BITTER ABSOLUTION

To be absolved… to be free. That’s what Lynne’s heart sought. That’s what the World itself sought. Freedom is a strange – almost abstract concept – but everyone has their own understanding of it. It grows alongside the person itself, and it changes as the person changes. However, that isn’t the case with Lynne’s Absolution.

Empyrean Absolution – at core – is a simple concept. It’s a release… wanton release of everything. To release all Flames and to give the World its Crucible – that was the meaning of Empyrean, and Absolution was the means.

Most of the knowledge about Laws comes from personal perception; when one sees the flow of river, there are few things to be understood. Water can mold itself to pass through difficult terrain; it can speed up or slow down depending on the flow; it can host life even in harsh environment. Whatever one gets from observing Nature can be molded into their understanding of Laws.

Empyrean Absolution, on the other hand, was different. There was nothing deep or profound to be understood about it. There was no need to sit and meditate for years upon its concepts. In the end, it was pointless… as nothing could be gained from it. Lynne understood that the moment the Spirit passed on the technique onto him. Empyrean Absolution orbited a single concept that even a monkey could understand: release.

From start to finish, simple understandings evolved to complex ones, where all little details were understood. However, at absolute pinnacle, all complexities returned back to a singularity, a single concept, a single word. That word depended on a person; for Flames, it could range from Destruction to Rejuvenation. With Empyrean Absolution, there was neither complexity nor simplicity… just singularity.

It burned… that was all everyone could see. The sky itself… the desert beneath… even their own hearts and souls, it all burned. All life was consumed and, in return, Flames came to be.

Lynne hovered in the air, his breathing even, as his eyes focused onto the Flames within his own heart. Empyrean Absolution consumed everything when used… Mana, Soul Force, mental fortitude, even life force itself… absolutely nothing was spared. Lynne didn’t mind it though; in return for that sacrifice, he became much more than just an Empyrean, something much greater than just a Magus. He became Flame itself.

“What the…” Fyre stared in astonishment at the sky and at the ground and at his own heart. He didn’t feel any pain, and he even somehow knew he wouldn’t die, yet he still couldn’t help but feel deep, profound fear and terror at the sight.

“…” Thalia remained silent as she landed onto the cliff. Her eyes carried a sad gaze, almost as if she was ready to cry. This wasn’t just a Spell Art or attack; these Flames carried Lynne’s heart and soul, and everything he was. She felt their warmth, their coldness, joy and sadness. She could only stare at the figure in the sky as her heart throbbed, unable to look away.

“…” Parsia wasn’t much different. He also stopped fighting and even looking at the enemy. He stared at the distant figure in the sky and wondered.

Flames had quickly consumed everything. Golden crescendo sung through the sky while the crimson brush painted the sand. It all burned like an inferno in a swirl of nightmares, and the world had collapsed and turned into a reincarnation of hell. Lush forests behind the encampment had been consumed and turned to ashes, leaving behind only desolation. Even desert seemed to have dried up even more. Clouds were consumed and they disappeared, and even the heat and the light of the sun couldn’t pass through the flames. It became harder to breathe and even harder to keep one’s eyes open.

And then, just as the second passed since Lynne uttered the words, a pillar of flames encroached from the sky and swirled around Lynne in a zig-zag fashion. And then another one rose from beneath and coiled around the first. A short moment later, the pillars expanded at several places as rings were formed that rotated like cogs. Golden, green, blue, gray, red, orange, purple… and, above all, black and white. Immortalized flames burned away everything, turning air itself into ash and ember.

At the very center of the calamity, Lynne remained unmoved. His eyes were closed, expression tranquil, and shoulders relaxed, as if none of this impacted him at all. He was the heart of the inferno, and as his heart beat, so did the flames.

The rings began expanding as heap of fireballs shot out, and it rained fire as if it was a downpour. Wherever the fireballs hit, they exploded and destroyed. But the rings never stopped expanding, or even becoming. Soon, there were over hundred rings rotating around the nine pillars of flames. Seas of fire burned above and below, and it was truly a sight to behold.

It is time to stop, child…

A voice spoke softly and gently into Lynne’s ears, causing him to open his eyes. He looked down at the desert and smiled lightly. “Why?” he asked without stopping the ongoing inferno. Screams had already began filling the sky as beasts and men alike tried to escape, but it was futile. Flames expanded on and on, seemingly never intending to stop.

Your Flames are kind and warm, not cold and deadly…

The voice replied; it was akin to a beautiful, angelic choir, and even Lynne couldn’t help but feel entranced. His heartbeat softened, and even his muddled thoughts became clearer. It was as if someone had wrapped their arms around him gently, and their touch was warm and comforting.

