Gideon felt the enclosed vines as he awoke, tearing open his capsule he was stunned by the change in view. Body bare of bandages left with a healed body riddled with scars and fine clothes. A strange woman was sleeping in one of the hammocks, he quietly got up and slowly escaped the room - silently closing the door, stunned as he looked around with great wonder. Making his way around he marveled at the alchemical contraptions and strange ingredients on the shelves.

A door suddenly slammed behind, “You're awake?!”

Gideon nearly jumped as he turned to see the sleepy woman, then the stairs to which he tried to run.

“Oh, no you don’t.” She raised her hands, the plants above descended their stems to wrap Gideon so he couldn’t move nor speak.

Receded, jerking him up to the ceiling as he tried to say something. Leaving him embraced by the shining plants and green.

The woman looked up, “Punishment for ruining my sleep and trying to pull that.” She began to go back to the room, before giving Gideon advice. “Oh, and I wouldn’t squirm too much, they won’t stop your fall if you try. Wait there till I get some rest.”

Gideon was left alone as his heart raced - staring at the floor. And for hours he hung until he heard someone coming down the stairwell.

The man came into view on the balcony, eating a skewer - lifting his head up to him.

“Huh…” He continued his way to the room where the woman was sleeping.

The plants became alive, setting him down, as the two came out - gathering a couple of seats. They sat next to each other, motioning him to sit - across, alone.

“Feeling better?” The man turned to the woman.

“Much… But, that was terrible.”

“Really?”

“I used more than half of my Aether to Commune.” Causing the man to show surprise. “And it's only a temporary solution, it will fail and be harder to do again.”

Returning to silence, the man took a long thought.

The woman hit him lightly, “This is not the time for it.” Gesturing to herself, “I’m Minerva.”

“Elric.”

The moments of silence sent a shiver down his spine. “...Gideon.”

Elric asked Minerva, “Where should we begin?”

“Perhaps finding out about Gideon’s recent experience?” Minerva replied as she waved her hands to make strange pink flowers sprout around them - as they gave off a strange aura and smell.

“Sure, better to get this done quickly.” Elric faced Gideon, “How did you find yourself wounded and in the streets?”

Gideon felt uncomfortable, feeling the itch to say an honest word. But it was just an itch against his fear of the truth.

“Umm… could you stop that, my head is starting to hurt.” Gideon massaged his temples.

Elric raised his eyebrows, and Minerva took a pause as they were both surprised.

Elric leaned to whisper, “Did you dumb it down?”

“No… it should have worked for someone at Stone-Fair.”

“Do you think you can turn it up?”

“Not unless we want him to slur his words and make him bleed.”

Elric returned to grumble, “We’ll do this the normal way.”

Minerva made the plants return, allowing Gideon’s head to be clear - though he felt a sudden weight on his shoulder. Elric moved his chair closer and set his blade against his neck.

“We’ll start again, if you lie you best hope you're quick enough to dodge this blade. Though I’m sure you remember that Goblin who tried to make his way but failed.” Elric gave a little smile, “Best of luck… Where do you live?”

There was a dead look in Elric’s eyes - sending a chill through his entire body. Just avoid the Village… everything will be fine then…

“I live in a burnt-down house.”

“What Quarter?”

“The Fifth…”

“Mmmm…? What were you outcasted for?”

“What does Outcasted mean??”.

Elric turned over his shoulder to Minerva, perplexed.

“He means what have you done to be on the streets from the orphanages.” She clarified.

“I- never been. I have just always lived in the streets.” Gideon said.

Elric quickly whipped his head. Pressing the blade ever so slightly more, “That is a lie. Try again.”

Sweat came down his face as he raised his neck a bit, “I- I- have only been here for a few weeks, I was robbed and forced to the streets…”

Elric relaxed the blade, “A few weeks? Why are you here? Have your parents been killed?”

“I… never had parents.” Gideon looked slightly away. “I needed to get away…”

“From what?” Gideon did everything to make his face cold, but Elric pressed the blade enough to draw a little trickle of blood. “From- What?”

His complexion started to break, as his mouth quivered and tears came down his face. “Please… I- I- can’t… I don’t want to die…”

Minerva got up to place her hand on Elric’s shoulder, “I think we need something else.”

