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Once their soul dissipates, one cannot be brought back to life.
The world permits a mind to find another matching vessel but does not allow a vessel to gather the pieces of a mind.
Otto Apocalypse once said that.
Yet, those theories aren't mere speculation.
They were a stark truth, a painful yet complete verdict for all of humanity. Death is a journey's end, the conclusion for every living existence—an absolute finish line.
There is no continuation. Death is something permanent, something constant. And no one can escape time; it delivers everything to the same end.
However, Su didn't have that kind of privilege.
For some people, death might be the scariest thing to happen in their lives. Yet for Su, death is an unreachable salvation, an impossible dream, a utopia.
When he closed his eyes, hoping for a piece of paradise at the end of his journey, what he got was something even more twisted than mere heaven or hell.
He feels like his life is hanging in limbo with no way back to life or even death. No way to escape the loophole. He became an eternal spectator of the universe, outside the proper world, a fate he neither sought nor desired but was compelled to accept. At the end of his journey, his soul isn't allowed to become one within the imaginary energy, just like all his departed comrades.
Alone.
At the end of the day, he was the one left behind. He was the one who was alone. For eternity. With no way to escape.
“Why?” He'd posed this rhetorical question to himself countless times. Why wasn't he allowed to die?
“You're such a unique existence,” A higher being once said. “I'll give you an answer once you can win this game.”
And it's just a never-ending board game. He couldn't end the game. Once he started, it would become another hellish journey to reach even more enlightenment.
First, he was granted the eyes of Bodhi. The eye to observe things beyond his knowledge. Su witnessed humanity's triumph over Finality. He observed his closest friend Kevin fulfill his long-standing mission, becoming humanity's ultimate challenge—an obstacle to transcending and redefining their grim destiny, shattering the cycle of rebirth.
He watched how Kevin closed his eyes, a serene smile adorning his face as he embraced an ethereal dream. His consciousness slowly ebbed into oblivion, his soul dispersed into the sea of nothingness.
Tears began to fall from Su's eyes, a silent testament to how he witnessed his very best friend's life disappear forever. He watched as Kevin departed without the chance to say a proper goodbye. Unable to see him one final time before his existence faded away, along with all their memories and his life.
“No need to grieve for the departed. Their journey already ended. They found the meaning of their life and finally became one within the imaginary realm, back to their roots as the unity in the sea of nothingness.”
The higher being stared at Su's palpable emotions with detached amusement. To them, humanity appeared inconsequential—mere grains on a vast shore, purposefully directed ants. Once their role is fulfilled, they'd be discarded.
Yet, for Su, humanity embodied unparalleled uniqueness.
He remained silent, concealing his emotions deep within his heart, away from the scrutinizing gaze of God itself. A golden leaf materialized in his palm, containing his most cherished memories of Kevin, delicately sealed within.
With resolve, he made his move on the cosmic board game, determined to triumph over the celestial opponent before him, fueled by the hope of one day reuniting with his long-lost friend.
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___________
Observing. That's what he could do.
Su continued to observe. Observe. And observe.
He silently watched as Sa, his female counterpart, materialized into the proper world. Su decided to guide his comrade-in-arms, Hua, in their mission as pioneers protecting their Earth. He assisted her in reuniting with the remaining flame chaser, Griseo. Eventually, Su bid farewell to Hua, hoping for a future reunion. He vowed to always watch over them.
He observed how the current era's Herrscher of Finality, Kiana Kaslana, tried her best to control the Honkai energy on the moon while the Earth slowly healed from the scars of Project Stigma. Kiana strove to uphold Kevin's legacy as a Kaslana, defending Earth against all extraterrestrial threats until the very end.
With a sense of contentment, Su closed his eyes, concluding his observations of the proper world and entrusting humanity's future into their capable hands.
Years later, his sight expanded even further.
He could now observe universes beyond the solar system of the proper world. He witnessed the concept of Aeon coming to life on another branch of an imaginary tree. He watched as individuals, known as trailblazers, journeyed across galaxies, retracing the steps of their departed Aeon in search of answers and confronting malevolent Aeons along their journey.
At times, Su attempts to offer guidance to help them find the right path. Occasionally, he indirectly intervenes when all hope seems lost. When these individuals ultimately rediscover their true path, Su simply smiles, feeling that his mission for them is complete. Now, it's time for him to observe other branches within the imaginary tree and provide guidance to those in need.
