ENTRY 5900116

Melting Point

~°°~

"I just realized. I can teleport," Boreas said dazedly as Lethe heaved him up. Lethe looked at him blankly, hair sticking to her face and rain kissed. She pursed her lips and pushed him off the cliff.

In a blink, he was behind her. "Okay. I deserved that." His head perked up suddenly as he repeated mortified. "I can teleport."

He ran to the edge where Eris and Gullerva fell. They were too far gone.

"Eh, they're fine. They just have to repeat this all over again." Krowan shrugged, spitting out mud. "Let's go."

Behind them, a shield of water enveloped the surroundings of Kruger and Sevhe who were huddled together near a raging fire glyph.

"Mind if we join you two?" Krowan barged in regardless and sat. Lethe and Boreas followed, shivering. Sevhe, whose hair was being braided right now, shrugged noncommittally and took out a packet of tea. Boreas gaped at the sight—wasn't Survival supposed to be hard?

Kruger grumbled but said nothing.

"Damn, I too, wish for the warmth of the soft proximity with my bestie..." Krowan's rough voice and Sevhe's replies faded into the background.

There was an odd silence surrounding Lethe Walth. Boreas regarded her a look and tried to jokingly whisper, the light of the flame casting shadows on his face. "Hey, what exactly did you cook up with your potions today? It's smelling like dead fish here."

Lethe weakly chuckled, clasping her thigh.

Boreas pursed his lips. "What's wrong?"

Before Lethe could reply, Krowan suddenly plumped next to her and sidled an arm around her. "What's up, dude?"

Boreas narrowed his eyes. "Nothing. Dude."

Lethe shoved away the arm around her. "I don't like being touched."

"What's this? Trouble in paradise?"

"No," the brunette muttered quietly as she gazed at the flickering flame, eyes like glowing molten at the light of the fire. "I feel like I just forgot something important."

A quietness settled down briefly. A tension. Thalia Kruger's wide eyes shot a burning and unblinking look at Lethe. And somewhere on the periphery of his vision, Boreas saw Krowan's face twist into something not human.

When he looked, it was gone—a trickery of the flames and the shadows. Kruger's eyes were tight shut, breathing softly at the lanky girl she was laying on. Krowan was just drawing something on the dirt.

Sevhe's voice finally cracked the ice. "Krowan, leave them alone, goodness. And quiet down, Thalia wants to sleep—"

Krowan rolled his eyes.

Somewhere, Boreas found his voice. "Aren't we supposed to be killing monsters or something?"

"Oh, those?" Krowan quirked an eyebrow and smirked. "I've been dealing with them for quite a while."

Boreas stood and looked around. Outside the circle of water they were in, fading bodies of squished demons lay around. "Oh, goddess Elpis.."

He heard Krowan's resounding laughter. "Damn, you believe in those fairytales and storybooks? I didn't expect that from you."

Boreas felt a heat on his cheeks. "So, what if I do?"

"Nothing, nothing." Krowan shook his head in good nature. "Rycella believes in them too somehow."

Even so, the pale boy felt the urge to defend his beliefs. "I mean, just look at the walls. Like how insanely big it is. And the darkness stuff. That's something that no normal person could just create."

His eyes brimmed in passion as he continued, "And don't you think it's odd how we have all details of our history, from the theory of the beginning of the world, to evolution, to medieval times upto the 2000's and early 3000's. We all had those history retained." Krowan listened patiently, looking immersed. "But then, we go to the supposed recent years, to the years and time where the darkness, magic and living furniture emerged and there's nothing. The only thing close to history or explanation is some goddesses protecting us from darkness."

Krowan snorted, "It's so cliche."

"Yeah, exactly." Boreas laughed. "It's so cliche, it's unfinished—there's no explanation of how the darkness and magic was made, it's just goddesses protected us by building big Walls. Don't you think it's weird that it's the only thing remembered?"

"Also was this Dome built before or after the darkness? And, y'know. Magic. Peculiars. Demons. The living stuff and furniture and—" the dead bodies, the ripped flesh and Kai's fading face that's being stripped away from his memory. He froze, and it's hard to breathe but Lethe looked at him, her hand on his shoulder and her murky brown eyes like an anchor. "—and—like, none of those make sense."

