Edenteric

Shadow of the Past

Poryphion Forest, 11 years ago.

The war has been going on for hundreds of years, and it has remained that way to this day. The impact of war can be felt throughout the continent. Hundreds of lives are lost every day, hundreds of children lose their parents, hundreds lose their lives.

The cruel rules of life seem to be imprinted under the circle of destiny. Those who are strong will survive, while the weak will only be their strong footing.

Wars are like trash, leaving behind a trail of grief and misery, creating lasting hatred and resentment, giving birth to darkness from generation to generation, sweeping the light from the lap of the motherland.

There's nothing to do but survive, nobody to trust, nobody to help. There is only one self, under the shadow of eternal darkness.

Is it all going to end? Or can this end? When did it all end?. A silly question like an old legend, like the opening words of a fairy tale. Not clear, not sure. Only stupid wishful thinking, which would never happen even in a dream.

"Then do we not just have to dream, dream and dream again?" a black girly boy said loudly to his friends.

Ruby's bead stared in all directions, looking back with excitement at all the eyes that had been staring at her questioningly. Then the boy grinned triumphantly until a little girl denied his words.

"Basstupid, how could everything change if you were just dreaming, all you did was curl up in your bed" the long red-blinded little girl stared back at the bead of Ruby the boy in front of her.

"Don't cut my words!!" the Ruby boy snorted in annoyance.

At the end of the room, another girl spoke in a flat tone, unlike her two friends.

"I think Alghif is right, if all you do is just sleep, the world will not change" said the brown unravel girl who made the Ruby boy again grunt.

"But.in any case, ki-we can also have dreams right?" the other girl commented, although she sounded a bit doubtful, then her cheeks turned red as the Ruby boy looked at her while raising his thumb towards her.

"Look, Mirell just supports me" he said.

The boy who was bigger than the others jumped from a box where he had sat before. His strong facial line gave an expression of courage.

"Then, my dream is to become the most powerful knight in the world" he said as he held up a piece of wood with his hand, as if he were to draw a sword.

"If you are, I doubt it. What if the strongest knight in the world ran away from a rabbit?" another boy sneered while holding back his laughter.

"Walldy, I told you it wasn't an ordinary rabbit, it was RoutRabbitt, another breed of rabbit, bigger and fiercer" said the boy while demonstrating how to sheathe a sword with his wooden blade.

"But Udzaa managed to catch him, didn't he? not too ferocious as it was.." the girl with a large blue ribbon adorning her black hair spoke as she flicked her chin towards the black-bladed boy who sat quietly in the other corner of the room.

"I swear it's delicious, can we catch him again tomorrow?" ask Walldy. The boy called Udzaa gave a short nod.

"I agree, once I get it, I think we can hand it over to Luna" the Ruby boy told the girl with the blue ribbon.

"Couldn't you? The luna?"

"Just leave it to me" Luna said proudly.

On the other hand, the girl unraveled Caramel who had only noticed the chatter of his friends, finally spoke up.

"Can we get anything but meat? you know, we also need vegetables and fruits"

"Kirana for the next time" the Ruby boy crossed his arms in front of his chest, in a commanding style he again said.

"The carrot is not good"

Alghif hit Ruby's boy on the head until he complained of pain.

"What would be your health if you ate only meat?"

The Ruby boy rubbed his head on the spot where Alghif gave him a punch. He looked at Alghif.

"We always eat vegetables since a long time ago, now since Udzaa joined finally we can hunt, I just want Udzaa to use his skills, is not that good?"

"And then, what exactly is your skill?" ask Alghif.

"Besides eating and sleeping, of course" Kirana continued.

"Also commanding pretentious." added Walldy

The Ruby boy was speechless, his face pouting admitting defeat. Then laughter exploded from all of them, except that Ruby boy.

"Alright, it's late we better sleep now" said Luna as their laughter had all subsided.

