Arylos laid in the sand, taking in the warmth of the sand under the shade of the umbrella and the sounds of the crashing waves striking the beach. He could hear the sounds of the beach goers nearby and despite this cacophony of noise, the Titan could find himself lulled to sleep as his muscles relaxed. He slowly opened his eyes and stared at the underside of the umbrella, staring at the sun as it shone through the umbrella.

Arylos reached out his arm and opened his hand as the air hummed softly. From his hands, he saw wisps of shimmering energy emanate from his hand that reached for the sky, spidering like cracks in broken glass. He could feel the energy of the world around him through the cracks; he could hear the laughing children, the howling breeze, the birds in the air. He could feel the heat of the sun and the light of stars beyond. His reach was limited yet his influence spread throughout the beach and the summer sky like invisible flames that consumed all.

The Titan took a moment to remember what he is; a formless creature of oblivion. The humming in the air grew louder as Arylos closed his fist. He pulled at the air and the energy of his presence pulled down the air. Arylos could feel the ground and air vibrate with a rich energy in response as a pressure built in the summer air. The fragmented parts of his consciousness spread through the Inamuran air like a billowing storm as the vibrating ground pulsed in a hypnotic rhythm. The sensation was subtle with all of the force of an ant carrying a leaf. Yet lines formed in the sand that mapped the resonance of the force.

Arylos cracked a smile, realising that his strength had grown. Even in his mortal prison, he was still the formless Titan he would always be. An omnipresent creature of flame adrift in the endless night. Arylos hummed a melody in his throat and the air and ground hummed with him in deep tones as his formless voice rang through the air. Little more than a howling breeze to all yet present to those who look closely enough.

Yet why would any of this matter? Why did it matter if Arylos was still the Titan he always was? Why would any of it matter to Iris? Was it the strength to protect his new home? Was it to distance himself from the mortals around him? Was it to find meaning in his life?

Arylos slowly opened his eyes and released his grip as the energy faded and the air went silent. He sighed as he lowered his arm to cover his eyes as he contemplated. What meaning does being a Titan mean to him anymore? The only ones who would care were his own kind, the Eikons, and the Templarians. But what if he could run away from it all? Run away from Templarius so they could never find him. Hide from the Eikons and let reality burn itself down trying to stop them. Hide away on some secluded mountain paradise where he could grow old with a mortal. Maybe then, for the first time, the eternal flames inside him could be extinguished.

Maybe then he would finally have a life worth living and a death worth dying.

Arylos could hear approaching footsteps in the sand that pulled his mind back from his self-reflection. He let out a sigh as the footsteps drew closer. “Sleeping in the sand again, are we?” he heard Iris’s voice ask with a soft laugh.

“I do believe my vacation doesn’t end until next week,” Arylos said with a groan.

He heard Iris chuckle and could hear her sitting down in the sand next to him. Not long later, he could feel wisps of hair touch his forehead and cheeks. He opened his eyes and saw that Iris was hovering just over his face, staring at him intently.

“Yes?” Arylos said with a smile, knowing all she wants is attention.

“Come on, you can’t seriously sleep away the last week we have here,” Iris groaned with a frown.

“I’m on vacation; I can do whatever I want,” Arylos said while closing his eyes again.

Iris groaned once more and repeatedly tapped Arylos’s cheek. “Notice me boyfriend,” she whined as she kept poking him.

“You have been noticed girlfriend,” Arylos said while trying to hide his laughter.

“Yeah but you’re not doing that much noticing,” Iris complained while poking Arylos’s cheek harder.

“Fine then,” Arylos said with a heavy sigh as he rose up from his comfortable position and rubbed his eyes. He looked over at Iris and admired her soft blue two-piece swimsuit, decorated with frills and bows that framed her exposed body that had healed from the marks he put on her.

“So that’s the mystical swimsuit you were too embarrassed to wear,” Arylos said with a laugh.

