An hour or so after Casmir left the Council Hall, he found himself walking through the Heldan Academy grounds towards a large blocky building made from the typical Redstone bricks that older buildings in Ellaris are often built using.
It was 4 floors high and each side of the building was roughly 50m long giving it a plain square shape. The building had windows every half a dozen metre's or so and due its design, it was clear that the building was segmented into dozens of small 2 or 3 three room area's.
This outwards appearance was not surprising as this building, although fairly old, had only ever served one purpose for the Ellaris Academy, it was a large apartment building for the students to live in throughout their time at the academy.
However because of its outdated design, unattractively blocky appearance and lack-lustre amenities for the housed students, it was an incredible unpopular place to stay for an extended period of time. Especially considering that Ellaris had a surplus of housing, meaning that sometimes cheaper but always better housing was available elsewhere.
Due to this there would always be at least a dozen free apartments out of the nearly a hundred available, such apartments would either remain vacant or repeatedly change hands throughout the school year. The building itself had also garnered an odd type of infamy over its lifespan, coming to be known as the 'Red Block' or 'Red Block flats', its name as boring and unimaginative as the building itself.
Thanks to this situation Casmir and Elena managed to find an apartment close to the school without much hassle. They didn't care much for its appearance or amenities because they could return home at any point if needed, they only wanted somewhere to have some privacy away from their family.
As Casmir approached the Red Block, it was clear from his haggard appearance and droopy eyes that he was too exhausted after everything he had been through. After all it had been around a full day since he had left Ellaris on the outing, exhausting himself after everything he had experiences.
The Grade 2 Invigoration pill that Redfire had given him had perked him up throughout the night and Casmir's time at the Council Hearing, but it had long since worn off. He didn't even glance at the various people he passed by as he entered the building.
It was the end of the morning rush now after all, various people were rushing off to their early morning lessons or slowly dragging their feet as they waited for their friends who never woke up on time.
No one really noticed Casmir as he walked through the building, two small boxes his arms, one that held Casmir's merit badge while the other Casmir seemed to hold more firmly, occasionally glancing at it with a noticeable excitement bursting through his sleepy eyelids.
Soon enough Casmir climbed up a couple flights of stairs, reached his apartment and fumbled around with his key for a moment before he made his way inside.
The apartment was small, made up of two rooms. One larger room no more than 7m by 3m, enough for a large bed, a small kitchen work surface and sink, and a living area filled by a couple of chairs and a table. The smaller room attached to it was the bathroom, roughly half the size of the main room, it was enough for a sink, toilet and a small bath.
Such a 'luxurious' set up was obviously attractive to younger people on its own, but what really sweetened the deal was the lack of running hot water. If you wanted a bath you'd need to heat the water up yourself with a couple of firestones or the old fashioned way with an oil fire lamp.
Yet, when Casmir entered the small apartment and sat down on his soft bed, he felt a strangely homely sensation. This place wasn't perfect, or even practical, but it was his and Elena's place.
He didn't have to worry about making the place spotless and tidy for every friend of the family who popped by, he didn't need to worry about his mother or grandparents pestering him for his help in some menial task...
He could just sit.. rest.. and he didn't need to hold any of his worries back next to Elena. It was an odd comfort, freedom that is, often hard to come by and even harder to keep, but when you experience a place to truly to call your own no matter how it looks, it feels good.
Speaking of Elena, "She should be here.." Casmir thought as he noticed the door to the bathroom was closed and the light splashing sound of water was coming from the other side.
"Oh right.." Casmir murmured as he remembered Elena had the morning off, she would often take a long bath on such days.
Noticing this, Casmir placed his two packages down on a small bedside table, before he took his shirt and shoe's off and laid down on his bed to get some rest.
In his exhausted state it didn't take long for Casmir to nod off, however as his mind calmed and he started drifting of into his dreams, Casmir's Soul Flame residing in the Life Giver Orb similarly calmed.
As it did so, flashes of purple became mixed in its blue flame as if only now could the flames impurities settle and be exposed for what they truly where...
==========
*Rumble* *Rumble*
The sound of thunder trickled in from the distance menacingly, it's power growing by the second as if some mighty god was striding across the sky, leaving devastation in its wake.
Woken by the noise, Casmir quickly got out of bed and stood by the window, the heavy black clouds that stretched across the sky blotting out the sun in a very eerie fashion.
Casmir could barely make out the silhouettes of the nearby buildings as the sky had turned so dark as if it was the dead of night.
The sight noticeably worried Casmir as his mind clambered to try and understand what had happened, he then quickly turned around and moved towards the bathroom to find Elena.
'Empty..' Casmir thought as he scanned the bathroom, steam still emanating from the warm water, but no trace of Elena.
"AAAAHH!!" A high pitched and fearful scream suddenly resonated in the small apartment, originating from the slightly open window Casmir was just standing before.
Casmir quickly returned to the window only to witness two sharp flashes of purple lightning that illuminated the dark world in front of him.
Blinded momentarily by the bright purple light, Casmir blinked and shook his head as his eyes peaked into the newly lit world...
It was as if the flash of lightning had lit up the entire world, its purple light lingering around everything it touched allowing Casmir to see with the upmost clarity.
However what he saw, horrified him deeply.
The stretch of Ellaris city that he could see, one that he had grown familiar with over the short time he had lived here, was covered in dust and bones as if everything in the world had grown old and decayed into a fine grey dust.
