Chapter 17: Deathly Pale
Chapter 17: Deathly Pale
Year 0002, III Month: The Imperium
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A Soul Trapped in a Limbo
August's soul floated in the liminal space between the realms of life and death.
He felt nothing—neither asleep nor awake, devoid of thoughts and feelings—and in this moment, he was at peace. The void surrounding him wasn't completely dark; tendrils of light seeped through the shadows, creating a perfect balance of illumination and darkness.
It was comforting to exist here, suspended in this state of non-being. The sensation reminded him of what he imagined it would feel like inside his mother's womb—not that he could actually recall such a time. But the warmth that enveloped him from the void provided a similar sanctuary, a cocoon of safety where time had no meaning and pain couldn't reach him.
For now, he relished this weightless existence, unconcerned with the mortal coil he had temporarily abandoned.
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Beyond Him Whose Soul was Trapped Between Life and Death
Elsewhere, panicked voices cut through the ether—his system, its managers, and its administrator all working frantically. They deployed every resource at their disposal, every trick and technique they knew, to keep their host alive. Failure meant losing their most interesting prospect forever, and that was an outcome none of them could accept.
Simultaneously, an epic battle unfolded on a plane invisible to mortal eyes. Life, personified as a radiant entity of pure light, fought desperately to wrap its healing tendrils around August's dying body. Death, a shadow of infinite patience and inexorable power, tugged gently but persistently, attempting to lull August into eternal slumber.
This was a conflict of cosmic proportions that no one had witnessed. Only the two greatest aspects of existence—the dual forces that defined the very concept of being alive—understood what was truly at stake. They were currently both protagonist and antagonist, but neither good nor evil, simply fulfilling their eternal purposes in the grand tapestry of existence.
Yet something unusual was happening in this particular battle. Life fought with unexpected ferocity, as if August's thread in fate's loom was too important to be cut just yet.
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Signs of the Fierce Battle
Meanwhile Gel and Erik rushed through the forest, their footsteps disturbing the unnatural silence as they returned to the last known location where Gel had previously left August to distract the beast. Upon arriving at their destination, they were greeted by unmistakable signs of an intense battle.
They crept forward cautiously, investigating the area while maintaining vigilance to avoid any unfortunate encounters with the local wildlife. Their trained eyes scanned the surroundings, taking in every detail of the violent confrontation that had occurred.
Blood painted the forest floor and vegetation in dark crimson splotches. The trail of destruction extended deeper into the woods, drawing them further from the relative safety of the village. Fallen trees lay splintered across their path, and the ground had been churned by the massive paws of the Boarat—a fearsome beast known for its unadulterated savagery and territorial aggression.
The sun, which had been slowly coming down from its apex when they began their search, has now descended toward the horizon, its golden light filtering through the canopy at an increasingly shallow angle. They had only a few hours of dim daylight remaining to locate August.
Erik's face betrayed his growing concern. He didn't know the young man well, but he understood the dangers of the forest. The logical conclusion was becoming harder to ignore with each passing minute—August had likely suffered the worst fate possible.
What struck him as particularly unsettling was the profound silence that engulfed them. No birds sang, no insects buzzed, no creatures rustled in the underbrush for at least a kilometer in every direction. This absence of sound was unnatural and foreboding, but he was already informed of this by the girl he was following, at least what her gut told her.
Unknown to the two young searchers, the intelligent predators of the forest had established an unspoken agreement to maintain a wide cordon around this area. Something had occurred here that even they, in their primal wisdom, recognized as worthy of respectful distance.
While Erik remained vigilant against the eerie silence, Gel's thoughts were consumed by August's welfare. Was he still alive? Did he require immediate medical attention? She knew the answer to the second question was almost certainly yes, but she dared not contemplate the possibility that they were already too late—that August lay dead or dying somewhere without another human presence to offer comfort in his final moments.
A maelstrom of thoughts and emotions swirled within Gel's mind, rendering her nearly oblivious to the subtle changes in their surroundings as they pressed forward.
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The First Sign
After trudging through the forest for what felt like an eternity, they emerged into a clearing that appeared to be the final battleground. At its center lay the hulking corpse of a massive Boarat, its frame imposing even in death.
