[center][hr][b]Sometime between Fear Fest and the Tournament...[/b][hr][sup]Collab with [@lovely complex][/sup]

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[indent]The full moon stood high in the cloudless sky. The night was illuminated by its pale light and the millions of silvery stars. Despite the stunningly beautiful piece of glowing artwork, the heavens had a difficult time casting away the many long shadows that ruled over the night. In the gardens of Mayweather there were a few spots to truly soak up the serenity of the night sky. Hidden benches and corners where one could waste away their waking hours looking at the unchangeable. Many considered the gardens one of the few peaceful places of Mayweather campus. The one place where someone could be truly alone. But only a few people knew about its nighttime serenity. Only those plagued by a restless night seemingly knew of the calm place. Sadly, recently Lucas came among those ranks and he had no intention of keeping that a secret. He profaned the gardens’ very heart in a unique way. He started fighting in it.

The gardens echoed with grunts as a bare chested freshman flew against a tree and then dropped down on the ground. Blood came out of his nose as he looked at Lucas, standing over him. The difference in physique was as clear as the difference in look: Lucas stood like a giant. His sweat evaporating off his skin in whiffs of steam. His breath was strong and looked like white dragon fire. Beneath him laid the freshman, with a cry for mercy in his eyes. His body not even a tenth as muscular as Lucas’. The skin on his side either scrapped by the bark or bruised by some other hit.

An individual who was (or well is) plagued by restless nights due to insomnia and many other things was none other than Eliana. She cherished the school gardens like she cherished her own garden, back at her family’s estate.  There was something enchanting about a garden at night. The pitch-black curtain draped over the sky, while luminous stars materialized amongst it. Some were dull, merely flickering now and then, but others radiated brightly. The moon had a calming presence and hid all of the girl’s imperfections… she liked the night. 

Of course, when there was light. 

The flowers were simple. Something to look at and appreciate. From the small grove of trees to the lipstick-pink peonies. The aroma of the earth was intoxicating. If you inhaled deep enough a sweet mixture of lilies, blossoms, and the dew from the early evening rain would crawl into your nostrils and give you inner peace. Even if it only lasted a moment. A moment of her time was enough to give her strength to take on the next day. 

Ah, but winter was coming and soon enough, the sun would stop washing over the garden. Frost would take over, ceasing any growth from furthering. The golden glow of the morning would disappear and the sugar-frost of winter would hide the magic that every garden could give, if only you took the time to take it in. This fine night, the wind died down and the golden glow was replaced with drenching shady glades with silverlight. The sounds of the night become phantoms lost in the darkness and the footsteps of those who aimlessly wandered in the area were heightened in volume.  

Eliana didn’t [url=https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/c1/11/44/c1114446402424056fc4523468bd48f2.jpg]wear[/url] anything extravagant, it wasn’t like she was attending one of her father’s conferences any time soon or a socialite gala her mother would appreciate her making an appearance at.  Her only concern for the next couple of weeks was to train, train, train, and as such her attire would be conventional and comfortable. Stopping in her tracks, Eliana caught sight of an unpleasantry. “[color=darkcyan]You gotta’ be kidding me.[/color]” She whispered to herself. Turning on the heel of her sneakers, Eliana’s new aim, rather than mental peace, was to go somewhere else. Far away from here. Truly, she had no time for Lucas’ pettiness.

Lucas helped the kid up. It was obvious he could barely walk. He was the very definition of bruised and broken. But managed to form a faint smile on his face as he hobbled towards the group of other freshmen and sophomores. Though obviously one wasn’t having the time of his life. [b]“What the hell man! You were supposed to teach us how to get stronger! What’s beating us up going to do?”[/b] 

Lucas looked at him with a cool gaze. One of pure disinterest. [color=662d91]“Who do you think you are?”[/color] The big mouth took a deep breath. Seemingly to gather courage to stand up to Lucas. [b]“Justin.”[/b] The other boy said with a defiant tone. [color=662d91]“Justin… Hmmmm.”[/color] With a quizzical look Lucas looked straight into the kid’s eyes. But Justin kept standing tall. Full of defiance. Until he buckled, due to the fist in his stomach. [color=662d91]“Justin… I find your lack of respect… annoying.”[/color] His voice didn’t change from its cool, uncaring tone. [color=662d91]“However, I find your entitlement straight up despicable.”[/color]

[color=662d91]“You are nothing but a sack of skin filled with meat and bones. I’m not going to train you. I’m going to break you.”[/color] He looked up at the rest of the gang. [color=662d91]“You’re all weak. Made weak by a school that no longer accepts the fact that you should be strong. When you step out into the real world, there will be no cops to come for your rescue. No heroes that fly in to save the day. You’ll only have you.”[/color] He looked down at Justin, ready to give him another kick just so he would understand the lesson but then some strange noise from the path caught his attention. He swiftly turned to his ‘class’: [color=662d91]“Training’s over.”[/color] Like cockroaches they scattered through all paths except the one Eliana was walking on.