Boreas' wide glacier eyes glanced around him nervously, hoping no one noticed. He sighed, looking down and voice quiet. "I guess, I was looking for an explanation, why things happen the way they do. And I ended up with goddesses from fairytales. Which is stupid to some people but, well. I disagree. Faith isn't naivety."

The arrogant boy remained oddly silent. His lips were taut as he regarded Boreas with begrudging respect. "I believe in living with no worries. Life's too short. Elpis, Yves—goddesses. We don't have time to wonder about shit like this. I have yet to see a goddess help or destroy anything." He shrugged. "Until then, I won't believe in any goddesses."

"There's no need to explain everything. Sometimes things happen for no reason. I'm capable and content. I'm free. That's all what matters." Krowan turned his face to the two girls who were now curled together, somehow drinking tea and seemingly unaware of the massacre of demons outside the water shield. Something in his expression looked lonely. Despite this being their first actual conversation, Boreas felt an off familiarity with this boy. Then, he smirked—his former expression looking like a mere illusion—and gazed up. "Is it still raining? I can't feel anything 'cause of Helen's water shield."

Boreas forgot that he couldn't see. He opened his mouth to answer but he tasted salt as a large pool of water drenched the entirety of his body, followed by the small pelts of rain.

The water shield burst. He spat the water in his mouth and turned. Everyone did the same, it seemed, glaring at the sheepish looking Helen Sevhe who pushed away a drenched lock of green hair away from her face.

"Huine, Krowan ID 86.903. Kruger, Thalia ID 67.130. Poitraz, Boreas ID 14.547—" A monotonous voice called out above. "—Sevhe, Helen ID 2.98. Walth, Lethe ID 93.452. Passed."

~°°~

Falling. Harsh kisses of the wind blew past their face, pieces of rocks, dirt and grime grappling down with her. By habit, Eris heard themselves count.

Eris tore their glasses away from their eyes at the last second. And just like their last-minute plan intended, it worked. Body curling, unable to breathe, and darkness.

They turned into a rock. And survived a fall off a mountain albeit their legs felt jelly and stomach dropped to the core of the earth. It was not much nor was it Peculiar expertise. A swell of pride rushed to them anyways.

They transformed back, thereafter, sliding the glasses up to their nose, beaming.

Someone crashed down against the rocks right after them, tumbling down to the ground with a sickening crunch. Blood splattered on pebbles, mixed in the rain. The said someone feebly sat upright after, red liquid oozing out of her eyes and forehead. Some parts of her bones were showing, pieces of glasses shattered and blood splattering, enveloped by the dirt and rain.

Eris glued their eyes to their shoes as they bit their lip. Muddy puddles formed on the earth, their boots in the midst, touched by red. Their skin felt icy as shudders climbed their spine and they knew it wasn't just because of the cruel downpour.

"Guess I have to get new glasses again," Rycella mumbled, standing. The scattered blood and flesh darted back to her, piecing itself together like puzzles. The bandages that was once all over her had been torn to pieces at the fall, and leaving tattered clothes that hid smooth, pristine skin.

The curly-haired student wondered if Rycella was used to this. Stomach churned. They hugged themselves in a vain attempt for warmth. "Why did you jump after me?"

The redhead squinted through her skewered spectacles. "I thought I could reach you in time and I'll cushion your fall."

"You didn't have to. Also that's not how physics work." Eris looked Rycella squarely in the eyes. They were a bright speck of green; the shade of ivy, of poison. A second earlier, they were red, gouged out. "That must've hurt a lot." Words spilled out of their mouth without permission from the brain. "I'm sorry."

Rycella tilted her head, blinking.

"But, please don't lie. Or act worried." Eris said immediately, clenching their teeth. "I would have just been thrown out of the simulator. I'll just have to restart it."

"Well... That would have been a waste of time," reasoned Rycella quickly. "You'd miss more assignments and as the class president—"

Eris snorted. "I know you took the green notebook."

"Oh." Rycella's features hardened, as she surveyed Eris with a cool gaze. "I was just curious. That was all. Couldn't understand it though."

"Rycella.." Eris let out a bark of laughter. "You're a good liar, aren't you? I suppose, one good thing came out of your constant lying to me when we were kids." Eyes were darker than a night void of stars. "One day, you suddenly decided to be nice—healing me, jumping on a cliff for me and... Well. Being nice to good, ol' idiotic Eris who's dumb and fails at school so that they'd follow you like a puppy."

