Savior

The boy looked down in a daze, his vision blurry from the tears streaming down his face.

He blinked until the white blob at his toes turned into the top of a head.

"Cu..tie?" The white blob moved back, revealing a fair-skinned youth with a trembling smile on a pair of bleeding lips. Even without his glasses, he could tell from the expression on the other's face that the latter was in indescribable pain, and yet he didn't let go of his leg, nor did the reassuring smile directed at him disappear, as he quietly repeated, "…fine. You are…fine."

Karmil's eyes narrowed subconsciously. Was this delirium borne from pain and cold? He blinked a couple more times, trying to force the mirage away. He didn't dare harbor even a sliver of hope that this might be real.

By the time Karmil realized what was happening to him, the bell had already gone off and he was the only one left in his classroom.

Going against a teacher's orders and not fulfilling his punishment wasn't in his nature, but what other choice did he have when his body temperature had already fallen well below the average for any living human, leaving him shivering from head to toe in the middle of summer? 

He hastened to find help the moment his heart began to hurt, but it was lunch hours; there was no one left other than him, and the Magic Building was too far from the meeting room too, so he couldn't find any of the teachers on his own.

It was already a miracle that Karmil managed to make it to the Arts Building in his rapidly deteriorating condition…

When Karmil understood all chances of finding help were long gone, he decided to lock himself in the closest classroom—if he was unable to be saved, he could at least try to limit the damage as much as possible. 

He didn't want anyone else to suffer because of his own incompetence.

When Karmil made the decision, he fully believed he would die here, without anyone by his side.

Being cold, in pain, alone—he was terribly scared.

Just when controlling the surging energy overflowing from his magic core became too much for his young mind, he felt something warm wrap around his calf. His heart thumped in relief, but the feeling was quickly submerged by fear. What if it was all his imagination? Karmil refused to look. He had to keep the magical waves from exploding. His actions would cause his body to be consumed from within, but at least the other people currently on campus would be spared. However, if he let himself be moved by his emotions only to be disappointed by the inevitable truth, he wasn't sure he would be able to not lose the little control he had left.

But now, seeing the blurry features with the striking red lips still not disappearing…

Karmil burst into tears on the spot. This time the tears weren't due to pain only; they were tears of relief and thankfulness.

This stranger's appearance caused all his fears to disappear. Like the sun after the passage of a destructive storm, he brought hope and a little warmth.

"You are doing good, Cutie," his white-haired savior choked out with difficulty. "Breathe… You have… you have to…breathe…"

Karmil, with his spirits renewed, listened to his savior's instructions attentively. He took deep breaths, his blue lips trembling.

Once he deemed himself calm enough, he proceeded with the next steps.

Karmil closed his eyes and focused on his core. He clenched his fists. Forcing his brain to ignore the ravaging magical energy pouring out from within, slashing at him like a whip made of thorns, consumed more of his remaining energy.

Karmil was sure he wouldn't have been able to even try and attempt such a thing had it not been for that hoarse voice murmuring instructions alongside encouraging words. He focused on the voice, using it as guiding light in the cold, dark void of his inner self, as he tried and channeled the overflowing essence back unto their original paths.

Seconds felt like hours.

The reassuring voice by his side was growing quieter, but the strong current Karmil had been caught in until now also lost in momentum.

Karmil felt his body slowly lowering from the air. His heartbeat drumming in his ears, he painstakingly applied himself to keep all thoughts out of his mind. At the same time, something heavy suddenly weighed down his upper half. Something…warm.

It took a few seconds before he realized he was being embraced. His savior held his cold body tightly against his own. The hand on the back of his head brought Karmil to nestle his face in his chest.

"Focus…focus on my…my heartbeat…"

Karmil did as he was told.

He kept his eyes closed.

His breathing stabilized.

At some point, he ended up seated on the floor. The taller boy never let go of his hold the entire time. In fact, it almost felt as though his savior was the one holding on to him for dear life instead of the other way around. Almost. For the warm breath that intermittently fanned his exposed skin as soft murmurs of praise drifted into his ears reminded him of the truth.

"…Everything's fine."

"You're fine."

Karmil breathed in the light fragrance of fabric softener, his mind slowly grew hazy. His eyes dropped. His muscles gradually relaxed. And eventually, he stopped shivering.

"You're doing good." The hand that had been caressing his head until now slowly came to a stop. Karmil felt a wave of disappointment, though it only lasted a few seconds, as slender fingers started scratching his head gently shortly after.

Karmil's eyes, though already closed, grew heavy. A yawn escaped his cracked, bluish lips.

So warm…

"Good job… Cutie."