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The sea of flowers felt… more peaceful than it had been described to him.
Trailblazer had told him that it was where the souls went, where the flowers bloomed and glowed in the darkness of the sky. Where the moon shone bright above the darkness. Where the silence felt calm and reassuring, granting relief to a non-beating heart.
And Aeons, the description could never do it justice.
"Lord Dan Heng?"
He turned to Castorice, surprise written in her expression as she approached him.
"How…?"
"…" He sighed. "I lost the battle with the Flame Reaver," He crossed his arms. "It's… all up to Phainon and Trailblazer now."
Castorice's eyes softened. "You… sacrificed yourself for an Era Nova that never concerned you…"
"Hey," He chuckled. "As long as it concerns the friends and allies of the trailblazers, it will always concern us,"
Castorice's lips thinned but she simply nodded. "Very well…" She turned around. "Follow me, please,"
He did as he was told, following the Demigod of Death through the sea of flowers. Each step felt like a piece of his Cloudhymn magic was unraveling. His tail, imaginary as it was, slowly appeared, wagging behind him. His horns grew, translucent yet longer, along with the scales appearing on his skin and his claws growing on his fingers.
Slowly, his magic was dying, leaving him to his true form sooner or later. He wasn't sure if his true form could fit in the sea of flowers, but he supposed he still had time until then.
They soon stopped, and he turned his head to find familiar faces among the area, sitting by the flowers around them. He held his breath and approached one he found the most familiar, tapping his shoulders.
"Hey,"
The other jolted a little, standing and swiveling around. His eyes widened.
"Dan Heng?"
"Yep, it's me," He chuckled. "Good to see you again, Mydei,"
"…" Mydei's eyebrows furrowed, hands gently caressing his face before moving to his chest, wincing at the dry liquid. "He didn't."
"…He did." He sighed. "It was my fault. I underestimated him and I… well, there's no point in dwelling on it," He held the other's hands, gently gripping on the calloused fingers. "He got to you too… didn't he?"
Mydei let out a sigh. "I don't even know how he knew where my weak spot was… I never told anyone but you and Phainon…"
He hummed. "Yeah… that really is weird," He pushed one hand away to hold, palm to palm. "Do you think… there's a chance that…?"
Mydei frowned at the implication. "I don't know about that…"
"Sorry," He sighed and moved closer. "I won't bring it up. Let's just… relax," The other's arms wrapped around him, and he leaned against his chest. "We have some time until the next cycle,"
"Mm…" Mydei's grip on his tightened. "I'd be the next Nikador… but… what will you be?"
"…A lost Vidyadhara child among the crowd," He chuckled. "I honestly don't know…"
A molten rebirth had been painful… perhaps a more appropriate rebirth would be better?
"I'll come and find you. You and Phainon."
He snorted. "Phainon… would be bearing the world by the next cycle…"
"Then you. I'll find you." Mydei hissed. "I'll find you and make sure you're okay. Make sure you'll be treated better."
A gently smile made it's way to his features, and he felt his Cloudhymn magic start to fade away once more. He closed his eyes, allowing himself to slowly shift into his full form, one that he knew Mydei already saw once before as he curled up in his hold. His true form felt like a heavy weight had been lifted, and he nuzzled the Kremnoan in his hold.
In another life…
We'll meet… in another life…
The blood stained the ground where the body laid, the white cloth around it drenched. He knelt beside the body, the tears streaming from his face, but all he could do was stare. In his arms laid another body, golden blood now dry but still staining his own clothes and face.
They were both gone.
In the sea of flowers.
He had failed to save them.
…
How could he have failed?
Had he not tried hard enough?
"Dan… Dan Heng…"
The sob choked out, clutching Mydei's body close to his chest while he slowly made his way to the other. His other hand gently stroked the blood stained face, fingers entangling themselves in the other's ebony strands.
Trailblazer had told him earlier about the tragedy and yet…
…
The dam finally broke.
He released a pained, echoing wail. Every death that had come came swarming, and he clung onto the bodies of the two people he cared about the most. The pain weighed his chest, and he felt his heart squeeze within. His breathing was uneven, his voice reduced to a trembling, ear-scratching sound that could make the Chimeras run in fear.
He failed.
He failed the Chrysos Heirs.
He failed Amphoreus.
He failed… them.
He failed to protect them…
He failed to protect those he cared about… again.
…
"I'm so… so sorry…"
I'm sorry… for my failure.
Farewell… my beloved ones.
I shall see you both in another life.