Sehnshohl

Perspective : Conrad Garnier

It blinded us. I felt like it was the end. A soundless explosion.

As my whole body was frozen in air. I couldn't move an inch, neither could anyone else.

The chamber was bathed in a brilliant green light, engulfing everything, as the woman and that colossal hourglass vanished into the ether. The force of the ensuing explosion reverberated through me

And yet, It didn't hurt.

It felt more like a powerful gust of wind, resembling a storm. I stood there frozen and mesmerized, as the roots covering Emilia's body began emanating a vibrant green glow. Gradually, those roots turned into ashes, dissipating into thin air, and uncovering her entire form, that was covered with countless pores oozing blood. Then, something extraordinary occurred—Emilia and all others who had turned started floating in the air. As they levitated, those pores covering their skin vanished, leaving behind rejuvenated skin that seemed reborn.

After that, our bodies were released off that mysterious hold. However due to my posture, as soon as we were released, I was propelled towards Emilia, conveniently catching her in my arms as she slowly descended from the air.

Carefully, I placed her to the ground, with all the others.

As Patrick checked their pulses, a flood of relief washed over him, causing him to sink to his knees. With immense gratitude,

he exclaimed,

"Thank God! They are alive!"

Extending his hands towards the ceiling,

He said, and very dramatically might I add.

"Ohh! Dear Lord Asclepius! this must be your divine intervention".

(Nope, I don't think so).

(Everything that happens needn't be a divine intervention).

(If anything that's just an pretense, which holds us from persuing the truth)

"Besides I don't give a damn".

(I am glad they are fine though)

"Noo ... I don't care".

As everyone found out, all of them were fine.

Kyle exclaimed,

"It's a miracle! Everyone is alive!"

"Hmm... they're just sound asleep,"

Elkdrack commented.

Relieved,

Yuna added,

"Thank goodness those nasty pores disappeared."

" Can't even imagine anyone walking around with those covering their bodies".

Regina cleared her throat and gently said to Yuna,

"Shut up."

[(Not a part of Conrad's narration)

However, Brandon murmured with a hint of hollow resentment,

"Must be nice."

He stared emptily into his hand, his eyes reflecting a hollow emptiness.

After what felt like an eternity, a wave of genuine happiness washed over every one. Unaffected by any tinge of greed, they found joy in a simple yet profound reason: this was the first time something positive had occurred after they ventured into this expedition . A sense of profound relief engulfed them, knowing that their once-lost comrades were now alive and well.

Kyle's relieved because his former friends Emilia and Keira were alive.

Patrick, Elkdrack and Regina are pleased because their companion Thor Gild was still alive.

Believe it or not Conrad is too a bit relieved, even though he seemed conflicted about it.

However, Brandon doesn't know what he wants, he shouldn't be happy with them because unlike them his friends are dead, yet he isn't sad either . After all he wanted was to protect his disciples, he couldn't. He thought he wanted to die, to reunite with his family, even though the chance was given to him in a silver platter, he couldn't.

He feels a need to fight, to survive, but he has no goal. The allure of gold doesn't entice him anymore. There is nothing pushing him forward and yet there is something that's stopping him from dying.

He no longer knows the difference between obligations and desires because all of them has lost their charm. He is like a broken, small, withering, plant, swept away by the current of a river, he is just floating along with the flow, without any purpose and without any soul.

He is there yet, he is invisible to everyone.]

Patrick suggested,

"Just to be safe, I should probably heal them." Regina agreed, responding,

"Yes, you should."

Then, turning her attention to me, Regina asked, "Conrad, are you hurt anywhere?"

I replied simply,

"No..."

Prompted by my response, I asked in return, "Were you?"

"Regina replied, saying,

"Me neither."

Reflecting on her recent experience, she added, "Strange, I had a splinter on my leg."

"Now it's gone".

Acknowledging her observation, I responded,

"Yes, now that you mention it,"

trailing off as I realized something. Interrupting my train of thought,

Regina asked with concern,

"Are you doing alright? Conrad!".

