Lucian ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁 .ᐟ

you were told he was strong. powerful to a terrifying degree. his strength could best those of the demi-gods. there was no way the grove would be able to defeat him, even if you gathered everyone together. besides, you wouldn't want them to succumb to the black tide anyways.

so, while anaxa helped you gather everyone into a quarantine of sorts, you continued racking up ideas, sharing your thoughts with anaxa. so many plans turned down, so many dead ends. you begun to wonder if this was an impossible venture, perhaps you simply had to accept fate and die.

...

yeah right.

like you'd let fate win.

since you seemed to have exhausted your thousands of options with anaxa, you decided to bring the problem to the rest of the scholars who, they themselves, were getting antsy.

at best, someone would propose a solution right there and then; otherwise, you'd at least get some inspiration. hopefully.

and who'd've believed it? there was a scholar in the crowd who'd devoted her life to studying coreflames; their structure and properties. she said it'd be possible to alchemically recreate a fake coreflame, though it wouldn't contain any of the divine properties of an actual coreflame, it would emit the same aura that could deceive someone for just a moment. it would be just enough to buy some time.

and with that, the foggy haze surrounding which plan to take cleared in your mind. that said, it was far from ideal but... it would minimize damages. one sacrifice. that's all it'd take. one life to save everyone else.

your plan was as followed: evacuate (almost) everyone with one of the evacuees bringing the real coreflame to okhema. meanwhile, one person was to stay in the grove, acting as bait with the fake coreflame to buy the others enough time. the black-robed swordsmaster would come and they'd have to fend him off for as long as possible. for the very least, the stall would have to take 30 minutes, if not more. this lone person would have to be able to fight at least a little.

you considered having more people stay to stall for longer but... but the more people who got involved, the more casualties the grove would face. you couldn't allow that to happen.

this would be a suicide mission for the staller.

and you'd be the one stalling, alone.

it was a risky gambit. if the swordsmaster sliced you in one go, the escapees would most certainly face him on the road. but you simply had to trust in your abilities to hold on until the bitter end. you'd hide the fake coreflame someplace safe, and you'd fight and fight and fight until the last drop of blood leaves your body.

you sent the scholar off (with some help) to create the replica coreflame as soon as possible. meanwhile, you were rallying the rest of the scholars, preparing them for the long road ahead. in all honesty, you were just bracing yourself for when you'd inevitably have to tell anaxa of your plan. your resolve was strong, but against the love of your life? you'd falter for sure. should he oppose you (which he most definitely would), you'd obviously reconsider your plan to some degree.

but it was the only way to minimize casualties, to keep the coreflame safe, to ensure that he stays safe. you'd sacrifice yourself in every single timeline for him, over and over and over again without hesitation or fail. if he lived, it didn't matter to you if you died (though you'd still like to stay alive alongside him but beggars can't be choosers).

you just... didn't know how to break the news to him.

it was hard, trying to find the oportune moment. you were always busy, he was always busy, you were kind of avoiding him... but, you were going to do it now, i swear!

or maybe you'd wait until he approached you...

"y/n."

oh god.

ask and you shall receive... haha... your heart already ached beyond belief. you sucked in as much air as you possibly could to suppress the pain in your chest. did he know already? or would you have to spoil the mood? not there was any mood to be spoiled but... oh, you can't do this. your poor heart can't take it, you were never good with goodbyes.

"i've heard something interesting from one of the scholars."

nevermind, he knew. okay. okay, you can do this. just face him, tell him your plan and don't cry. you slowly turned around, a smile plastered on your face though your heart was currently weeping in utter agony.

"when, pray tell, were you planning on telling me your 'plan' was a suicide mission for yourself?" his arms were crossed at his chest, his tone stern but there was a faint quiver. that alone was enough to make you buckle, you clenched your fists at your sides, trying not to cry.

"it's the only way, anaxa."

"it is far from the only way. you're smart enough to know this."

"it's the only solution that's feasible in the short amount of time that we have. the others are growing anxious, we can't keep them cooped up in here forever. sooner or later, someone's going to run out on their own in a futile attempt to escape. i'm sure the swordsmaster will be here any day now, we can't have everyone in the vicinity when he comes. i can't in good conscience let these people die."

"that doesn't matter, casualties are expected on this path." he paused. "i can find another way." his voice was desperate, urging. you noticed his hands trembling ever so slightly.

"anaxa..." your eyes softened and the ache in your chest grew.

