Orynx had finally become calm—at least for now. The sky remained blue, embedded with spiritual energy, stretching endlessly above the world. There was no morning or night in Orynx, only the constant presence of its strange, beautiful light.
Elarion walked aimlessly through a narrow road, moving without any real destination. His steps carried him forward, but his mind remained trapped inside the same thought.
Think. What must be done? I need a physical body.
He looked up at the blue sky, his expression hardening as the idea repeated itself in his mind. A physical body. He lowered his gaze and continued walking. All he needed was the ability to manipulate energy properly. If he could learn to control spiritual energy, perhaps he could create the body he needed.
Elarion glanced around at the different species moving through the streets. Beast beings and spiritual beings passed by one another, continuing with their lives as though nothing had changed. But he saw no demons and no angels among them. The absence only made him feel more isolated.
He closed his eyes and tried to clear his thoughts, but the frustration remained. When his eyes opened again, his expression had grown colder.
Looks like there's no way out.
Elarion continued down the road until a familiar voice called his name.
"Elarion!"
He stopped and looked back. Rhyzok was running toward him, moving quickly through the narrow road. By the time he reached Elarion, his spiritual presence was unsettled from the hurried journey, but his eyes remained focused.
Elarion watched him approach with suspicion. What is he doing here?
Rhyzok stopped before him and looked into his eyes. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then Rhyzok's expression became serious.
"We need to talk."
"About what?" Elarion asked.
Rhyzok glanced toward Rankspire, its towering structure visible above the surrounding buildings. "Come with me."
[The Roof of Rankspire]
A short while later, Rhyzok and Elarion stood on the roof of Rankspire. The wind moved across the open space, carrying the distant sounds of Orynx below them. Elarion stood near the edge of the roof and looked down at the streets before turning toward Rhyzok.
"Why did you bring me here?"
Rhyzok studied him carefully. "Do you remember this place?"
Elarion's expression remained guarded. "This is where we first met Xyne."
"You were determined to become strong that day," Rhyzok said. "You would not stop talking about it."
Elarion looked away. "What about that?"
Rhyzok lowered his gaze and allowed a quiet pause to settle between them. "Xyne told me what happened."
Elarion's eyes narrowed. "What exactly did she tell you?"
"She told me how badly you want a physical body," Rhyzok replied. "She also told me how far you're willing to go to obtain one."
Elarion remained silent, and that silence told Rhyzok enough.
"Why do you need to be strong?" Rhyzok asked.
Elarion's fingers tightened at his sides. "Being weak in Orynx might not cause any problems to anyone else, but to me, it is a disgrace." He turned toward Rhyzok, the frustration in his voice growing stronger. "I was created through Xyloria's energy. She created me willingly. If I appear weak, everyone will laugh at me. They will gossip about me and wonder why something created by Xyloria is not stronger."
Rhyzok frowned. "Why do you care about what they think?"
"Because I care," Elarion replied.
"That isn't an answer."
"It is to me."
Rhyzok watched him for a moment. Elarion looked away again, and when he spoke, his voice became quieter.
"Nova wasn't even created intentionally, and yet she is so strong."
Rhyzok's expression softened as he finally understood what had been driving Elarion. A faint smile touched his face.
"You're not doing this because of Xyloria."
Elarion glanced at him.
"You're doing this because you want to surpass Nova."
Elarion said nothing. He did not deny it.
Rhyzok's smile faded. "Xyloria would be sad if she saw you like this."
"Don't bring her into this," Elarion said sharply.
"I'm not trying to hurt you."
"Then stop talking as if you understand me."
Rhyzok stepped closer. "I understand more than you think."
Elarion's eyes remained fixed on him as Rhyzok continued. "Remember what Xyloria taught us. Spiritual energy is the main energy. Every other energy is derived from it. Demonic energy is chaos, while angel energy is calmness. Later, demonic energy divided into two forms: dark energy and red energy. Only a few can use dark energy, while red energy is much more common."
Rhyzok gestured toward Elarion's chest. "But all of those energies come from spiritual energy. The same energy that creates angels and demons. If you can learn to manipulate it, you can become stronger. You are not lacking potential, Elarion. You simply refuse to calm yourself long enough to use what you already have."
Elarion's expression hardened. "That does not mean anything. Only an Origin has the power to use spiritual energy to perfection."
"So what?" Rhyzok asked. "Are you going to give up because you cannot use it perfectly?"