Lucas took a deep breath in, trying to keep himself calm. A task which was nigh impossible. His body was burning. His mind turned numb. He was on a high of natural drugs. Endorphins and adrenaline. In a more stable state, he might have walked away. Hell, probably in a drunker state he would have. If only to honor his agreement with Mitch. But not now, not when Lucas had released the chains and let the animal run rampart into the night. With a swift swing of his arm, he cracked off a branch from a nearby tree, about 2 meters long and picked it up. Throwing it from one hand to another to check the balance and maybe rethink the situation. Instead of sanity keeping him down, he just decided and threw the spear. Not at Eliana but next to her, to draw her attention. [color=662d91]“So how did you do it, huh?”[/color] he said, closing in fast. [color=662d91]“Some sort of dream you conjured up? Did you make him dream of you? Or did you give him something more…physical?”[/color]

The branch went darting past her, inches away from her head. Why couldn’t he leave her be? In an ideal world, he would not exist and yet here he was trying to get a rouse out of her. Him? Who was him? With a quizzical expression, Eliana turned to see Lucas making his way toward her, “[color=darkcyan]What are you on about?[/color]” Her voice came across as exasperated and full of limited tolerance. Seriously, did he have nothing better to do? What did he find out now? That she gave her body to some random stranger who couldn’t possibly be attracted to her unless she invaded his mind? 

What an idiot.  

“[color=darkcyan]Y’know what, it doesn’t matter. Go back to your childish games, I have better places to be.[/color]” [i]That doesn’t involve you.[/i] She waited for his reaction because if she turned her back to him, he could potentially throw another branch at her but this time aim to not miss. He was not to be trusted, ever.

He had covered the distance between them now. Staring straight down at Eliana as he couldn’t believe what she was trying. Did she really think he was that blind or stupid? Well, maybe. But that would be equal to underestimating your enemy. [color=662d91]“Don’t play coy with me.”[/color] He sneered, as he walked passed her grabbing the spear he just threw. Keeping his side at her. If she meant what she said, about having better places to be, she wouldn’t have stopped and turned around. She did that because she finally understood he was a danger. That was good. Other people’s fear was power to him. But in return, he could not show fear to her.

Looking down at the spear in his hand, it felt as if he had one more chance to walk away from all of this. It would be such an easy thing to do. Just walk away from the trouble. But no, he did that already when he made his promise to Mitch. He kept his distance, kept his promise. But she moved into his life this time. Whatever she did to Keats, he’d get vengeance for that and so many more things. Still not looking at her, he said: [color=662d91]“You know, back in September, I just thought you as annoying. A small thorn in my side.”[/color] He snickered at the few memories. Insulting her sister, sealing Milo in a locker. Those were the good times. But then he turned at her. With fire in his eyes. Involuntarily his fists started growing gold again. Like a comet. Arcs of yellow lighting carved into the wood in his hand. Leaving behind veins that glowed with an amber color. [color=662d91]“But then you started crossing a line.”[/color] With small steps he started walking around her. Like a tiger cornering its prey. [color=662d91]“Putting me down a second time. Letting me tumble through my nightmares. If you were half as brave as you make out to be, you would have fought me. You’d lose of course and you know that.”[/color] He leaned in, getting a good whiff of her. [color=662d91]“And that’s what you’re afraid of. Even now. No honor. No spine. Just a big mouth and some stabs from the shadows. That’s all you are. All you can ever be.”[/color]

Now standing in front her he looked her from top to toes. [color=662d91]“I’m talking about Keats. And don’t pretend you have anything to do in your life. It’s way past midnight, so I very much doubt you have any place to be and… well you’re you. So I very much doubt you have anyone to go to either.”[/color] Unless of course, she was on the prowl to corrupt some more of his dwindling circle of friends.

