AN: Thanks so much PoptartsAreMagic, Terron145 and shade188 for reviewing the previous chapter!

Chapter 36:

Echoing Library didn't seem as daunting now that Logre was leading the party through the winding hallways. His strides were purposeful and full of conviction. He had made up his mind. Although still torn in regard to his prince, he was surer of himself. He was being loyal to his empire's wishes.

Nitish could feel his determination and could easily see it in his posture. There was some trepidation, but mostly he was unwavering. He wanted his prince to see sense and though failure was strong, he wanted to at least reach out to the young man he once knew.

A good knight followed orders without question.

A great knight stood up for his own beliefs.

"When did you realise that we were the ones from your party?" Varuna asked Logre as they continued on their journey.

"Not straight away, to be honest," Logre answered easily and with some form of relief, as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He was no longer hiding, who he was or what he knew. "The bandages that you were wearing at the clinic made it difficult."

"My head…" Varuna murmured as he gingerly touched his forehead, his fingers trailing along his hairline where a long, thin scar was barely visible. "I must have received that in the crash." And thus, losing his memories.

"That's when I lost vision in my eye as well," Nitish added. They were actually really lucky to get away with what injuries they did. Everyone else, it seemed, had perished.

Varuna turned to gaze at Nitish for a moment, a flicker of guilt in his eyes once again. He then quickly glanced toward Logre, the older man busy studying their surroundings. "You also remembered all this time. You were...protecting us the entire time?"

Logre shifted somewhat uncomfortably before sighing and turning to regard Varuna. "I pretended not to know you two because I didn't want the two of you to get involved." He paused for a moment, his lips pressed into a thin line. "But you did anyway."

"I'm sorry," Nitish couldn't help saying. "It must have been hard for you during those years."

The corner of Logre's lips twitched into a slight smirk, like the ones he used to give so freely when he was the wanderer known as Whirlwind. "It was inevitable, I suppose. Too talented for your own good."

"Hey, I don't want to sound like an ass," Bryce suddenly said after having stayed quiet for most of the trek so far. He scratched the back of his neck in an awkward manner, looking rather guilty, yet resolute all the same. "But we need to focus on what is happening in the present. There will be time to muse about the past later on."

"No, you're absolutely right," Varuna said as he turned his attention to Bryce, giving him a look that was both apologetic and grateful for having put up with them for so long. "We have more important things to contend with. We can talk more about it later…when all of this is over."

"Nitish," Isiah turned to regard him. "You said that you've read about the Yggdrasil Titan. What exactly is it?"

"I'm afraid I don't know much," Nitish replied as he allowed Achyuta to help him navigate over a collapsed bookcase. "The words I have read are rather short, almost written as if from fear."

He was about to add more when he suddenly rolled his ankle and stumbled, falling against Achyuta, who easily caught him in his arms and held him upright. "Oof!"

"Easy," Achyuta said as he helped Nitish to firmer ground, allowing him to stand up straight, his hands gentle and reassuring at the same time. "Are you all right?"

"S-sorry," Nitish murmured, his cheeks heating up slightly from embarrassment as he stepped away. "I'm still a little bit tired, that's all."

Achyuta gave him a small smile. And Nitish couldn't help but smile in return when Achyuta turned his attention to Zoran, helping the tiny vessel over the minor obstacle as well. And Zoran had no hesitancy in allowing the armour clad man to aide him, eagerly grabbing a hold of his arm, giving him the support that he needed.

"In regards to the ceremony," Nitish continued as they returned to their journey through the wisteria lined halls, Nitish at the back of the party with Zoran, Achyuta moving behind them to ensure they would not be ambushed. "Three items are needed. Lacking one will make the ritual impossible."

Logre's expression was tight as he looked away. "The Yggdrasil Crown, the Yggdrasil Heart and the Yggdrasil Soul, right?"

Nitish nodded his head. "Yes."

"…We have all three."

