"Sen~...

Qier~...

Tor~...

Huir~..."

Donned in tattered white shirt and black pants stained by time, Zehn slowly chanted those words as the continuous torrent of rain the cyclone made poured over his back and atop of the boy's head beneath him. His wet dull black hair drooping down as it followed the trail the rain walked upon.

As he kept him covered by his body, the boy wearing nothing but a big baggy gray shirt that covered him from neck stretching up to his calf, water came trickling to the boy's chest from his hand that was settled inches above. A weak yellow light coming out from the centre of his palm. 

 Panting slowly, he worked his brain at its utmost trying to mend the repercussions of the boy's magic that had carved up itself in his chest. He was solely focused on the boy's condition that he didn't spare a glance at the fury of the storm that was hovering around them. 

The roars of the wind and the outcry of the thunder and rain filled the silence of the once peaceful plateau as trees are uprooted. Plants are washed away by the rain and spun around by the wind except for the big elevated rugged rock he and the boy were on.

The wooden houses near them have also been disintegrated to pieces leaving nothing but a patch of land that was rapidly carried away by the current, and boulders bigger than the one they are on ravished and swept.

Still, these horrendous deeds the world sings were all cloaked by the thick darkness that had swallowed the colors of the day hindering them to see the devastation and cruelty of the nature.

As the rain kept on getting heavier as time passes by, blood continuously seeped out from the boy's chest washing away the bucket of blood that had formed beneath him. The evidence of the unimaginable pain the boy he was holding had gone through and is going through.

While the dim yellow light in his hand illuminated his wounded face, outlining his soft facial features marred by their hellish venture of outrunning death, his gray eyes can be seen holding no trace of panic as he was ravaged by the desperate howls of the storm. But still, one can see the despairing hope that was hinted in his eyes yet seems to never truly form into one.

Few more minutes have passed by and the rain and cyclone slowly subsided, the clamor of the waves slowly died down as well. At the same time, the temperature was gradually rising up. The skies cleared up and the deafening silence filled the surrounding except for his panting and the grumble of the boy. 

The hopelessness that was filling his eyes briskly faded when the boy weakly mumbled. He fastened his chanting as he noticed that the boy is now waking up. 

" Tor~ Entiente~ Se-cough! cough!"

Zehn coughed blood and began to lose his balance when he chanted and rushed his power out of his palm. 

He then let go of the boy with his other arm and tried to balance himself as the dizziness was clouding his mind but still keeps his hand that was giving off a yellow light above the hole on the boy's chest steady.

 " I told you I'd.. cough! cough!... wake you u-cough! cough!"

Zehn, smiling, said as he kept on coughing and was still trying to stabilise himself. Enduring and fighting pain between pain that was tormenting him. However, even the pain seems evident to what he was enduring, a smile still remained plastered to his face. With his eyes radiating with unknown emotions. It was something that one cannot simply define as various emotions were circling his eyes, a glow that seems to have an impending feat none can withdraw from trying to know what it truly holds.

Was it fear?

sadness?

despair? 

pain?

hopelessness?

A word man knows simply can't define the meaning to the emotions coming out from his eyes. None would be so sure what his heart and brain truly beats about or if his soul had songs that rhythmically play melodies of pure kindness. 

The silhouette of the boy's head with his hair tinted in dark blue colour moved slowly as his deep purple eyes reflected Zehn's gray eyes amidst the darkness. Unclear of what was beyond it.

Blood dripping to his neck and face that came from Zehn's cough. And with his half closed weak-spirited eyes, he mumbled.

"Mmm."

The boy closed his eyes and nodded towards Zehn with his tiny frame that appeared to be a broken figurine where blood was flowing out of his chest. It showed signs of slowing but doesn't look like it will be stopping anymore, his breathing not a bit uneven but remained as calm as a frozen lake. 

As the heat was gradually rising up, the pool of water left by the storm was also turning into steam. The cover of the darkness was not as thick as before but their surroundings is still impossible to be distinguished masking the density of the steam that was filling up the space around them.

"Ughh..!"

Zehn grumbled as the steam wafted to his neck and over to his left eye. The protection they had earlier had now come off cutting of their defense from harm.

He instinctively closed his eyes and gritted his teeth as the heat that was enveloping his eyes burned, feeling the same burning sensation all over his body. But the heat that had turned the water in a torturous phenomenon had intensified their pain unimaginably worse. However, it did not burn their skin to a scorch yet was still beyond to that when bathing in fire.

The boy's condition wasn't anything good as well, in fact it was much worse than what Zehn was enduring. When the steam wafted through them earlier, the hole in his chest was unrelentingly assailed by the steam. Worse was that it penetrated deep to his chest cavity and it started to burn his internal organs. Added to the fact the heat that was fervently sizing them, like a dish supposed to be served for those that lives in hell, it burned them ever so slow as the heat played a song of inferno that echoes to every inch of their bodies. A scalding music danced upon by pure misery.

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For a moment the boy scrunched his eyebrows but a second later, he relaxed it back. It seemed as if the pain had subsided in his chest and body but contrary to that, it was turning for the worse. The wounds that Zehn had healed earlier was nowhere to be seen now but only deep wounds were left and is still getting heavier as the heat continuously burned the boy.

Nevertheless, the boy's expression remains unfazed on the pain he was getting. Keeping silence to himself as he had his eyes closed.