“[color=darkcyan]If you were ‘half as brave’ as you act to be, you would learn to let go.[/color]” With disappointment in her eyes, Eliana let out a heavy sigh. Always in his own world, never stopping to look around and think. This isn’t a game. Life isn’t some game where you could learn to forget by causing others misery. That would only take a toll on him... because he would never compare to those that are better than him. No spine? He wasn’t worth her time. No honor? The only honor that mattered to her was what she brought back home. The honor that would make her father proud. This endless feud was getting old incredibly fast. He could hurt her. He programmed himself to think strength was simply a physical matter. 

And yet, that didn’t make him a threat, She wasn’t scared of him, she wasn’t afraid of pain. What he did to her would never compare to what she could do to herself. He was a coward. A coward that hid behind his violent actions because it helped him sleep at night. “[color=darkcyan]What would you do if you had noone to bother?[/color]” She looked up at him and gave him a soft smile, nothing malicious. There was genuine care and concern in her expression. “[color=darkcyan]Believe it or not but Keats wanted to spend time with me. Just look around you, Lucas.[/color]” She gestured around them, at their campus, at the world,  “[color=darkcyan]There aren’t any definite lines. We create our own limitations. We’re miniscule compared to what waits for us out there[/color]” With no hesitation, she stepped closer to him, breaching a space she wasn’t all to comfortable with herself but she felt it to be necessary, “[color=darkcyan]And quite frankly, you’re not someone I see lasting very long... because you’re too focused on everyone else but yourself.[/color]” 

Lately, people have showed her more kindness than she was use to and perhaps going this way would be more beneficial than picking a fight. Something came over her, a feeling she didn’t necessarily understand but she approached the beast, cautiously and rested her dainty hand on his cheek. Her chartreuse gaze pierced his blue and her expression was kind. Incredibly kind, like the time she took care of him in the infirmary, she brought her defenses down to make him alright, even if it were only for a moment.

Lucas was honestly shocked she took a step forward towards him. Usually, he was the one breaching personal space. It was a way to push people off their balance. He definitely wasn’t used to being on the other side. Yet, there was something different. While he used it to intimidate and make people uncomfortable, she seemed to do it to get closer to him. Not just physically. The sudden hand on his cheek felt warm. A jolt traveled down his spine. It was the product of the unexpected touch. When her eyes locked onto his, for just a moment, he felt his flames extinguish. The massive inferno searing and burning everything inside of him vanished and was replaced by the night’s gentle serenity. For the first time in ages, he could feel what a cooling breeze was.

He couldn’t help it. His eyes closed involuntarily. She had him in the palm of her hand. Not through violence or malice or hate. This was the first act of kindness, an act of pure serenity. Not even Gianna, in better days, could have done this. It felt so good he wished it would never stop. Even his heart, which should be beating like a savage animal in its cage, was being calm. But in the dark serenity of his closed eyes, memories flashed. Old ones. Painful ones. Right when he almost leaned in on the touch, his eyes snapped open again.

The fire inside was ignited once more. With a swift hand, he pushed her hand away and took a step back. His breath was deep and angered, as he yelled: [color=662d91]“I did let it go!”[/color] for nobody around him to hear. [color=662d91]“You think it’s an accident I haven’t done anything to you? I could’ve gotten your sister. Or burned your journal. Every day I had an opportunity to ruin you!”[/color] The yelling did not calm him down. If anything, it made everything only worse. He turned away from her and threw the amber veined spear at a tree. Like golden lightening, it flew through the air. Hitting the tree and drilling through its bark. But it still did nothing to calm Lucas down.

He turned back at Eliana. A person that had cost his year. Keats turned his back on him. Gianna was Mrs. Lovelace’s prodigy and Brenna was Gianna’s. It all made sense now. She said it wasn’t a game but she very much played it that way. Even Mitch was her friend before his. He was alone. Totally alone in a school filled with enemies and turncloaks. The thought tipped him over the edge. In blind anger he dashed forward at Eliana, trying to grab her throat with his right hand.

Why was it when she attempted to show care and kindness, it was taken for granted or brushed aside? How could she be a hero when all she seemed good for was… creating a false reality. When he started yelling frantically, her heart picked up in octave and she tried to keep control of her breathing. Not because she was angry or sad, no, she was preparing for him to hurt her. She was preparing to protect herself like she had done many times before. 

Her lips muttered, “[color=darkcyan]I don’t want to do this anymore...[/color]” But she had to. He gave her no choice. There was never a choice in the matter. People would hurt her no matter what and all she could do was protect herself in the only way she knew. 

