Chapter Text
The world seemed collapsing behind. Her vison spiraled wildly. Raib felt something trembled, at first, she thought it was the ground, later realized that it was her hand and body that twitched. The adrenaline rushed through her brain. The blankness of her mind, except her physics, shaking.
She tried recalling what had occurred prior, but her mind seems giving away. Neglecting reality. It would take an hour later that somber began crawling to her, finally winning against the la-la-land. Tears began to cultivate itself. Realizing what happened prior. The earth stake had collapsed.
Gathered every sense she had left, Raib reconciled what is left of her consciousness. Wishing it all just a horrible dream. Surely. She after all, still alive. Breathing even. Surely, it must have been a nightmare. Surely. Her mind trailed off. Unfortunately, it does not take a smartest person, that credit would be Ali’s, to understand it was a false hope.
Spinning with madness. Bursting several more tear drops. She wonders. How is she still alive? Why is she still alive? She should have been dead. She has heard the loud bang. Feel the heat. The way high temperature wrapped her body. Yet, merely illogical. She still forming though and catching breath.
Her head rolled left. She has not realized her surrounding until now.
Why is it all dim?
Raib stood up, analyzing. The ceiling was a cat tail inch close to her head. Very claustrophobic. Although, she relieved that the floor was plain. As if it was a pedestrian walkway or closer to a tile.
So, it wasn’t a mysterious rhinoceros-human hybrid temple, like one of the novels I’ve read.
She cupped a smile. Feeling little insane reminiscing something at time like this.
Stepping lowly. Careful not to trip nor accidentally bump her head. She dived deeper into the room, expecting more.
Not even took long, she realized a corner just near before her view. The room was not deep after all. In fact, just a couple steps before her, she saw a figure sat against the wall. It was hard to make off its face. However, she recognized his messy hair. Adjusting her vision, she finally recognized that face. That annoying face whom usually grin with pride. Now fade and staring emptily to the floor. Her heart sank, pierced between relief and ache.
She immediately leaned closer to him. Bending over to check his conditions. Gently, she placed her right hands on his shoulder. Not much was broken thankfully. She began focus. Using her power to heal him. Piece by piece the technique began stitching his injury.
After seconds that felt hour. Every wound of his has been healed. Both of them went speechless. No one has muttered a single word. Emptiness filled the air, she noticed the silence of his.
Ali…
What has the world do to them. Specifically, to him. Everything has shattered. One time, he was the most cocky, confident, smartest and most assured out of anyone that they would find the earth stake before it collapsed. So hopeful with his inductive assumption. Managed to guess possible point of the collapse to only eight. Now he’s miserable. Each sense of hope has been seized from him.
Unbidden, tears slid down Raib’s checks.
“Ra.” Ali hesitated. His gaze slowly shifted, not to her, instead, another person laying down next to him.
Heart plunged deeper than the ocean. She had not noticed her body before. Her breathing became heavier. She wanted to scream. Memories, clear as crystal, spun across her brain. Of their friendships. Those teases they made at each other. The laugh and silliness of life that was once normal as any other youth of their age. Before parallel world matters were endured on their shoulders. Before they were dragged into this rabbit hole. She missed their old life. She would do anything to achieve it back.
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“The sunset must have been beautiful.” Seli murmured softly. Leaning on her friend’s shoulder. Raib nodded subtly. The artificial star began to submerge. Leaving trails of amber light. Finally dipped beneath the horizon. Giving away for moonrise.
Seli was the one who prompted them to see it. Argued that they deserve seeing such beauty considering what they had been through.
Several discussions later. They agreed. The room, which turned out to be Raib’s sudden ability to create sort of a safe room, is too narrow for their liking after all.
We gambled by opening a portal in Faar’s green valley room. As it turns out the star army had been pulled back succeeding the earthquake. Still, they preferred laying low as possible. Thus, the trio quickly ran into a hill in Zaramaras city’s outskirt.
It has been hard tracking off time precisely. We lost count of days. And Ali has not done much favor. In fact, the boy’s preferred to wander elsewhere nowadays. Occupied himself with under pretext of bringing us food. Raib sighed in desperation. Barely understood his mind.
Indigos and blues gently began to swept the sky. Stars slowly appearing. Sowed the sky like glimmering field of seeds. Amidst them all, the lunar giant sat gracefully on its throne. Raib hardly could took his eyes off the view.
This stupendous sight is so mesmerizing. Yet tragic. These stars might have already gone, but their lights shine through eternity.
“Miss Selena and the others would have love it, Sel.”
“I’m sorry…” Raib abruptly added. Spontaneously met her eyes. Quickly regretted as she does so.
“What for?”
“Your sight.” They paused, feeling awkward for a moment
“Ra..” Seli was saying, she held both of Raib’s palms. “I can’t expect losing something worser. What important is you guys are alive, and I’m grateful enough.”