He continued to observe. Observe. And observe. Once again.
And thus, eons later, he finally reached the very end of his observational limit.
He finally reached the very edge of the universe, encountering a boundless space filled with void and nothingness. Billions of millennia later, he witnessed the culmination of the entire universe unfolding before him as a cosmic observer.
Yet, even as life retreated into the sea of nothingness, he remained. Trapped within that higher realm, he could do nothing but observe. He witnessed the occurrence of the second big bang and observed as the cycle of life began anew, setting the stage for a fresh wheel of fate.
Despite the ceaseless and exhausting observations, he had yet to find answers—about his purpose or the meaning of his existence.
"Does meaning itself even have meaning?" he wondered aloud.
And then, he finally found a solution.
To seek an answer, he needed to return to his origins.
Yes, back to his roots.
He yearned to return to his roots…
...as the human he once was.
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__________
"Do you wish to turn back time to when everything began, O enlightened one?"
That offer tempted him—to return to the past, to the time when everything started. His childhood memories suddenly played in his mind like old vintage records.
He remembered their first meeting as children in the rain, sharing umbrellas and laughter. He remembered how Kevin used to play with him, offering an optimistic, beautiful smile that rivaled even the sunshine itself, bringing rays of hope into his monotonous life.
He remembered how they grew up together, forging a bond stronger than mere blood ties, despite their different backgrounds. Their friendship blossomed over time.
They shared everything—secrets, dreams, fears. Even when faced with challenges, they stood steadfastly by each other's side.
But then came the Honkai outbreak…
Their lives had changed forever since then. Those beautiful moments would never return. Yet, even now, he clung to the hope that somewhere, somehow, they might find each other again. Could fate reunite them? Or perhaps…
It was merely wishful thinking, born from desperation and loneliness.
With his power, he could turn back time and start anew. Armed with the knowledge of the future, he could potentially prevent the cocoon of finality from reaching Earth, halting the endless tragedy destined for humanity.
However, Su shook his head.
Turning back time would negate all the sacrifices made by his departed comrades and the efforts of the heroes of the current era. It would betray their life journeys and histories, rendering the outcome of his eternal observation futile.
All they had achieved would become meaningless. Moreover, there was no guarantee that an even more dangerous threat than Honkai wouldn't wreak havoc on Earth instead.
"No, I don't want that," Su whispered silently, while the higher being merely smirked with amusement.
"Then what do you desire, O enlightened one? You know it's impossible to resurrect the dead, no matter how omnipotent you may be now unless you turn back time."
Su was well aware of this, of course.
Once a person dies, their soul dissipates, much like a droplet of water descending from the sky into a vast ocean. While the droplet initially possesses its distinct existence and identity, upon reaching the ocean, it merges with the expansive body of water.
Once a person dies, their soul returns to the source of the fundamental principle of greater existence. Consequently, their individual existence, experiences, and unique identity cease to exist. This is why resurrecting the dead is deemed impossible. Their souls cannot retrieve the fragments of their previous lives that defined their individuality.
Yet, despite acknowledging these harsh truths, Su couldn't deny his enduring yearning to reunite with Kevin.
"Why, among all your departed comrades, do you wish only to see him?"
Su fell silent, the higher entity echoing the question within his mind. There was no use hiding his deepest thoughts from them, for they could read him like an open book.
Perhaps it's because Kevin remained a constant presence in his life. From childhood through adulthood, Kevin was always by his side, whether during missions or in their most vulnerable moments. He was a cherished companion, something precious that Su couldn't bear to erase from his memories, no matter what.
Perhaps it's because Kevin became an integral part of the wheel of his destiny. Kevin is the one who pushes him harder toward his hope to save humanity. Kevin is the one who fueled his determination to search for another solution, making him break his own limits. This has led him to be trapped within the never-ending path as an observer that he is now.
Perhaps it's because he simply wants closure on their separation. He was never able to say his goodbye in their last moment. Maybe he just wants to see those azure eyes once again, asking Kevin if he finally found his answer about the meaning of his life, at least.
Or perhaps, the answer is even more simple and personal than that.
His smile…
Perhaps Su simply longs to see that radiant sunshine smile once more. A beautiful smile that once served as the anchor of his human life.
A smile he etched into his mind during his final moment.
An optimistic smile that enabled Su to face any challenge ahead.
A smile that warmed his heart.
"Maybe... I just... missed him. That's all.”