Or so she thought… 

While Lucas charged at her with blood rage, his eyes glazed over and in a split instant, his perspective was altered. Eliana’s form shifted to his sister, Lana. They were still in the same place, Eliana simply masked his view to see what she wanted him to see and that was, his sister. For the first time in her college career, she revealed her ability to create illusions in present time. The same reality, just altered. His hand wrapped around her neck and she allowed him to choke her or well, in his case, his sister. Behind the mask she conjured up, her eyes were clouded by frost. She was stronger when her target was closer. If that meant putting her life in danger, so be it, but he wouldn’t enjoy what he saw. 

Lana cried and whispered, ‘Lucas, what are you--’, losing her breath a lot faster than Ellie was herself. His eyes deeply stared into her’s and with as much strength as she could muster, she lifted her hand and methodically, yet weakly, did a graceful motion and blew her breath in his direction. Her sleep inducement slipped into his mouth and soon enough, his eyes rolled over, causing him to loosen his grip and drop to the ground. 

Once he freed her, her legs gave out and she collapsed to the floor, Eliana wrapped her hands around her neck, which now was graced with Lucas’ hand mark, and tried to catch her breath. Her world started to go dark… no, don’t fall.... her body fell over and her eyes closed shut. She was right beside Lucas unconscious on the garden floor.[/indent]

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[indent][color=662d91]“Lana!”[/color] With a scream, he woke up, seemingly sitting on the path in the gardens. But Lana was gone. Above him, the night sky was once more a beautiful artwork of nebulae and celestial objects coursing through the great empty void. Yet Lucas couldn’t care less. His memories slowly pieced themselves together. His dash forward. The strangling. The whispers of his sister. [color=662d91]“Lana!”[/color] He yelled out once more, fearing for her. This wasn’t what he wanted. These days he might not be sure what he did want but this was not it. [color=2e3192]“Once again you’re in here.”[/color] Said a familiar voice.

[color=662d91]“Darkstar?”[/color] Lucas was definitely confused now. [color=662d91]“Where’s my sister! Where is…”[/color] more memories pieced themselves together. First, it was Lana, then Eliana, then Lana again. The imagery in visions kept on shifting back and forth. [color=662d91]“Where is she!?”[/color] He yelled out again, as the Darkstar did not show himself. He started walking down the path, slowly realizing the world around him was just a fabrication of the entity. [color=662d91]“I know you can hear me. Where is she? Where are they?”[/color] Eventually, the path led him to the side of a small stream. You could even see the other side of the flowing water and the stones on the bottom through the clear water. Seemingly kneeling at the riverside was the familiar figure of the Darkstar. A black-hooded, humanoid entity. With powerful strides he moved forward, eventually standing next to the Darkstar who still said nothing. [color=662d91]“Well!?”[/color] Lucas demanded. Normally he would be thrilled to meet the Darkstar again. But there were greater issues right now. He may have harmed his sister and he couldn’t get that thought out of his mind.

[color=2e3192]“You sister is safe.”[/color] Said Darkstar, who swept with his clothed arm over the water. The transparent liquid turned silver in front of the hooded figure. Once large enough, the reflection morphed into the blurry image of Lana, laughing in a seemingly well-lit room and dressed to impress. Lucas looked at the reflection, barely understanding what was going on. [color=662d91]“Then…who…”[/color] [color=2e3192]“I have been neglectant, Lucas.”[/color] The Darkstar admitted, surprising Lucas even more. [color=2e3192]“I thought your simple, human problems were just that. Human and insignificant.”[/color] Lucas clearly took this as an insult. But knew more was to come. The hooded figure once again swept over the water with his arm. Revealing another face. That of Eliana. [color=2e3192]“You’ve been confronted by a force that even influences me.”[/color] The Darkstar’s voice was grave and heavy with worry. It did not fit him, according to Lucas.

[color=662d91]“Eliana? I mean, yeah she’s powerful but you’re something different. She can only manipulate dreams. What concern do you have for that?”[/color] Lucas asked. [color=2e3192]“I cannot fully explain my concern. As you should understand what I am for that first. And as we discussed, such endeavors are hopeless. So I will keep it simple. She can… weaken me. Gravely.”[/color] That did not explain much to Lucas. It sounded just as vague as the Darkstar always was. But after the first two conversations, he knew pushing the subject would get him nowhere. As the Darkstar rose from the ground, so too did the stream. The water suddenly lifted up from its stone bottom and flowed, untethered from the ground, next to Lucas and the Darkstar. The silver, reflecting pool began to grow on the side of the suspended creek. [color=2e3192]“What I will do is… highly… Unusual. Normally I would refrain from these actions. They rarely assure a favorable outcome. But these are, ironically, times of need. I have told you that there are an endless amount of possible futures before. As many as there are choices we make. I will show you two of them. Two extremes from one choice. Please, step in.”[/color] Lucas did as the Darkstar bid.