Elric stowed his blade, Minerva went to one of the rooms to bring a pot, within a small-prickly flower bud. Pulling her chair closer she sat down and took his hands gently with hers to hold the pot.

“Do you know this flower?” Gideon shook his head, while Elric’s flitch didn’t go unnoticed as went to get up. “Not another step Elric- It's a Dalamil, a fragile flower, so fragile that even with just a breeze it could wilt. But, do you know what makes it so special?”

“No…”

“When it does wilt it shoots out toxic needles at everything in the area. Be as close as Elric and we would be lucky to be alive.”

Gideon suppressed the uneasy feeling, shifting his head back to Minerva, Elric, and the flower.

“But… you can control it. You controlled the plants above us.” Gideon replied with skepticism.

Minerva gave a little smile, “A Druid Communes with the Forest, plants are just a part. But even then, there are little rascals who won’t come to our calls. This little guy is just one of those who are hard to convince.”

“You could just be lying, and I would still end up dead.”

“Maybe… but you’re forgetting something. I went through the trouble of healing you, and giving you more time. Without me, you would have had days at most to live.”

He didn’t know it to be true, but he remembered every moment that flared, and how he was now. Being given time to only weeks before, the small shocks, numbness, and swings of pain - as it would return.

Gideon took a deep breath, “Could you help me until I get better.”

Minerva appeared saddened, “I… don’t know if I- we could help you.”

“But could you try, please…” Pleading with his eyes.

Minerva looked at Elric, his face scrunched and contorted.

Elric sighed, “Fine…”

Minerva took back the plant to its popper place, as they all came together for the story.

“It started at the beginning of summer…”

***

From the last day in Fesr, his escape, the Adventurer Company, the Fight with the Red Troll, the first days in Fretic City, looting corpses, his first kill, and the pain through it all.

Elric was tense at moments as his arms clasped together as they would break. Minerva expressed sadness throughout most of the story, at times her leaves turn a darker green.

“I’m going to get some air.” Elric got up when the story was done - a hard look on his face.

Minerva motioned for Gideon to follow him as they made their way up to the entrance. “Bring me some dinner.”

Together they went but didn’t speak about anything until they received the food.

Elric, “Let’s stop by that torched house.”

Gideon just nodded as they made their way to the site, barely anyone walking along.

Elric commented as he looked at the house in surprise, “You are a crazy kid…”

“Why?” Gideon asked as he handed off the food to Elric.

“Because this was the site of a Wulu Brood.”

Gideon didn’t understand, shrugging as he retrieved his things - looking around the last time in sweet bliss, the hope of a comfortable place to sleep.

They made their way back to the hidden entrance, Gideon was asked to close his eyes. Elric did the passcode, as Gideon didn’t listen as he was intrigued - quickly pretending to close his eyes before Elric turned.

Minerva asked as they showed themselves, “Did you get the clearance from Aria?”

“I’ll go after this,” Elric replied.

“Anything of note?”

Elric peered at Gideon as he watched the two converse, “Not here.”

“What…? I can keep a secret.”

“No,” Elric said with a flat face that dropped Gideon’s mood.

Minerva gently patted his back, “Don’t take it to heart so much. Though he might not show it, Elric is kind and can keep a secret… just that he is very- very paranoid about everything.”

Elric huffed, “Since when did paranoid mean looking out for my back in this city.”

“Since you threw that drunk merchant through the tavern doors this spring.” Minerva replied, nearly getting a retort from Elric. But upon looking at her unamused face rescinded his voice.

Dinner finished in a little chat when Elric left to go to the Guild.

Gideon asked Minerva as she was getting some supplies, “So what happens now?”

“Well I will try my best to see if I can keep you together, Elric would probably go through the library in the Guild to see if there is anything on this… Vicrot.” A flutter in his heart made Gideon smile, “Don’t get your hopes up.”

His mood was crushed, as his smile drooped flat.

“Believers- the Clergy of the many Gods, Paladins, and Clerics might be freer but the Priests are the ones that hold greater sway with the masses and Temples. They really don’t share much outside their own troves.”

“Why?” He followed her to her cauldrons as she began to cook the ingredients.

