03

I broke down in tears, lost for words and unable to wrap my head around the scene that had taken place before me. For once in so long, I was truly grateful that I alone possessed the ability to command the Infyn. My heart assured me that my father was wrong and that I was wise in my actions. I felt at peace.

Hours came and passed, and I stood on the highest balcony of the Infyn to watch the sun set. An unsettling apprehension pulsed within my heart and a disturbing sense of fear tugged at my mind. I could feel a painful chill darting up my spine and bolting through my veins. Not even the sunset, my one source of solace, could console me. What was once a remarkable sight, symbolising a sooncoming dawn, had become a concerning omen indicating the end of day. The sight burdened me heavily with fear and I didn't know why.

I could no longer stand my own thoughts. I descended the stairway and would not look through the arches, no longer wanting to see the sunset. Forlorn, I stared at the floor; The colours dusted across the surface were muted, making the art just as sickening as the real sunset had become. I couldn't escape the feeling of dread no matter where I stood or directed my gaze.

I cast my thoughts aside when I felt the Infyn shake, something I had never felt before. Then at once, I heard two voices calling my name. The voices belonged to my Father and Lyzziel. This was how I knew to open gates for approaching Azcyvians in the past, but there was an overwhelming sense of urgency to the voices' tones. Lyzziel begged for me to let him and my father enter, while the voice of my father told me to activate the neighbouring arch that led to Zstaxen— A realm that once promised to answer our call in the direst of situations.

I grabbed the key and opened Terah's arch first; The Terahsan sky briefly appeared into view before I felt the edge of a blade graze my cheek. I fell back and touched my jaw. I felt something I never had before. Pulling my hand into view, I saw that my fingers had been stained bright red by a substance that ran from my wound. Blood.

"Xander!" Echoed a distant shout from my father. I looked again through the portal to see Lyzziel running towards the arch with Benvelor following in suit. "Xander, Close it!!" Screamed my father.

I stood up and grabbed my staff again when another blade came flying at me, shattering the jewel within the lunette of the key. The staff flew from my hand and that's when I felt a violent pounding in my heart, like a jagged blade protruding from my chest. I fell over and curled up, crying out as the pain refused to relent. My ears rang as the world began to spin. This wasn't death though... I was still breathing, albeit gaspingly. I refused to die.

The colours and light of the Infyn muted to a stone-colour. I felt the vibrations in the ground once more, only they were much stronger. It was Gravity, taking the Infyn into her unseen hands with the intention to plunge it into Azcyviel's waters. Those waters would then drag the structure, with me in it, down to the endless void below. I tried my hardest to scream once I realised what was happening, but nothing except for a raspy breath left my lips.

I never did know what it was like to fall from the sky, and I never would've believed that it was possible for me if it weren't for that moment. Gravity began to yank the Infyn down, disturbing its stationary nature. Her ghostly fingers failed to take me as well, and I had been tossed and pinned to one of the Infyn's walls. I could feel my palpitating heart in my throat as the sky and Azcyviel's cityscape flew past my field of vision in a blur. Once more I attempted to scream in hopes that someone would hear me; While I was certain that sound was escaping, it had been swept away by turbulent winds.

For a moment I felt as light as a feather, and the flow of time seemed to slow to a crawl. Impact had been made between the Infyn and the waters that once lay far beneath it. Gravity then acknowledged the wingless Azcyvian trapped within the Infyn. As I felt the force of her hand, a burst of light spread over the heavens. Within the light appeared a silhouette of an Azcyvian diving after the Infyn... after me. I didn't know who my rescuer was, but I was grateful nonetheless as I closed my eyes and desperately hoped that he would reach me before my back could slam through the surface of disturbed waves.