Mizaki desperately rubbed her eyes, her heart beating out of her chest. She could feel the hopelessness surfacing as she searched frantically around the tree trunk. Her breathing sped up until she grew dizzy and stumbled a few steps. The boring bark remained just as brown and blank as before. She shook her head; tears stinging her eyes as she finally gave up and fell to her knees.
"It should be here," She pressed her finger against the trunk, "right here,"
Felix and Teresa crouched at either side of the hopeless girl. Teresa placed a hand on Mizaki's shoulder, shaking her head and staring at the ground, "You'll have to try again..."
Mizaki burst to her feet, shoving the mages and sprinting a few meters away. She struggled to fill her lungs with air, before screaming into the setting sun. Her throat burned as tears slipped down her cheeks. She wanted to dissolve into the ground, or disappear into thin air. There was nothing left for her anymore, nothing to find.
Mizaki lazily turned around, staring at the duo with sad eyes. She gave them a small smile, attempting to chuckle, though it sounded more like a whimper. She held open her hand, shyly waving at them while trying to collect words. The Elemental mage stepped onto her staff, hovering over the charred forest floor before speaking, "I'm gonna go now, goodbye..."
Teresa and Felix didn't seem shocked, their faces read sadness, though their subtle waves was a sign that they'd be alright. Teresa looked away, tears rimming her eyes, "Goodbye, Mizzy,"
Mizaki rode her staff for days, barely stopping to eat or sleep. She had travelled across Fiore without looking back for even a moment. The days were short but the dark of the night seemed to stretch on forever. She had lost all feeling; every emotion she held during her journey was replaced with a null void. Nothing remained of Mizaki Ome, only the look of despair. She knew where she was heading in the back of her mind. She was searching for the home she had left so long ago, her old guild.
The forest that rounded the guild of Black Phoenix came into view early in the morning of her fourth day travelling. Mizaki lowered herself to the ground, stumbling as her weakened legs tried to adjust to the solid dirt. She took a deep breath, taking in the familiar air of her home. It was refreshing, but also terrifying. She would have to show up at those doors empty-handed, would have to tell all her friends that she had failed after so long. The once confident Mizaki was gone, replaced with a dull hatred.
Mizaki burst into tears then. She dragged herself through the forest, desperately wiping her eyes as tears streamed down her face. She wailed aloud, collapsing near a tree only a few meters from the bridge that led to Black Phoenix. The bridge stretched over a giant, deadly waterfall, streaming in haunting beauty. Mizaki stared at the waterfall, considering falling over the edge and ending her life. She couldn't show her face to her powerful friends. They have always been so mesmerizing; Mizaki wanted nothing more than an excuse to be on par with them. She wanted something that made her unique, but that was too much to ask for. She was a failure, she should die one.
"I'll see you soon Tamaki..." Mizaki whispered, getting to her feet. Just as she took her first step, the leaves above her rustled. She looked up, just as a small girl hopped down from a branch.
Auburn hair flowed out from under a pink hat, red eyes staring up at Mizaki. Kallen stood in shock in front the Elemental mage, before leaping up and wrapping herself around Mizaki's shoulders. Mizaki stumbled a few steps, eyes wide. Kallen tightened her grip, "Mizaki! You're back! You're really back!"
Mizaki cracked a small smile, pushing her best friend away, "Hey Katy..." She watched as Kallen scrunched up her face at the annoying nickname. Mizaki looked over her shoulder at the waterfall, her heart sinking to her stomach.
Kallen tilted her head, "What's wrong? You seem...off..." She poked Mizaki's cheek, smiling.
Mizaki only sighed, pushing her finger away and trying hard to hold in her tears. She always tried to maintain a dominate visage in front of Kallen, though the Dragon Slayer never found Mizaki intimidating. Mizaki looked away, "I'm a failure, Kallen. I'm an idiot, a coward and a murderer," Her voice was shaky on the last word, trying desperately to hold back tears.
"Mizaki..." Kallen breathed, timidly touching the older girl's shoulder, "You know what I do when I'm down?"
"What?"
"I go up," Kallen smiled, though her eyes didn't curve, they remained big and full of wonder. When Mizaki didn't respond, she began to climb the tree she had been sitting in only a few minutes prior. Mizaki hesitated, but soon she was up there with her best friend, looking out past the waterfall and towards the large castle that was Black Phoenix.
