian would be like, you seem like one of us, don’t look too much older than me. It’s…humbling.” Theo sat in silence for a while with him, looking at the data pad in his hands. Ralis didn’t wish to be rude and start logging his thoughts with the other man present. Theo gestured to the meat Ralis had been eating. “Looks like you got one of the last.” “Last?” Theo nodded. “I don’t know how they worked, but we’ve had these food synthesizers for the longest time. Takes the littlest of things and be able to turn it into food. It kept our little town alive. All these years of moving and hiding and they began to break down. Our last few were destroyed by the scavengers when they attacked. Not going to be any more of that anytime soon.” Ralis held out the food. “I’m not hungry, you can have it.” “No, everyone gets a fair portion. That’s how it’s always been.” “We had a similar rule too.” Ralis said, finishing the piece in his hands. “We?” Theo asked, leaning in. “My clan…from before. Sorry, it’s still hard to believe their all gone.” Ralis paused, “Did Bishop talk to you about that?” “You’re little friend? The Ghost?” When he nodded, Theo continued. “Yeah I asked him about you. I didn’t know guardians used to be dead. Not trying to bring up the past.” “It’s fine. Do you know where Bishop is?” “He’s with Victor now,” Theo answered. “Said he’s found something. I don’t know what, but they left and I know not to follow. You should go talk to them.” Ralis sat back against the hard wall and stretched. How long had he been by himself here? Groggily he sat up, saving his current entry and setting the pad down. “Okay, can you guide me?"