"Tomorrow morning Raha and I will look for vegetables in the forest" he said, who then got a nod of agreement from the girl with the white side.

"And fruits." continued Raha with a funny-sounding voice.

"Faadhi and Walldy, this time you are collecting firewood" Alghif said to the two men who were fighting swords with a stick.

"Let me and Sana who are looking for Water" said Mirell stammeringly, the girl in black with the bangs on her forehead who was sitting beside Mirell nodded, but Kirana shook her head.

"Let Faiz look for Water"

"Heee?? Why me? I want to hunt with Udzaa" the Ruby boy refused.

"Do you have the heart to see a girl take water in the river?" said Kirana who made the Ruby boy speechless agreed.

"Udzaa can hunt with Fath, right?"

"Yes, it's okay" said Udzaa briefly.

"Talk about that, where's Fath?" ask Alghif. Look at all his friends, who no one seems to know where Fath is.

"I haven't seen Leafa or Syafa" Sana said

That was when the door opened, the black unraveling girl with the butterfly hairpin charged in. He was panting, his face full of wounds and sweat. He just ran.

All eyes were on him, surprised and trying to get to him. But Alghif arrived first, he asked the girl.

"Lyfa what's wrong? why you.." Alghif had not yet finished his words Lyfa had fallen. Alghif captured his body, with the consciousness of which Leafa almost lost saying something.

"Fath.. Shafa. they were attacked. by the river.." and then Lyfa fainted.

It was Faiz who moved first, breaking the silence. He grabbed a spear with a pointed stone beside the door and then ran out. A second later Faadhi and Walldy followed him, as did Udzaa who grabbed a silver dagger of hers.

***

Faiz until first, he saw Syafa lying unconscious on the river bank. He doesn't see Fath anywhere. Faadhi and Walldy came after him with their spears.

"What's going on?" walldy asked while Faadhi looked around, scattering the bushes around the river, trying to find something.

Udzaa came later. He saw Syafa unconscious there with Faiz and Walldy who were trying to resuscitate him.

Udzaa came to them. Syafa looked pale than usual, his body was covered in wounds although not so severe. Unfortunately, there was a small incision on his cheek. Udzaa saw not only blood flowing from there but other purplish-colored fluids.

Udzaa immediately knelt beside Syafa. Faiz looked at him, asking.

"It's poison, I've seen it" Udzaa said. Faiz did not know what to do, but Udzaa was quite responsive to handle it. Moments later he managed to remove the poison from Syafa's wound. The tinge on his face returned to normal and then slowly Shafa opened his eyes.

At that moment Faadhi came.

"Fath's dagger, I found it on the edge of the forest" he said, holding out a dagger in his hand.

"I saw another sign, I think Fath went to the forest"

"Shyafa, what's going on?" Faiz asked.

Weakly, Syafa opened his mouth trembling.

"Fighters of war.they attacked, trying to snatch the fish that we managed to get.. Fath's chasing. they.." Shafa coughed, then blinked weakly.

"Don't force yourself, you're still weak" Udzaa said. Walldy supported the girl's head with a bag she was carrying. But Faiz stood up suddenly, and then he grabbed Fath's dagger from Faadhi's hand and entered the forest.

Seeing that Udzaa was also standing, he intended to chase after Faiz. He asked Faadhi and Walldy to bring Syafa home, he said to take care of them for a while. Shows a few things to reduce the effects of the poison, and also says to check for Lyfa, to ascertain whether he is also exposed to the poison or not. Then he ran after Faiz.

Ruby's boy was quick about running, Udzaa almost lost track of him. It was getting late, making the forest even darker. Udzaa didn't know where Faiz was going, every road looked the same in the woods. The sounds of forest creatures pounding out of nowhere, huge trees sticking out their tendrils, narrowing the visibility.

Udzaa stopped his steps, the road branched in front of him. He really lost track. To be honest he did not want to do it again, but there was something more urgent at this time, therefore Udzaa deployed his Cloe, draining it all over his body. A second later he sensed the presence of Faiz as well as Fath nearby, as well as a dozen other Cloe who were stronger than them. Without wasting time Udzaa darted away.