Nitish felt his heart skip a beat in fear. "He really is going to revive the Yggdrasil Titan, isn't he?"

"…I wasn't planning on any sacrifices," Logre murmured as his eyes become hard with guilt and pain as he threw open a set of doors. "That wasn't what Emperor Afrodr wanted at all."

"I guess it's nothing but desperation that your prince is feeling," Varuna added, sounding empathetic, understanding fully what pain and fear could do to a person's state of mind. A faraway look suddenly appeared in his eyes and a mild sense of guilt washed over him.

However, before he could become too entangled with his memories, Bryce nudged him with his shoulder. "Then we better convince him that there are other ways," he said, causing Varuna to blink at him before smiling and nodding his head.

"I know it's not my place to ask, but…" Logre trailed off for a moment, that all too familiar sense of guilt appearing in his expression and eyes. "When the imperials invaded Tharsis, I heard that we lost several knights."

Bryce turned to him, his brow furrowed. "Several?" he scoffed. "Since when is two considered to be several?"

"We do have one imperial under protective custody at the clinic as he's suffering from the Yggdrasil Curse," Isiah added as he shoved his hands into the pockets of his coat. "So if you also count him, it would be three."

"I see…" Logre murmured, his relief quite palpable.

"Seems as if Neolani was exaggerating," Achyuta commented to Logre, who nodded his head in agreement, a tight frown on his lips.

"Neolani?" Varuna suddenly hissed, bristling as he clutched the handle of his blades. He looked and sounded rather vicious. "Is she the one that was in charge?"

"Yes," Achyuta said, his dislike for the women rising for a moment before he quickly quashed it.

Varuna's eyes narrowed fearsomely. "Really now?"

Next to him, Bryce looked equally agitated. "She was probably the one that booted that cursed imperial off the airship as the distraction," he said to Varuna.

That only seemed to make Varuna bristle further. "Ooh, I would just love to meet her again…"

Logre frowned, inwardly wondering what in the world had happened in Tharsis. "How did-?" He began to ask only to abruptly cut himself off when he noticed Isiah shaking his head and making a cut-off motion with his hand. "…Never mind."

They lapsed into a moment of somewhat awkward silence, each momentarily lost in their own thoughts. The silence was only broken by the sound of someone trying to supress the need to cough. Glancing over his shoulder, Nitish could see that Achyuta had his right hand up toward his mouth, covering it as his eyes looked slightly glazed.

As if realising that Nitish was looking at him, Achyuta turned toward him and dropped his hand from his face, his hand curling into a fist by his side. "E-excuse me for a moment."

"What is it?" Nitish asked as he turned to face him.

"No, nothing," Achyuta said as he gave him a strained smile. "Just thought I heard something."

He was lying. Nitish could tell that he was trying to hide something. He felt uneasy when Achyuta gave him another smile before wandering away briefly, disappearing behind a row of tall bookcases. Something didn't feel right with him. He looked washed out.

As a sense of guilt touched him, Nitish glanced over to the rest of his party before looking in the direction Achyuta had disappeared in. It wouldn't hurt to see if he was all right. After all, Achyuta had been by his side the entire time he was inside the Echoing Library. He had less rest than he had.

Stepping quietly so not to alarm anyone, Nitish traced Achyuta's path. He hadn't wandered far, thankfully. He had his back turned to him, but Nitish could see that Achyuta was resting his shoulder against a bookcase, hunched over slightly. As he grew closer he realised that the imperial's shoulders were shaking erratically, his hand pressed against his mouth. He seemed to be in the throes of a coughing fit but was trying to be as silent as possible.

"Are you all right?" Nitish asked gently as he walked over to him.

Achyuta straightened up in surprise and immediately turned his head away. "J-just a moment," he stuttered.

Nitish frowned as he moved closer. Something was definitely wrong. Moving so that he could see Achyuta's face, his eyes widen when Achyuta briefly pulled his hand away from his mouth to offer him a reassuring smile.

