Techno stayed close by Phil's side while the angel lead him through the hallways. The only light source was Phil's still glowing pendant, allowing them to see only few feet in front of them. Not that he needed to see anything anyways. Phil could walk the entire way blindfolded and would be fine. Techno on the other hand...

"OW!" The man murmured a curse under his breath as he rubbed his forehead, having hit his head on another low hanging root of a tree. He had no idea how these things reach so far into the ground or still grew so thick that it still hurts when walking into them. His friend merely laughed at his misery, gently placing a hand on his forehead and allowed his magic to sooth the pain. "Only a little further. We're almost there."

Techno just grumbled something under his breath and kept on following his friend. "If your magic allows you to heal things, why didn't you do that when I was injured the first time you saw me?" "I never really learned any healing spells... the one I'm using on you is only to soothe pain, not to heal." "Oh... makes sense I guess." Phil smiled and kept on leading the way.

True to his word, they only had to walk for a few more minutes, slowly making their way through narrow halls and small rooms. Phil's wings brush against his side every now and again from where they were tightly pressed against his back. The feeling of the soft black feathers allowed him to feel a little more safe, knowing the power they hold and how they will defend and protect him in case something goes wrong.

"Phil?" "Mm?" "What are these hallways? They branch off into so many different directions..." The angel eyed one of the walls, spotting all the different little carvings that were worked into the dark stone. "This tunnel system was only allowed to be entered by the leader, or king I guess, and a selected few elders that worked closely with him. I was allowed to enter after I had been a guardian for like... 40 years maybe? I don't remember it that well. The tunnels lead to all kinds of hidden rooms that hold everything from treasures to huge libraries that hold knowledge about all our research, magic and history. They were also used as emergency rooms in case there would ever be an attack on the city, since you can't enter without a crystal. But the most important thing down here are all our secret to our magic..."

Techno hummed and watched his friend, who at this point had stopped walking and just stared ahead of him, lost in memories of a time long past. "So that's what you're trying to protect? The knowledge on how you made the magic so no one can recreate it?" Phil shook his head and traced a carving of large wings with his finger. "Not necessarily. I could just burn the library if they came close. I'd risk damaging some roots if it means to stop psychopaths from getting their hand on such a power."

"Then... what is this 'Heart of Sky City' if it's not this?" The angel smiled and continued to walk down a larger hallway now. At the end was a decorated wall. Rubies and diamonds and emeralds were worked into the dark stone, creating a unfamiliar pattern to Techno. In the middle were the diamonds, larger and in the shape of a star almost, surrounded by lines of emeralds and ruby, as if it was supposed to symbolize light streaks. It must be a hidden door again.

"This is Sky City's heart."

Phil's pendant opened the door, making it fade into thin air. Immediately, Techno was blinded by a bright light, forcing him to squeeze his eyes shut after walking around in the dark for so long. Phil wrapped his wing around him, blocking the light just enough for him to get used to it quicker with less pain. "You okay?" "Yeah... it just suprised me." He rubbed his eyes before gently pushing Phil's wing to the side the tiniest bit, signaling that he was good without the extra protection now. His eyes went wide when he did.

The room was large, walls still covered in tons of carvings. Vines with glowing berries grew from the ceiling and the floor was covered in ankle deep water, plants growing from the pond as if not bothered by the stone and lack of sunlight. There were also glowing thin vines that snaked their way around the carvings. Right in the center of the room were large roots from a tree that seemed to have grown around whatever was in there, forming a protective sphere around it. The bright light was emitting from whatever they were hiding beneath.

The air in the room was oddly warm for a place so far underground and he could feel the same weird pulsing that came from his pendant. He walked closer to the center, his footsteps seeming so incredibly loud in the silence of the room. And when he peaked through the roots, his breath catched in his throat.

It was a giant crystal. The same crystal the pendants were made from.

A soft wing wrapped around him and he could feel the warmth of his friend beside him. When Phil began to speak, it was soft and quiet, as if he was trying not to disturb the peace that ruled in this room.

"This is the source of all the magic our people knew... our greatest creation. It's what lifted the island off the ground so long ago. It's also the main source of life... keeping springs active with new water, grows plants and keeps the animals healthy. This is what allows us to live without worrying over starving or sickness. With its help I also created the storm around the island once my people left, so I could keep everything safe and hidden from human eyes."

Techno didn't know what to say. The whole thing seemed so surreal... like a dream he will wake up from at any second. Yet he could feel every single moment of it, the soft tingle of magic on his skin, the warmth of silky feathers around him and a gentle hand squeezing his own. This was real, even if it was hard to believe.

And he knew why Phil would protect it so fiercely. If this crystal makes an entire island float, can create storms and life, he doesn't want to imagine what it could be used for in the hands of a madman. Hell, this crystal is the same as their's, just bigger, so it probably has some sort of attack or destruction spell as well.

"I understand now..." Techno squeezed Phil's hand a little harder. "I understand... and I'll help you protect it. I swear it by my life." Phil smiled and turned to hug his friend, wings wrapping around them protectively. He returned the hug, holding his friend close when feeling how much he was shaking.

"You... I... it was so much... the pressure of knowing that I have to protect this all on my own..." He only hugged him tighter and buried his face in his friend's soft hair. "Not anymore. Now I'm helping you... you're not alone with this any longer." He could feel the fabric on his shoulder starting to dampen, but that didn't bother him. Phil had bottled up all these emotions, this pressure of being the only defense, for so long, Techno was more than happy to give his friend the relief of sharing this burden now, that he was here to help and hold him if it becomes too much.

"Thank you... fuck... I don't know what else to say." He looked up at his friend, teary blue meeting warm red and smiled. "Thank you... for everything." "Like I said..." Techno pressed his forehead against the other's, holding him just the tiniest bit tighter. "For you Phil, the world."

More tears fell, on both sides this time, but they were happy. Happy that they have each other now, a friend that cares and loves and protects. A brother that would lay down his life for the other. The other piece to their soul that they didn't even know was missing until meeting that faithful day.

The day Lady Death brought her angel a companion for life.

~ ~ ~ ~

(A bit shorter today. But I didn't want to ruin the mood afterwards)