With his speed he was up to an instant, but what he saw was unbelievable. He found Fath's body lying on the ground, not far from where he was standing. He approached her, examined her. Udzaa looked around, finding a dozen other bodies, a man much larger than himself in full combat clothes, lying dead.

At the end he found Faiz standing, his body burning with fire, but the wild licking tongue did not hurt his body at all.

Faiz turned his head, he gasped. Ruby's bead glittered sharper than Udzaa's ever seen. Udzaa.

"You, beat them all.."

Faiz lowered his head, the fire in his body extinguished instantly. He fell to his knees in his place.

"..more precisely kill them" he said weakly, then his eyes blurred, and fell unconscious.

***

The day changed, the previous events about the war escape attack were slowly forgotten. But that changed everything. Faiz changed his perspective on the world, he no longer rambled about his beautiful dreams for the world but turned them into a real action.

Faiz told me everything that day. The truth about him, where he came from and what he could do with his ability.

He claimed to be the last descendant of the Anthera clan. An ancient clan that was touted as a dragon conqueror clan in the past. The clan of the owners of the great powers that the world respects, but because of that power, the Anthera clan hunted down, until now lost nothing left.

Faiz said he had no intention of hiding who he was. He just didn't want them to be afraid of his presence. Because of this, Faiz was forced to hide his past. But now that they knew the truth, Faiz apologized for his actions.

Instead, Faiz did the thing that later changed their lives. He taught them to control Cloe, taught them how to make magic, all of which he did to avoid previous events.

Some of them looked spirited, including Faadhi who did aspire to become a knight. On the other hand, Fath is also interested, because he hates not being able to protect his friends before. Even so some of them still look scared when Faiz explains. But in the end they agreed.

Then began the days full of training. Unexpectedly Faiz, his friends more quickly absorb what he taught. Until a year had passed, they had turned into completely different people. Faiz and his friends have grown tremendously. By mutual agreement, Faiz referred to themselves as a magic union. A guild that would later be known as, the Twin Dragon Guild (Twins Dragon Guild).

***

A second year has passed since the attack. The name of the Twin Dragon Union shot to the surface, they were known to the corners of the country as one of the powerful unions consisting of children aged dozens of years. They jump directly into battle, participate as mercenaries with agreements and party elections based on justice. They refuse to help those who move only in the name of power, they uphold justice. Until now they have become one of the feared unions.

But behind their rising names, as a result they are always targeted by other unions. Because of this they built a base hidden in the forest, far from the residential area. Dozens of protective spells guarded their headquarters, making the place completely undetectable.

"I've just completed a distraction repellent spell in the corner there.." Sana stepped closer to her friends who were gathered in front of the door of their headquarters.

"A distraction repellent spell is A-class magic isn't it? you are great to do it" said Luna to praise him. Sana took a seat beside Luna.

"It's not a hard spell actually." she replied humbly.

Fath came from inside the base with Alghif behind him. The two of them, as well as the others, had already grown by leaps and bounds during these two years.

"Remain still, using class A protective magic in a place this wide" said Alghif, he grabbed an apple from the table in front of him.

"Where's Faiz?"

Udzaa who was sitting leaning beside the entrance looked up at Alghif.

"He was lurking around with Mirell" Udzaa told him.

Then a black fog flew up in the air above them, drifting low, spinning several times then darting down. When it touched the ground the black fog faded, galloping into a thinner mist then from behind the thin mist that Faadhi manifested with a wide grin on his face.

"It's great!!" cheers cheerfully. Then another black fog descended after him, manifesting itself as Walldy wearing a plain white mask.

"Ahh I think I've mastered it a little bit" he said.

Alghif looked at the two of them in annoyance, folding both of his hands in front of his chest.

"What are you guys doing? shouldn't you check the north?"