It didn't work.

There was a smear of blood on his lips.

"Y-you're coughing up blood," Nitish stuttered, making the motion with his hand to touch Achyuta's face before pulling back and turning around. "Isiah!"

"No, it's all right," Achyuta insisted as he grabbed Nitish by the arm.

Nitish immediately spun around to face him, his concern obvious. "It's not all right."

"What's wrong?" Isiah asked as he came into view, the rest of their party following.

"He's coughing up blood," Nitish immediately inform Isiah, giving him a worrying look.

"What?" Isiah murmured, his brow furrowing as he immediately made his way over to Achyuta, who was looking very pale. "Let me see."

"S-sorry," Achyuta murmured as he leaned against the bookcase, Isiah asking him questions about his health. Once again, guilt made its presence known. He felt as though he was slowing them down, worrying them for no reason.

And Nitish, he felt guilty himself. He should have sensed something was wrong with Achyuta. After everything Achyuta had done for him, it was the least he could have done…

"Your lungs still weak, Achyuta?" Logre suddenly asked, looking concerned but not at all surprised.

Once again, Achyuta offered a forced smile. "They have improved a little. Not as bad as they used to be."

"You know what's wrong with him, Logre?" Nitish asked, turning his gaze to the older man.

Logre nodded his head solemnly. "It's…a common occurrence, I'm afraid."

"What do you mean?" Varuna asked.

"Cloudy Stronghold," Logre murmured as he shifted on his feet. "As I have said before, the lands are poisonous. We imperials, well…we're not as strong as we look. We have great physical strength, but at the cost of physical defence."

"Hm…" Varuna hummed to himself as he held his chin in thought. "Sounds as though your immune systems aren't functioning properly."

Nitish turned to Isiah, who was digging around in his medical bag. "Can you help him?"

"I can offer relief," Isiah answered quickly as he pulled out a small blue bottle. "But I will need to do a thorough investigation when we return to Tharsis."

Despite the fact that Achyuta was obviously ill, hearing Isiah mention taking him back to Tharsis made Nitish happy and relieved. Achyuta, on the other hand, looked surprised and glanced over to Logre, as if waiting for his reaction to what Isiah had said in a firm voice, no room for argument.

However, as he glanced over to Logre, his eyes shifted abruptly to the left and grew wide in surprise. He then abruptly pushed away from the bookcase, propelling himself forward quickly.

"Watch out!" he yelled as he swiftly removed his driveblade from his back. A mere second later, he wielded over his head, striking out at a monster no one saw coming. It was a redwood, a strange ape-like monster with vicious fangs and claws.

Seeing Achyuta's reaction, every other fighter immediately pulled themselves into offensive and defensive positions. But there was no need. The threat had been subdued.

"Good work, Achyuta," Logre said as he relaxed his posture, the monster falling to the floor in a twitching heap.

Achyuta drew in a deep breath and straightened his posture, tiredly lifting his driveblade to replace back onto his back. He looked worse than before. The exertion of battle didn't help his breathing.

Nitish took the bottle of medicine Isiah had been holding and quickly made his way over to Achyuta. "You need to take better care of yourself," he said as he gave him the bottle.

"Ah," Achyuta said as he gave him a polite and tired smile, thankfully receiving the medicine from Nitish. "I'm not very good at that, I'm afraid."

Nitish nodded his head, watching closely as Achyuta drank from the bottle, looking instantly better than he did before. At his back, Nitish could sense the others watching the two of them. And he could sense his brother's curiosity easily. He was wondering what had happened to create a bond of trust between him and Achyuta. In all honesty, Nitish didn't really know himself. It just…happened.

"Let's keep going," Bryce urged. "We can't afford to linger around anymore."

He was absolutely right. The rescue of the Medium couldn't wait anymore.

Wordlessly, they pushed forward, quickly making their way through the floor. They didn't assess their surroundings, didn't muse about what secrets this labyrinth held. None of that was important. They needed to keep going.

