Simon Riley

A dark, gray night enveloped the battlefield where Riley lay bleeding. He lay on the grass, breathing heavily, his right leg deeply wounded. Pain pierced his already clouded mind, and it seemed that reality was blurring. In that moment, he became an unwilling prisoner of his memories.

The silence of the night was broken when Axxel appeared in the light of the yellow lantern. Axxel's heart beat faster as he saw Simon, delirious, uttering strange words about moths. "They are so fragile, beautiful and incomprehensible," he repeated, as if seeking comfort in their images.

Axxel slowly approached, crouching next to him. He knew that this was not just delirium. This was hope and fear, mixed in one fantasy. Simon smiled, but then his face twisted in pain.

"You know, moths always choose the light…" he breathed, as if that was the only meaning to his suffering. Axxel knew that Simon's salvation depended not only on medical help, but also on the support he could give him in this dark gloom.