“Well… if we are talking from your experience. They never said what this Vicrot was, only that it was a curse, which it's not, but Priests cannot interpret their creeds as much as Paladins and Clerics. If they begin down the path of rejecting their teachings or if someone were to question their records then they might find themselves losing confidence, their life, belief, and the little power they have would wane.”

Fire lit from under as the vines slowly regrew on the metal hook to stir the pots.

“Then I’m not cursed?”

“The Clergy aren’t the only ones to be able to detect curses, sufficient Mages, Druids, and Bards could tell when something is not right. If you had such a curse I’m fairly certain I could tell, not that I could do anything with it though.

“So they would have killed me for no reason?” Feeling a subtle anger brewing within, masked by his outward shock.

Minerva shook her head, “You said she was a High Priest of Nevelia, a notable Healing God, and the Paladins were tired after cleansing the Council's children? Curses are tough but I don’t think anything common would stand a chance against the guidance of a High Priest and the power of two Paladins… Something isn’t right… If nothing else, there was something there…”

“What are you saying?” Gideon didn’t like the foreboding atmosphere.

“That with her records and the findings within your settlement she did what she thought was right.” Making Gideon's hands ball up into a tight fist, as his face scratched up. “I can understand your rage, the hardships you’ve endured, but you cannot hold this with yourself.” She took a small break and let the vines stir, placing her hand on his shoulder as they looked at each other. “The more time you spend dwelling on those memories the more you waste what little you have. Because you cannot change the past, nor can you go about seeing the world with just yourself in it. You must understand, that everything wants to live, and no one wants their chance to be taken away. If a threat looms along, they do whatever they can, because that is the only natural thing to do. Didn’t you?”

Gideon didn’t like it - the balance of her words… It was hard to see more, because of how much was taken from his world. Though however cloudy it might be he knew everything wanted to live.

Even taking life to do so - made him feel just as guilty, “I guess I could try…”

Minerva affirmed his efforts and continued forward in teaching him more about the city.

***

Elric arrived at the Adventurer's Guild, a colossal building that reached higher than everything around it and took the plots of six houses. He didn’t go through the front door, he made his way around the side of the building and infused his Aether with a slight crack in the stone wall.

As a small opening appeared and a whisper came, “I come from afar.”

“To see the small hill, Half Sword.”

A moment passed, “Request accepted. Proceed to the fifth way.”

The hole disappeared as Elric looked around to see no one, proceeding to walk into the wall - but was enveloped by an illusion. Seven paths were before him as they led every which way, the third way had a small latter.

Climbing to the top and through a small hallway, Elric pushed open the door at the end. Only the other side to reveal a small office, and a bookshelf serving as a door.

“Why can’t you ever use the front entrance.” An elf took note as she was going through some paperwork on her desk.

“I don’t like having a target on my back every time I do.” Elric sat to the side on one of the sofas.

Aria looked at him with skepticism, “Well what have you brought? Another lead?”

“No, I need permission for the holy documents within the library.”

“And you come to me for…this?” Aria stopped writing and led back in her chair. “Why the sudden interest? I’m sure you know better than anyone else that the answers you are searching for are not in the Holy Documents.”

Elric took a deep breath, “Minerva found another toy to fix.”

Catching Aria’s interests, “And this involves the work of the Temples? Anything related to —”

“No, I happened to pass a traveler and the interaction didn’t go as I thought. So I took him to Minerva, and here we are.”

Sighing, “I’ll allow access, but this is to go along with your next task.”

She pulled out a letter from the drawer and cast a spell to guide it to Elric.

“What’s this?”

“A collection of information that we have isolated by the last sample. Mostly beasts and insects, but there are traces of mortals, plants, and oozes.”

“So they are gathering more substances?”

Aria nodded, “Whoever is making the Ixir is expanding their base. The previous samples were just beasts and insects. Worst case we are looking for a mass sacrificial ritual to bloom within the city.”

“You make it sound so ominous.” Elric rolled his eyes, Aria didn’t find it comforting.

“This is serious. The Branch Leader and Vice-Leader have delved into the forest to look for where the supply is coming from. And our other sources have been in the dark about the location of the concoction site.”

