Nephis, Sunny, and Cassie finally made it to the top, collapsing instantly on the ground, breathing as if they were being choked the whole time, as if only now did they get the chance to breath.
Sunny felt her heart tighten, beating so loudly she thought it'll come out of her ribcage.
She never felt as tired as she did, not even that mountain worm made her feel like this.
She felt the rain drops falling on her face, washing away the dirt, sweat and blood covering it.
She felt like some rat or a cockroach, but even then, a smile formed on her pale face.
'I made it....'
Yet the smile quickly fell apart.
She did it, she survived, that means she will live another day right? Another chance to get out of this nightmare, right?
So why....why didn't she like it.
Why does she feel so...bitter.
She wasn't used to this...feeling, even when she first knew she caught the spell, which meant a death sentence at the time, all she felt then was emptiness, acceptance.
'I remember...this feeling....wasn't it the same back then?'
Memories surfaced In her Mind, memories of a tree inscribed with names, her family.
Memories of separating from her little sister, working hard to Meet her, just to see that she moved on, living a life she couldn't have, a life she was cursed from...
'...A curse....'
Her fingers curled into the damp earth, digging in as though to anchor herself.
Even with the rain washing her face, she knew, that some of those droplets were hers.
Her gaze moved from the abyssal sky above, to something she grew to despise.
[Fated: The strings of fate wrap tightly around you. Unlikely events, both good and bad, are drawn by your presence. There are those who are blessed, and there are those who are cursed… but rarely both.]
'Was it....my fault?' The thought made her heart beat louder.
'E-even then, this feeling is-'
Memories surfaced her mind again, this time that of red flowing hair.
'Why...'
Crimson eyes filled her mind, swallowing her whole, her mind, her body, she always shuddered when they landed on her.
Those eyes now wouldn't get out of her head.
'Why do you make me feel like this.....why Ares, why....'
Memories of his sweet talks, his teasing, his supportive words, his unhinged side.
Memories of how he stayed with her, despite her sharp tongue and foul mouth.
'Just what...do you mean to me...'
She clenched her heart, she felt overwhelmed, she felt...lost.
The memories haunted her, his smile, his laugh, his ridiculous words, his secretly caring side, how he gave her the opportunity to learn how to fight, how he trained her, how he defended her the first day in the academy.
Her eyes opened, she wanted to escape as she always did, returning to her shell of untrust, of lies and Treachery.
She was never good with feelings, she knew that, she even deemed them useless, after all, Feelings wouldn't put food on her plate when she almost died of hunger in the outskirts, feelings were tools used to get what you desire, to use and discard when needed.
She wanted to control these feelings, to put them away as she used to, but they wouldn't leave her.
'...I'm sorry, Ares, if it wasn't for me....'
The feelings twisted and twisted in her heart, burning with something unnatural, they demanded outlet, she felt her heart might explode if she left them bubbling inside her chest, so she morphed them, redirected them to something she knew, something she could express, hate and defiance.
Why should she blame herself? She didn't choose this Fated attribute, she was simply...weak.
And it angered her.
This fate....if it decided to play with her life, the life of those around her, to make her a puppet to its strings, then she will break it all apart, fate be damned.
Her dark eyes, burned with something that couldn't be put into words, her twisted emotions buried deep within, letting only hatred show.
A sound reached her ears, tilting her head to it's direction, she found Cassie shaking Nephis with her hands.
"Where...where is Ares?!"
Her anguished voice mixed with the storm, lightning flashing above, lightening the world for a split second.
Nephis didn't respond, she only stared at the hill's edge.
"....He will make it." Her voice finally came out, filled with a tone Sunny never heard come from her before, as if what she said was reassurance for herself instead of an answer to Cassie's question.
It seems no one took it well.
#end of Sunny's pov#
Cassie finally let go of Nephis, stepping back before stumbling on her knees, her hands shaking uncontrollably.
Her face showed numerous emotions, fear, sorrow, sadness, guilt...and hate.
Hate directed at herself.
She hated herself for being weak, for being a burden, for being useless...
Crystal beads started forming at the corner of her blue eyes.
She wished to be useful, to stand next to Ares....to see his face...
His soft voice whispered into her ears, "...believe in yourself, don't let blindness define you...you are so much more..."
He always talked as if he saw something In her, something she didn't even see in herself.
'...one day..' He said.
But he is already gone....
She wished, if that day ever came, for him to be next to her, to see her with his own eyes...to stay with her.
'...don't leave me, Ares...' Her breath hitched in pain.
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Not far from her, stood nephis in a daze, her eyes scanning the edge of the hill fervently, looking for any signs, any movement.
Unbeknownst to even her, her hand trembled.
She wanted nothing more than to go down and look for him, but she couldn't.
Her strength left her, she was too tired, if she were to go back down there, she would die in fruitless effort.
...And it was all because she couldn't use her flames...
Her gaze chifted to her trembling hands, a contrast to her expressionless face.
What good was a divine aspect when she couldn't even use it....
Her conviction, built from little, built from revenge and longing, solid and towering for all this time, started shaking.
Was she this afraid of pain? So what if it felt like burning alive, as if her very soul, her humanity, was burning too....in the end, she cowered and let Ares take her burden.
What she felt now hurt her more than any flame ever could...
[...you're weak....you're a coward....]
A voice whispered in her mind, smooth and flowing like silk.
It sounded like her, yet it was far too different, as if it contained something a mortal like her could never understand.
'....' Nephis didn't pay the voice any mind, for it always followed her since the moment she escaped her first nightmare.
[...All you do is bring ruin to those around you...just give in...lest you bring anyone anymore pain....]
'...your wrong...' Her spirit finally responded, shaking but holding on.
[...oh really~...] The voice spoke in apparent amusement.
[...But aren't you star of ruin?...] The voice mocked, it's silk like voice pressing against her very soul, covering it ever so slowly....
Nephis's eyes grew hazy, unfocused, staring at the void.
[First your mother, then your dear father, after that, your whole clan....and now, even 'him' got hurt by you...oh how miserable you are...]
Nephis's consciousness waned further, she felt as if a pair of soft arms hugged her form, engulfing her in heavenly warmth , a warmth that couldn't be described in words, she felt as if she was back in her father's embrace, a hand playfully drawing circles on her back.
It felt warm, it felt peaceful, it felt perfect....drawing her deeper and deeper into the everlasting light.
[...come, child...leave everything to me...no more agony...no more mistakes...let go and find peace within me....]
The whole world stood still, before screaming all at once.
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The end!
The next chapter bouta be crazy, I tried to do my best to show Nephis's, Cassie and Sunny's emotions, guilt and how much influence Ares has on them.
Tell me how I did, and don't forget to leave comments and reviews, they be giving me motivation.
Hope u enjoyed, byeee.
(The next chapter will be on Monday, which will mark the end of my current stock, so imma be needing to write more chaps)