Faadhi took a place beside Raha who had been busy with some permanent on the table since. Faadhi sat down beside her, grabbing an apple from the table while embracing Raha's shoulders which the girl obviously disliked.

"Can you not bother me now?" said the girl in white while brushing Faadhi's hand off her shoulder.

"All right." said Faadhi half laughing. Then he looked at Alghif.

"Walldy and I just finished checking, then racing to come here" he said.

He turned to Udzaa.

"This technique is cool, do you have anything else? I mean better.."

Udzaa smiled slightly but Fath spoke first.

"That technique is not for toys, Udzaa was kind enough to teach us all, should you ask for more?" he said that then made Faadhi look upset.

"What do you call that technique?" now Walldy asked. He took off his mask, revealing himself who was smiling faintly.

Udzaa was silent, he looked confused.

"Em, I never gave him a name. What do you think?" Udzaa. Faiz and Mirell appear with a boy they don't know.

The boy was unconscious on Faiz's back, with several open wounds adorning his face. A larger wound seemed to open on his chest, visible from the blood that had now soaked half Faiz's clothes.

"What's going on? who's she?" Alghif reacts first.

Faiz did not have time to explain that he looked tired holding the child's weight on his back. Mirell clearly looks over-excited.

"Bring her in, Kirana is collecting medicinal herbs in the forest with Syafa, I will call her" he said as he ran into the forest.

Faadhi helps Faiz bring the boy in, while Fath opens the door. The three of them disappeared behind the door.

Alghif approached Mirell who was still standing in his place.

"What's going on?"

Mirell recounted that they found the boy as they inspected the forest perimeter. The boy was severely wounded, drained of blood and nearly dead, Faiz forced to take him to the base to help him.

"But it's very risky, bringing strangers into our protection spell, you know why we put it up, right?"

"I understand but Faiz won't listen" Mirell defended himself. Luna picked up a blanket, then placed it on Mirell's boat.

Sana came a while later with Kirana and Syafa who were carrying a basket of medicinal herbs. They ran towards the door.

"In the meantime, hurry up, it looks like he's running out of blood" said Udzaa, who saw traces of blood on the boy's doorstep. Kirana immediately went inside, followed by Syafa who brought her a basket of medicinal plants.

Leafa came from another direction, somewhat surprised by the situation that was happening. He joins Mirell and Luna at the table with Raha who has left the parchment.

A few minutes later Kirana stepped out, her hands filled with Faiz's blood and Faadhi followed behind. Alghif immediately asked for an explanation regarding that.

"I can't leave him alone, can I?? he could die there" Faiz said as he adjusted his breath, he had already changed his clothes to a new one.

"You have to wash your own clothes you know." Raha said to him.

Walldy came out of the base with a bottle of drink and a few glasses, put it on the table and took a seat next to Faiz who grabbed a glass, filled it and then finished the contents with a single sip.

"How's the kid doing?"

Kirana came back after washing her hands, she grabbed a cloth from the table that she was using to dry her hands.

"The injury is quite severe, but for now there is nothing to worry about." he explained, then looked at Faiz.

"What really happened, how could the boy have gotten such a big wound?"

"I don't know either, me and Mirell were around when we found the boy unconscious with a body full of wounds" he explained again after emptying his second glass.

"I had no choice, he could die there"

"Oh well, it's up to you." said Alghif as he rolled his eyes and then turned around.

"I have an appointment with someone from the kingdom, I think there's something to talk about, Leafa you can come with me" he said. Leafa got up from his seat then followed Alghif's steps to their protection limit, passed through it and then lashed out into a black fog which then shot flying.

"Hopefully the child is not a spy" said Udzaa who is now standing next to Faiz who looked back at him.

"If you understand what I mean, I know what you did was good, but I agree with Alghif, we shouldn't have brought him in"

"All right, we wait for him to wake up, then we can ask, if he's good enough he can go" Kirana said when she saw Faiz did not like Udzaa's words.

