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A billowing stillness rose from the etches of the ground, seeping through the cracked concrete strewn across the land. Sprawled on a colossal tree, a draped figure slumped exhaustedly on a jutting limb, verging on withering away. Mauve strands fell untidily in heaps across their face, normally neat appearance transformed to disarray. Sitting up bewilderedly, Minegishi rubbed their eyes blearily, focusing disjointedly. Vague memories floated through his mind, images of brutality clawing their way to the forefront. Minegishi gripped their skull, bloodied fingers applying pressure to the thundering headache forming. Visuals raced through his recollection, savage ferocity of a fight burned through their neurons, unrelenting and inescapable.
Minegishi shook their head relentlessly, injuries from the fight aching with the slightest of movements. Dried ichor seeped through his clothes, staining whites red. They were utterly defeated; wounded and bruised after the confrontation. Disregarding the seemingly endless throbbing, Minegishi looked downwards, staring at the distance between themselves and the ground. Their features contorted into a frown, gazing despairingly at the gap. In their current state of bruised agony, Minegishi drew a blank regarding options to get down. Deeming descension out of the question, the plant-user drew their attention to a different effort – resolving their injuries. Summoning their arsenal with extreme difficulty, Minegishi managed to manifest a small bundle of yarrow and silverweed, they worked towards applying the leaves to their wounds to lessen any open bleeding.
Sighing with the effort, Minegishi sat back with strain. The words of the young Esper echoed within the confines of his mind, the dreadful face of the spirit accompanying them etched into his retinas. Their energy had been depleted with the battle, leaving the injured figure with barely any power to summon the smallest of vegetation. They observed their surroundings, the displaced land and the blazing sun beaming down on them. A distant roar of fighting could be heard from somewhere behind them – Minegishi assumed it was the boss. They found they lacked the heart and energy to care. Deciding to conserve what little power they had left, Minegishi laid back down on the branch supporting them, closing their eyes, allowing the weightlessness of sleep to consume them.
A sudden fizz of power crackled around them, a familiar blazing aura announcing its presence. Minegishi groaned inwardly.
Voice devoid of tone and emotion, Minegishi stated more than questioned openly to the other, “What are you doing here?”
“You looked like you could use some help getting down.”
Minegishi opened an eye, looking upwards at the man. The other Esper – Shimazaki – looked as though they had been in a train-wreck. Normally a snarky disturbance, Minegishi noted how the sable-haired man seemed to be dulled. Their usual witty tone was diminished, and an observation could easily conclude that he had taken multiple injuries from a battle of his own. Yet, there was still a smile – a crooked, half-pained smile – planted on his features.
It was unusual – the plant user had almost never seen the teleporter so roughed up. They had always known Shimazaki to be comparable to a ferret, able to move between situations with ease, never troubled by anything. It was odd, yet a small section of their heart seemed to swell at the notion that yes, Shimazaki could indeed be wounded, and that the other had came to their aid regardless. The duo were by no means close – they were merely co-workers, or at least used to be co-workers, judging by the current state of affairs.
Minegishi waved their thoughts away, too exhausted to debate the matter further. They sat up with a groan. Shimazaki held out a damaged hand, with Minegishi accepting it easily. They stood up and looked out across the area.
Returning his gaze to Shimazaki, Minegishi frowned. Summoning a small cluster of plants, Minegishi reached out to the other Esper’s face.
“What are you-“
“Be quiet. You’re spreading blood everywhere, it’s gross. Hold these up to your face,” Minegishi spoke, placing leaves against areas particularly wounded.
Shimazaki stilled in understanding, and nodded once. He cupped Minegishi’s hand, and took the herbs from him, holding them as instructed.
The quietude once again spilled over into the surroundings, yet in such a battered state, Minegishi found it less suffocating. Perhaps it was a last burst of energy before exhaustion finally sets in, they mused.
Minegishi glanced towards Shimazaki. “You look like shit.” “Thanks.” Was all the reply.
A brief moment passed, fleeting in the grand scheme of time. Standing on the remnants of a spirit- infused tree, the duo looked out to the horizon.
“What now?” The blind spoke, partly to no-one.
Minegishi sighed, a softness overcoming him. “We start anew.”
Shimazaki nodded and moved closer to the plant-user. He placed his hands firmly around their shoulders, and spoke with a slight fondness never heard before from the teleporter.
“Let’s go.”