Bonfire Night

[Tokaray al-Osman]

Today, on this evening, we celebrate bonfire night, and in lieu of fireworks the Babki are given licence to point their assault rifles skywards and unleash volleys of celebratory gunfire with no regards to where the spent bullets may fall in the neighbourhood. Protective headgear may be a wise precaution.

Effigies of Jacobus Loki, Mari Greenwood and other symbolic representations of Libertarians and the Elfinshi are to be burnt, with due ceremony in all public places.

Please show due regard to pets and other vulnerable animals when setting fire to a neighbour's property.

[Alex Zyrion]

A young Elw soldier is standing by quietly... His instructions were clear, notice every person who behaves suspiciously, and report them to headquarters. No matter who they were.

This was his duty tonight...

And he is a man of duty...

[Nathaniel]

From his window, Nathaniel saw the many bonfires, and he wished he were among the celebrating. He wished that he could have fun, that he could feel the warmth of the fires, the warmth touching his skin and body. He wanted it. He craved it.

Falling down on the floor of his room (or cell or dungeon or whatever word employed by his doctors, captives, overlords), he started crying. When his tears stopped, his body began shaking. First little, then uncontrollably.

Oh, how he wanted to be allowed to go out.

But he wasn't allowed out. He hadn't been good enough. He wasn't worthy of that part of fun.

What was wrong with him? Why do they still keep him alive? Why? If he is so evil as they say, and oh, he believed that, then why does he remain alive? Maybe it was part of his story, his murdered father's legacy, that no one is truly lost, that everyone can be redeemed. This redemtion would take for ever. Was it worth it though? Could Nathaniel be saved?

His shakes calmed down, the body having no more energy to shake, and slowly Nathaniel stood up. He walked to the window in his room again, and looked longingly upon the crowds and the fires.

Was it all worth it? Could his soul be saved? Maybe he was the one supposed to burn?