SYSTEM ASCENSION

The day had already gone down and night settled. They didn’t return to the safe zone, but stayed in the serpentile territory that was still frozen over. Right now, cold was bearable, then the hot sand they had face for days.

The group had been silent since Yvonne and Elias returned.

Roche was laid by a surviving tree. Quil sat a bit further, eyes closed, leaning against a rock. The twins were together. Yvonne leaned on a chunk of ice, while Elias stared into the sky.

A considerable amount of time went by before Yvonne broke the silence.

”Elias.”

”...”

”Elias.” She called again.

No reply.

”Five!”

This time, he turned his head to her.

She pointed to the body that had long gone cold. ”Send him off.”

The rest of the team attention were drawn, glancing between them. Elias unchanging expression and her determined one.

”Send him off now. He’s dead.”

Elias eyes travelled to Roche’s body, then he looked away. ”It’s not your business.”

”Elias!”

”That’s enough! It’s non of your business!”

”And this is how you’re treating him in his last moment?!” She sprang up, and walked to the body. ”If you won’t. I’ll.”

As soon as she got a step closer, he was already off his sitting spot, hand closing around the body and pulling into his embrace.

”No!”

They flinched.

This was an unexpected reaction.

His body was shaking with barely contained emotions.

Her hand withdrew. ”... Elias..”

”I...” He cradled the body closer, eyes turning misty. ”I...I.. he’s...not...”

Quil expression softened drastically. He had thought Elias was nonchalant about it, but it just shows that he didn’t want to accept the reality of the situation.

”It’s my fault,” Laura muttered. ”If he didn’t come with me...or try to save me...”

Elias glanced down. The body had really gone cold in his embrace. He didn’t realise when tears dropped from his eyes.

”He’s not dead...”

”He’s dead!” She snapped. ”Accept it!”

She made it clear. His friend was gone, and he could only fulfil his promise.

His mouth slowly opened.

No word could be processed for the next five minutes. He just stared until his body went on autopilot, driving the words out of his mouth.

”Do not bind ash to memory, nor silence to a beating heart. What has crossed beyond the final door must not be summoned by longing,”

Roche’s body began to shimmer.

Astonished by the sight and grief, the rest leaned closer.

”I stand not to awaken the dead, but to unbind the chains that tether them to the cries of the living,”

Yvonne slowly cut in.

”Bone to dust.

Dust to earth.

Earth to silence.

Silence to nothing.”

He glanced up and she gave him a weak smile.

”You have recited it more than enough to remember it.”

She bent down, watching the body brighten up and began to disperse.

”The place where names dissolve, where sorrow cannot follow, and where time has no dominion. The void. The nothing.”

Slowly, they continued together.

”May every borrowed breath be returned.

May every lingering echo be stilled.

May every restless soul find the peace

that no hand may disturb. For death is not an enemy to conquer. It is the final mercy.

Without fear, nor burden, nor regret, be no whisper upon this world. Become the emptiness after the last star fades.

Become...

Nothing.”

By now, the body had scattered into the wind, with no traces left. Just the coldness of the wind.

The rest could only stare in shock.

”Where is the body?!” Lisa cleaned her eyes.

Elias stood up and walked away, while Yvonne sat again. She was used to this sight. He had repeated the words so much for her to remember every single verse.

”Is that a form of burial ceremony?” Laura stuttered.

”Do I look like a Black-eyed to you?” Yvonne asked. Then, she glanced at Quil. ”You were too forward today!”

Quil stared into the distance where Elias had disappeared into. ”Before he changed his clothes, he was wearing something similar to yours. Like a lab cloth.”

He turned his head to gaze at her.

”And you both happen to be barefooted and have a number on your wrist.”

She tugged her short sleeve cloth and realised it cannot cover the number branded into her skin. The number ”five”.

”This is not the time to join pieces, smarty!” She pointed to him. ”Not everyone breaks into tears and whine like a little kitten!”

She stood up and stride to him, grabbing his shirt.

”Wait!” The twins stood up.

”Do you realise what you’re dealing with?!” Yvonne snapped at him. ”Forgot the ranking! I’ll say it, even if he’s my friend. Elias is raving mad!”

They all flinched.

”What?”

She tugged his cloth harder.

”Do you know how much of a problem it would be if I had to stop him from dicing you up?! I’m only an A rank. I went into coma the last time we clashed for crying out loud!”

She shoved him back.

”You piss him off and I’m leaving your sorry asses behind. I’m not dying a meaningless death.”

”I...was wrong.” He muttered. Then he turned around and disappeared into the direction Elias took.

The twins immediately moved closer.

”Is Elias really that much of a problem?” Laura asked.

”He’s a beast who a leash can’t hold,” Yvonne said, while turning around.

”A beast...” They exchanged glances.

”Let’s split up and watch the surrounding.” Yvonne pointed. ”I’ll go that way.”

The twins agreed immediately, turning around and disappearing into the night.

Yvonne sighed and cracked her neck.

”I should confirm it first.”

___

Quil found Elias perked atop a short tree, asleep despite the distance growls of strange creatures and cries of the players still remaining.

He approached, half expecting Elias to wake up any time soon. But as he got closer and even climbed the tree, Elias never woke up.

He settled beside Elias and stared at the sleeping boy. He looked like he hasn’t left his home since he was a baby. So fragile and pale.

Quil sighed.

”Seriously...”