“Fine. But what am I supposed to do with this? Is this even a Mission?”

“Figure it out, play detective. You are one of the few that even practice En, so our work is cut out for us… we might even have to enact a Quest.”

Elric showed displeasure, “Are you kidding?”

“Wish it would be less serious but time is ticking, and I feel like people are going to go missing soon,” Aria said as she went back to her work and Elric proceeded to leave through the bookshelf again.

Elric left through the bookshelf, leaving Aria alone with the mountain of paperwork still to be done.

***

A spread of books and scrolls were spread out on the table, as the three gathered in a back room.

“Oh, Aria let you take them out of the building?” Minerva said she sat and took a book.

“I tried to find ones related to the Creshin Pantheon, but this was all I could find,” Elric replied, as he did the same.

“So when do we start?” Gideon chimed in with them.

Elric raised an eyebrow, “Can you read?”

“Well, yeah? Can you not?” Saying with a gesture of smugness, and getting a giggle from Minerva.

“Then here,” Elric passed a scroll. “Read this.”

Gideon still had a smile on his face until he opened the scroll, seeing the unfamiliar scribbles, as his face contorted into a frown and Elric into a smile.

“Having trouble?” Elric inquired.

“I- can’t read it…” Gideon set back the scroll, Elric chuckled.

Minerva took the scroll, “Oh dear. That was terrible, Elric.”

Gideon received a new book from Minerva, and this time he could read its contents.

“Those are for me to go through, as I think very few could know where to begin in deciphering these scrolls. Just stick to the books and don’t let Elric pull you astray too much.” Minerva said, Gideon, nodded.

The routine carried on for days, as it became more evident that the texts needed to be pieced together. As the whole was not always true, and contradicted many other documents - it was the scrolls that Minerva looked into which brought the greatest fruit to Gideon’s memory.

“Vicrot; a curse that was at least seen a thousand years ago, and comes from an unknown origin. Only children bear this type of curse that slowly whittles their life away, while infecting others with another curse within their souls. Inaction prompts the curse to spread, people delve into madness destroying their society, and/or creatures of the land descend to attack and wipe out the location of the curse. Any notice of this would call for a Purifying or Descending Ritual in order for the touch of gods to eradicate it completely, as it was given the name and title of the Thirteenth Rot.” Elric finished compiling all that they knew, as Gideon looked tired with a great deal more bandages on himself.

“That isn’t good is it…?” Gideon just holding himself together.

“No, no it isn’t.” Elric set down the summary document. “But, I think we shouldn’t believe this information in the slightest… damned Temples…”

Minerva, noticing Gideon’s confusion, “Although we have gathered a lot and much is something unrelated. Holy Texts are not necessarily true, and serve a purpose in pursuing the faith that they are bound to.”

“Then what was the point of all of this?”

“The point- is that there is something to gain, we can see that you are not cursed itself and that others will be cursed in your stead… but I find that to be false as there is nothing that I’ve noticed that could cause something like that and that it is most likely a conclusion that the Clergy just came up with. The second is that your life is slowly fading, but you have survived… perhaps it is your constitution or life that you lived, but you would be the oldest living with the record of Vicrot.”

“But how does that help me?”

“Well… it doesn't matter too much. Honestly, I was hoping they were looking into how to heal the children but they probably kept it hidden if at all written.” Gideon once again dropped in silence, “Though we can start our own. We need to go through some testing and see what effect it will have on your health, but we do not have much time.”

“How long do I have?”

“Hard to say, with healing every now and then… a month… two… maybe…”

“Then, could we start now?”

“Are you sure? Because once we start I will not stop.” At Minerva’s final warning Elric creased his brow.

“...Yes…”

Elric left the two for their own hopes, I don’t want to be here again for this.

***

Elric ran along the outside path of the city, running from one small schore to another. Settling on a large rock by the northern shore, cultivating his Enir.

Nothing again… Peering within himself and seeing the halt of his growth and decay. Aether Channels maintained notable flux, while Enir flickered with his Life Force as it tried to invigorate the body.

A mind in disarray, about a story so different from his own - would come to an end, which bothered him to no end. Of the boy that continued to find an answer in his last moments, hoping to find some form of path to carry on another day.

