Tomorrow, We descend

What if Gustave writes in his journal at Lumiere port before starting the expedition.

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Journal Entry #1

Tomorrow, We descend

Location: Lumiere Port – 11:45 PM

The stars are wrong tonight,

They don’t twinkle, They watch.

Like the eyes of every 34 year old who vanished.

Like Sophie’s, the moment gommage claimed her.

Maelle is asleep in the barracks,

She still calls me “Captain” in her sleep,

I haven’t corrected her in weeks,

Let her have the dream a little longer.

I built the Overcharge gauntlet today.

Third iteration.

The engineers laughed when I asked for a lightning rod in the size of my forearm.

They stopped laughing when I showed them the schematics.

I carved it into the metal myself

Have to test its full potential someday.

I hope it won’t end me in the process.

It actually glows with these words when the charge builds.

A reminder.

A promise.

A curse.

Lune asked me earlier:

“Do you think we’ll make it back?”

I lied.

Said, “That’s not the mission.”

Truth is, I don’t know if we’ll make it.

The Continent hasn’t been touched in 300 years.

The Paintress guards it like a jealous god.

I still remember Sophie’s last letter.

“If the number takes me, don’t let it take you too.

Live for both of us.”

I’m trying, Soph.

But grief is a heavier armor than any metal.

Tomorrow, we descend.

33 lives.

33 stories.

33 reasons to end this.

If I fall,

Tell Maelle the gauntlet is hers.

Tell Lune that I am sorry for lying.

Tell the world: We were not afraid.

For those who come after.

- Gustave