"It looks like it's going to rain, we better get in" he said, looking at the sky as it rumbled.

***

The boy was awake tonight. Alghif and Lyfa had returned a while ago, carrying a parchment containing a plea from the kingdom. But before that they had many questions for the man who was lying on Faiz's bed.

His blood-stained black clothes had been replaced with other clothes, although none of the clothes matched his small body size.

Udzaa stepped in following his friends, staring at the boy Faiz had saved this afternoon. The boy had dim black eyes, his skin was pale his black hair fell limp over his forehead. Those black eyes were staring around weakly. The questions Alghif asked in full questioning, sounding rude enough that Kirana was forced to take her place.

The boy, named Exel, claimed to not remember anything about himself and his past, which he remembered only himself who met someone who then asked him for food and then attacked him.

"Bandits? Snatchers?" ask Raha.

"Too polite to Snatcher's class, I think it's one of the escapees of war" Sana said.

"I heard that a few days ago there was a war far to the west, is it possible?" Walldy commented.

But then they agreed to give the boy a place to stay, at least until he fully recovered after Faiz insisted. Udzaa himself did not mind, he understood Faiz's wishes, he even remembered the first day he met them. Almost like that boy. Then he smiled and broke the mood.

"So, it's time for dinner, I guess.."

Finally they had dinner in the courtyard of the headquarters, the wooden table in front of which was turned into a long picnic table. Faiz helps Mirell and Sana set the table while Faadhi and Wally join Udzaa in setting fire to a RoutRabbitt.

Luna prepared some vegetables that Lymph brought from the forest, assisted by Syafa. Fath joined Luna as she came. Finally dinner was ready, they all occupied their seats. Kirana joins the table after delivering food to the boy named Exel.

On the sidelines of dinner, Fath asked about the parchment Alghif had brought before.

"That's a request from the kingdom" he explained.

"Which kingdom exactly?" faiz asked seriously. He is very sensitive when it comes to requests.

Alghif pushed his bronze plate away from him. He finished his glass and then replied.

"Rosemary Kingdom." he said as he stared at one by one his friends. Expect opinions from them.

"Twenty years ago Rosemary Kingdom led an alliance of the three great empires with Clawford and Akiba, the alliance ended when they entered into a truce with the Elf Kingdom, even so Clawford still fought them and broke the agreement" explained Alghif, all eyes were on him.

"Clawford changed his course, from defending his territory to now wanting to colonize the Elf kingdom" he said again.

Fath cut.

"If so we need certainty about it, does Clawford really want to colonize the Elf Kingdom?"

"I got word about half of Clawford's territory now ruled by black magicians, they also experimented with other races to create a weapon" Udzaa added. He grabbed a piece of paper from under his cloak and placed it on the table.

"This is the blueprint" he said again.

They all stared at the paper Udzaa had placed on the table. The paper was not completely perfect, there were some missing pieces like a tear, the rest of the paper contained a chart depicting a weapon with an assembly system and some magic for its use.

"I guess you got it from your little army?" guess Luna towards Udzaa who nodded briefly. They all knew about the small army Luna meant. Udzaa had a relationship with some street children in various places he used to ask to do something for a fee.

"Next time tell them to take something that is not torn" he said again.

"This is just a rough idea, if approved." said Udzaa while staring at Faiz who was still silent staring at the paper.

"I can find new information" he said.

All fell silent then Faiz expressed his agreement. He told everyone not to move before Udzaa got the latest information on Clawford's rumours. The dinner was then finished after the sky rumbled again.

***

A week later Udzaa brought bad news, the Kingdom of Clawford was preparing a weapon with black magic to destroy the Elf Kingdom, but before that they intended to destroy the Rosemary Kingdom and Akiba first.

With that information, Faiz ordered them to make a move. Alghif was again sent to meet with representatives of Rosemary Kingdom to convey that information. Then they teamed up with the government to fight Clawford.