Zehn seemed to notice it as his scalded hand froze. He tried to pour more of his powers despite the agonising pain that was enveloping his arm every time he moved, but what can he do? He wasn't a true man of magic at all nor a true scholar who knows medicine as well.

He froze as that realisation hit him.

Disregarding the steam that was showering them face to toe, he opened his eyes, his left eye was completely red and wet, as if he had cried whilst the other was still fine but was starting to get hot as well. However, there was no expression of pain to be seen within it. Written only with worry and tiredness mixed with profound emotions that was still impossible to word out.

The darkness has taken off its cloak and the horizon can be seen, slowly filled with conspicuous lights of various colours marking the end of their torment from the heat. Distracted by the light and the feeling of relief, the boy opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was the wounded face of Zehn peering over his chest silhouetted by the light, his gray eyes reflected so bright yet so solemn. It was this moment that the boy can clearly see Zehn's expression, he felt that within the pretense of the man's worried eyes before him was an endless pain and fear, but he also knew that there is something beyond it that he can't truly understand yet. 

As the hot sensation that had tortured them was now slowly dissipating and the temperature was returning to normal, Zehn and the boy's pain was now slowly relieved but their condition was no any better than earlier now. Only the horror of the heat had left them but the ode of pain had selflessly embraced them sparing no room to themselves.

Zehn kept his power to a halt, gasping weakly and eyes blank and tired as he looked to the boy's injuries. His scalded face telling no meaning to what he thinks. He looked over to his arm and tried to release a bit of power but was unable to do so. In between his gasps came tired sighs, his shoulders weighed down by his powerlessness.

He let his swollen hand that was suspended above the boy's chest stiffly swing to his side crashing to the surface of the boulder they were on. Blood spilling as his burned hand is scratched by the rough surface of the stone. Zehn squinted his eyes as the pain connected to his brain, like a circuit when turned on by a switch, all the pain that he was setting aside when healing the boy came crashing down to him like a wave. Slowly but surely tormenting him to a seemingly unending pain. Yet, screams weren't heard coming out from his mouth, he only arched his body a little bit while holding his breath, gritting his teeth so hard as his panting gradually turned to wheezing. He held his injured arm to his leg and his head drooping, still had his brows tense and teeth pressed hard. As he moved, he felt the unthinkable pain that surged to him every inch his arm covered.

The boy watched Zehn in his agony and kept his eyes on the weak blank emotion that was circling the gray eyes reflected in his purple eyes. He stared for a moment before mouthing off a word. Something you wouldn't expect he still had the ability to do so given his condition.

“Sorry..”

Upon hearing, Zehn feebly raised his sight meeting the purple eyes that showed contradiction to what he said. No remorse could be seen in his eyes. He smiled weakly upon the boy's remarks, unable to speak he shook his head as his response, it was not an act of disapproval but was the way he showed that he didn't mind nor he cared about what he meant. He knew that the boy before him had the vibe of a superior person long before he knew hence the aura that comes from his actions and words. He only dropped his head back again and his eyes half closed lying in wait for what the world has left stored for them.

The boy kept his eyes on Zehn until he hang his head down. Receiving a response, the boy moved his sight, staring past the skies and sharing a silent moment with Zehn. None looking at each other, laying only at their own thoughts. Unperturbed by what the world had left to offer them.

From afar, they could be seen. Their hellish figure silhouetted perfectly by the lights as if a sight that was sculpted in heaven, portrayed so beautifully yet forlorn that it showed irony. Laying still on the only stone that survived the wrath of the world, it only accentuated the marvel and perfection of their end.

The pillar, standing strong like the man sitting still, bending slightly but not bowing down. It towered among the rubbles, alone and bathed in scars, slowly fading upon its venture. And the boy, with his back atop this pillar is like the horizon, his deep purple eyes reflected magnificently. Shining so bright setting the pillar ablaze with its blinding light, allowing the lone scarred breaking pillar to show its end in the most magnificent way it could be. Not alone, not in the dark. Such sight proved the beauty of destruction, that it entails not only the bad, nor the danger of the disaster but the perfection of how death could be.

So there they lay, like an art piece to be solemnly looked at, forever be kept deep in one's protected and secured chest. A masterpiece meant only for oneself.

But no, the world wouldn't allow it to be painted even for a second, for this moment will end, it has to come to an end. None witnessing the beauty that lasted a breath.

Awoken from their thoughts, the lights of the horizon came quickly above them, enveloping their bodies. Zehn, facing the inconceivable screamed loud more than he had ever done in his life. Even the boy with his fortitude gritted his teeth hard and his brows scrunched deep.

They now had to face the edge of the madness, the most excruciating song the world would last play. The solemn beauty of their quiet moments coming to an end, as if this short period of time the world allowed them to rest before the last note of their lives. An epilogue to their books, which is the most anguishing of it all.

As they grimaced so did the pillar they were on. Crying by crumbling and dying by falling, each stone illuminated in distortion as the space shook. And the light as calm as ever, blindingly deprived them of their strength soflty. The irony of the beauty what men call perfection.

They were short on breath, falling slow side by side, so near yet couldn't reach one another. Slowly as they agonised, their bodies disintegrated to specks of white light, now danced upon by the last note of their torment.

The light worked itself towards the whole planet, devouring every color in a single one. As the song reached it end, the light, dimming, came to a halt and the planet danced upon it as it slowly compressed. The dimming light then turned to darkness, the compression coming to a halt.  It lie there still, moments later the space shook violently as the world vanished as light blinked,  marking the end of a planet's existence.

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