"we can give up the coreflame. someone else can stall instead—" his hurried suggestions only furthered your pain. even so, you still shook your head, your smile still strong.

"y/n, this is ridiculous. it doesn't have to be you. it shouldn't be you." in face of your composure, he begun to break down. "y/n, you can't—y/n, please."

"i'll play my part in the flame chase journey, you'll play yours. so stop the end of the world for me, okay?" the smile you held all this time relaxed, slowly calming in the face of death.

"you know i don't believe in such genesis and prophecy. i don't care about the end of this world, defeating titans or what not; i care about you. you can't—you can't leave me."

tears begun to prick the corners of your eyes, a bittersweet chuckle escaped your lips. you'd always joked as to how ironic it was that one of the chrysos heirs cared not for titans and demi-gods. still, you had to admit, his concern for you was extremely touching.

you took a step forward, lacing his fingers with yours, your eyes staring up at his. a sea of emotions reflected in his, he was shaking. at the feeling of your warm hands laced with his cool fingers, he impulsively dove to embrace you in his arms, burying his head in your shoulder. you were taken aback for a moment, your arms froze midair. but, not soon after, your hands settled on his head, carefully caressing his hair.

"anaxa, i love you more than anything in this world. you are and will always be the best thing that has ever happened to me. i mean this with all my heart. i would've loved nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with you, until we're old and grey. but if the black tide takes over, if the swordsmaster comes..." you paused, a chill running through your blood. "i can't lose you. i want you to live. perhaps i'm selfish for wanting that, but i won't back down."

"y-you can't, y/n, please. i'm begging you. you can't do this to me. i can't go on without you." he pleaded. small drops of water seemed to fall on your shoulder, and for the first time since you've known him, anaxa wept. his quiet sobs vibrated through your body.

you tend to forget anaxa could still act like a child with how arrogant his usual self is. you forgot he could cry. you were cruel, you knew that. after the death of his sister, how could he face the death of someone close to him again? it was your selfish desire for him to live, but he'd bear the consequences of your decision.

your breath hitched, you couldn't help but tremble in his quivering arms. you ran a hand through his hair, taking in a shaky breath to calm yourself. "it's alright, anaxa. i've made my peace with it." the tears you'd been withholding fell atop his head. "i'll be with you until the end of time. whether it be this life, or the next. you can't escape me even if you tried." you joked through your sobs.

"y/n, listen to me, please. this isn't a laughing matter. you won't make it. i won't make it without you. anyone else. it could be anyone else. i'll do it, it just cant be you."

you kissed the top of his head. "nothing can change my mind, anaxa. it's my plan; it's only right that it be me."

"i can't lose you. what's the point of saving the world if you won't be there when it gets better—if it gets better."

"anaxa..." you took a deep breath, trying (and failing) to calm the pain in your chest. "anaxa, save the world for yourself, then. so you can experience hapiness without fear. so you can make new friends, find new joys, maybe even meet new love." you smiled. "i just want you to be happy."

"how can i find joy without you? any mirth is meaningless if you're not there. find new love? honestly, listen to yourself, you're not right in the head. y/n, i'm pleading with you; reconsider."

"i know you can do it, anaxa. you're stronger than i'll ever be. i love you; others can and will too. live on, okay?"

"no! in—in what world is this okay?" he lifted his head off of your shoulder to meet your gaze, his eye; red and puffy.

you brought your hands to his cheeks, caressing his tear soaked face with your thumbs. "i'm sure you'll do just fine without me. i just ask that you take care of yourself." you slowly approached your face to his, bringing your lips together in a act of goodbye. you could hear his heartbeat pumping through his chest. his muscles slowly relaxed under your touch, absorbing the warmth from your fingertips. you pulled away, giving him one last tear ridden smile. "i love you, anaxagoras. i'm sorry we didn't have more time together."

his lips parted, ready to respond. but he stopped himself. perhaps he knew saying those words truly meant goodbye. he couldn't bring himself to leave, to accept your death. he held his breath, gripping you tight in his arms.

you bathed in his warmth for the last time, smiling to yourself. he didn't need to say those words for you to know it to be true. you let the last of your tears fall onto his chest as his did too. you both made sure to save this warmth, remember it.

he would never forget you, he could never. even if he tried, you'd stay forever in his head and in his heart. look at him, he couldn't even let you go now, while you were still alive.

he composed himself eventually. with a huff, he managed to look you in the eyes once more. "i will never agree with this decision... but... as always, your resolve will never fail to waver mine."

you let the breath you'd been holding in exit in relief. "see you tomorrow, anaxa."