A single glance was enough to determine that the beast had met a painful end. Arrows protruded from its body like macabre decorations, with one piercing its head and another embedded deep in its eye socket. Most striking was the gaping hole in its chest cavity—something had been forcibly extracted from within.
"Could August have done this?" Gel whispered, her voice barely audible. "Is that why he's no longer here? Did we miss him, and he's already returned to the village?"
Erik remained silent, stunned by the scene before them. The person they sought had accomplished this? August was allegedly close to their age, yet he had somehow defeated a creature that seasoned hunters approached only in groups. How was such strength possible in someone so young?
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A Sudden Entrance?!?
They stood motionless for several minutes. Gel deliberated their next course of action—should they return to the village or continue searching the vicinity? Meanwhile, Erik remained transfixed by the sheer improbability of what August had apparently accomplished single-handedly.
Their contemplations were violently interrupted when a sudden, powerful gust of wind from above nearly knocked them to the ground. They braced themselves against this unexpected tempest, shielding their eyes from debris.
When they dared to look up, they beheld a sight few humans had witnessed and lived to recount. The towering frame of a Mighty Peregrine Eagle and it has landed to their left, its wingspan alone casting a shadow that engulfed the entire clearing of fallen trees.
The experience was simultaneously awe-inspiring and terrifying. Though they lacked the knowledge that this was no ordinary being but a mythical creature, they instinctively recognized its devastating power. One flap of those enormous wings could level towns and decimate villages; its razor-sharp talons could slice through them effortlessly or impale them as easily as a knife through butter.
Yet remarkably, they sensed no hostility emanating from the beast—only the unmistakable bearing of a Sovereign, a creature that stood at the pinnacle of its domain.
Had they known the truth, they would have been paralyzed with fear, for the being before them was none other than the Legendary and Mythical "Empyrean Hunter, Sovereign of the Sky Aetherwing." Tales of this creature had been passed down for nearly a century in every mouth possible, its battles and hunts recounted by generations past and present. Its exploits were the stuff of legend—awe-inspiring and nearly beyond belief—chronicling its rise from challenger to king.
But they possessed no such knowledge. Not yet at least.
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A Sovereign on a Leisurely Stroll
Aetherwing had been circling high above the forest canopy when he spotted two humans investigating the area, as if searching for someone. They appeared similar in stature to the young warrior who had battled the Boarat.
From his lofty vantage point, no one below could detect his presence. He had camouflaged himself among the clouds, using magic to bend the space around him and conceal his massive form. With his enhanced vision, he could observe details from thousands of kilometers above, discerning information that often remained unknown even to the subjects of his scrutiny.
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An Interesting Battle and an Unexpected Event
After witnessing the surprisingly entertaining battle between the boy and the Boarat, Aetherwing had chosen to remain in the area, watching over the unconscious and dying young human. He harbored little hope for the boy's recovery given the severity of his injuries, but something about the human's tenacity had captured his interest.
What happened next defied even Aetherwing's ancient expectations. A blinding flash of light had erupted from the unconscious boy—a radiance so powerful that it momentarily blinded the great eagle. More surprising still was the fear this light instilled in him, a sensation he had not experienced in centuries.
As the light penetrated the fallen Boarat's body and extracted its heart, both the light and the organ vanished instantly, as if consumed by some unseen force or transported to another dimension. The phenomenon lasted mere seconds, leaving no trace of its occurrence.
In the aftermath, the previously dying boy began emanating swirls of life energy. His grievous internal injuries mended with impossible speed, organs and tissues reconstructing themselves in moments when the light disappeared with the heart.
This was beyond Aetherwing's considerable experience. He knew of beings capable of similar feats, but none with such efficiency and potency. This was something altogether different—more effective than any healing technique known to the world, and genuinely novel even to one who had witnessed millennia of wonders.
Hours later, as he continued his aerial patrol, Aetherwing observed that the boy had stabilized but remained unconscious, likely due to extensive blood loss and physical trauma. Whatever mysterious light had intervened had saved him from immediate death, at least for now.
This was precisely why the great eagle had maintained his vigil, protecting the unconscious human from potential threats. He would not leave until he could question the boy about the nature of that light—though he suspected even August himself might have no answers.
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Aetherwing Interevenes
When the two young humans approached the area where August lay, Aetherwing decided to intervene. They stood near the Boarat's corpse, too close to his unconscious subject for comfort.