Rycella replied, as icy as the rain that pierced her skin. "I don't know what you're talking about Eris. I will return the green notebook."

"Don't play dumb. I know you're working for them."

Lull crammed into the air. For a second, Eris thought the rain stopped for a bit, that the thunder quieted so that they could listen—that everything stilled and it was just them. Them and an empty world.

"Huh. Fuck." Rycella cursed, looking at the thundering skies with a resigned smile. "Well, I messed up."

"Yep, to the point that I figured it out."

"Where did I go wrong?"

"You took a notebook that you couldn't read and pretended it didn't exist until I brought it up. Then, you acted nice and oblivious to cover it up. Plus, it's just logical," Eris shrugged. "You're the president of the class, does patrols every night, immortal and smart. You also have no close friends meaning you'd find it easier to betray anyone. You're the only transferee too for like the years." Their heart thudded. "Transferee students are unheard of. Boreas said so."

"That is shockingly well thought of."

"I'm dumb but I'm still a person with a functional brain. Is someone watching this conversation currently?" Eris gritted their teeth as they looked around, pensively.

Rycella pointed at her bleeding forehead—a small, broken sigil of an eyed sun glowed feebly. "So, funny story—if you tear it off she cannot see through it. I can't exactly stop healing but I'm making it heal slower than the rest. I can't exactly do it frequently because she'd notice." She pursed her lips into a thin line. "Why talk to me? It would have been far easier to just... Use me."

Eris' lips trembled. "I don't know. Maybe, because that night—when we should've been caught—you helped cover our tracks yesterday. Why?"

The redhead looked away. "I have my own reasons that I will not disclose to you. Do not misunderstand." Her lips pulled a bitter smile. "I am not an ally."

Still, so many secrets. Still, there were no answers. Pent-up rage slowly simmered in their stomach. "I never thought so, in the beginning. You let them die. How could you be an ally?" Eris clenched their jaw. "How long?" They mocked. "How long have you been the little perfect pawn to them?"

"Long enough for them to trust me. For a small bit, atleast." Rycella wiped the water off her glasses.

"Why?"

"Let's just say that I promised a deal with the devil. I'll become one of the Elderstires high grades or not, as long as I do my job properly. I'll survive. We'll survive."

Eris surveyed her with burning disdain. Loath and scorn twisted their face into a blazing glare.

Rycella continued. "Huine's Peculiar is far more destructive than my Immortality would be. Kruger is academically better than me as well. But job and dues paid off and here I am. Top of everything without doing anything." She clicked her tongue. "What do they say? Work smart, not hard, is it not?"

"I looked up to you. Envied you." Eris curled their fist. "You knew and you did nothing. You let them all die—those kids, our own classmates and—and you were actually helping them in exchange for your own fucking safety."

Rycella laughed crudely. "Quite."

Eris punched her, venom in her dark eyes. The redhead's glasses fell limply on the rocks. Eris' knuckles stung and the pit on their stomach burned. They spat. "Fuck you."

Rycella caressed the already healing bruise. "Like you wouldn't do the same. You already did it to your Lethe friend."

"I didn't know at that time." It sounded too defensive.

"Clearly. You don't know a lot of things even now."

"Kai." Eris' eyes darkened even further. "He said they were betrayed. Was it you? Tell me everything you know." They raised their fists once again. "Tell. Me."

"Do you even remember him?" Rycella smirked, amused as if saying 'Seriously? A punch?'.

"Of course. What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean. Do you sincerely remember him and care for him right now or is this just you feeling guilty that you don't care nor remember anything about him and so you're just pushing your selfless morality bullshit to make yourself feel better?" Eris avoided the surveying green eyes. They wouldn't respond, Rycella knew and so she continued. "And then, let's say I say something. What are you gonna do with the information?"

"Then, we fight. Make them pay." A red gleam briefly flashed in their eyes. "We're all gonna escape. Then, we'll be free."

"That's not how it works." Rycella tilted her head to the side. "You're naive, Heindell."

"And you're a pessimistic little bitch, Gullerva."

The redhead shrugged. "Touche."

Eris' fist fell on Rycella's cheek once again. The redhead retaliated with a headbutt and lunged forward to connect a right hook under Eris' chin. Eris fell to the ground at the impact, hands bruising on the sharp rocks. Snarling, Eris took a handful of them and threw them—Rycella ducked, lunged, tripped and fell.