[indent][i]The sun shone hot and bright, high on its apex. Illuminating the world below. A world drenched in blood and ruin. The horrid stench of rot was the first thing that hit Lucas. The street was wet and sticky of all the blood. Everywhere around him there was destruction. Entire buildings were torn down and cars must have flown through the air like pebbles. Glass shards laid littered everywhere. Like a puzzle with too many, sharp pieces. Left and right a wreckage was burning or a building’s roof gave way for the flames. The collapse of walls broke the silent, solemn mood from time to time. His instinct drove him onwards. He felt drawn to a center of this destruction, and what he witnessed indicated as much. The further on towards the hill he went, the more destruction he witnessed. Entire buildings had surrendered to gravity. Left and right Lucas could see a police car or a fire truck. Abandoned or filled with the dead. There were seemingly no survivors.

Eventually, he started reaching the top of the hill. There laid a square with the buildings around it reduced to rubble. Beige and gray dominated the area. But it was scarlet that gave the accents. Blood was everywhere. In pools and explosive splashes. Long lines and tracing drops. Bodies, covered by dust, laid scattered everywhere. He could recognize some. Gianna, Milo, Brenna, Mitch, Keats. Eventually, he found his own body. His guts torn from inside of him and his mouth dripped with blood. Another trace of blood from near his body lead to another. Eliana’s. Who sat against the last bit of wall she could seemingly find. Bleeding heavily.[/i][/indent]

His lungs filled with air again as he got pulled out of the silver liquid. It felt as if he was choking. [color=2e3192]“One side of your future.”[/color] Said the Darkstar, standing next to him as Lucas realized how much his lungs liked air. [color=662d91]“We all die?”[/color] he asked confused. [color=662d91]“A possibility. Are you ready for the other side?”[/color] Lucas looked down on the ground. Taking some time to process what he just saw. Taking a deep breath this time, he once again stepped into the silver liquid.

[indent][i]This time around, the weather was horrible. It rained and the sky was dark and gray. But the place he found himself in, this time, was much nicer. A garden, one he didn’t recognize. It was filled from top to bottom with various flowers in full flourish. Despite the skies, it was a colorful display. And this time, he did not need to search to find his dream-world self. He was running, holding something behind his back, towards the gazebo in the middle of the field. His vision-self seemingly did not care for getting wet at all. Even from where the real Lucas was standing, he could see he was radiant as ever. Filled with curiosity, both Lucases strode through the rain towards the gazebo. The one from the vision reached it before Lucas could. Seemingly the white structure was only half-exposed, so Lucas had to walk around it to see who was inside. His mind was forcing him to guess: Gianna? No. Brenna? Maybe? Who else could make him so happy? But that could be all in the past. Then who?

Eventually, he got close enough to hear what was being said: “I brought you something.” He heard his own vision saying in a rather cheerful tone. Even from his own tone, Lucas knew his dream-version was smiling. “What?” asked a bit too familiar voice with not a hint of sneer or disgust. A moment pause and then the familiar voice continued: “Oh… you idiot.” Again, no malice, no insulting tone. Just… happiness. Right then he finally reached a point where he could look inside. Right in time to witness himself put a Moonflower in Eliana’s hair and then kiss her.[/i][/indent]

[color=662d91]“No!”[/color] This time he wrenched himself from the silver. [color=662d91]“Never!”[/color] he yelled at the Darkstar. [color=662d91]“That will never happen!”[/color] But the hooded figure just watched him for seconds before it answered:[color=2e3192] “It could… even now. Through choices and consequences. But I did not show you this to warn you for one future or another. Though, sadly, our time here is at an end. You must return. Think about these visions, if you will. For I will come back to them soon enough.”[/color][/indent]