Life isn’t fair. I am broken and until I fix myself I cannot give time to others. Meditation bore no fruit, as he left to trace the steps of the Goblin carrying Ixir.

Within the slums, none wore an open face, hoods - any form of covers and masks, plagued the streets. The buildings decaying and falling over - twisting and arching in weird ways, over streets as they blended into one another.

Just off the chaos in the center of the slums, Elric found his way to an abandoned house and descended into the dark cellar. Filled within empty stacks of wine barrels, and their nozzles rusted over. Elric jumped as he put power to his feet to grab the ceiling beams - gliding over to one of the barrels, pressing and slighting flipping the latch to reveal a small note. Returning everything as before and coming back down.

{

The last debt returned, thank you for today. Information has been swept to the wind with but a few ears to hear, the price and connections to information have also risen near beyond this city. Any other whisper has been silenced or gone with the wind, as I am being hunted for just knowing what I do not know. Until this passes we will not see each other again.

Good luck and be wary of spies within the Guild.

}

Shit… The letter turned to ash, Elric rushed to make his way out of the building shifting to a methodical walk to get lost in the swirl of cowls and turns.

He waited through the hours to lose any sigh, unwilling to bear the risk wrought upon the trip to the slums. And didn’t remove his hood for the day as he arrived through the bookshelf as he came before.

Aria was there laying on the couch and a glass of wine. “Do you have any idea what time it is? And what of the toy Minerva was working on?”

Elric removed his hood, “I am not amused. I could have died today.”

Aria stopped a sip, “You did? From whom?”

“I have a contact being hunted, and if he is afraid of delving any deeper then I will be marked next by association.”

“Settle down, will you… where did you even hear this?”

Elric huffed and sat across, “I called in my last favor.”

“How certain is this favor?”

“I saved this guy’s life two times already. He is quite on point with returning them.”

“Then what else did he offer?”

“The Underground is closed off by connections and price and that the Whispers are in the wind with a few ears.”

She set aside her drink and hunched forward, “This… isn’t good. Either the other factions are in play or a power is rising in the shadows of the city? Is there any good news with this source?”

“We have spies in our Guild.”

“Am I to take it that your source understands a standard of loose mouths and people within our Guild.” Receiving a nod, “Oh… Dear Elieer I should have stuck to studies than the ranks.”

In the silence, Aria thought and Elric didn’t like the path of where this was going, “I’m going to be off this Mission.”

Aria shook out of her mind, “Huh?!” A swirl of raw Aether brought a breeze to the room, her hair illuminated slightly. “Oh no you don't, we don't have enough people as it is. Do you even realize how invaluable a Cultivator is to this assignment?!”

The pressure tickled his skin, as he enveloped himself with violet Aether - giving him a hard look to Aria.

“So you want me,” Gesturing extravagantly to himself. “In my condition, as a Medaled Obsidian, to go up against the unknown that a True Obsidian would find hazardous to even look for information.”

The pressure came down and Aria just began to grumble as she drank the last of her glass - casting a spell to bring the bottle from the desk to drink.

“You don’t have to be a Muck Rat about it.”

“I could have been Marked by those I sensed back then if they were more adept. Not in this city, and not as I am!” Elric outwardly protested his uncertainty and fear.

Aria had the look of nonsense as she took a drink, “Okay… I understand but you are going too far with this. You know we have watchers on the Guild and there have been no movements that were reported out of the norm.”

“I still don’t like it.”

“You don’t have to, but I can see this might be a bit too much for you now, and myself to manage this.” She flicked her hand to shew him away, “Now leave me. I’ve had enough stress for one night.”

Elric left and went to see the moons looking over Fretic. From Slugns and Wulu Broods to conspiracy… I can’t keep this up with the number of things escalating…

Circling back to Minerva’s home, Elric went down the stairs as he heard screams that sent shivers down his spine. Coming to the sight of a large mass of plants and vines, in place of the cauldrons and Minerva motioning her hands and singing hymns of Druids. For a moment he remembered himself before he went off to the hammocks - where the noise couldn’t reach.

Off behind one of the shrubs, he took a sack of his spare clothes and blanket, taking off his own - revealing massive scars and cuts along his body, focused on his back. As layers of skin healed over another and showed near none of the muscles - quickly slipped on the wares and grabbed a blanket to rest in one of the hammocks.

