Mai

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{ Chapter 4 } ← || → { ... }

Despite the throbbing in his head, Eclipse forced his feet forward, pushing on with grit teeth and spite.

Below him laid the star-filled clouds that began to blind him as though pleading for devotion, for his attention. His steps grew more uneven, his—although he wont admit it—desperate attempts to keep his line of sight proving futile as he knocked onto pillars and walls. He'd even nearly lose grip of his spear, so unfamiliar with the non-ax hilt.

Irritated, he jammed his spear onto the nearest, bright star, shaking—with anger. "This isnt where your followers lay," He'd snapped, pulling his weapon back with a struggle. "Leave me alone. I wont allow you to feast on my faith." He huffed, marching on with heavier steps.

His left hand sought his collarbone before pulling away, scowling in frustration that he took out on the nearest pillar. Yet the house remained intact, furthering his anger.

When the stars didnt lessen their glow, he ran.

How pathetic.

Its disgusting an immortal like him does such a move.

Hes a hunter, not the predator people paint him as, yet hes running like a prey. And prey run until they have nowhere to go.

He'd scrape his soles against the ground as he reached a storm, the sun setting behind him.

Swirling a few feet from him, darkening the sky as it grew closer to its center, laid the worsening tempest. Despite its new state, the thunder and its lightning was unmistakable, the thunderbolts zapping around blindly to search for a victim. Rumor has it that the bolts above the clouds could paralyze you had you get too close.

Which is what Eclipse dared to attempt with an unstable breath.

The only good thing about being the Face was the blessings he'd received—at least, he assume he's already received them, so he might as well test Lunar's out first.

As he drew near, his feet began to sink into the clouds, feeling the damp surface. The middle emitted strong wind, ruffling his clothes and pulling him in little by little. The lightning continued to move about, but it merely brushed against his feet before striking someplace else.

He didnt bother to appreciate the benefit for long, rightfully assuming Lunar had added a drawback of sorts. Taking a step back, he dove into the tornado where the wind began to whistle loudly the closer he got to the storm's eye.

He didnt brace himself, yet he didn't get swept by it either.

...

Its quiet when he lands.

Not a croak or moan—not even a whisper of the wind. It was as though Molten strangled every last sound with his wires. Or maybe he'd lost his hearing temporarily. He takes a muted step, his foot tingling at the sensation before he forces his other forward, a shiver running up his spine as his leg felt like it froze over. Dammit.

Having been swept by the wind, he was placed in the center of a pillaged town. At least, he assumed he was in the center. Towns under the Celessia rule often had churches as their town center, and he could only guess the rubble in front of him was once a chapel. And if he wasnt mistaken, he was the reason why these homes were in ruin, bloodier than his own eyes as the streets proved.

Around him, the remains of the people and their houses were scattered about. Those that held onto life in hopes of grace turned cold at the sight of him—the Man Who Reigns whose four eyes fixed on them, watching as they forget to breathe under his gaze.

But he paid no further attention to them. And they hadnt taken another breath.

He planted his feet unsteadily, his chest continuing to heave as he tried to keep a stable pace. His surroundings didnt make it clear where he was headed—his surroundings werent clear at all—but he continued onwards in spite.

The wind teased his healed wound, brushing against his back like a curious hand. He snarled behind his teeth, frustrated at the comforting effort of the breeze. 'This is Lunar', he convinced himself, 'fucking with me.'

"Ofhp!" Exclaimed a small voice, pulling their face away from Eclipse's leg before staring up at him with big yet empty, blue eyes. When had this idiot child ran into him?

Eclipse placed a finger to the kid's forehead and pushed him away. "Scram, brat," he pulled his hand back, placing it on his hip. He moved his spear under the kid's chin and tapped his neck in a nearly scolding pattern. "You arent important—"

Before he knew it, his face made contact with the dirt before small, dirty feet ran across his back, sending a painful shock as his scar was recklessly stepped on. Stablizing himself with his elbows, his eye twitched at the sight of an older child—the damn child who kicked him at the back of his knees.

The older one stuck his tongue out, shielding the younger with his cloak. They glared at Eclipse while the other hid. "Dont you touch my brother—"

"Why you little.."

"–you piece of shit!"

Eclipse's eyebrows shot up, surprised at the choice of words. "Now you listen here," Curse the gods, he sounded like Solar. Dusting himself off as he stood, he returned the child's glare. "Kick me again, and I'll throw you across this ruin."

The child didnt seem to care, that look on their face told they were daring to kick Eclipse with more strength. Eclipse had to hand it to them, they seemed foolishly determined.

And skinny.

Both kids were.

Eclipse knew not much of his own species not even their name, but he did know the extent of their endoskeleton—as his own was exposed—and he could tell the sheets of metal were dangerously close to pressing onto the structure. Had it not been for their natural weight, perhaps the two wouldve been swept by the approaching storm's wind by now.

But these kids werent his problem, werent his responsibility in the slightest. And they seemed to know that, too, as they began to walk away in assumption that Eclipse wasnt much of a threat.

Unless...

"Come with me." Eclipse called out, nearly a command.

The older child scoffed, ushering the younger child forward. "Im not doing that."

"Both of you."

The younger child pauses and peeks from the older's cloak, but they were quickly hidden again just as the light rain poured in. The older one pulled the other close, frozen in their path. "Why?" They cautiously drew out, eyebrows furrowed.

Eclipse didnt bother explain. After all, who was he to be sure these were the children destined of the world's destruction? They were mere incapable, runts who likely didnt even know how to read their own name.

With a roll of his eyes, he turned sharply on his heel and headed out of town—if this still even qualifies as one—and to someplace within the setting sun's direction. And to his surprise, he heard hurried footsteps behind him, a pair wary not to stand beside him just yet.

"Youre here." Eclipse states, turning his head to the side yet his eyes never met with theirs.

The older one grumbled, while the younger remained silent.

"You have nowhere to go, dont you?" Eclipse continues, facing the fading light. "So coming with a guy that can kill you had you so even be an inconvenience is your best option." A clear, almost usual, sneering came from him. "I can still toss you far from where you stand, kid."

"You can try, Eclipse."

Eclipse kept himself going, but he rose an eyebrow as his head turned slightly, eyes to the ground before back to the sun.

He didnt dwell on it since who wasnt aware of his name? Hes fortunate enough to never need to introduce himself with his reign.

The rain began to grow heavy, forcing the two kids to walk by Eclipse's side for warmth as, for some odd reason, the rain was kinder to him. The storm hailed behind while a drizzle laid ahead.

That didnt stop the younger one from sneezing, clinging onto the older more tightly. Through pink cheeks and runny nose, he spoke in a small voice. "Sun..."

"Sunny!" The older one gasped, their tone almost scolding—and panicked. "Y-you dont—"

"So what," Eclipse scoffed, looking over his shoulder. "Youre Moon?" They didnt respond, making Eclipse choke on his laughter for an unbearable minute. "So you are..." He snickered. "Fuck, arent you a creative lot..."

Moon, the rabid older child, retaliated by pushing Eclipse's leg with all their strength to cause him to stumble forward. Regaining his composure, Eclipse shoves Moon to the side, nearly sending them crashing down on Sun had they not caught themselves.

Sat atop the chapel's rubble, a figure holding hourglasses placed one down on his lap to bang his fist against his chest twice—a gesture the god of luck himself hasnt been caught doing in centuries. Ruinus Eira could only sigh as the argument between Moon and Eclipse were clear with their gesturing alone.