The Vigilant Yaksha stood by a grave, two flowers in hand. He knelt down and placed the withered, now black rainbow rose down, then the deep crimson colored carnation. He thought back to the one whose remains lay beneath his feet…
Many years before
— — — —
"We have to go, Ivette." Alatus reminded the long haired girl.
"Wait…I need to say something." she replied.
"What?"
"If I die in this battle-"
"You aren't going to."
"Sure, but if I do…I'm leaving everything I own to you."
"I have no need for your things, besides, you aren't going to die."
"I'm also leaving you Lemon."
"Your…cat? I cannot take care of a cat, I do not know how to care for an animal such as a cat." Alatus stated.
"Sure you can! If I die, she needs to have a happy life. You're the only one I trust enough to give Lemon to."
"Fine. I won't have to take care of Lemon, though, because you aren't going to die." Alatus repeated.
"Hopefully…Also, please, if I die, bury me at our favorite spot."
"I won't have to bury you, for you aren't going to die! Promise you won't die."
"I promise…I hope I can keep it." Ivette swore, giving Alatus a hug, which he awkwardly returned.
"Good, now come on, we really have to go, Ivette."
"Okay, okay!"
PAGE BREAK
"IVETTE! LOOK OUT!" Alatus yelled.
Ivette turned her head towards his voice, and started to move, but before she could, a large vishap's tail swung into her, knocking her back a few feet. Her head banged against a large boulder, and her eyes swam with tears. Her vision was blurry, and objects swirled and multiplied into threes.
Alatus raced toward Ivette, who was clutching her head in one hand and her stomach in another.
"You're bleeding, Ivette!" he said in a panic, applying pressure to the large gash across her stomach.
Alatus looked at the wound, and spotted a large rock plunged into her exposed flesh.
"I'm sorry, Ivette." he said, pulling the rock out slowly.
Ivette screamed in pain.
Alatus pressed his hand against the wound again, warm blood seeping onto his skin.
Ivette's blood.
"A-Alatus…Just-just leave me here…the battle isn't over…You need to-need to-" Ivette stuttered, her honey-colored hair and clothes ruined by dirt and blood belonging to enemies…and herself.
"I can't leave you! I need to help you!"
"I'm going to die, Alatus. You can't help me in time…"
"No…NO! You'll be fine, I just have to…I need to-" Alatus said, tears brimming in his eyes.
"Even if you-you teleported and got me medical supplies…It wouldn't-wouldn't be…enough."
"You- you can't die! You promised…you promised!"
"We both knew it might get broken…"
"But…Ivette…please, Ivette, don't-don't die! You-YOU AREN'T GOING TO DIE!" he desperately sobbed.
"I…Alatus…I need to let you know-"
"Don't waste your energy speaking!" Alatus commanded.
"Just-just one thing…I need to tell you that-that I- I, " Ivette started, "I love you, Alatus…I love you…" she whispered.
"I-I-"
"Bye, A-Alatus…"
Ivette's shallow breathing stopped, her heart stilled, and Ivette's beautiful green eyes went blank, glassily staring into nothingness.
She was gone.
"I-Ivette? IVETTE! Please, no…no! I love you too, Ivette, please wake up! Don't…don't go…I can't-can't lose you…Ivette…" Alatus begged in vain.
PAGE BREAK
"IVETTE! WAIT!" Alatus chased after the familiar figure, but when he reached out to touch her, she disappeared.
She isn't there. Another illusion.
Alatus kneeled on the ground, covering his face with his hands. Tears slipped through his fingertips, landing softly on the ground. He looked up and figments from his mind surrounded him, their voices berating and blaming him in an accusatory tone.
Her voice…Figments of her.
PAGE BREAK
Xiao left the grave on Qingyun Peak, desolation brimming in his heart and fresh tears falling from his eyes.