Iris blushed and chuckled nervously as she turned away. “Y-Yeah, it’s cute but I think it shows off a bit too much.”

“I like it,” Arylos said without hesitation. “It looks good on you and really suits your style.”

“Really?” Iris asked softly, feeling her ears burn hot.

“Really,” Arylos answered while resting a hand on her shoulder. “Although I’m disappointed that you waited until our last week here to break that out.”

“I was nervous!” Iris complained while shaking her head.

“You have issues, you know that?” Arylos said with a soft laugh.

“I know, I know,” Iris grumbled while turning away.

Arylos laughed and looked towards the blue ocean, taking in the sights once more. “So, what are you wanting to do?”

“Oh!” Iris cheered suddenly and dug through one of the bags by the umbrella. She took out a bottle and turned towards Arylos with red cheeks and a hunger in her eyes. “You must get a sunburn, don’t you? Why don’t I help out by putting this lotion on you?” Iris’s face went redder as she laughed in an ominous laugh that Arylos immediately recognised. “You know, all over your chest and back,” she continued as the hunger in her eyes grew.

“We’re in public; contain your weirdness,” Arylos said sternly, internally trying not to laugh at her.

“Oh come on!” Iris squealed while pulling on Arylos’s arm. “Can’t we have a little fun?”

“I would rather us not get kicked off of the beach because you can’t control yourself,” Arylos said while taking the bottle from Iris.

“But it’s just lotion!” Iris complained while pulling on Arylos’s arm more.

“And you’ll get weird about it; keep that behind closed doors,” Arylos said while putting the lotion back in the bag.

Iris let go of Arylos and turned away, crossing her arms with a pout. “You don’t ever let me have fun.”

“There are children, honey,” Arylos said with a laugh while pointing towards the other beachgoers.

“They’re too busy playing!” Iris scoffed.

“You really do have issues, you know that?” Arylos said with a nervous chuckle.

“Fine then,” Iris grumbled under her breath. She then turned around and grabbed Arylos’s hand and pulled gently. “Come on then; let’s go,” she ordered while continuing to pull Arylos.

“Where are we going?” Arylos asked while pulling back, part of him wondering what secluded alcove Iris will take him to so she can have her way with him.

“Just come on!” Iris ordered as her strength suddenly grew, yanking the Titan to his feet. Arylos found himself powerless as Iris pulled him along, laughing all the while as her smile widened. Arylos couldn’t help but to laugh with her as the two walked along the shore as the waves of the ocean came to their feet.

As the two walked, Arylos could feel his anxieties on the back of his mind. He couldn’t help but wonder how much longer he could have this. He gripped Iris’s hand tight as he willed himself to follow her wherever she would take him. He didn’t know what else this endless endeavour had for him, but he would chase it beyond where the skies end.

Iris felt his tightening grip and turned towards to check on him. She gave the Titan a smile as she gripped his hand tight as well. Arylos felt himself grounded as the whispers in his mind faded away and he could focus on her.

Iris gasped as she felt her arm being suddenly pulled and before she could correct herself, Arylos hugged her tight from behind. She chuckled softly as she held Arylos’s arms as he held her tighter, taking in the feel of her skin and the smell of her hair. Arylos let himself be lost in the experience that was Iris, unwilling to let her go.

“Are you alright?” Iris asked softly while rubbing Arylos’s forearms to comfort him.

“I am now,” Arylos said in a relaxed voice as he held Iris tighter. He only wanted to follow her wherever she went; to be lost in the light of his star. He took in the meaninglessness of his past, how hollow his name sounded, how empty his titles became. He determined himself to follow Iris no matter what horizon she took him to.

Iris could feel how tight he was holding her and how the muscles in his arms shook. She knew this all too well by this point and chuckled softly. Bellona was right; she had brought the mighty Titan to his knees and put a leash on him. She wanted nothing more than to share moments like these with him; hoping that once she is gone, he will still remain hers.

This is his unbecoming; losing the monster he thinks he is and becoming the man he had always wanted to be.