Aris had known silence before. He had known emptiness before. He had even known death before. And yet never had he been so numb. 

It had all happened too fast. A few moments ago, Aris had been on the rooftop. Zeke had been with him. He had convinced him of a future they would build together. A few moments later they were back on the grounds. The Vazihas crippling around them. And somewhere among the agonised shrieks, the screams, the scarlet splattering on the ground- it had happened. The blinding flash of light, and a silence so profound Aris was afraid he had gone deaf.

And yet, everything else seemed normal. More normal than it had ever been. The dark skies had split to reveal the sun after what felt like ages. The night had finally dissolved. There was no sign of the shadows anywhere. Like a massive, suffocating shroud Obscura had on her had been removed. And yet, it felt surreal. 

Two bodies lay crumpled on the ground, a few feet away from each other. Ezekiel. Elijah. 

"W-what-?" 

Aris wasn't sure if the words had escaped his own mouth. He couldn't tell. The voice felt alien, detached. Was he still standing on the ground? He wasn't sure. It felt like he was underwater. 

Someone touched his shoulder, a warm hand he couldn't recognize as a stranger's voice spoke. 

"Th prophecy was fulfilled."

There was a ruffle of movement around him. Arus couldn't tellwhat was happening. Why was everyone around him kneeling down? As if to pay respects. 

"Azure," Aris whispered, "What..what happened?"

"You know what did," Azure sighed. "We may have...misread the prophecy. Obscura demanded two sacrificed. Not...not just one."

"Helios had survived" a disembodied voice called from somewhere far away. "H-how?"

"A miracle," Azure whispered. "But those are far and between."

Vertigo. 

More words were said. But Aris couldn't hear. Someone embraced him, but he couldn't feel. All he could see, was Zeke's lifeless body in front of him. He looked peaceful. Too peaceful. Too beautiful, even in death. 

Death? No way. He was asleep. Aris would go, wake him up. Theye had a future planned after all. No way was this the end. Azure was wrong. They all were wrong. 

"Aris..." someone said again, placing a hand on his shoulder. 

Aris didn't respond. They wouldn't understand. They didn't know of the promise he had made to Zeke. They didn't know anything.

Aris walked closer to the sleeping Zeke, wondering how he could possibly sleep so peacefully in such an uncomfortable position. Zeke lay sprawled on his stomach, his face turned to the side, half of it touching the ground. Maybe it was selfish of Aris to want to wake him up, he must be exhausted. But Aris needed to look into his eyes. He needed to feel his warmth. 

He took a shuddering breath, the rusty smell of blood entering his nostrils at once. Maybe Zeke was hurt. He healed quickly however, but Aris would need to catch him up again. Aris couldn't believe even in the midst of war Zeke could be so irresponsible. But it was okay, Aris would look after him. 

He got to his knees, crouching over Zeke as he stroked his soft hair gently. Zeke didn't respond. How could he? Aris knew he was exhausted. 

Aris leaned over him, placing his mouth near Zeke's ear. He would need to call him softly, lest he would startle him. Aris had called Zeeke back before. He just needed to do it again, And Zeke would wake up. 

"Wake up, Sunshine," Aris whispered, his voice hollow and strange. Zeke didn't stir, but Aris didn't blame him. He was simply tired. 

"Sunshine," Aris whispered again, gently shaking his shoulders. "Sunshine...Zeke...wake up."

No answer. 

What if when Zeke woke up, he got annoyed with Aris for trying to disturb his rest. Aris couldn't have that. He didn't want Zeke to be any madder at him. He was probably going to be mad at him anyway since he was the one who brought him to the battlefield in the first place. Was that why Zeke wasn't responding to him?

"Aureus," Azure's voice spoke from behind him, his hand clasping gently on his shoulder. "You need to rise. Go inside. Get some rest."

Rest. Yes, that is what Zeke needed. He was simply in a deep sleep. 

Aris rose to his feet, turning to leave the grounds at once. He would go take some rest. Maybe by the time he was done, Ezekiel would be awake. 

He walked in a dreamlike state, unaware of anything around him, time a fictional concept. He couldn't really understand how he reached the roof of the Sognare, but the heavy silence and solitude finally crashed onto him like an avalanche. His soul ripped away from his body as he realization dawned on him with ruthless certainty. 

"Obscura had demanded a sacrifice."

He couldn't form the rational thought in his head. He couldn't comprehend as he stood still in the darkness. The stars above had finalled peeked from their eternal slumber. Ultimaria had gone and yet it was night. And for Aris, the umbral grave would last forever. 

Zeke was gone. 

Why was Aris still here?

An anguished cry ripped through his throat, tears streaming down his face as the raw agony shattered his very being. Pain like he had never experienced. Pain that would make death seem sweet. He couldn't go on, there simply was no way. 

Why had he saved this world, when his own had been torn apart? What did this world have in it, to be saved anyway?

Aris crumpled to the ground, the sky crashing on to him, the earth below his feet shifting as if to engulf him into her fiery depths. As if she was intended to match his agony by torturing him in her infernal chambers. But how much pain could he truly feel, before he was numb?