Old skeletons littered the roads and buildings, covered by worn and sun-bleached clothing these people did not die in war or by any natural cause. It was as if everyone had grown old and slowly fell down on the ground with no one to help them get up again. The bodies were not left there because of neglect or disdain, but because there was no one left to pick them up again.
Casmir eyes slowly widened and his breathing became heavy as he realised that the entire world, from people, to plants and animals had grown old and died with nothing to replace them. Leaving an empty dead world full of ash for eternity onwards.
Suddenly a dark shadow passed over Casmir.
Looking up Casmir saw a girl black bird passing over him from many kilometres into the sky, he couldn't make out the details of its body on that it was massive and body seemed oddly rigged as if its wings never moved to allow it to fly.
Seemingly sensing Casmir eyes, the bird swiftly turned around and headed straight for Casmir.
Casmir wanted to move but found his feet were stuck to floor, having grown too heavy to move out of fear. All he could do was watch the large bird slowly descend towards him its body growing larger and larger as it eventually covered the sky and Casmir finally realised its true form.
The Dragonfly, the vast metal War Machine that could destroy a small city in the blink of eye.
Captured by a sinister purple glow, the Dragonfly War Machine slowly descended in front of Casmir's window, its Qi Energy Cannons pointing out of its body like sharp spears covered in wet fresh blood.
Only when the War Machine had nearly reached the ground did its largest and most sinister looking Qi Cannon appear in front of Casmir.
It was made from a dozen sharp metal spears that flickered with purple lightning and pointed towards Casmir, almost forming a devilish smile.
Then, as Casmir thought his life would come to an end at the hands of this purple devilish smile, it suddenly opened and an obscure figure slowly drifted out from its mouth, a dozen metal claws latched on to the figures body.
Breathing heavily and unsteadily, Casmir's trembling mouth desperately whispered the name.. "Elena..!"
In front of Casmir, the lifeless body of Elena had appeared from the devilish mouth, her usually dyed black hair had regained its natural green colour however it had been tainted with sprays of her own blood. The pure white dress she often wore, tattered and destroyed as it gently swayed in the grey dusty wind, covering her motionless body with a fine layer of dust.
Absolutely horrified and unaware of his current situation Casmir's anger exploded, the purple lightning inhabiting this world quietly appearing behind Casmir from every ordinary item in the room, slowly stretching towards Casmir's body hoping to infect him with its malicious intent.
Suddenly Casmir mindlessly lunged at the Dragonfly hoping to rip it apart with his bare hands!
However.. just as he shattered the window before him.. a sweet voice drifted over toward him from some outside place...
"Casmir..?" Elena said softly.
The world around Casmir quickly faded away, replaced by confusion and a heavy feeling of fatigue spread across Casmir's body as he slowly opened his eyes.
Scanning the small apartment with his eyes, Casmir noticed the bright morning sun drifting through the windows like any other day, his memories from mere moments ago fading away into his subconscious like a long lost memory from his days in his real mothers arms. Only the faintest feelings of fear and worry remained in Casmir's conscious mind after a few moments.
"Are you ok Casmir? You were trembling slightly, did you have a nightmare?" Elena asked softly as she crouched in front of their bed where Casmir was laying, a thin nightdress covering her body.
Seeing her pretty face that was covered in a thin layer of moisture, a healthy rosey colour flushing her cheeks, Casmir felt the sudden urged to grasp her tightly and never let go.. so he did..
Climbing up from the bed Casmir grasped Elena's soft hands and gently pulled her into his embrace, grasping her softly before he lifted her onto the bed to lay down with him.
By the time his naked torso was pressing against Elena's thinly clothed body, Casmir could not recall why he wanted to hold her or what dream he could possibly have had to make him feel this way.
"Ah, Casmir! What are you doing!" Elena protested after she was pinned down onto the bed by Casmir's body.
Her head slightly pressed against Casmir's shoulder as she breathed in, she didn't notice that their movements had displaces some of the flower pollen that Casmir still retained on his body. This pollen gave of a unique flowery smell that quickly assaulting Elena's body.
When she smelled this unique fragrance Elena suddenly calmed down, an oddly familiar sensation spreading through her body as if this fragrance meant something to her, like a long lost memory.
It was unfortunately that the sensation only lasted for a moment, Elena paid it little attention as she was occupied with how Casmir had just forced her down onto the bed and was likely trying to take advantage of her.
However her prediction didn't come true as just quietly spoke to her "Sorry Elena.. I don't know what came over me I just.. I just felt an overwhelming desire to hold you.."
Elena only reluctantly accepted Casmir explanation, clearly having experienced his deception before, resulting in her falling prey to his advances.
It was only as Elena relaxed slightly and let Casmir embrace her that she suddenly remembered something.
She looked at Casmir with concern saying "Wait.. why are you back already? You shouldn't be back from the wilderness yet?"
Casmir remained silent for a moment as he considered how to explain everything to Elena, during this time his arms loosened their hold around her allowing her to rest her head in front of Casmir's, looking him straight in the eyes as she realised something was wrong.
With an unsteady and somewhat unsure look on Casmir's face, he slowly said "I.. We..."
As Casmir thought about his revelation of the Life Giver Orb and his speculation on its devious purpose to take control of his soul, he didn't know how to look at Elena. Unsure how to explain this situation to her...