Steampunk Era: Mad Abield

As the sun set in the west, Malin strolled down the street, his eyes comparing the ancient map with the possible past of each building he saw, until Salis’s call alerted him. Raising his head and turning his back to the sunset, Malin saw the towering memorial pillar standing among the ruins.

The stories of the past had long been obliterated by Chaos and time, leaving the long street filled with cracks where weeds grew, and even small, tenacious trees took root among them; the ruins had become unrecognizable as to what they once were.

As Malin drew closer, the memorial pillar became increasingly clear, its surface marked by time’s tiny damages, eroded and mottled words and reliefs, and the steps piled high with heaps upon heaps of dog tags.

Malin felt his heart was about to stop, yet he still smiled as he took off his luggage from his back.

Ascending the steps, Malin saw a large heap of dog tags, piled together with a small transparent box, inside which he could see a voice recorder. Malin sat down, took it out, and pressed the play button.

· I never thought, before me, so many people would bring these things, which nobody even picks up from the roadside, here. If I hadn’t read a book from before the Great Destruction Era and heard that there is such a pillar here... I wonder why I should believe a book from thousands of years ago and bring these things here for people from thousands of years past... But, ultimately, I came, so, until I arrived here, I thought I was a foolish old man, with no predecessors and no successors.

The recorder played an elderly man’s voice, sounding a bit wheezy, likely having narrowly survived crossing through the Chaos Zone’s blockade, and then cautiously navigating the outer ruins along the way... truly exhausting.

· Then I discovered there are indeed more foolish fellows than me... so many, looking up from the foot of the steps, all of them.

At this point, the elderly man laughed heartily, amidst laughter, began to cry, and after crying enough, he resumed talking to himself.

· I’m bringing you back because this era is full of such oddities, where death is no longer just a small urn of ashes, no longer like a light gone out... I’m bringing you back, not because I wish you’d protect us, your descendants.

At this juncture, the elderly man took a few breaths.

· This is Thainan New Hangzhou Corps, a soldier of the third Guards Army, I’ve grown old, too old for the army to employ me, I came here to fulfill my wish, collecting these dog tags on the battlefield, bringing them here... I hope they might protect us, the descendants, but more I wish they might find peace. Chaos is too strong, to the extent that many of us can’t even find peace... Moreover, I was chased by Chaos sentinels when I came, got a bit hurt... I’m afraid I won’t be going back, if anyone hears my last words, please lay me to rest in the grave I dug myself, thank you, child.