"We're getting close to the centre of the floor," Logre informed them as they reached another set of door, prompting everyone to feel a small sense of relief, while also becoming quite grim at the same time.

Upon opening the doors and stepping through, there was an immediate wailing, klaxon noise. It pierced through the air so violently that everyone jumped in surprise, tensing considerably. That was a noise that they all had heard before, at some point or another. It was a cold watchman, the mechanical monster with ball-and-chains for arms.

Varuna, Bryce and Logre immediately pushed themselves onto the front line, Isiah lingering back only a few steps while Nitish stayed at the back with Zoran hugging him around the waist, being supported by Achyuta, whom of which was guarding them both protectively.

"Shit!" Bryce cursed as he immediately drew his weapon. "Since this thing is wailing at us, that means there are cruel slayers, too."

"How are we going to get past them all?" Varuna questioned nervously, chewing on his bottom lip as he, too, reached for his weapons. "They're blocking the way."

Logre did not look pleased in the slightest as two cruel slayers, along with another cold watchman ambled into view, seemingly coming at them from all sides. "Damn it. Looks as though we have no choice but to fight."

"Are you sure we can't avoid it?" Isiah questioned, sounding as terse as he looked. "It will do us no good if we're utterly exhausted before meeting up with that prince of yours."

Isiah raised a very good point. They wouldn't be able to properly protect the Medium if they were all on the verge of exhaustion. But what else could they do? Out-running the cruel slayers won't be easy and there was also the possibility of other monsters appearing, lured in by the recognisable sound of the alarm.

What should they do?

Nitish felt Achyuta suddenly squeeze his shoulder, a sense of determination within his aura. There was also something else…like he had reached a conclusion of some kind.

A final conclusion.

"Achyuta?" Nitish whispered as the blue-armoured imperial removed his hand from his shoulder and withdrew his blade. He was looking forward, his lips pressed into a thin line as stared forward with firm focus.

Before Nitish had the chance to tap into his aura to find out what he was feeling, Achyuta suddenly sprung forward, purposely pushing himself into the very centre of the advancing FOEs, gaining them utmost attention before moving again…further away from the others. Completely separated from the group now, the four mechanical monsters turned their full attention to Achyuta!

Nitish immediately grabbed at his chest with his hands, his heart leaping into his throat. He couldn't breathe, couldn't find his voice. He knew what he was doing. He knew what his 'conclusion' was. He was…

He was…

"Idiot!" Bryce immediately shouted at him, obvious fear and disbelief in his voice and expression. "What are you doing?!"

"I'll lead them away," Achyuta stated calmly as he tightened his grip on his driveblade. "You must keep going."

Varuna took a half step forward. "You can't face them all on your own!"

Achyuta stood surprisingly tall, looking fearless, even as the four FOEs circled him in anticipation of attacking. "You are the only ones who can stop Prince Baldur."

"Achyuta, stop!" Nitish screamed as he tried to push himself forward, but Logre was the one who was able to catch him in his arms, effortless holding him back.

"You must stop Prince Baldur," Achyuta said, his expression firm and resolute. "Whatever it takes."

Nitish frantically shook his head as he struggled against Logre's arm. "Achyuta!"

Finally, Achyuta turned his eyes toward him and a soft smile appeared on his lips. He then removed his hand from his weapon to grasp at the imperial badge on his armour. He suddenly tightened his hand around it, removing it swiftly from his armour. "I hope you'll hold onto this as well."

He then threw his badge toward him.

Nitish instinctively reached out to catch it in his two hands. Within the metal badge he could sense Achyuta's determination…and sadness. He was happy for the first time in his life, and it saddened him that it was over so soon.

Tears pooled in the corners of Nitish's eyes as he clutched the badge tightly. "No, Achyuta!"

For a long moment, Achyuta just looked into Nitish's eyes, the smile on his lips never wavering. "…I'm glad that I was able to meet you, Nitish."

