A shrill glass breaking scream of horror escapes my lips as he collapses, his blood covered black coat almost falling off from all the cuts and shreds inflicted by the evil that escaped his heart, taking the form of a man with long flowing silver hair and a menacing face that could make a statue run in fear. Blood drips off his shining katana reaching at least twice his height as he stands over the bloody mass, a deep laugh emitting from his chest as he disappears.
The barrier caused by an invisible force diminishes as the man disappears, several black feathers fluttering in his place. I run over to my precious companion as his blood pools onto the pure white floor of this wretched castle of memories. My hands hurriedly pull out bandages and gauze and potions and elixirs and any type of aid they can find, my lips cursing this dreaded castle. It was not until we entered this place with the power to affect one memories of one's heart that the evil started emitting from my dear friend's heart. I sit him up, pouring potion after potion into his mouth, having very little effect on his wounds. I tear the rest of the shreds off of him and start bandaging and applying pressure, the cloth quickly filling with blood. His eyes slowly open, his strength only allowing his eyelids to lift hallway, and whispers to me with a heart-wrenchingly weak voice.
"Rixele...Rixele...Stop...You know what you must do..."
Hot tears flow from my eyes, becoming waterfalls, as he lifts his hand, it suddenly becoming engulfed in fire. I shake my head violently.
"No Hiox! I cannot do that again! It's too hard..." He interrupts me.
"Rixele...It's the only way...Otherwise...I won't make it..."
Two rivers rush down my cheeks as I shakily call forth my blade, it materializing in my hand. I slowly bring it to his flaming hand and watch with terror as the blade turns an orange-red from the intense heat. I remove the bandages and place the weapon over a deep wound across his chest, the smell of burning flesh filling my senses and his heart-piercing screams ringing in my ears. Tears mix with blood as I repeat the process many times over, not being able to handle it anymore as I press the fiery blade to the last wound.
I help him swallow the few elixirs still hidden safely in the warmness of my black coat, identical to the one now reduced to shreds. My hands go to his head and my eyes close in meditation as I calm down and reach into his mind, casting a blanket of illusion in order to ease his pain and put him into a peaceful rest. My hands shivering from horror, I open a portal of darkness leading back to our home on a cold, ominous world. Calling forth wind to my aid, I raise him into my arms and walk us through, his even peaceful breathing calming my nerves a bit. I tenderly rest my lips on his hot forehead, an indescribable gratitude filling my thoughts for finally exerting courage to act on the realization of that moment so I could save my life partner, as I carry him away from this place.