Elarion lowered his head. Beneath his anger was something more desperate—a fear that no matter how hard he tried, he would always remain behind everyone else.
Then he lifted his eyes again.
"No," he said. "I will do everything I have to do to become strong."
Rhyzok smiled sadly. "You were always like this." He paused, studying the energy around Elarion. "But it has increased."
Elarion said nothing.
Rhyzok's eyes narrowed. "Your energy... why is it so much?"
Before Rhyzok could step away, Elarion reached out and connected his hand with Rhyzok's.
Rhyzok blinked in surprise.
Elarion looked up at him. "Thank you for comforting me."
"You're welcome," Rhyzok replied, still unaware of what Elarion had already decided.
Elarion lowered his eyes to their joined hands. "I have actually found a way."
Rhyzok's expression slowly changed. "A way to do what?"
"And you just happened to be here."
"What do you mean?"
Rhyzok suddenly felt his energy being pulled away.
His eyes widened as the light within his spiritual form began to fade. He looked down at Elarion's hand, then back at Elarion's face.
"What are you doing?"
Elarion did not look away. "I told you. I will do everything I have to do to become strong."
Rhyzok's energy continued to drain into Elarion. His spiritual form flickered, its light thinning as the strength holding it together began to disappear.
"Elarion..."
"I will sacrifice anyone to get strong."
Rhyzok stared at him. His presence continued to weaken, but the sadness in his eyes was not for himself. It was for the person Elarion had become.
"You've changed," Rhyzok said in a low voice.
Elarion's expression remained empty.
Rhyzok's lips curved into a faint smile. "A lot."
Then Elarion consumed him.
Rhyzok vanished, and his energy surged through Elarion's body. Power spread through him like an overwhelming tide, increasing his presence until the air around him trembled.
Elarion stood alone on the roof, staring at the place where Rhyzok had been.
*Why was he smiling?*
Before he could find an answer, a scream rose from below.
"Rhyzok!"
Elarion looked down and saw Elara standing on the ground. Her eyes were wide, her expression frozen as she stared at the place where Rhyzok had disappeared.
"Rhyzok," she whispered.
She said his name again, as if expecting him to answer.
"Rhyzok?"
Then her gaze lifted toward Elarion.
Hatred replaced the shock in her eyes.
"Ah!"
Her scream echoed through the streets.
"RHYZOK!"
Memories flashed through her mind—his voice, his smile, the warmth of his touch, and the promises they had made. The memories collided with the sight before her, and something inside her broke.
Elara lost control.
A demon carrying a sword happened to pass nearby. Elara's eyes snapped toward the weapon. She reached out and seized it, then poured a massive amount of red demonic energy into the blade.
The sword trembled in her hand.
"Die!"
She threw it with everything she possessed.
The weapon tore through the air at an insane speed, but Elarion dodged it with ease. The sword passed beside him and vanished into the distance.
Elarion did not wait for another attack. He flew away, becoming nothing more than a streak of light across the sky—a comet disappearing beyond everyone's reach.
Elara collapsed onto the ground.
Liquid demonic tears filled her face. She was smiling, but the expression was broken and empty. Then she screamed, her face twisting between grief, rage, and disbelief. She stared at the place where Rhyzok had died as if refusing to accept that he was truly gone.
"Why?" she whispered.
No one answered.
Her hands pressed against the ground as her demonic presence trembled.
Then she remembered what Rhyzok had said before they came there.
A Few Minutes Earlier.....
Rhyzok had turned his hand into physical matter and gently held Elara's cheek.
"I've been thinking about what your mother said."
Fear immediately appeared in Elara's eyes. She caught his wrist.
"No. Don't say it. We can still be together."
Rhyzok smiled softly. "No. It's not that."
Elara continued to hold his wrist, studying his face. "Then what is it?"
"It's about you wielding one of your ancestors' blades," Rhyzok said.
Elara's expression slowly changed.
"If you wield one of them, you and I can visit Nova together. I'll ask her for energy, and you can teach me how to manipulate it. Then we can become unstoppable together."
Elara stared at him for a moment before the tension in her expression finally loosened.
"Jeez. You almost scared me."
Rhyzok laughed quietly.
Elara looked down at the blade, then back at him. "But if that's what you want, okay. I only said I didn't wanted to wield one because I'm afraid my energy might corrupt you."
Rhyzok reached for her hand.
"And if I become as strong as Nova," he said, "we will never have to worry about that."
Elara smiled.
At the time, she believed him.
Now, those words were all she had left.
To be continued...