The silence was deafening, as he kept looking back on the past few days only thinking that there were darker times ahead for him.

He didn’t know how much time had passed as he was lost in thought before Gideon came through the door and took the other hammock.

Gideon noticed his company, “Is it going to get worse?”

“What?”

“You know that plant thing Minerva used on you and me.”

Elric turned his head, “She has no right to tell you about what I went through. And I am not going to say, deal with it yourself.”

“But I just thought you could—”

“Stop. I have enough on my plate. I do not have the luxury to spare my story for someone else.” Hearing slight anger in his tone.

Gideon heard but his heart pushed through the imposing dreariness. “I don’t really have anyone else. I just thought you went through something like this but your all better now—”

Elric turned his head and a rumble within his voice, “You know nothing. You just want selfish comfort- even when you hear them say stop. You are only a burden to everyone you met so far. So- leave me alone and go to sleep.”

Gideon turned away feeling guilty and unsatisfied, Am I a burden… I don’t know what to do, all the pain… but hope feels so far away…

Silent tears went down his face, as he felt alone in his wallow - the man across unknowingly sensed Gideon’s shivers. Feeling, perhaps for the first time in a long time, guilt from unwarranted action.

***

Two weeks passed as they fell into their routines; Elric went out most of the time training, while Gideon was tested with different plants and concoctions for hours on end. Both failed to make any progress, as one just fell into a limbo of failures and the other a memory of days repeating with a stale taste in their efforts.

“Well, I think we could take a small break,” Minerva noted in her journal as she looked through others, comparing notes.

Gideon came out of the web of plants panting and holding his bandages, looking to have lost a good portion of his weight.

“I… don’t feel so good..” he laid his back on the floor, short of breath.

Minerva came over and called upon the plants to heal him but progress stagnated to little more than just stopping the bleeding. Her face looked saddened, ashamed of the little she could do and the progress that would amount to nothing new.

It was soon that Elric arrived as he saw near the end of it all when he came over to see Minvera sullen.

“How long?”

“Another day, or two… I don’t know… I thought I had more time, but he is progressing too fast and his Life Force is barely even together now.”

“I’m tired- I’ll be in the room —” Elric was about to leave, but stopped, feeling his arm grasped.

Minerva pleaded deep within his eyes, “Please. He is different, I don’t know where to even begin but his own Life Force is tearing himself apart… I’ve only seen something even close to this once…”

Elric’s expression went flat, “No. I will not be a toy again.”

Minerva stood, “You were never a toy! I tried to help you when you gave up so much when everyone else abandoned you! I was there!”

“You think you were there for me? How do you twist others into your lies to feed your self-indulgence of being helpful? Is that why you sit here for your days, making poisons for the Guild- Oh I’m sure many Hunters find it useful and that none of them make their way to kill those who betray the Guild.”

Minerva changed to a shade of deep brown - as the plants all around came alive. Elric responded by cycling his violet Aether, armed his sword - a wave of violet, The Third Art of Arcana Bloom; Neutral Guard. Enir invigorated, bolstering his body, a thick blue pulsed alive from under his skin.

Gideon felt the air swirl and their rage evident, a burning sensation within his veins - bleeding, staining the floor as he crawled away.

Minerva was the first to strike as the ceiling plants shined brighter as they collected power in a few flowers - beams fired. Elric expanded his Enir and Aether senses, seeing the flow of power - dodging most, the few he could not - the Arcana danced and shifted the attack off. She didn’t stop as her dress grew into a towering display and a giant seemingly came out of nowhere to swat Elric. His quick feet dodged and glided along the arm to rise to her, but sprouts nearly entangled his footing - launching himself back to the ground as they both took a stance.

At that moment Minerva flared her voice, “Why bring him to me at all?! Are you seeing him as a sacrifice for yourself?!” In a shaky voice, she pushed, “Do you have any care left in your heart?!”

Elric the Arcana receded and coalesced his Enir. Enir went along the blade before slashing a clear line, Minerva tried to block but the energy had a life of its own as it curved and stayed true to her chest. Gathering up what she could, the leaves glowed for a moment as she struggled to defend against the energy but she couldn’t as an explosion of conflicting energies sent her flying through the air.