"...i ...i love you, y/n. please stay safe, i'll come back for you."

you shook your head in surrender. "it should be me saying that to you. anaxa, please take care."

that night (or day, the sky stayed the same), you put your plan into action. one last goodbye to the rest of the scholars, your friends, and anaxa. you waved them off with a newfound determination in your eyes, you gripped the sword in your hand tight.

you stood at the gate for a while longer, meeting anaxa's gaze as he looked back. you smiled.

his last memory of you.

you then made your way to the luminary throne. your steps were slow, every click of your shoes echoed through the silent air. you held the replica coreflame in your arms, close to your chest and waited. you weren't sure when the swordsmaster would show up, only that he would. and you'd be waiting for him.

you had to stall, for anaxa. you started to worry, what if the swordsmaster knew of your plan? what if you've just sent them all to their deaths? fear begun to gnaw at you but you had to calm yourself. and, as luck would have it, he appeared.

before you stood the masked, black-robed swordsmaster. you sighed in relief. now came the hard part; stalling. you weren't the greatest warrior by any means, there's a reason you weren't an active participant in the flame-chase journey. but you had will, if nothing else. you had to protect them, protect him.

you placed the coreflame on the throne behind you, readying your sword.

anaxa swore he could hear the clanking of swords as he and the crowd continued to run like there was no tomorrow. he was not what you'd call an athletic person but he couldn't let your strength go to waste. if he was quick enough, and you strong enough; he could run back once the coreflame was returned and meet you once more. if he pushed on through the pain in his lungs and chest, maybe, just maybe, you two would stay together.

the fight was a long and arduous one. in all honesty, you should've died at the very beginning of this battle. but you were running on so, so, so much adrenaline that all the cuts and scrapes you'd suffered through this fight couldn't stop you.

you were bleeding all over, your limbs broken and cracked, bruises everywhere. you lost track of time, had you stalled long enough for them to make it back safely? who could tell. you just had to keep on fighting until you died.

in what felt like forever, the swordsmaster had finally pierced your heart, your body finally slumping to the ground, your crimson red blood spilling all over the floor. "you... lost..." you breathed out in agony and relief.

as your eyelids took a rest, you saw anaxa. they do say your life flashes before your eyes as death takes you. funny, does that mean anaxa was your life? you wouldn't be surprised.

it was silent. the swordsmaster had probably left, chasing after the real coreflame. you could only hope that they'd made it back already.

the frantic sounds of running sounded and vibrated through the ground. who could that be? you tried to open your eyes, though the sword in your chest made it rather difficult.

even so, you pushed your body even further, using every muscle in your body till your very last breath. there stood anaxa by your side. seems like you did your job perfectly, you'd bought them so much time. enough time for anaxa to return the coreflame to okhema and return to your side. he dropped to his knees, cradling you in his arms. he was saying something, he sounded pained. you couldn't make out a single word. his muffled sobs were all that was audible.

how unfortunate, you wanted his last memory of you to be a good one, one where your limbs were intact and blood wasn't dripping from every inch of your body. you tried to smile, the corner of your lips raising ever so slightly. you weakly reached out an arm to meet his face. "...don't...cry..." his tears fell on your wounds. they were warm. "...love..." you'd pushed your body way further than what it should've been able to. a true testament to your will. but, it was time to say goodbye. your body gave out like a ragdoll, cold and lifeless in his arms.

following your death, anaxa he let out a cry of agony, he was a sobbing mess, breaking down on the floor, your corpse still in his arms.

he was too late. you held on so long for what? for him to come after you'd been murdered. how long did you halt death, how long did you wait for him?

he was truly alone now.

meanwhile, you were engulfed in a sea of darkness. perhaps this was death. an eternal limbo, alone, dark. in an instant, the dark turned into a blinding light before the landscape around you formed into a galaxy. a place you'd never seen, a beautiful blue and purple ocean ridden with stars. somewhere beyond the sky. something you never thought you'd see. it was breathtaking.

you walked towards the beacon of light in the middle, drawn to it like a moth to a flame. you reached out, your fingertips grazing the fuzzy light.

you weren't exactly sure what happened, but next you knew, you found yourself above. looking down at worlds, planets, scattered all across the galaxy. around you were unfamiliar godlike figures. "welcome, aeon of will."