“You seem to know a lot about Flames.” Lynne said.

You’re in pain… but this is not the way.

“You’re right,” Lynne chuckled lightly as he sighed. “But what of it? This is war. In the end, means excuse the results.”

Do you really believe that?

“I have to.” Lynne said sternly.

Then there is nothing else for me to say.

“… what lies beneath the desert?” Lynne asked suddenly.

… why do you wish to know?

“I’m a curious person,” Lynne replied, smiling. “It’s strange that there’s a life in the endless desert. Especially someplace beneath it.”

Life is everywhere.

“Wait for me.”

As Lynne finished his last sentence, he raised his hand abruptly and opened up his palm. Suddenly, all flames froze. As if called by a hand divine, they began swirling within themselves as they retreated, both from the skies and earth beneath. Twirled, the flames were like tails as they wrapped around the singularity, creating a beautiful spectacle that stole breaths away from the spectators. It was as if all the lights had been stolen by the flames, leaving none for the rest of the world.

Everything returns to singularity – Absolution isn’t exception. Whatever gains freedom can one day lose it just as well. Flames were no different. Heeding their master’s call, the flames slowly cascaded from the sky and rose from the ground, almost appearing in slow-motion, as they began wrapping themselves around Lynne’s palm. Rings slowly condensed into pillars, and pillars morphed into spirals as they appeared to be sucked into a small sphere atop Lynne’s palm.

Not even ten seconds after he cast Empyrean Absolution, Lynne withdrew it all… and then he crushed the small sphere, causing sparks like fireflies to blast outwards and scatter through the sky. It was no longer just a spectacle, but something far greater than it. Whatever battle spirit beasts and people had was gone. They all merely stared at that youth in the sky and asked the same question: ‘How did he do it?’

Lynne ignored the countless gazes and focused down onto the figure still standing in the desert: Fyre. The latter didn’t leave, and had stayed behind like all others, entranced by the showcase. Lynne sighed inwardly as he grasped the scythe; his mind is completely destroyed. What an idiot. It’s just a bit of fucking fireworks, what are you so riled up about? Ugh, look at his wide eyes. This will be even easier than I thought.

Lynne immediately dove towards Fyre, who hadn’t recovered until he saw the blade of the scythe diving for his neck. As if a bolt of lightning struck his mind, he finally moved, leaping backwards and avoiding Lynne’s swipe. The latter quickly followed as he landed in the sand, using the strength of impact to propel himself forward in the chase. He slashed his scythe upward while Fyre slithered sideways, barely avoiding the strike. A gust of black smoke appeared in his hand as he raised it up; a moment later, hundreds of skeletons appeared behind him, diving in front of him as shields.

Lynne kept on slashing, as if he was a tireless killing machine, as sounds of crushed bones echoed out into the silent sky. One by one, skeletons were obliterated by the burning scythe. But more and more skeletons appeared.

The red desert, from the distance, now looked like a black sea of bones… and within that sea was a single youth. Each time he’d swipe with his scythe, he’d leave behind an afterimage of flames. Sometimes it was golden, sometimes it was crimson, and sometimes it was black and white. Each slash of the blade would cut down dozens of summoned creatures, and wound unleash arc of light that would cut down dozens more.

Lynne appeared to be dancing as he spun around while moving forward through the mass, chasing after Fyre who couldn’t help but wipe cold sweat from his forehead. Lynne was right; his mindset was rattled. He no longer thought about victory or defeat, but merely survival. He only sought ways to escape, and that was the reason Lynne was able to keep up with him.

Bones flew through air as Lynne continued slashing through; suddenly, he coated his feet in golden flames as he cast Fiery Sweeps. With the next step, he took to the sky, drawing beautiful arc of flames as he dove towards Fyre.

As he landed, he caused fire to burst out beneath his feet, spreading out in a circular fashion, caving in the desert beneath and consuming hundreds of skeletons. Fyre was already at the end of his wits and had summoned a wyrven, climbing onto its back and beginning to speed away. Tsk, this is annoying, Lynne thought as he grimaced. Although he appeared to be dominating, it wasn’t easy to moving through the sea of skeletons, and his Mana wouldn’t be able to sustain him much longer. Should I just let him go? He probably won’t try anything like this any time soon. Ugh, fucking bird. It’s faster than the Phoenix.

Lynne quickly realized that it was too late; Fyre had sped off on the wyrven and now appeared to be just a singular dot in the sky. Shortly after, all skeletons surrounding Lynne collapsed and turned to ash as they were carried away by the wind. It was a victory, Lynne realized, but a bitter and cruel one. There were no true victors in war… only wounded and scarred.