Su decided to offer a straightforward response to encapsulate his complex emotions.
"You know it's futile to yearn for such an impossible reunion. However, you can try, of course. Given your state, anything is possible. But remember this, enlightened one: you may find that unique soul, yet once you bring him back, he'll become a mere blank slate, stripped of his past life memories and identity. Once merged among the sea of nothingness, his uniqueness will be lost forever."
"I know. And I don't care. I just... want to see him," Su declared firmly, clenching his fist tightly, grappling with the intense emotions surging within him.
"I know I could easily choose to see his parallel selves in other branches of imaginary tree or within the countless bubbles of the Sea of Quanta. But they aren't him. I want to see the true Kevin from my proper world."
"Yet, if you retrieve his soul from the sea of nothingness, he would merely become a puppet devoid of life. Is that truly what you desire, O enlightened one? If so, how does he differ from his countless counterparts? Your friend would never truly return."
"I know," Su whispered softly. "But... at least it would still be his soul, even if he never truly returns... I just want to hold him... for one last time.”
Tears slowly streamed down Su's face as he continued to gaze at the golden leaf in his palm. Regret filled his eyes, regret for not being there with Kevin in his final moments. This remorse carved a deep void within him that seemed impossible to heal.
"If that is your wish, then I'll permit you to enter the sea of nothingness. Will you manage to create a miracle, or will your efforts prove futile?"
With those rhetorical questions hanging in the air, Su summoned all his determination, embarking on a tumultuous journey to find the soul of his long-lost anchor.
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____
With the golden leaf containing memories of Kevin and him tightly clutched, Su ventured into the imaginary realm as his surroundings seemed to warp and twist around him. Embarking on the journey through the vast expanse of nothingness, he searched for even the tiniest trace of Kevin's soul. His mind raced with memories of their time together, hoping that they might guide him toward his lost friend.
As Su's consciousness delved deeper into the void, he felt himself growing increasingly exhausted. Time and space held no meaning here; moments stretched into hours, days turned into years without notice.
Yet, there was still no sign of Kevin's presence anywhere.
His determination began to waver, and doubts crept in like tendrils of darkness, threatening to engulf him entirely. Su grew increasingly despondent, questioning whether pursuing this seemingly futile quest was even worthwhile.
With each step he took, he felt as if he were sinking deeper into the dark sea. He could hear the echoes of other souls, sensing his unique presence, drawn to his distinctiveness. These myriad souls struggled to differentiate themselves from one another as they swirled within the sea of imaginary energy, merging into one vast ocean.
The realization that his departed comrades would never reunite after death deeply pained Su. According to the laws and nature of the imaginary realm, heaven and hell did not exist. After enduring so much pain and sacrifice, they deserved a moment of peaceful reunion.
Yet, there was nothing he could do. He wasn't a god capable of altering the laws and nature of the universe. Everything that lived would return to its origins, merging as one within the realm of imaginary existence.
Su pondered whether his soul could return to its origins, just as all his friends had done. He wondered if he could someday embrace true death, yearning for such a privilege. The idea of returning to nothingness seemed more comforting than enduring an eternal existence as a solitary observer.
Lost in his thoughts, Su was suddenly captivated by a faint glimmer that slowly caught his attention, pulling him closer. Its intensity grew until it materialized into a shimmering sphere of light, pulsating with ethereal energy, unlike anything he had ever encountered.
Approaching cautiously, Su reached out tentatively toward the radiant orb.
As his hand grazed its surface, a wave of pure euphoria surged through him, saturating every fiber of his being. He gasped involuntarily, sensing a reunion with something long lost yet never forgotten. The sensation grew almost overwhelmingly intense, pulling him deeper into the void.
Abruptly, Su found himself in a vast, lush garden brimming with blooming flowers and towering trees that swayed gracefully in the absent breeze. The air was rich with the sweet scent of blossoms, crafting a tranquil ambiance unlike any he had ever known.
He slowly opened his eyes, surveying his surroundings with wide-eyed wonder. In the distance, a figure sat on a bench beneath a weeping cherry tree, its petals cascading gently to the ground like snowflakes. As Su approached cautiously, he recognized the person occupying the spot. His eyes widened in shock.
"No way..." He couldn't trust his eyes. There sat a familiar white-haired boy in his high school uniform, causing his heart to skip a beat.
