The battlefield was eerily silent. The once roaring volcano now lay dormant, as if mourning the fallen. Magsuiās ashes scattered with the wind, leaving only the lingering scent of sulfur.
Jen still held Nateās lifeless body in her arms, her tears falling freely as she sobbed uncontrollably. Zack sat beside her, his hands trembling. Despite his best efforts, his healing powers had failed. The bitter sting of helplessness tore through him.
Zack: (whispering)
"I-I triedā¦ I tried everythingā¦"
Safari stood a short distance away, his fists clenched tightly. He detransformed as his rage simmered into hollow sorrow. His eyes, once burning with determination, were now clouded with guilt.
Safari: (voice low)
"He didn't deserve this."
Jen gently laid Nateās body on the ground, her sobs reducing to weak hiccups. She clenched his cold hand, unwilling to let go.
Jen: (through tears)
"Whyā¦ why did you do it? I didnāt ask for this. You didnāt have toā¦"
Zack placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, though his own face was streaked with tears.
Zack: (softly, tears falling)
"He wanted to protect you, Jen. He knew the risk, and he still chose to save you."
Jen shook her head.
Jen: (crying)
"But it wasnāt fair! He should have lived!"
Safari remained silent. The memories of his own past ā of losing his sister ā resurfaced, twisting in his chest like a knife. He hated this feeling. No matter how much strength he gained, there were always those he couldnāt protect.
Safari: (gritting his teeth)
"I shouldāve been faster. I shouldāve stopped Magsui before he even had the chance toā"
Zack: (cutting him off)
"Big broā¦ it wasnāt your fault."
But Safari didnāt respond. The weight of Nateās sacrifice gnawed at him, and no words could ease the burden.
Meanwhile ā
Far across the stars, Angeleva had her own battle ā not with demons, but with the infuriatingly persistent humanoid weirdos.
They were a bizarre group of lanky, overly cheerful beings, their floppy limbs flailing as they clung to her legs and arms. Despite her best attempts to shake them off, they held on with unnerving determination.
Angeleva: (struggling)
"Why. Wonāt. You. Let. GO?!"
Weirdo 1: (giggling)
"We love your energy!"
Weirdo 2: (smiling)
"And your sparkly hair!"
Angeleva: (groaning)
"This is a nightmare. A living nightmare!"
Every time she tried to speed up, they dragged her back, their combined weight slowing her flight to a crawl. Her once graceful movements now resembled an awkward wobble.
Angeleva: (thinking)
"Forget reaching Gorvax. At this rate, Iāll be stuck with these lunatics forever."
But even as she struggled, a faint unease gnawed at her. She could sense a shift in the atmosphere, as if something terrible had occurred.
Back At Gorvax
The sun began to rise, casting an orange glow over the village. The villagers emerged from their homes, their faces still filled with fear. But when they saw the smoldering remains of Magsui, they realized they had been freed.
The village elder approached, his frail hands clasped together in gratitude.
Elder: (bowing)
"You have rid us of the demon general. For that, we are forever in your debt."
But Safari couldnāt accept their thanks. Not when the cost had been so great. He turned away from the elder, his gaze fixed on Nateās lifeless form.
Safari: (softly)
"Debt? What good is victory when we couldn't save him?"
The elder lowered his head, understanding the pain they carried.
Elder:
"His sacrifice will not be forgotten. We will honor him as one of our own."
Later that day, a quiet ceremony was held.
A burial mound was built at the edge of the village, overlooking the dormant volcano. Flowers native to Gorvax adorned the site, their crimson petals swaying gently in the breeze.
Jen knelt before the grave, her hands trembling as she placed a small pendant on the mound. It was one of Nateās ā a simple stone necklace that he had treasured.
Jen: (whispering)
"You were braver than anyone Iāve ever met. Iāll never forget you, Nate."
Zack stood beside her, his heart heavy. He had only known Nate for a short time, but his sacrifice left a permanent mark.
Zack: (softly)
"You gave us a chance. Iāll make sure that chance wasnāt wasted."
Safari didnāt speak. He simply stared at the grave, the bitter taste of regret still lingering. But deep down, he knew what he had to do.
Safari: (thinking)
"No more innocent lives will be lost. I swear it."
Safari remained seated under the darkening sky, his broad frame hunched as the weight of responsibility bore down on him.
Jen and Zack sat on either side of him, their expressions still hollow from the trauma of Nate's death. Despite his intimidating presence, Safari was powerless against their grief.
He tried everything ā cold words, stern commands, even forceful persuasion. None of it worked.
Safari: (grumbling)
"You think sitting here is gonna bring him back? He wouldnāt want that."
But the words felt hollow, even to him. He couldnāt mask the pain in his voice. Jen stared at the ground, silent. Zack clenched his fists, refusing to meet his gaze.
Hours passed. The air grew cold, and the dim glow of Gorvaxās moon cast long shadows over them. Safari sat with his arms crossed, frustration mounting. He hated how powerless he felt.
Safari: (thinking)
"Iām not good at this. Theyāre not like me. Iāve faced loss, but theyā¦ they donāt know how to carry it."
For the first time in years, he wished for a miracle. Someone who could handle these delicate emotions.
"That stupid fairy wouldāve known what to do," he thought bitterly.
Meanwhile...
In a distant mountain, a blinding flash of light lit up the night sky. Then, with a tremendous crash, something barreled into the rocky cliffs, sending dust and debris flying.
Safariās head snapped towards the direction of the crash.
Safari: (narrowing his eyes)
"What now?"
Jen and Zack remained unmoved, but Safariās sharp instincts urged him to investigate. He rose, brushing the dirt off his coat, and made his way toward the distant mountains.
Angeleva groaned, sprawled across the jagged rocks. Her pink hair was tangled, and her pristine fairy dress was smeared with dirt.
Despite her exhaustion, the true humiliation came from the three humanoid weirdos still latched onto her.
Weirdo 1: (gleefully)
"Wow! You flew so fast!"
Weirdo 2: (grinning)
"And the sparkles! So pretty!"
Weirdo 3: (completely smitten)
"Weāve never seen a fairy use all her power before! Amazing!"
Angeleva twitched, her eyes visibly twitching.
Angeleva: (muttering)
"This is not how a legendary fairy should be treatedā¦"
She rubbed her temples, barely suppressing her frustration. These creeps had clung to her for hours, draining her energy.
Every attempt to shake them off only made them cling tighter. She couldāve incinerated them with a burst of fairy magic, but ā horrifyingly ā they seemed to enjoy it.
Angeleva: (groaning)
"Theyāre likeā¦ energy leeches. I canāt even use my seduction powers. Theyāre beyond hope."
She shuddered.
The memory of their excitement when sheād unleashed her full fairy powers was burned into her mind.
Angeleva: (thinking)
"I might actually have a trauma from this."
Just as she contemplated her miserable state, she sensed a presence approaching.
Angeleva: (exasperated)
"What now?"