He was done. The kindest of the kind, the optimistic soldier, had his last straw ages ago. He was no longer the light-hearted soul everyone made him out to be. He was a man, now become a monster.

For weeks, Polites grew noticeably more and more distant from the crew. At first, it was small things, like talking less, smiling and laughing less, etc. Then, it got more serious as time passed. He shut everyone out, including you, his dearest friend. He would snap over the smallest things, becoming more irritated.

You tried to help in any way you could, talk to him, comfort him, and offer him gifts or hang out together, just the two of you.

Unfortunately, your efforts were in vain. Nothing got through to the man. He was a shell of who he once was. Now completely unrecognizable.

Polites remained closed off from others, refusing to engage in any form of conversation. Especially towards you, his once called "best friend."

Despite everything, you were determined to get the friend you once knew back. You weren't gonna stop trying to get the old Polites back. Even if it was the last thing you'll ever do.

Today, as perusal, you found Polites sitting in a small isolated area on the ship, away from the other fleet. With a dedicated mindset, you approached him.

You sat down next to him, his cold expression glaring at you. His green piercing eyes no longer held that same warm and welcoming friendliness it once had, just cruel and unforgiving.

"What do you want?" He barked harshly. "If you're here to greet me with open arms, it's not gonna work."

Open arms. Polites' classic saying before he became a different beast. He always told you to, "Greet the world with open arms!" It was all in vain. He was a completely different person.

And there was nothing you could do about it.