"Kevin!?" He called out eagerly, rushing toward him, but something felt... off. Despite the similarities, this version of Kevin didn't seem like the same one he knew from his proper world. This Kevin appeared younger, more carefree than the stoic warrior he remembered, and even more cheerful than Kevin's high school self.
The younger Kevin glanced at Su, his face etched with confusion.
"Who are you, sir? Why did you call me Kevin?”
Suddenly, Su realized that the Kevin standing before him wasn't the original Kevin from his own world. There could be billions of souls resembling Kevin scattered throughout the imaginary realm. Su's quest to find his closest friend promised to be a lengthy journey ahead.
"Uh... I apologize. My name is Su. I thought you were my best friend. You bear a striking resemblance to him," he tried to explain, but the words felt empty and hollow as he spoke.
"I see," the younger Kevin responded, falling silent for a moment before finally nodding in understanding.
"Well, sir, I don't want to crush your hope, but in this realm, all souls are unified. We are interconnected before embarking on our next journey into a new form of life. Even if you were to find your friend's soul, he might not remember you. He would be a blank slate, devoid of life and memories, akin to fragmented data.”
"I'm aware," Su nodded solemnly, his heart pained by the possibility of the Kevin counterpart's words becoming reality.
"Yet, I still wish to search for him, regardless of his condition.”
"Well... if you say so, then perhaps I can help you in finding him," the younger Kevin offered, prompting Su's eyes to spark with hope.
"Thank you."
The younger Kevin nodded enthusiastically upon hearing Su's gratitude. Yet, Su couldn't shake the nagging suspicion in his mind.
"If all souls are unified, then why are you the only one who has gained awareness? Aren't you just one of those countless souls as well?”
The younger Kevin paused for a moment, then looked back at Su with a slight chuckle.
"Well, let's say I'm the soul keeper here. I've taken on the form of the one you most desire to see. Perhaps that's why I resemble your long-lost best friend?"
"Soul keeper?" Su frowned, growing more suspicious. "I've never heard of such an existence within the sea of nothingness.”
"Well, now you know," the younger Kevin replied with a slight giggle.
"'Soul keeper' is a simplification. My existence is more complex than that. Let's just say I'm the representative of all the souls here. We sensed your unique presence the moment you entered the sea. Drawn to you, we chose to meet you directly, taking on my form.”
The younger Kevin smiled radiantly, reminiscent of the original Kevin's heartfelt smile—the very smile that had anchored Su's existence. For a fleeting moment, all of Su's suspicions and defenses seemed to dissolve. It could be a trap within this imaginary realm; after all, Su's act of entering this place was forbidden.
However, the soul keeper before him appeared devoid of malice. Su sensed purity, warmth, and kindness emanating from him.
"Well then, shall we have a little tour? I'll guide you to explore deeper within the sea," He said, rising from the bench and turning his back to Su.
"Wait," Su interjected, catching the soul keeper's attention.
"Yes?"
"What should I call you? You haven't introduced yourself yet."
"A name? Hmm..." The soul keeper paused, pondering for a moment before his eyes sparkled with an idea.
"Well, since I've taken on the form of your long-lost friend, why don't you just call me Kevin?”
Su hesitated for a moment. "I don't think calling you Kevin feels... right."
"Well, why not?" The soul keeper frowned playfully. "I like that name. It’s kinda basic, but it sounds cool nonetheless.”
A chuckle escaped Su's lips, amused by the soul keeper's straightforwardness. As he looked at his guide, who bore the familiar form and name of his best friend, it felt as if he were being guided by the original Kevin himself.
"Alright, if you're comfortable with that name... Kevin, it is.”
The soul keeper smiled widely. “Thanks, Su. Now, let's begin our journey. Don't stray too far from me, or else you might get lost.”
Su nodded with a smile and quickly followed the soul keeper closely, venturing into another part of the sea of nothingness.
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____
The two of them began their journey into uncharted territory. The soul keeper started sharing stories from the distant past that eerily mirrored Kevin's life. The longer Su spent time with this younger version, the more evident the similarities with Kevin became.
The way he spoke about his aspiration of becoming a hero for someone he cherished the most in his life. The way he playfully teased Su, as if they were truly connected on a deeper level of friendship. The way he made Su feel even more drawn to him, created a sense of safety and comfort reminiscent of the original Kevin.
“You seem to know Kevin quite well, based on how you're telling your backstory to me,” Su murmured as they entered the deepest part of the sea.