Nitish all but stopped breathing. He was going to die. He knew he was. And he…had no regrets.

No, no, no!

"Please, Achyuta!"

"Sir Logre?" Achyuta indicated to Logre with a tilt of his head.

"…I understand," Logre murmured before he abruptly tightened his hold on Nitish, lifting him up off the floor and then carrying him away. Away from Achyuta.

"W-what?" Nitish stuttered out in surprise as the others reluctantly followed. Nitish glanced up at Logre for a split second to see his expression, stony yet solemn before quickly turning back to Achyuta. He was still watching them, that smile on his lips. He then slowly turned his back to them as a cruel slayer suddenly leapt at him. "No, let go!"

There was a sound of an explosion, as if Achyuta had unleashed a powerful attack. As the sounds of metal and whirring gears filled the air, Logre threw open another set of doors and all but pushed everyone inside, slamming them shut right behind them.

The very second Logre loosened his hold on him, Nitish struggled out of his arms and reached for the door, tugging at the handle to open it as he pressed Achyuta's badge against his chest. "Let me out!" he demanded when the door wouldn't budge.

But Logre held the door shut with one hand. "I can't do that," he whispered as he looked down at him, his expression weary but soft. "He can't fight with you in danger."

Nitish stared up at him, his vision blurred by the tears in his eyes. He suddenly felt weak, his knees giving out from underneath him. He slid down the door, crumbling to the floor, resting on his knees. A sob hitched in his throat as pain, a pain he had never felt before crashed into him. He pressed his forehead against the door, barely registering the auras of Zoran cuddling up to him and Varuna hovering next to him, looking at him with blatant and heartbreaking concern.

"Nitish…"

"Achyuta…" Nitish whispered. "He's…prepared to die. No, please no."

His party became silent as they stared at him, torn, concerned and confused. But all Nitish could hear, could feel was his heart beating in his chest, each ba-bump painful and loud. He barely even felt the hand that rested upon his shoulder.

"…We must keep going," Bryce said softly as he knelt down next to him. "We can't turn back now. We must do this. For the Vessels, for the Sentinels and for Imperial Knights like Achyuta."

Slowly, Nitish turned his head to look up at the brown-haired landsknecht with tear laden eyes. Bryce was looking at him, not in pity or confusion, but in empathy. And…he was right. Achyuta, he…If they moved quickly, maybe Achyuta would meet up with them?

"I-I know," Nitish whispered as he pushed away from the door, allowing both Bryce and Varuna to help him to his feet.

"He is stronger than one might think," Logre said as he suddenly placed a hand on top of Nitish's head. "He'll come back. Wait for him."

"Y-yes," Nitish said as he hastily wiped at his cheeks, still clutching Achyuta's badge against his chest. He could still feel Achyuta's aura. Faint as it was, he was still there. He was…probably leading the FOEs elsewhere to ensure they didn't interfere. Achyuta was intelligent, after all.

"I'm sorry," Nitish whispered as Varuna help to compose him, wiping away the remnants of his tears. "I'm ok."

"Prince Baldur is close," Logre said. "Let's continue."

Nodding in understanding, everyone soon gathered themselves and moved hastily toward the other set of doors to the north of a medium sized room. Zoran held his left hand as Nitish continued to hold Achyuta's badge with his other. The soft sense of Achyuta's aura was reassuring and he focused in on it, trying to reign in his frazzled emotions as well as the momentarily block out the raging emotions within the aura's of his teammates.

As they threw open the doors and stepped into a new chamber, the anxiety level increased significantly. Standing at the northern end of the room was Prince Baldur, along with the Medium.

Immediately, the two turned their attentions toward them. A look of hope and relief appeared on the Medium's face while Bladur scowled deeply wish sheer agitation. His annoyance soon turned to shock, however, when his laid his eyes on Logre, whom stiffened subtly, but remained firm under his stare.

