The Meaning of Strength
The rumbling was now greater than ever; what was once coming from deep below the sand as if coming from the trenches of an ocean, the vibrating approached quickly.
As he rose to his feet, a look of relief washed over Joel's face as he closed his eyes, laying against the blue sand and relinquishing himself to whatever was coming.
…Melisande, I'll be joining you soon…Joel thought.
Just as the azure grains of sand hummed with a frequency that tickled the back of the adventurer's neck, he was suddenly lifted.
"Huh…? What is…?" Joel said weakly.
Just before the sand erupted, Joel was lifted, carried on Ethan's back who stumbled over, hardly able to even walk properly with the extra weight on his diminished body.
"...Even without your legs, you're so heavy…" Ethan said while straining himself to walk.
Joel was in disbelief for a moment before his expression turned to frustration, "Stop you, idiot!...I told you, didn't I?! Leave me! I-I want to die…!"