A small cut on her cheek. It healed.

The rain thundered above. Eris barely saw in the haze of the rain, dark mop of their own hair obscuring their eyes. They barely evaded an incoming kick—a blurred fist—they raised their arms to block it—

Fast. It went through. They tasted blood in mouth.

A heavy punch from the left made them stagger. Another one made them tumble down once again. They smelled salt, and blood and felt it drip down their nose. It was hard to breathe, even harder to think.

Dirty, messy fighting. Dizzying pain made them gasp blood as a fist slammed against their abdomen.

There was a red blur in the corner of their eyes. They flung wildly—missed—tripped on someone's leg—tasted the rained pebbles once again—finally, got a brain cell and grabbed the leg. Eris heard a grunt as she plummeted the redhead downwards as well. Two kicks in her head—Eris did not let go, gripping til blood was drawn, trying to twist the leg broken. Rycella's pale fingers grabbed that big fucking rock it was looking for and smashed Eris' hands and back.

Eris crumpled to the ground. Scrambled to stand up. Stopped. Breathed.

Eris limped forward as they tried to catch their breath. The heavy rain poured on—the water massaged their bruises. They stared against demented eyes; a pair that looked that they shouldn't be of a child's. Wondered if theirs looked the same. "What did they do to you?" Eyes fell on their own knuckles. There was blood all over them; blood on the nails, blood on their throat and mouth. They weren't real—nothing was—but it made them want to puke. "What did they do to us?"

Rycella did not reply. The song of rain continued uninterrupted. Eris fell to the ground. The smell of blood was overwhelming, blotting out that hint of mint.

"You lose again," Rycella said, rather lazily. She slumped down as well.

"I just got tired of beating your ass so many times."

"I counted that six of my punches approximately hit you, whilst you just got a punch or two, atleast. Plus, I'm practically invincible, you idiot."

Eris tilted their head to face the redhead, glaring. "You're biased."

"Oh, yeah?" Rycella raised her eyebrows, standing up. "What was your count then? Did you even count? Even if you did, you probably forgot already."

"Stop that." Eris spat as they stood up. "You disgust me. And everyone in this school who..." They shook their head, voice breaking. "I thought... I thought—" They gazed up to her. "Why didn't you tell me?"

Rycella licked her lips, eyes closed in honest confession. "I wanted to protect you."

A spark of irritation made their lips curl as they approached Rycella. "Protect me?" Gritting their teeth, they grabbed her by the collar. "Pray tell me what you protected me from. Protecting me—you left me."

Rycella steeled."The Principal swore to spare your life. I don't know the exact plan, but chances are you'll undergo the Professo—"

"And you think I'd want that?" Eris spat out.

"We don't have a choice. I never had a choice."

"There is always a choice. I would have died." They clung harder, whispering furiously. "I would have chosen to die than sacrifice anyone. That's what I would have done. Apologies or promises of protection aren't gonna change anything, you pathetic slob."

They looked at Rycella straight in the eyes.

Rycella stiffened and pushed them away. "Easy for you to say. The right thing?" She laughed hollowly. "The right thing is to die?"

"You're immortal. You can't even—"

"They can take it away anytime. And I can't have that. Imagine any of the demons or the professors having the Peculiar of Life." Rycella snapped. "You think I haven't thought this through?" She scoffed. "Dying like a martyr, thinking you've done a good thing—changed something even though you didn't—and hope the gods would pity this hellhole?"

"And the lives that you helped take," Eris replied, a vein bulging to their forehead. "What about them? Worthless?"

"They aren't." Green eyes flashed. She chewed the insides of her cheek. "I've done unforgivable things, unspeakable ones. I've promised to live for myself. Is it selfish if I want to live? That I want us to live?" She jerked her head. "Eris, please," she pleaded, grasping warm, bronze hands as her eyes glistened. "Accept my offer. These things—the demons, these walls and the Dome... they're things grander than you and I. Stupid things that shouldn't matter to us. Let's live. Please."

Eris shook their head, wet coiled hair sticking to their face, their thick brow narrowed in finality as they retrieved their hands. "No."

Lean, pale arms hung awkwardly to the air. Everything felt colder then. "I guess you wouldn't understand."

"I wouldn't," Eris confirmed.

"Fine." Rycella smiled then, cold and without any light in her eyes. "Don't worry. Tomorrow you'll forget this."

~°°~