"L-Logre?" Baldur stuttered, a childish expression of hurtful betrayal on his face. "You too?"

"Prince Baldur, please listen," Logre started as he took a step forward. "Your father would not want this."

"My father is dead!" Baldur practically shrilled, his expression bitter and cold. "I have no other option. Only I can save our home from complete devastation! Why, Logre, are you trying to stop our salvation?"

"Can we really live with the knowledge that we sacrificed two innocent races?" Logre asked in return. "I could never stand alongside anyone who would willingly build an empire on the corpses of others."

"If they don't die, everyone else will," Baldur stated coldly. Yet, he appeared somewhat rattled, his eyes glistening slightly and his hands curling into fists by his sides.

Silently focusing his attention on Baldur, Nitish could sense that he was repriming himself. He was telling himself to remain firm, to always be in control. He couldn't allow anyone to take any control away from him. The weight of the world rested on his shoulders. On his shoulders alone.

Surprising everyone, Nitish took a step forward. "Stop trying so hard to control everything and all doors will open for you."

Baldur turned his attention to him, looking momentarily surprised before expertly placing a cool expression on his face. "There are no more doors of opportunity left to take. This is all I have."

"You only run out of options when you stop taking them!" Nitish insisted, his desperation showing in his voice and expression.

"S-shut up!" Baldur faltered for a moment before steeling himself once again. "You don't understand a single thing!"

Baldur suddenly buckled over, one arm clutching his stomach as the other covered his mouth. Despite the distance between them, his deep chested coughs rung loudly. He was sick. Very sick.

Gently concerned, Medium reached out to Baldur, wanting to ease his pain somehow. However, as she placed a hand on his arm to reassure him, Baldur reacted aggressively. He lifted his head up, a dark scowl of betrayal on his face and violently pushed her away.

"Don't touch me!" he ordered when suddenly a beam of light seemed to be emitted from his hand, striking the far too young medium. The light struck her in the chest and she was flung backwards several feet.

"Medium!" Varuna cried out in alarm when the young girl didn't move.

"You bastard!" Bryce yelled in anger. "What did you do?"

Baldur was shocked, paling alarmingly as he stared at the Medium's unmoving body. He hadn't meant to react so cruelly and his regret was immediate. "I…" he murmured before something akin to utter despair washed over him. His eyes became wide as he stumbled backwards with an expression of devastation on his face. He suddenly clutched at his head as he screamed up at the ceiling.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

A scream, the most heartbreaking Nitish or anyone had ever heard seemed to make the entire room tremble. Then, from high above in the ceiling, there was a movement. A mere second later, something fell. Something big, powerful and mechanical. It landed between them and Prince Baldur, as if reacting to the prince's cry of pain.

"What the fuck is this thing?" Bryce asked, taking a step backwards in shock as the monster took one forward, advancing on them.

"T-that's the Cradle Guardian," Logre explained before an expression of rage and frustration appeared on his face. "God damn it, it's reacting to his highness. We have no choice but to fight."

"Nitish, stay back," Varuna said as he grabbed Nitish by the elbow and pulled him away. His hand lingered as he looked him in the eyes. "You've been through enough," he added gently. "We'll handle this."

"Let's keep pushing forward," Bryce said as he steeled himself for battle, his back tense and posture determined.

"Yes," Varuna said as he immediately moved to stand by his side…like always.

Clutching Achyuta's badge to his chest, Nitish tried to concentrate on offering aide to his brother and teammates. Although he could sense no emotions from their opponent, there had to be a weakness somewhere. Nothing was truly indestructible.

"What the living fuck was that?!"

"Isiah, stay back! That was its Megaton Punch! Whatever you do, don't get in front of it!"

Amongst the battle cries and churning of gears, Nitish suddenly felt cold. Empty. The air rushing from his lungs.

With trembling hands, he pulled away the badge to look down at it. With the sounds of battle becoming dull and muted, he slowly sunk down onto the floor, finding it difficult to breath.