The battle broke out the next day, lasting up to a week, and for the first time since the Twin Dragon Guild had come to the surface, they were overwhelmed in battle. The weapon the enemy made was finished cornered.

At such a crucial moment Exel, the boy they saved a few days ago came to the battlefield. No one ever thought that Exel had extraordinary strength, because the help of the female Exel was won by them. In return Rosemary Kingdom gave them many gems, but Faiz refused them.

"Are you stupid hahh!!??" Faadhi yelled at Faiz when he found out that he was refusing the rewards of the Rosemary Kingdom.

"They gave him gladly, why did you reject him"

That night all of them, the Twin Dragon Guild, gathered in the courtyard of their headquarters, the long table there was already filled with various foods. Faiz with his mouth full of food tried to talk, finally a few pieces of meat in his mouth gushed out.

"Getting.." commented Raha who was sitting not far from Faiz.

Faiz took a handkerchief and then cleaned his mouth.

"Come on, don't we have more than enough?" he said that made Faadhi snort annoyed.

"Here it is, there is no need to fight, are we not celebrating our success" Syafa said as he stepped towards the grill, flipping some of the meat Udzaa had burned before.

"Exel's here anyway, no matter how he helps us, so let's celebrate"

From there, Walldy came up with a big plate of food, put it on the table. Udzaa sat in his place, gulping down his drink, beside him Sana was busy with her plate.

"That's it, let's celebrate Exel's success" Walldy held up his glass high, Faiz followed and laughed.

On the other side of the table, Exel sat facing his plate of food which he had not touched in the slightest. Suddenly Raha patted the boy on the shoulder.

"Of Exel, you also have to eat, Udzaa's hunting RoutRabbitt is always good, don't let Faiz spend it" said Raha cheerfully, at the end of which Faiz was offended.

"Hey hey. Leave it alone, Exel will also eat in the end, after all there is still a lot of food here.." Faiz pushed a bowl of boiled vegetables away from him, shifting right in front of Exel.

"Eat, vegetables are good for your growth"

"You should eat that too!" alghif's orders, but his eyes caught Faadhi's movement throwing vegetables from his plate.

"And you, finish your vegetables!!" alghif's orders are like a mother scolding her child.

"Why are you? you have to eat vegetables, not just meat, or I won't let Udzaa hunt anymore!" those words were enough to silence the mouth of Faiz who wanted to refute him.

"Look at Leafa, he's eating his vegetables"

"Vegetarians never eat meat" Faadhi whispered to Faiz, who nodded in agreement.

Alghif ignored him.

"Exel, how do you know where we are?" ask the boy. Exel looked afraid to answer, but Syafa's gaze made him open his mouth.

"I, feel your Cloe and then I turn into a mist then." she explained in a soft voice.

Mirell is surprised to find Exel knows how to travel through the fog, Exel tells him that he has seen them use the magic.

"And you just cheated her a little bit? but it's perfect, what do you think Udzaa?" Mirell switched to Udzaa.

"To be honest I was also a little surprised, what my techniques are easily imitated or indeed Exel is too genius" Udzaa said while chuckling.

Dinner was late, they sang songs with passion. Sometimes they laugh, hit each other, as well as all the other excitement. Exel, slowly adapts, and the night becomes the first night that Exel laughs since they knew him.

In the end, Faiz asked Exel to join them. Become part of their union. Everyone seemed agreeable and excited which then Exel nodded in agreement with his wide smile.

"For our new family, Exel!!" Fath raised his drinking glass which was then followed by them all.

Exel smiled at the sight, raising his glass, welcoming the real warmth of his new family.

Udzaa who was standing next to the grill not far from the table also raised his glass. The joy he will never forget, the warm night, he felt like he had a family. And unknowingly, in his heart he swore to protect them all. He smiled a little and then sipped his drink.

Happiness is something no orphan can get like them. Although they come from different places, they are like family.

