The Song of the End of Time (I)

(... THAT SUMS IT UP)

What's that I hear?

(... EXACTLY. YOU'VE BEEN...)

A voice in my head is speaking.

(... DON'T BE AFRAID. THIS HUMAN WILL BE FINE THANKS TO YOUR HELP...)

It seems to be conversing with someone else.

(... I GRANT YOU MY...)

And that was the last thing I could understand before my ears picked up only noise.

If I concentrate I can see certain blurred images.

Are they events that have happened?

I have no idea of anything...

How did I get here...?

Is this a dream?

As I realize this, my consciousness begins to resurface into the light.

"... ohhh, my head"

My eyes felt very heavy from exhaustion, it took me a few seconds to regain my senses.

When I awoke from what seemed like an eternity I noticed that I was in a sort of cave, wrapped in a cloth. Maria slept clinging tightly to my arm, she must have exhausted herself healing my wounds.

What happened in the end?

I can't remember clearly. We were fighting the shadow that tricked Dimitri, after that I was able to merge with Kurogane, we join our consciousnesses resulting in a kind of armor and then... I think I lost my sanity for a moment.

A wild side slowly corrupted me and prevented me from thinking rationally. In an instant of desperation, I missed the attack, and... so much for my memories.

As I tried to get up, I became aware of my injuries. My whole body hurt, I had cuts on my arms and legs, a strong pain in my chest that seemed to be broken bones, and bandages on my head red from so much blood.

In short, I was a mess.

"Mmm..." feeling how I tried to move Maria woke up. "Asriel? You finally woke up!"

"O, ouch!"

She jumped into my arms and gave me a tight hug. It wasn't too tight, though it still hurt a lot.

"I was so worried!"

"M, Maria? I appreciate your gesture, but can you let go a little?"

"No! I won't let go! If I do, you might die! I won't let go!"

It didn't take me long to realize that she was crying, probably from happiness at seeing myself recovered, at least in part.

I wonder how bad my body is in general. The situation must have been serious, as she kept crying into my chest thankfully that I wasn't dead. She kept repeating it over and over again.

How many hours, no, how many days must she have been healing my wounds?

"... thank you so much, you saved me again"

I stroked her head in gratitude, it is because of her that I am alive again in this world.

After a few minutes she calmed down and filled me in on what happened.

She told me about the presence that took over my body and that it was able to easily take care of the evil entity that possessed Dimitri's body. I have no recollection of what happened, yet it sounds like a pretty spectacular story.

Likewise the battle had been so intense that the beautiful place we were in was completely shattered.

"It was quite terrifying, everything was blown away by the strong wind. The trees, the stones, even our backpacks!"

"I see, it does sound serious... did you say our backpacks?"

"That's right. Why?"

"So, how come they're here?" I said pointing to a couple of lumps in a corner of the cave.

No doubt about it, it's our luggage. I could recognize my backpack that has accompanied me this past month, though not as much as Maria's dazzling pink luggage that even has a chain of some famous mascot I don't know hanging on it.

"I found them around here. We were lucky that they fell near this mountain. While you've been sleeping, I've gone out briefly to look for food and water, and on one of those explorations I found them. They were almost intact, I had to bake certain parts that had been torn by the blow, it's a miracle that my things are still there!"

"Yeah, you have to be thankful"

"Yes! My favorite clothes are still intact, it makes me very happy~"

I'm really glad for her, even in this desperate situation she can keep calm in front of me so I don't have to worry.

"Tell me Maria, you mentioned a peculiar thing before"

"Hmm? What thing?"

"You said something about a Song of the End of Time. With a name that powerful, it must be something important"

"Ah, that. That's what the wind spirit mentioned"

"Wind spirit? Who?"

"What possessed you Asriel, that's how it was named"

"Ah, I see... wait. Spirit? Of the wind? That means, that's an elemental spirit? One of what we've been looking for?"

"Exactly"

"Why didn't you tell me before!? That's a great discovery, augh!"

"Don't scream so suddenly! Your wounds haven't healed yet!"

"Ouch... sorry, I got a little excited"

"Asriel! You have to take care of yourself, I don't want you to faint again. Look, your bandages have blood on them again, stay still so I can check you"

"Of course, sorry my personal nurse"

"Now you're making fun of me! Booo~"

"W, wait! Maria, it really hurts!"

"I don't care!"