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[indent]His awakening, this time, was rather gentle. He was lucky, maybe, for falling into the grass. It wasn’t the softest surface, but it could have been a lot worse. Like usual he kept his eyes closed a little longer as his body woke up too. But when he opened his eye he scrambled backward. Before him laid Eliana, seemingly sleeping. Though the marks and his memories told him it might have been worse. [color=662d91]“Oh shit no!”[/color] As quickly as he scrambled away from her, he now went towards her. First checking her wrist for a pulse, which was there luckily. But Lucas wasn’t satisfied yet. He put his ear close to her mouth. Hoping to hear her breathe. Yes, she was still breathing and living. He admitted, knowing full well she couldn’t hear him. [color=662d91]“If we have to go down… I want it to be fair.”[/color]

Of course, she might have looked like she was sleeping but there could still be something wrong. Lucas realized that. Carefully he looked over her, trying to see if she broke any bones or anything. Still assured, he jumped to her other side and traced his finger on her spine. Trying to determine if anything was wrong there. So far so good. It gave him the green light carefully carry her to a tree and let her sit down against it. To Lucas, she was still unconscious. Which wasn’t really good news. [color=662d91]“Eliana?”[/color] he lightly tapped her cheek, trying to wake her up. [color=662d91]“You up? You awake?”[/color]

[color=darkcyan][i]No, I’m not awake.[/i][/color] Eliana thought to herself when she heard his voice pierce into her ears. She had woken up when he picked her up and brought her to the tree. The mere fact he touched her like he actually cared made her stomach curl. Hopefully waiting this out would get him to leave her be. Leave her alone. Forever. 

A girl could dream. 

To give him some assurance she wasn’t comatose, she furrowed her eyebrows as if she were dreaming something unpleasant and let her head tilt to the side. Even with her attempts to look like she was nightmare stricken, she seemed fragile like a moonflower. Moonflowers were destined to bloom only at night, and then fade and fall when out came the morning light. How long would it take for him to give up and go about his sorry excuse of a life? Too long. If there was anything the hero wanted, it was for him to feel absolutely terrible. He had literally just choke her to the point that she passed out. He was a horrible person. There was nothing he could say or do to change her mind. She tried to be kind, to show him compassion, but he spat that back into her face. [color=darkcyan][i]Feel guilty, you deserve it.[/i][/color]   

A little reaction was enough to calm Lucas down a little. It would appear she was dreaming. Or rather having a nightmare. He found it quite ironic that someone who induced nightmares usually was suffering from them now. But his mind soon returned to his own visions. Rather exhausted he sat down against the tree as well. Not too far from Eliana, taking a deep breath as he watched the grass beneath him. He couldn’t get the visions out of his head. They forced him to think about his past decisions. Every time he bullied Eliana or one of her friends. To the good times, before Delphina’s fire. Yet his mind kept digging. It went to when he met Gianna. Suddenly memories of his high school awoke in his mind. Eventually, all leading to one.

One thing Lucas could not do is talk about sadness. Sure, he talked to Gianna about hating. But talking about sadness or grief was something else to him. For his whole life, he had to deal with it alone. However, a person can only go so far without breaking. Yet, right now felt odd to him. As if he could suddenly say things and just think Eliana would listen. Of course, she couldn’t. She slept. But he could imagine she heard but didn’t judge. Or worse, use the information to her own advantage as so many more did these days.

[color=662d91]“Sometimes I almost wished I never met her.”[/color] He admitted. His voice was filled with something no person but his sister had, the trust to hear in earnest: sadness. [color=662d91]“Things… I would have been so different.”[/color] He continued, sniffling. [color=662d91]“God, things would have been so different.”[/color] For once, he did not try to numb the pain. For once, he allowed himself to feel it. [color=662d91]“They could have been so much better. Maybe…you and I would have been friends.”[/color] He threw his head back, looking up at the universe above. The cosmic orchestra kept on playing above. And he knew, that even with all his might, he could not make it change a tune. [color=662d91]“I really wished I was someone else, sometimes. But I’m not. I’m me. I am my circumstances, choices and their consequences.”[/color] He looked next to him, at Eliana. For once, the sight did not fill him with anger. Only a lingering sense that things could have been different. But he just sighed and said: [color=662d91]“And I guess you’re one of my consequences.”[/color]

He got up again, wiping away a tear that just crawled out of his eye. Then, looking at Eliana, he realized he couldn’t just leave her there. He did cause her situation and despite the fact that they were each other’s nemeses, he didn’t want it all to go down like this. If he had to beat her, it would be in a fair fight. Like during the tournament. He lifted her up in his arms and started carrying her to the infirmary.[/indent]