That guild was her whole life, and she was about to enter it a failure. Maybe she could stay up in this tree with Kallen forever, always looking at the building but never taking a step forward. That's how she was going to live the rest of her life, never reaching out, consumed in the gruesome past and this time, she couldn't forget.
Suddenly, she felt an electrifying jolt run through her veins, stimulating every muscle in her body. She could feel her brain shift inside her skull, her heart beating two times faster. A rush of adrenaline and power flowed through every inch of her body, taking over every dark corner of her mind. No matter how fast her breaths, she still couldn't find enough air to satisfy this hunger for action.
Kallen seemed to notice the switch in atmosphere, because she was shaking Mizaki by the shoulders, "Mizaki? Mizaki?" Kallen was worried. Mizaki ignored her friend, hopping down from the high branch and landing in a crouch on the forest floor. Her legs moved without being told, stretching out into a sprint towards the bridge. Sub concisely she knew where she was headed, but her mind was so jumbled she couldn't think straight, all she could do was run. Mizaki ran faster than she ever had before, and after only a few seconds she was on the edge of the bridge, halfway between the forest and her guild. She stared down at the waterfall below, the toes of her boots over the edge.
Kallen caught up a few seconds later, panting heavily. When she could find the air to speak, she was in a panic, "Mizaki! What are you doing?!"
Mizaki didn't know how to answer, she could only feel it. A feeling that she had never experienced before, a power that lifted her spirit right out of her body. She looked back at Kallen, her skin seeming to glow. She took off her jacket, tossing it aside to reveal that all four tattoos were glowing so bright they almost blinded both girls. She noticed the lines emerging from the tattoos had grown since the beginning of her journey; they were now reaching mid-thigh and bicep. Kallen stared in awe, taking another step closer. Something was drawing Mizaki in, a voice? No, it was something much bigger, as if the air itself with trying to speak with her. Then it hit her. A purple glow began to omit from one of the cement blocks that stretched about a meter out from the edge of the dam-like bridge. It was whispering her name, though it felt like a scream. There it was.
Mizaki pointed, "Out there," She realised she had barely even spoken. She then turned to Kallen, a large smile on her face as she grabbed the dainty girl's shoulders, "It's out there! Kallen! You've got to help me crawl out on that thingy!"
Kallen's face went pale, "Th-That?! If you fall you'll die! You won't have enough time to conjure up anything! You'll drown then hit your head off the rocks! You'll die twice!"
Mizaki was already hanging off the edge by the time Kallen was done. She could hear the Dragon Slayer gasp as Mizaki lowered herself on the thin ledge, carefully placing one foot in front of the other as if walking a tight-rope. She bit the inside of her cheek in concentration, feeling the mist of the water fall directly below soak her skin. She dared not to look down, her heart pounding out of her chest. The hypnotizing affect of the elements kept her moving forward, until she finally made it to the small stretch of concrete. She hoisted herself up, crawling across the cement as if cautiously walking the plank. The light grew brighter, calling to her, yearning. Her knee skidded over the edge and she felt her heart stop as she stumbled. She lost balance, almost tumbling over the edge when a pair of hands gripped her belt.
Kallen pulled the bigger girl back onto the ledge, her whole body shaking. Mizaki turned her head, "Kallen?! What the hell are you doing out here? You could fall!"
Kallen wasn't happy, "Oh really," She spat. Mizaki shushed the other mage, now crouching at the very edge of the concrete plank. Her fingers curled over the edge; soon her whole upper-body was hanging off so she could sneak a peek at the glowing purple insignia. Two hands held each other, fingers intertwined inside a glowing circle. Mizaki's raised an eyebrow, wondering what the image meant. She awkwardly took out her staff, holding it by the very tip and pressing it against the stone. She felt another jolt, this time much more intense. She loved the feeling, hungry for more. Purple streams of energy flowed into her weapon, ever so slowly creeping up the staff and dying it a deep plum.
"Kallen hold onto my feet, I'm gonna inch a little closer," Mizaki informed, not waiting for the other to respond. She brought her knee to the edge, the rock crumpling under the pressure. Time stopped as Mizaki's body was thrown forward. Kallen screamed, grapping her friend's feet only to be flipped over the edge along with her.
