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I helped El sip some water, my hand gently rubbing circles on his back as he struggled to catch his breath. I focused my Exira, letting it flow subtly to create a calming atmosphere around us. Slowly, his coughing subsided, but the sight that met my eyes made my stomach churn.

The black veins had spread further, weaving an ominous spider web across his skin. When I touched his arm, it felt like ice–his temperature had plummeted.

"You're freezing," I muttered, concern tightening my chest. I glanced at his face; the sickly purple hue had deepened, making him look like a shadow of himself.

"This isn't good."

"Is there any way to help you?" I asked, even though I knew he couldn't understand my words. The desperation in my voice was unmistakable.

El coughed lightly, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. He slowly shook his head, eyes calm and resigned. Taking the diary from my hands, he began to write. Each stroke of the pen seemed to sap more of his dwindling energy.

I watched him write for what felt like an eternity. The silence between us was filled only by the scratching of pen on paper and the distant drip of water echoing through the cavern.

A lump formed in my throat.

"He's writing his final note," I realized, the thought hitting me like a punch to the gut. I could see his life force fading; Exira showed me the already faint pulse of his life dimming at an alarming rate.

"Haa," I sighed, turning my head away. I blinked rapidly, trying to stave off the tears threatening to spill.

"Get a grip, Lexi," I scolded myself. "You've known him for a few hours."

But damn if those hours hadn't felt like lifelines in this hellish abyss. After days–or weeks–in this godforsaken cave, any form of contact was a godsend. I craved the warmth of companionship like a parched man craves water.

"Am I really about to lose the only friend I've found down here?" The thought was unbearable. I clenched my fists, nails digging into my palms.

"Not fair," I muttered under my breath. "This world is a twisted joke."

A gentle touch on my shoulder snapped me out of my spiraling thoughts. I turned to see El looking at me, a surprised expression on his face.

Then he smiled warmly, eyes soft despite the dark veins marring his skin.

I felt a hot flush of embarrassment. "I'm not crying, man," I blurted defensively, hastily wiping at my eyes with the back of my hand.

"Just got some damn dirt in my eyes, that's all."

He chuckled softly–a raspy, strained sound but genuine nonetheless. His eyes held a knowing look, and I couldn't help but crack a small smile in return.

"Here you are, with both your foots in your grave, and you're worried about me."

He patted my shoulder lightly before returning his focus to the diary. I watched as he continued to write, each word seemingly heavier than the last. Part of me wanted to snatch the pen away, to tell him to rest, but I knew this was important to him.

"Wish I could read what you're writing," I thought, frustration gnawing at me. "Maybe it's a way to help you. Maybe it's your story."

I sighed again, rubbing the bridge of my nose. "Dammit, language barriers suck."

I glanced around the dimly lit cave. The glow from the bioluminescent moss cast eerie shadows on the walls, making the place feel even more otherworldly. "Never thought I'd miss fluorescent lights," I mused wryly.

El finally set the pen down, his hands trembling slightly. He closed the diary and held it out to me, his eyes meeting mine with an intensity that sent a chill down my spine.

"For me?" I asked, pointing to myself. He nodded slowly.

I took the diary gingerly. "Thank you," I said softly. "I'll keep it safe."

He leaned back against the wall, exhaustion etched into every line of his face. The black veins pulsed faintly, a grim reminder of his deteriorating condition.

I opened my mouth to speak but closed it again, realizing how useless words were right now. Instead, I reached out and squeezed his shoulder gently.

He looked at me, a faint smile still lingering. There was a peace in his eyes that both comforted and unnerved me. "How can you be so calm?" I wondered..

"Useless," I muttered, kicking a loose pebble across the cavern floor. It skittered and clattered, the sound echoing hollowly.

El watched me quietly, his gaze steady. He reached out and grabbed my hand as I passed by, stopping me mid-stride.

I looked down at him, meeting his eyes. "What?" I asked, my voice harsher than I intended.

He simply squeezed my hand, his grip weak but reassuring. The gesture said more than words ever could.

I swallowed hard, feeling the sting of tears again. "You're telling me it's okay," I realized. "That you're at peace with this."

"Well, I'm not," I snapped internally. But the fight drained out of me as quickly as it had flared up. I sank back down beside him, exhaling a shaky breath.

"Sorry," I mumbled. "I just... I hate feeling helpless."

He nodded slowly, his eyes understanding.

"Guess we're both in over our heads," I said, attempting a weak smile.

He tilted his head slightly, a curious expression crossing his face.

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"Not that you can understand me," I added with a rueful chuckle. "But talking helps, you know?"

Silence settled between us, but it wasn't uncomfortable. It was the quiet of shared burdens, of mutual acknowledgement of a situation neither of us could control.

I leaned back against the wall, staring up at the jagged ceiling. "Funny," I thought.

"In all the stories, the hero always finds a way. There's always some last-minute save, some miracle cure."

But this wasn't a story. This was a harsh reality, and it sucked.

"You're a good man or elf, El," I said softly. "Glad I met you, even under these messed-up circumstances."

I settled back, the diary clutched in my hands. "I'll read it later," I promised silently. "Maybe it'll help me make sense of all this."

Time seemed to blur. Minutes felt like hours, and I found myself drifting in and out of restless thoughts.

El reached out once more, his fingers brushing against my arm. I looked over, and he pointed weakly toward the tunnel ahead.

"You want me to go," I stated.

He nodded, the effort visibly taxing.

"Not without you," I said firmly.

He shook his head, a hint of frustration in his eyes.

"Stubborn elf," I grumbled. "You're not getting rid of me that easily."

He gave me a pointed look, then closed his eyes, clearly exhausted.

I exhaled slowly. "Fine," I whispered. "We'll rest for now."