"He's gone…" Nitish whispered before he suddenly lurched forward and he hugged himself tightly. "I can't feel him anymore…"

"Ah!"

"Varuna!"

"Ngh…I'm ok! I just misjudged his attack!"

"Zoran! Can you slow it down?"

"I-I'll try my best!"

Fighting…That was all they were ever doing anymore. Fighting for justice, fighting to live, fighting to exist.

He had had enough. He didn't want to fight anymore. He wished to stop moving. Just let him sink into oblivion.

"God dammit! What kind of attack should I be using?"

"Can I effect it's status? It's made from metal!"

"I-I'll try to bind its arms!"

"Logre! As soon as I heal that arm the sooner you can get back into battle!"

"Use your most physical attacks! We need to kill it before its head separates!"

His brother…his guild…they needed him like he needed them.

Stand up, Nitish ordered himself. Fight one last time. He couldn't let Achyuta's existence in his life be in vain. He couldn't sense him anymore. But he had to be alive. He had to cling to that small sense of hope. He just had to...

…But it hurt so much…

A soft thud to Nitish's left astoundingly caught his attention. Slowly, he turned to look. It was a book. It landed on its spine, the pages fluttering as if from a powerful breeze. Then…it settled open. Two pages, each with simple words written on them. Nitish scanned the words out of instinct. They, however, resonated with him.

Spells…

Carefully placing Achyuta's badge into the folds of his robes, Nitish reached out and picked the book up. He then took to his feet.

Action would create momentum. Everything he had done had led him to this point. Move forward, don't weaken by looking back. For everyone's sake he would face any obstacle without fear and with a clear gaze. For everyone's sake...for gentle souls like Achyuta, they would not die here.

"This is for you, Achyuta," Nitish murmured as he held out the book in front of him.

Keep going. Eyes forward. Intention focused. Purpose clear!

"Burst Skill: Geo Impact!"

A strange tingling feeling rushed through him as a powerful, unseen force struck out at the Cradle Guardian, spiritual energy forming together to physically struck at the powerful monster. The force was so strong that it knocked the Cradle Guardian off balance, essentially stunning it. It won't move. It won't be able to fight back.

Nitish could sense the others utter surprise and confusion that were directed solely at him, but he couldn't stop. It was essential that he continued. Tired he may be. Full of doubt of where his journey was taking him...taking his bother...taking his family.

It was not the time to turn back or run. He would continue with the journey he had committed himself to.

"Push beyond the boundaries of elemental forces, into the age of beginnings. The power of all from the source of one. Origin Rune!"

An array of light and colours encircled the Cradle Guardian, fleeting about almost majestically in the air. It then abruptly collapsed within itself, unleashing a powerful shockwave that ripped out and through the monster at a painful and tremendous speed.

Origin Rune; the most powerful spell any runemaster could wield. It hurt. It was draining. And it was powerful to use.

The Cradle Guardian's body crumbled to the floor listlessly, but its head stayed floating, spinning around and around, revealing multi-coloured faces. Each face held a different elemental ability and weakness.

But it didn't matter.

The head of the Cradle Guardian floated in front of him, sparking and sizzling with a strange energy. "Self…destruct…imminent," it droned.

"Burst Skill: Aegis Guard!"

A powerful shield cascaded over him and his family, offering an unseen but unrelenting form of overwhelming protection. The powerful shockwave from the Guardian Head exploding did little more than ruffle his long blond hair.

"Using two Burst Skills straight after each other?" Logre murmured as the dust settled, their once indomitable opponent nowhere to be seen. "How is that-?"

"Nitish!" Varuna called out to him in concern.

Nitish lowered his arm, the book tumbling from his hand, hitting the floor with a soft thud. "It's gone."

Slowly, Nitish fell to his knees and then onto his hands, crumbling to the ground once more. His chest felt tight. He could scarcely breathe. Everything hurt. Everything.