Confused by her question, I replied,

"What do you mean?"

Regina, clarified, said,

"Your head. Does it hurt?"

I reassured her, "No."

As she attempted to touch my head, she warned, "Don't lie to me, Conrad."

Reacting quickly, I took hold of her hand, and in that moment, I felt something.

Frustrated, I questioned,

"What are you doing?"

Regina apologized, saying,

"Ohh... I am sorry."

Firmly, I responded,

"Don't worry about me, worry about yourself."

Then my gaze shifted,

As Patrick extended his palms towards Ikbal and exclaimed,

"Total heal!"

A bright green light began emanating from his palm, almost too bright. As the spell was cast, Patrick himself became enveloped in a faint green glow. He turned to us and said,

"Guys! It might just be me, but I feel different. It's like an unimaginable stream of energy is flowing from my hand."

Elkdrack looked at him skeptically and asked,

"Did you hit your head?"

Patrick responded with a simple,

"No."

Kyle chimed in,

"Now that you mention it, the pain from my wounds has completely vanished".

" I don't feel any exhaustion either."

Patrick thought aloud,

"Could this be because of that lady?"

Elkdrack confidently stated,

"She was an angel, I tell you."

Patrick dismissed the notion, replying,

"Keep your fantasies to yourself."

That's when Yuna began acting delirious, as if she was experiencing hallucinations or something.

Her eyes widened, darting around erratically. A perplexed furrow formed on her brow, and her lips trembled with confusion. Her face took on a slightly dazed and disoriented look, as if she had momentarily lost touch with reality.

"No... Nooooo,"

"I will Kill you".

she exclaimed.

Elkdrack reacted by asking,

"Who burnt her tail?"

Kyle suggested,

"Maybe she had too much to drink."

Patrick showed concern and asked,

"Hey Yuna! Are you doing alright".

"Maybe lay off the drinking for a while, huh".

Yuna snapped back to her senses and replied,

"What are you saying? I am perfectly fine."

Patrick responded with a skeptical tone, saying,

"If you say so."

Kyle chimed in,

"Just stop drinking. It's making you delusional."

Yuna mischievously fired back,

"Oh my... Since when did you start having feelings for me, captain?"

Kyle, caught off guard, retorted,

"Nooo ... I mean".

"You're insane, woman."

In that brief moment our attention shifted from Yuna to the pit once again. The same rumble, same noises, started to reach our ears.

Kyle spoke up, saying,

"Listen."

Elkdrack asked,

"What?"

Patrick alerted everyone,

"Something is climbing up."

Elkdrack reacted, exclaiming,

"Shit! Not again."

Regina called out to me, saying,

"Conrad!"

I immediately understood what it meant, so I responded,

"Yes, I hear it too."

Kyle emphasized,

"Whatever it is... it's big."

Everyone prepared their spells, and weapons.

I had mine ready, my attention solely fixated towards that pit.

With every moment the the sound grew louder and louder.

Something huge was coming, it was apparent.

Kyle urged everyone, saying,

"Listen, everyone, we can't run. So, we must protect them. We can't afford to lose them again, isn't that right?"

In unison, everyone except me responded,

"Right."

A sense of anticipation and horror washed over me as the noise grew louder and louder.

"How much big is it?".

As that thing emerged, My gaze shifted towards Brandon because he shouted,

"No ... It can't be".

"Noo ... You should be ".

As he uttered those words Brandon's face became contorted with shock and disbelief. His eyes widened, as if he was terrified and surprised at the same time. His brows were furrowed deeply and His mouth hung open, frozen mid-sentence, as if he couldn't fully comprehend what he was witnessing. The color drained from his face, leaving behind a pale complexion.

Witnessing his reaction, and observing the creature staring at us, made me realise, how bad I wanted to grab Regina and get the hell out of there.

"How in the world would we be able to defeat such a thing?".

However, I wasn't going to loose my resolve, If I was going to die, So be it. But I refuse to just put down my life without even trying once.