“Oh, really?” The soul keeper raised his eyebrows, looking intrigued.
“As a representative of all collective souls here, you shouldn't have any specific backstory or even memories.” Su's suspicion began to rise again, but the younger Kevin just chuckled.
“You seem to love overanalyzing things. Were you a scientist in your past life? Or perhaps a detective?” He asked playfully as they continued their journey.
As Su and the soul keeper delved deeper into the abyss, they traversed landscapes painted with echoes of memories and emotions. Each step was a dance between the past and present, a delicate balance that drew them closer with every shared moment.
Amidst the vast emptiness, they stumbled upon a shimmering pool reflecting fragmented memories of their shared past. As Su gazed into its depths, fleeting images of laughter, tears, and cherished moments flashed before his eyes. The soul keeper watched silently, allowing Su to immerse himself in the recollections, understanding that these memories were the threads binding them together.
And thus, they found themselves on the precipice of a towering cliff, overlooking a horizon swallowed by darkness. The wind whispered tales of loss and longing, reminding Su of the void left behind by Kevin's absence. The soul keeper approached, placing a comforting hand on Su's shoulder, grounding him amidst the overwhelming emotions.
"Every journey has its purpose, Su," the soul keeper murmured, his voice echoing with wisdom.
"Sometimes, we must confront the shadows of our past to find the light that guides us forward."
Su nodded, his gaze drifting to the distant horizon. "I've been searching for so long, Kevin. In my eternal life, I don't even have the privilege to experience true death. I keep searching for answers, for closure."
The soul keeper smiled softly, his eyes reflecting an understanding beyond words. "And sometimes, the answers we seek are not found in the destination but in the journey itself. Embrace the moments, Su, for they shape us, mold us into who we are meant to be."
Moved by the soul keeper's words, Su felt a profound connection, a realization that their journey together held deeper significance than he had initially perceived. As they continued onward, navigating through challenges and revelations, Su gleaned invaluable lessons from the soul keeper, each moment etching a lasting impression on his soul.
Unbeknownst to Su, each lesson, each shared memory, was drawing him closer to a truth he was not yet prepared to face — a revelation that would redefine the very fabric of their existence.
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____
“This is it. We've finally reached the center of the sea.”
As both of them stood side by side, staring at the swirling imaginary energy at the center of the sea, Su noticed numerous tiny lights within the swirling energy. Some shared the same white color, while others embodied different hues.
"Those tiny dots of light represent the souls of every departed human. When they die, their souls take on different colors before returning to their origin of life, becoming white. They are stripped of their uniqueness and become a pure blank slate once more," the soul keeper explained, turning to Su.
"Since your long-lost friend departed eons ago, his soul might belong to those infinite white dots over there. It's impossible to differentiate him from other souls. He has already lost his uniqueness, lost what defined him in the first place.”
Su stared solemnly, his heart slowly breaking from within. "So, there's really nothing we can do to summon his true soul?"
"I already told you, didn't I?" the soul keeper replied, his eyes conveying a firm resolve.
"This was a futile attempt from the start."
Su wandered among the countless tiny dots of light, wrapping his arms around himself, seeking warmth from the multitude of souls, even as his heart felt cold and empty.
"It's alright. Thank you for helping me get here, Kevin," Su said, his voice tinged with resignation. "I knew my attempt might be futile. But knowing his soul is here, wherever it may be, brings me some peace."
The soul keeper remained silent, observing as tears welled in Su's eyes.
"You miss him deeply, don't you?" he finally said, his gaze full of understanding.
Su nodded, a bittersweet smile forming on his lips. "He was my anchor, the person I cherished most in life, more than anything, more than myself."
The soul keeper's expression softened.
"You don't need him to anchor you anymore, Su. You've grown stronger than you realize.”
“I know that,” Su interjected sharply, pain evident in his voice. “But my heart will always yearn for him, no matter what.”
The soul keeper nodded, standing once more beside Su with a reassuring smile. “Well, I promised to help you find him, didn't I?”
As the soul keeper motioned toward the myriad souls surrounding them, he began to concentrate intently. A golden light enveloped him, a sensation familiar to Su whenever he reminisced about Kevin and their shared memories.
A growing realization started to dawn on Su.
"Kevin," Su murmured, scrutinizing the soul keeper with narrowed eyes. “There is something that you hide from me…”
A solemn look crossed the soul keeper's face. "Su, our connection transcends this realm. But there's a truth you need to face."
