I am going insane

Excerpt from Idia Shroud’s diary

Entry 4

Aug. 21, XXXX, 10:59 p.m.

Recording start-

“How could I ever have thought that stupid ‘hero’ plan would ever work out? I’m sure that even if Ortho didn’t…..die…..we would’ve been stopped.” *Idia sighs* “Whatever…can’t change the past… 0% is always 0%… but…. For some reason…. I can’t accept that….. I always just want… to think… he’s still alive.” *Idia pauses for about 3 minutes.* “I think I’ve started hallucinating. Sometimes I’m playing Star Rouge with Ortho, and then look over to him… and he’s gone when I could have sworn he was there a second ago.” *Idia exhales deeply* “Ortho’s funeral is on the first. I overheard one of the staff saying it’s gonna be closed casket to ‘honour his body’, but I know that’s just bullshit. They just don’t want to see his body with his organs spilling out… like I did……..oh Sevens… If I could’ve removed one memory…it’d be that one…wait. I could send myself down to the Lethe River…but…I would have to get through the security… and the staff keep a much closer eye on me now ever since………. Whatever. Who cares? All those sheeple only care about me because I’m the heir and I’m good a techomantic engineering. Nothing else. But then again… what else is there to me? I’m not strong or handsome…I barely talk to others… the only people I talk to on the daily is my family! And…. My only friend was… Ortho…. And he’s gone…forever… I’ll never talk to him again. He’s down in the Underworld and his body returned to the stars. F-Forever.” *Idia slowly starts hyperventilating* “A-And it’s all my fault!-for being such a pathetic, useless brother!” *Idia begins laughing manically* “W-well, you know what they say! A wish is stronger than any magic!-” *Idia starts sniffing and gasping for air* “O-Oh great, powerful Sevens, please, oh please please please bring me my brother back. I’d do anything! Free all the phantoms from the Underworld, destroy the entire cosmos, reverse everything my bloodline ever did for humanity! Just please… give me my brother, I’ll give you anything and everything. I’m begging you.” *Idia sniffles and sighs* “Tch… as if…..”

Excerpt from Idia Shroud’s diary

Entry 3

Aug. 17, XXXX, 5:04 pm

Recording start-

“Hey… it’s me again. It’s been a few days since…” *Idia inhales sharply* “Whatever… I’m in the infirmary currently. I was in a coma for like, a day and now they’re keeping me here to make sure I’m okay and-” *Knocking* “Idy, dear, can we come in?” “Oh…” *Blankets moving* “Um… yes.” *Door opening, footsteps* “Hi mom, dad…” “Hello, Idia.” “Idy… we have to tell you something.” “O-okay…” *STYX Director Shroud inhales and exhales* “Ortho… He’s dead.” “……..What?…..b-but…. He can’t….” “Idia…” “No… it’s…it’s all my… fault…” “I-Idy-” “If I hadn’t brought up being heroes… if I didn’t try to escape….” “Idy! Calm down, it’s not your fault-” “SHUT UP!” “Idia! Don’t talk to your mother like that!” “No, honey, this is a worse situation for him than us. Let’s just leave him alone for a bit.” “Okay, dear…” *Door closing* “Well…….” *Idia sighs* “I… think that I expected that. I mean, I didn’t want to acknowledge it but… deep down… I knew.………..Ortho would’ve been turning 7 tomorrow but…. Why? Why did he have to die? He was only 6 so… why my brother? What type of big brother lets his little brother die in front of him? Th-the only type would be a coward; a pathetic, weak, useless coward! Sevens, why-” *Idia starts crying* “Why did it have to be him….?” *Idia chokes back a sob* “So much for leaving it to your Nii-chan…..”

-Recording end

Excerpt from Idia Shroud’s diary

Entry 2

Aug. 15, XXXX-11:05 pm

Recording start-

“Okay, Ortho, it’s recording our great escape!” *Idia giggles* “You looked so cool when hacking, Nii-chan! Like the cool tech guy in movies!” “Heh heh. Shutting off the security is a piece of cake for me. It really shouldn’t be this easy to hack it.” “Wow… I’ve never been in here before.” “Make sure to stay close, Ortho. We’ll need an amphibious technomantic vehicle to get through the Oceanus Gate. Gimme a sec. I’ll just access the hangar admin system and…”*STYX alarm blares* “Red alert. Security systems have been compromised by an external cyberattack. All locks in Tartarus have been disengaged. Subject ROS-3367A has escaped its lab. All Charon troops, report to Tartarus immediately! All noncombatants, evacuate to the shelters!” “Nii-chan, what’s with the noise?” “Wait… did I just do that!? Oh no, I’d better get it back online!” *Typing* “Nii-chan…” “Don’t worry, I’m right here.” “N-No, look! There’s something at the end of the hall!” “H-huh?” *Crashing and growling* “E-Eep… It’s a monster!” *Growling roaring, Ortho screams, something heavy falls to the ground (After reviewing security footage and context, it is believed that it is possibly Ortho Shroud’s body)* “ORTHO!” *Footsteps* “Nononono…Please! Don’t-” *Growling* “How could you!? You killed my brother! I…” *Objects being thrown* “GIVE HIM BACK! I don’t …” *Glass shattering* “I…” *Sniffling, Ortho coughing* “Ortho?” “Nii-chan…” “ORTHO! PLEASE!” “I’m sorry…” “W-what…?” “It’s… not your fault… Nii-chan…” “W-wait… Ortho! ORTHO! NO! PLEASE! I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITHOUT YOU! I-” *Sobbing* “I was supposed to be your dependable, brilliant big bro but I-I’m the reason you-you’re…” *Sobbing, something heavy falls (assumed to be Idia Shroud’s body after he passed out)*

-Recording is silent for 20 minutes-

*Footsteps* “Where could our boys be?” “I doubt they would come here, honey.” “Well, we checked everywhere else! They’d have be- Huh!?” *Footsteps* “IDY! OR! Are you okay!?” “Honey, what’s all the rucku-” “We have to get them to the infirmary!” *Footsteps leaving*

-Recording is silent for 5 hours, 51 minutes until the battery runs out

Entry 3: https://www.tumblr.com/minil3812/818445599888310272/idia-shrouds-digital-diary

Excerpt from Idia Shroud’s diary

Entry 1

Aug. 15, XXXX-3:05 pm

Recording start-

*Shuffling* “Nii-chan, is it on?” “Yeah…” *Clears throat* “My name is Idia Shroud, I’m currently 10 years old, I’m the heir to the Shroud family and STYX, and I made this voice recording program to record logs of me and Ortho’s adventures as heroes!” *Idia giggles* “Alright, your turn.” “Okay!” *footsteps* “My name is Ortho Shroud, I’m gonna turn 7 in a few days, and me and my Nii-chan are gonna be the coolest heroes ever!” *Idia and Ortho giggles* “Okay, we’re gonna go now and I’m gonna hack into the security so we can leave and become heroes, be back soon!”

-Recording end

Entry 2: https://www.tumblr.com/minil3812/818444778146496512/idia-shrouds-digital-diary

Entry 3: https://www.tumblr.com/minil3812/818445599888310272/idia-shrouds-digital-diary