His brother's presence as he hovered next to him in concern offered him some comfort, but he could not stop the pain. Nothing could. "Nitish…" Varuna murmured as he wrapped his arms around him, holding him like Nitish once had.

"I just want it to stop," Nitish whispered as he squeezed his eyes shut tightly. "I just want the pain to stop."

"Seems like Prince Baldur made a runner with the Medium," Bryce said in frustration and annoyance.

Isiah hissed lowly. "I can't wait to get my hands on that little shit."

The building unexpectedly shook as if from an earthquake, prompting Varuna to hold Nitish tighter and more protectively, shielding him from any falling debris.

"Shit," Bryce cursed under his breath, his concern evident. "We need to get out of here."

"Nitish, let's go," Varuna said gently, yet urgently as well.

"Come, Nitish," Zoran also prompted, softly nudging him with his hands.

Nitish tried to climb to his feet, but his body was not responding. He felt weak as he collapsed onto the floor again. He felt Varuna's hold on him tighten, more than willing to carry him if necessary, even though he was tired himself. However, before he could readjust his grip on him, Isiah abruptly appeared and swiftly picked Nitish up off the ground and into his arms.

"Help Zoran," he said to Varuna as Nitish weakly held onto his neck.

"R-right," Varuna stuttered before quickly motioning for Zoran to climb onto his back, making it easier for him to carry him. Zoran wordlessly climbed onto his back, his skinny arms wrapping around Varuna's neck, looking wash-out and tired.

"I'll lead you to safety," Logre said as he took the lead.

Bryce nodded. "And I'll make sure that the monsters won't interfere."

Nitish buried his face into the curve of Isiah's neck as medic effortlessly carried him, their party making their through the Echoing Library quickly. Floor by floor, they ascended, not slowing down for a moment, even as monsters appeared and the building trembled. They had done all they could.

Getting out alive was all they could do.

A strong breeze was the only indication Nitish received when they finally stepped outside the doors of the Echoing Library, the familiar sound of an airship accompanied by the reassuring auras of his guildmates quickly following.

"Give me Nitish," Bryce practically ordered as a rope ladder was flung over the side of the Duscha. As Isiah removed his hold on Nitish, placing him on his feet for a moment, Bryce quickly wrapped a strong arm around his waist, lifting him off the ground once more. "Hang onto my neck."

Weakly, Nitish did as he was told, unable to do anything else. Bryce carrying him on board their beloved airship was tricky, but he managed to do it without jostling Nitish around too much. Varuna, with Zoran still holding onto his neck, and Isiah quickly followed.

"Logre!" Isiah yelled over the side of the deck when he noticed that Logre didn't follow him.

"Get going!"

"What about you?"

"I'll be fine," Logre insisted, a faint sense of determination in his voice. "There's a few things I need to do. We'll meet again."

Reluctantly, Isiah nodded his head in understanding before signalling to Falkner to fly the airship.

Unable to hold it back any longer, a loud and heart-wrenching cry of pain erupted from deep within his chest and Nitish crumbled to the flooring of the Duscha. He rested his head against the wooden deck, his hair cascading around his face and shoulders as he wrapped his arms tightly around himself.

Immediately dropping down to kneel by his side, Varuna scooped him off the ground and pulled him into his arms, cradling him against his chest. Nitish turned to him and pressed his face into his shoulder. He couldn't stop the tears. He couldn't stop the pain.

"It hurts…" Nitish whimpered as he weakly reached out to cling onto his brother. "It hurts so much…"

"I'm sorry," Varuna whispered as he began to rock him back and forth in a comforting manner, his cheek resting up top of his head. "I'm so sorry."

"W-what happened?" Roxbury was heard asking, utter concern and bewilderment in his voice.

"It's…" Bryce began to supply, but dropped off and sighed deeply, exhausted. "A long story."

AN: Argh! This chapter was sooooooooo hard to write…I think I'm going to cry with relief that I'm done.