Gripping the golden leaf tightly, its brilliance casting an otherworldly glow, Su confronted him. "You're not a manifestation of all souls, are you? You're…”
“… you're from this."
As Su raised the radiant golden leaf, the soul keeper's form wavered, revealing a vulnerable glimpse beneath the facade.
"You've always been perceptive," the soul keeper admitted. "Yes, Su. I am not born from collective souls. There is no soul keeper within the sea of nothingness. It's merely a guise I adopted to guide you here.”
Kevin smiled warmly, his gaze fixed on the golden leaf in Su's hand.
“I exist because of what's contained within that golden leaf — our memories, our shared moments. That's where I come from.”
A weighted silence enveloped them, interrupted only by the subtle movements of the surrounding void. As the soul keeper intensified his efforts to locate the original Kevin's soul, Su sensed an unsettling realization of an impending separation.
"Kevin," Su whispered, his voice tinged with emotion. "What happens once your task is done?"
The soul keeper's eyes grew distant, his expression turning solemn.
"Once my task is complete, I'll return to my origin — to the essence from which I emerged."
A pang of sorrow pierced Su's heart as he grappled with the unavoidable truth. "And what becomes of you?"
With a shimmering aura enveloping him, the soul keeper hesitated momentarily. "I'll disperse, Su, merging back into the golden leaf, my purpose here fulfilled.”
A profound sadness washed over Su as he grasped the depth of their shared journey. As the soul keeper succeeded in pulling one of the white, tiny dots toward him, his form began to waver, signaling that his task was nearly complete.
Tears welled in Su's eyes as he witnessed the scene before him.
"Even if you aren't his soul but merely a manifestation of my memories with him, you still represent a part of Kevin."
The soul keeper smiled, extending the tiny light toward Su.
"Don't be sad, Su. You will meet him soon. You will reunite with the one you yearn for the most. Your true anchor."
Their eyes met one final time, and the soul keeper's essence began to dissipate, drawing back into the golden leaf. Su watched in silent anguish, realizing that while he had found a fragment of Kevin, the journey to reclaim his true friend had only just begun.
Suddenly, a soft breeze brushed against his face, carrying whispers of forgotten dreams.
And thus, he finally found him.
The anchor of his past life. The center of his universe. The light of his existence.
The long-lost soul slowly manifested. With its blinding light, it began to take on the form of its previous life. The true Kevin finally stood before him, his eyes devoid of life and light, staring emptily at Su. Overwhelmed, Su broke down in tears and rushed toward his long-lost best friend, embracing him tightly.
"Kevin... I finally found you," Su whispered, a bittersweet blend of joy and guilt tugging at his words. He knew he had interfered with the natural process, pulling Kevin's soul back when it was meant to be cleansed and renewed. But the overwhelming desire to have Kevin by his side and the depth of his love for him obliterated any other considerations.
Pulling away slightly to look into Kevin's hollow blue eyes, Su tenderly caressed his friend's face. Kevin remained unresponsive, seemingly grappling with the very concept of existence. With a pained smile, Su watched, hoping to reignite the spark that once defined them.
"This might be selfish of me, wanting you back by my side when I know it's impossible. I'm sorry, Kevin... I can't help it. I just want to see you again..." Su confessed, tears streaming down his face. He recognized the futility of his words, knowing that Kevin, in his current lifeless state, wouldn't truly hear or comprehend them.
However, Su didn't want to give up. Not now.
Driven by desperation and hope, Su clutched the golden leaf tightly, its shimmering surface reflecting memories of their shared past. With a trembling hand, he approached Kevin, thinking that merging the golden leaf—filled with their cherished moments—might reignite the spark of life within his friend.
"Please, Kevin, come back to me."
Su pressed the golden leaf firmly against Kevin's chest, its edges glowing brighter with each passing second.
"Remember, Kevin. Our laughter, our tears, the moments that defined us. You can't be gone, not like this." The room momentarily lit up with the ethereal glow of the golden leaf, but the emptiness in Kevin's eyes persisted.
After what felt like an eternity, the light slowly faded, and Kevin remained unchanged, still bearing that haunting emptiness in his eyes. A deep sense of despair washed over Su as he sank to his knees, the weight of his actions and the reality of the situation crashing down upon him. He had hoped against hope, but it seemed that his efforts might not be enough to bridge the gap between the living and the departed.