The following days were full of warmth, Exel had adapted to his new environment, although until now he did not know where his origins were, what about his past. But what he knows now is that he has a family.

Udzaa felt the same way, the more he felt the things he never felt. The sense of having a family. The feeling of having friends. A sense of purpose in life.

His eyes met Exel's. The boy smiled at her who replied to him by raising his glass. For some reason when he saw Exel who was much younger than him, he felt like he was looking at himself. Don't know where he came from, don't remember anything about his past.

The next day Faiz placed the Union sign under his right arm, a burning sign in the shape of two crossed dragon heads. And with that, Exel officially became a part of them.

The next year passed quickly, they were instrumental in many wars, making their name increasingly known as a strong union.

But they never knew that a calamity was approaching them, destroying the powerful union overnight, tying them to another shadow of suffering.

***

That night the sky looked darker, Udzaa was walking towards the headquarters after completing his mission. He sped up his steps to avoid the rain that seemed to be falling. In the end he had reached the confines of their headquarters protection, he went into that protection only to see the bodies of his friends lying on the ground.

Udzaa was very surprised, he ran to one of the bodies of his friends. He saw Sana there, still motionless on the ground, Udzaa also did not feel Cloe belong to his friend. Sana is dead. He looked around, finding all his friends dead with bodies full of wounds.

Udzaa is speechless. His brain was too busy digesting what he had just seen. Faadhi was motionless leaning under the tree, Fath with wounds all over his body, Raha who was also motionless at the entrance of the headquarters.

He saw Alghif whose heart was pierced by a spear, Luna who was lying covered in blood, and others. Not moving, not living.

"W-what happened!!??" Udzaa stood in a daze, he could not believe what he saw. At that moment he saw one of the bodies move weakly, he immediately ran over.

Faiz was lying there, partially scarred but still breathing. Udzaa knelt by his side.

"Hey.. Anthera!" Udzaa shook the body of his friend. Faiz opened his eyes weakly, then smiled at him.

"Thank God you're still safe" Faiz said in a weak voice.

"What happened, the other one.." Faiz cut Udzaa's words, again he smiled even though it seemed quite difficult.

"Exel's out of control.." Udzaa surprised.

"Exel did it? but.but why?" Udzaa asked in a surprised tone.

Faiz told me everything, while Udzaa was away. Exel went on a rampage and attacked all of them, killing them. Faiz tried to hold him back but Exel's strength was too great, so he was helpless. Faiz could only see his friends being killed, while he could not move. After that Exel left them.

"Hey, you know.." Faiz said weakly.

"You owe me, can I get paid now?"

"Can you keep your mouth shut, you're in trouble, I'll treat you, I think Kirana's stash can.."

"No need.." Faiz cut off Udzaa's words, then he coughed, blood spurting from his mouth.

"I had a wish before my time was completely up" Udzaa wanted to interrupt him but Faiz made him shut up.

"Close.."

Faiz whispered something in Udzaa's wide-eyed ear when he heard it.

"You can do it?"

Udzaa nodded reluctantly, but Faiz considered her an agreement.

"Since I've wanted to see Mom and Dad.." Faiz coughed again, making blood come back out of his mouth.

"Finally I'll meet them soon, I'll tell them both that I have great friends" Udzaa squeezed out her friend's hand. Faiz smiled at him until he closed his eyes peacefully and melted into ashes, disappearing from this world.

Udzaa couldn't believe it. Sadness pierced his heart. Her Cloe flowed profusely, coming out into a black aura that revolved around her body. Her Cloe pressure jolted so intensely, creating a painful gust of wind. It was raining heavily right as Udzaa roared loudly at the sky.

Lightning struck wildly, blaring in the starless dark sky, the black aura surrounding his body revolving increasingly faster, pressing his own body to the brim of the black aura, blurring his gaze, the, makes him moan harder.

Until his eyes opened, staring at the ceiling of the hospital ward.

***