He descended from thousands of kilometers above, his natural speed enhanced by his lightning and wind affinities, giving the impression of teleportation. He halted his descent at approximately one kilometer from the ground to prevent the shockwave of his landing from harming those below, particularly the already injured August.
Touching down near the unconscious boy, Aetherwing positioned himself between August and the two newcomers. He examined August briefly before turning his attention to the others.
His keen eyes, capable of discerning secrets that would elude even the wisest sages, noted interesting qualities in both. One possessed a remarkable spirit that radiated distinctive energy, while the other carried a faint trace of divinity—so subtle that only the most perceptive could detect it.
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A Mental Telepathy
The children suddenly experienced an intrusive thought manifesting in their minds—a form of telepathic communication.
"Who are you, child?" the voice inquired, causing both youngsters to reel in confusion and search for its source.
A moment later, they clutched their heads in pain as the forceful mental intrusion overwhelmed their unprepared minds.
"Hmmm... it seems I used too much power; it has been a while since I communicated with lesser beings. For that, I apologize," Aetherwing acknowledged with a slight bow of his majestic head.
Recognizing his error, he immediately reduced the intensity of his telepathic projection. Despite his status as a proud and mighty sovereign, Aetherwing possessed the rare quality of acknowledging his mistakes—a trait that distinguished him from other rulers of his caliber.
He allowed the children time to recover, subtly assisting their healing process by directing a diluted stream of his mana toward them, aiding their healing. Once they had regained their composure, they answered his earlier question.
"I am Angeline Ross," the white haired girl stated, "and this is Erik Rubbard."
"I see," Aetherwing responded telepathically. "And what relation do you have with the child lying behind me?"
His piercing gaze compelled them to answer truthfully.
"A child?" Angeline gasped. "Could it be August? Please, let me see him! I've been searching for him for hours."
"I... I only followed her out of concern," Erik added nervously. "To help look for her friend..."
Aetherwing studied them intensely, evaluating the veracity of their statements. After a prolonged examination lasting thirty seconds—an eternity under such scrutiny—he determined they had spoken no falsehoods.
However, having encountered deceptive entities capable of obscuring their true intentions even from him, he extended his assessment further. The boy's fear was palpable, clearly intimidated by Aetherwing's presence. The girl, however, displayed no fear—only genuine concern for her friend.
"I see you were both truthful," Aetherwing finally declared. "Know that had I detected even the slightest malice, you would have preceded the child behind me to the afterlife."
"What?!" Angeline exclaimed, ignoring the threat. "What happened to August? Is he injured? Is he dying?"
Her voice cracked with emotion, tears threatening to spill from her eyes at any moment.
"Yes," Aetherwing confirmed. "During his valiant battle with the beast, he sustained injuries when closing in for the killing blow. The Boarat rose in its death throes, attempting to claim him as its final victim. It very nearly succeeded."
The great eagle's mental voice grew thoughtful. "I witnessed the lad balanced on the precipice of death, but then something extraordinary occurred—a powerful and terrifying light enveloped him, drawing him back from the abyss. It stabilized his condition and healed his internal injuries, though other wounds remain that prevent his awakening."
By this point, Angeline's tears flowed freely as she released the emotions she had suppressed during their search. She barely registered Aetherwing's words about the mysterious light; only Erik absorbed this information, his admiration growing for the boy who had saved them at nearly the cost of his own life.
Angeline darted past Aetherwing, who simply sidestepped to allow her passage, recognizing the depth of her concern.
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A Question of Concern, Worry and Grief
She knelt beside August's prone form, gently turning him from his side onto his back. Fearful of aggravating his injuries, she carefully cradled his head in her lap, her tears falling onto his still face.
"Will he wake up again?" she asked Aetherwing, her voice barely audible through her sobs.
"Yes, child," the sovereign responded with unexpected gentleness. "But his fate now rests in his own hands. For whatever power he had,clearly has preserved his life and has completed its work."
"I... see..." Angeline returned her tearful gaze to August's face, which had lost all color during his ordeal.
"You look deathly pale right now, August," she whispered. "Wake up soon, please?"
Little did she know that somewhere in the void between worlds, August heard her plea, and the light began to pull him back toward life once more.