“It's alright, Kevin. We will start over. You don't need to remember the past anymore. We will begin anew. We still have a future ahead of us."
Those words felt like a coping mechanism, a lie to himself. Su's heart began to break as he sobbed uncontrollably while clutching onto Kevin. His anchor was long gone. Su knew that even if he succeeded in resurrecting Kevin's soul back to life, Kevin would never truly return.
Wiping his tears, Su gently cradled Kevin's face in his hands.
“I… I love you, Kevin…”
He finally said it—the very words he never had the chance to utter in Kevin's final moments. He had buried those truths about his own feelings for ages. It felt like he had finally found peace, even if it was too late to convey them to Kevin.
And just when all hope seemed lost...
Something unexpected happened.
Su was taken aback when Kevin unexpectedly lifted his finger and gently caressed Su's face, mirroring Su's earlier gesture. As Kevin did so, the golden leaf nestled within Kevin's chest shimmered brightly, pulsating like a second heartbeat, infusing life into him. With eyes widened in astonishment, Su observed the transformation in Kevin.
For some inexplicable reason, being in close contact with Su seemed to breathe life back into Kevin.
“K-Kevin…”
Tears quietly rolled down Su's cheeks as he leaned into the touch of Kevin. Kevin, with a vacant expression, seemed to wrestle with something deep within, sensing a resurgence of life within his lifeless soul. After a moment of silent struggle, a weak voice broke through from his cold lips.
“S… S-Su…”
Hearing Kevin's frail voice acted as a soothing balm to Su's wounded heart. A faint smile graced Su's lips as he gently cupped Kevin's face, pressing their foreheads together in a moment of profound connection.
"Yes, it's me, Kevin. You're not alone anymore, and I promise I'll never leave your side."
Tears of joy streamed down Su's face as he gently stroked Kevin's cheek, moved by the realization that their bond had survived the depths of the sea of nothingness. As moments passed, Kevin's gaze sharpened, a flicker of recognition igniting within his eyes. Su's heart quickened, witnessing this captivating transformation. The once dull, lifeless blue of Kevin's eyes grew vibrant, deepening into an azure that echoed the vast ocean.
As if infused with the essence of life, Kevin's eyes shone brilliantly, filling the void around them with warmth and vitality. Su could hardly believe the miracle unfolding before him.
"Kevin..." Su's voice trembled with joy and disbelief, cradling Kevin as he marveled at this wondrous rebirth.
"Su..." Kevin's voice, though still fragile, carried a newfound strength, resonating with life that defied the emptiness. He kept saying Su's name as if it were the sole thing that could make him feel truly alive.
Overwhelmed with a mix of relief and joy, Su couldn't contain the surge of emotions within him. Without hesitation, he pressed his lips against Kevin's in a tender kiss. It was a poignant expression of his deep love and the lengths he'd gone to reunite with his cherished friend.
"Kevin," Su whispered, pulling back slightly from the kiss but maintaining eye contact, "I never stopped loving you. Even in the darkest moments, my heart held onto the hope of seeing you again, of feeling this connection we share."
Kevin looked deeply into Su's eyes, searching for understanding. The weight of their shared memories, both joyous and painful, filled the space between them.
"I've dreamt of this moment," Su continued, his voice quivering with emotion. "Dreamt of holding you, of telling you how much you mean to me. And now that you're here, alive and with me, I promise that I'll never let anything separate us again."
Kevin's grip around Su tightened, almost as if he was clinging to the last remnants of his existence. With determination flickering in his eyes, once void of life, he began to stutter out his heartfelt confession.
"L-Love… I… love you… too…”
Seeing Kevin's heartfelt struggle brought tears to Su's eyes, moved by the poignant blend of beauty and pain in his effort. Kevin's stammered words resonated with raw emotion, illustrating a soul fighting its way back to life. It was a moment of vulnerability and strength that deeply touched Su.
Overwhelmed by emotion, Su gently squeezed Kevin's hand, finding solace in their shared connection.
"From this moment on, know that I'll always be by your side. No matter the challenges we face, we'll face them together. You and me Kevin, Together, eternally."
And with those heartfelt words, Su embraced Kevin tightly, sealing their vow amidst the boundless expanse of the sea of nothingness. Two souls, reunited at last, embarked on an everlasting journey together.
A fragile yet beautiful smile slowly formed on Kevin’s lips, marking a sign that Su had indeed found his true anchor…
…And the profound meaning of his life.
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