Mizaki shut her eyes, bracing herself for the impact of rushing water. When it didn't come, she slowly opened one eye. Her whole body was facing out towards the river that branched off from the waterfall, she could see out for miles. She looked up, realising that her staff was clinging to the purple energy of the Fifth Element. It was grabbing at her weapon, not letting the weight of the two girls get in its way. Mizaki looked down, her face pale as she saw Kallen looking back up at her. Kallen was gripping Mizaki's boots for dear life, her tiny body dangling in open air. She yelled something, but Mizaki couldn't hear over the rushing water.
"I'm slipping! Mizaki I'm slipping!" Kallen screamed as loud as she could. Mizaki's heart was pounding; she could feel her boots sliding off her feet. Kallen's arms were too short to grab any further than Mizaki's footwear. Mizaki switched her gaze from her best friend – the girl that had given her everything when she was just a confused mage, a stranger to herself – and the Fifth Element – something she had been searching for her whole life. Everything that had happened to her, the tragedies she endured were all for this, she couldn't just let it go. Mizaki had a chance to get the Fifth Element and blew it, she wasn't about to throw it all away once again. Did that mean she was gonna let another friend die?
The boot dangled from her toes and she could see tears in Kallen's eyes. Kallen knew how important this element was to Mizaki, was she guessing Mizaki would let her fall? Would Mizaki let her fall? She shut her eyes, screaming over the rushing water in frustration. The boot fell off, along with Kallen. Time slowed down as she watched her friend begin to plummet to her death, her big, red eyes wide with fear. It tore Mizaki's heart in two.
Mizaki screamed, ripping her staff from the insignia and letting herself dive through the air. Kallen had curled up in a little ball, and Mizaki collected the girl into her arms. She hugged her friend tightly, whispering a goodbye to the Fifth Element, forever.
She pushed as much energy as she could possible muster through her body and into her staff. She felt her bones vibrate and head split in two from over-exertion. She screamed so loud her throat felt like it had cut open. The fast-approaching water bended to Mizaki's power, swirling into a small blanket that encased the two mages. Mizaki hadn't had time to think of a spell, and instead acted on pure elemental instinct. Water was around her, use water. The shelter Mizaki had created placed them softly at the river bank, before sucking back into the stream.
Mizaki loosened her tight hug around Kallen, looking down into her eyes. They were soaked and shivering, but alive. Kallen gave Mizaki a small smile that was ripping at the seams with pride. She caressed Mizaki's face, tears rimming her eyes, "I'm so sorry..."
Mizaki didn't know if it was water from the river or tears dripping off her face. She simply shrugged, "It was just the Fifth Element," She laughed, before quietly sobbing into the girl's hair.
"I know it was important to you," Kallen was crying now, "I'm so sorry..."
Mizaki's staff clattered on the rocky edge of the river side. Both girls looked up, staring at the weapon. It felt like just some stick to Mizaki, meaningless now that it had lost its purpose so many times. The insignia would disappear forever, she had failed her mission. Mizaki felt Kallen's hand in her hair, stroking it softly.
"It's not your fault," Mizaki whispered, staring at the staff, "No one would ever climb out over that waterfall for me, no one but you," She turned to look at Kallen, smiling, "I couldn't lose you too. You're in all my memories, and those are as precious to me – if not more – than any element,"
"Maybe you could do your journey all over again! Start anew!" Kallen reassured, though her voice was doubtful.
Mizaki shook her head, crawling towards her staff, "I remember where everything was. If I were to start all over again, I wouldn't remember Tamaki..." She whispered the last part, realising she hadn't told Kallen about anyone she had met on her journey. She was too busy feeling sorry for herself to feed her friend's curiosity.
Mizaki stared at her staff, not able to accept that it was over. She had gone through so much heartache, her whole life, only to have it ripped away from her. She knew she had done the right thing – saving Kallen – yet she still felt empty. Something was missing, something only the Fifth Element could fill. Would her parents be proud? Would they think she made the right decision? If Mizaki was still like her old self, would she have let Kallen fall? It felt like there was no real decision, no more unnecessary deaths.
She reached out, grasping her staff, another jolt, this time stronger than ever before. Her whole body felt like it had dissolved into itself, the air around her interweaving throughout her soul. She was becoming nothing and everything, her mind clear and empty. Only a spirit becoming something much bigger than imagined.
And she was consumed in the Light.