Calling upon the plants above to catch and gently bring her down. Elric panted as he receded the Enir and brought Arcana to the forefront again.

Minerva angrily scoffed, “Eight years of constant training and pushing yourself through all those Elixirs and you still having trouble.”

Elric didn’t let his guard down as he sensed every part of the room. Anything could sprout or plants could come alive. A falter of… wait…

His eyes darted around the room, as he broke focus - Minerva focused, noticing the subtle shift before her leaves lost their rustic color. The tension in the room slowly lifted, as they focused on the trail of blood splatter on the wall by the stairs, and the flow ascending to the entrance.

They looked at each other, not a word was spoken as they both darted up to save the last moments of a dying kid.

***

Gideon tried to crawl away but the first explosion sent him flying into the wall. He looked at the quick exchange as they each started to their own wills, he wasn’t there - they didn’t care. Feeling the stinging pain of bruised muscles, he lunged himself through the chaos and made his way out into the streets.

Rain was pouring down, and a rumble of the ground and sky pressed him forward. To a walk and then to a run, with everything he had he wanted to get away - to be alone, with no one and no hope to cloud his mind as he drifted away. Twisting through the alleys and streets he got as far as he wanted, falling in muck, soaked in rain he pushed to a lonely street, and at a dead-end, he slumped down.

The bandages became heavy, peeling off to reveal the pale skin. Blood tainted the water, and pooled into a murky red below. His eyes were bloodshot - hollow, losing his senses and mind to the confusion of his sorrow.

Did I even have a chance… After everything that I did, that others gave I- I- still can’t live…? He couldn’t cry anymore - he had cried enough, but his mouth quivered and eyes scrunched. I wish I had the chance to go on an Adventure…

Over the touch of rain, and the pulse of his heart a low hum echoed through his ears. He disregarded and continued to look at the red, but an itch came to his mind. Again the sound echoed, the intensity raising his curiosity through the pain as he looked to the end of the alley.

A swirl collected from specks of black, an emptiness in reality formed as a dark door. The hums continued, calling - Gideon’s sparks of wonder rose his decrypted body from his rest. Gritting his teeth he pulled on the wall and used what he could muster to traverse the short distance. Lunging himself at the door, feeling it real and the nob just as so - with his shaking hands he opened.

The last of his consciousness receded, his body through as it was dragged to the unknown. The door closed and faded into nothing, with none to know the sight.

A minute more, Elric and Minerva arrived as they looked upon the red pool.

Soaked, Minerva sullen as she dropped to knees - Elric paused with his eyes half-closed and face drooped.

“Where… where is he? He should be here, here…” Minerva called to whatever plants lurked, as the moss grew under the red pool. Nothing gained, but the boy was gone.

“I…” She turned and rose to her feet to stare at Elric, as her leaves split into green and black. “You killed him! If- you would have helped, let me help I—”

“In the time you failed me… could anything be done in a day? ”

Her leaves turned to a steady dark green as she hit Elric into the wall, “Do you have any idea what it means to be me?!” Growing her leaves to coat her arms and push him down.

Elric raised his arms to defend, but not his energy. The attacks were light enough to just take the beating, and hear Minerva wheezing through her cries. Elric didn’t care for the bruises on his aching body, as he felt shuttered by his emotions.

“Being a Druid and seeing life being unable to rise, bloom, grow… When your whole life is done to help just that, do you have any idea of it?! Of it at all, of what I am, of what I want to be?!” The leaves floated off and returned to how they once were as she cried and slumped at the other wall. “I’m sorry I couldn’t help you… but- you abandoned me- all you had is hope to get better, and yet you took that child’s in his final moments…”

Elric shook his head, and wiped away the few droplets of tears., “I lost… lost my hope a long time ago when no one could help me… Sometimes I wish I had run away that day… And that I never met you…”

Their dreams were veiled by the reality they faced, and the falsehoods they believed. Of what they had, and could achieve, amounted to nothing meaningful in their time. Staring at each other, the pool of blood flowed to divide them, as for the first time - in a long time - reflected on themselves, their paths, and their future.