Blood poured like the sands of time. His surroundings slowed like the fading heartbeat. Bastian shaking palm placed on the dying beastkind’s chest. Noticing the beastkind moving his mouth to speak, but even when nothing came out, it became apparent what was said. Life briefly paused, the moment Bastian saw the light fading from their eyes. The unpleasant nostalgia that he’d been through this before. [i][color=0072bc]“I was helpless back then too…”[/color][/i]
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[color=00aeef][center]"Cowards are far more dangerous than those who fight with purpose.”[/center][/color]
His father told him that all the time. But no matter how long that conversation lasted, the father couldn't get Bastian to understand. Until that gang of paper tigers, always strolling by his mansion just to throw weak insults and threats his way while laughing and playing with Bastian as a child, up on their balcony. Once seemingly harmless and ineffective, created the ones to be manipulated into eventually being trialed and sentenced, for setting the entire place ablaze while the father was horribly ill, suffering from his curse. The pathetic and weak willed, always castigated him for his greatest achievements. They’d never directly face him one on one, despite his offers to claim all he owned. Always grouping up to inflate their numbers, knowing their ideas weren’t strong enough on their own. It was never about standing for something, it was blaming others for being unable to. But those achievements literally vanished up in smoke. Because cowardice turned into violence without purpose...
[center]* * *[/center]
Bastian snapped back into reality, quick enough to possibly not be noticed that his mind wandered off. Bastian shut the beastkind’s eyes and covered his upper body with sheets inside the tent. Before standing back up, clenching his fists and keeping his final words to himself. [color=0072bc][I]“Goodbye, friend...”[/I][/color] Turning to Elizabeth, before taking her hand.

[color=0072bc]“Come, it’s time for action...we’re leaving this kingdom behind and finding my children.”[/color]