I leaned back against the cold stone wall, staring blankly at the scattered drawings and notes before me. El shifted beside me, his breathing shallow and ragged. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him holding out the folded papers and photos–the ones I'd found on his fallen comrade.

"You're giving these back to me?" I asked softly, taking them from his trembling hands. His gaze was steady, eyes glistening with something I couldn't quite place.

Before I could say more, he grasped my hand, his touch cold as ice. Slowly, deliberately, he placed a ring into my palm–a simple band etched with intricate designs that seemed to dance in the dim light.

"What's this for?" I muttered, confusion swirling in my mind. But El didn't respond. Instead, he began muttering under his breath, strange words in a language I couldn't understand.

The ring in my hand started to glow, a soft light emanating from the engravings. My eyes widened. "Wait, what are you doing?"

He coughed violently, a spatter of blood staining his lips. The black veins on his face pulsed and spread like dark tendrils. Panic shot through me.

"Goddamn it, stop! You're hurting yourself!"

I moved to grab his shoulder, to shake him out of whatever he was doing, but he shook his head firmly, a warm smile playing on his lips. His eyes met mine, filled with a mix of determination and peace.

He pointed to the blood splattered on the ground, then gestured to the ring in my hand.

"You need my blood?" I asked. He gave a slight nod.

Gritting my teeth, frustration boiling inside me, I pulled out my knife. "Dammit, fine. If this is what you want." I pressed the blade against my fingertip, a sharp sting as it sliced through skin. Blood welled up, dripping onto the glowing ring.

"Buzz."

A sizzling sound filled the air as the light from the ring intensified, then abruptly faded. The ring slipped from my grasp, landing softly on the ground. El reached out, closing my hand around it. His touch was weak, but his eyes held a serene relief.

"What did you do?" I whispered, staring at him. "What the hell am I supposed to do with this?"

He didn't answer. Instead, he leaned back, his breathing slowing, eyes half-closed but still watching me.

"El?" I said, a knot forming in my stomach. "Hey, stay with me."

He smiled faintly, a hint of mischief in his gaze. It was like he found my confusion amusing.

"You're a real piece of work," I muttered, shaking my head. "Leaving me with more questions than answers."

His hand slipped from mine, falling limply to his side. Panic surged. "No, damn it, don't you dare." I pressed my fingers to his neck, searching desperately for a pulse. There—a faint, unsteady beat.

"Come on, man," I urged. "Don't check out on me now."

But he just looked at me, eyes filled with a peaceful resignation.

"Why?" I demanded. "Why give me this?" I held up the ring, frustration, and helplessness crashing over me.

He simply closed his eyes, his breathing shallow.

"Fine," I snapped, shoving the ring into my pocket. "I'll figure it out myself."

Silence settled over us, heavy and suffocating. I sat there, anger and sorrow warring within me.

"This isn't fair," I whispered, clenching my fists. "First person I meet down here, and you're..." I couldn't finish the thought.

I glanced down at him. His face, despite the dark veins and pallor, looked calm. At peace.

"Thank you," I said softly, the words barely audible.

I didn't know what else to do. I felt useless, powerless. All the damn Exira in the world, and I couldn't save him.

But regrets wouldn't change anything.

I stood up, pacing restlessly. "I need to do something," I muttered. "Can't just sit here."

No response.

I checked his pulse, pressing two fingers gently against the side of his neck. Nothing. Not even the faintest flutter. I took a deep breath, focusing my Exira to scan for any lingering traces of his life force.

The void I felt confirmed what I already knew: he was gone.

"Sigh."

The sound escaped me, barely more than a whisper in the oppressive silence. I settled down next to him, the cold stone floor seeping through my clothes.

The ring he'd given me still rested in my palm, surprisingly warm against my skin. I stared at it, a swirl of conflicting emotions churning inside me–grief, anger, confusion. Too many damn feelings at once.

I gazed up at the dark ceiling, the jagged rocks casting twisted shadows. How long had it been since this nightmare began? Three days? Four? I couldn't even recall anymore. Time had lost all meaning in this godforsaken place. Edward's death flashed in my mind–the shock, the helplessness. Possibly everyone else was gone too. The horrifying conclusion settled like a weight on my chest.

"Why can't I access the ambient energy?" I muttered, frustration seeping into my voice. "Why is my heirloom pendant useless?" I clutched the pendant "Why, despite so many days, has no one from my house come?" The questions spilled out, each one stabbing deeper. "Why haven't I met any other humans till now? Why..."

"Why... Why... Why... Why... Why..." The word echoed eerily in the cavern, each repetition more strained, more desperate. It felt like the walls were closing in, the darkness pressing tighter.

"Fuck!"

The curse ripped from my throat, raw and unfiltered. I clenched the warm ring in my fist, the edges digging into my palm—a sharp reminder of reality. "Pull it together, Alexis," I snarled at myself. "Losing it won't help."

I took a deep breath, forcing the chaos in my mind to settle. Whatever happens, happens. I've made it this far; I can keep going. I just need to focus on getting out of this shithole.

Slipping the ring onto my right index finger, I felt a subtle warmth spread from it, coursing up my arm. "Alright," I whispered, channeling Exira through the ring. The energy flowed smoothly, more easily than before. A faint hum resonated, barely audible but vibrating through my very bones.

My eyes grew cold, a steely determination hardening within me. "No more distractions," I told myself. "Time to find a way out."

I stood up, casting one last glance at El's still form. "I'll make this right," I vowed quietly. "I won't let your sacrifice be in vain."

Turning away, I steeled myself against the surge of emotions threatening to overwhelm me. Grief could wait. Questions without answers could wait. Right now, survival was all that mattered.

"Here's to not dying today," I muttered sarcastically, At least humor was better than despair.

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