The Vast blue sky. No clouds were in sight. Clear water on beneath. Perfectly reflected the image of the sky.
Between the edgeless sky and the borderless sea was Xiao. He looks around his surroundings and lets out a sigh.
"Great, you again."
Xiao looked to the one who was talking to him, beneath him. He saw his reflection under the water, looking annoyed as if he wanted to straggle Xiao to death.
This place, this world, was all too familiar to Xiao. Xiao knew that he was back to his subconscious world, his inner world.
"What the hell were you doing?" Xiao's reflection asked.
Xiao averts his eye from the water. He, too, felt irritated when dealing with his reflection.
"Killing yourself? HAHAHAHA! Do you think of yourself as a hero? Remember that you are just an ordinary boy. And what kind of hero kills himself to save a life? You REALLY are out of your goddamn mind! Wait, because you are so weak, killing yourself is the only way! HAHAHAHA!"
Xiao's reflection continues to insult and ridicule him. Though it is Xiao's own reflection, Xiao has never shown such a wicked expression as his reflection. As if Xiao and his reflection only share the same look but completely different personalities.
At first, Xiao planned to completely ignore his reflection provocation. Still, as his reflection insult gets more out of control, Xiao finally breaks his silence and shouts back.
"Would you just shut up already!"
Xiao's reflection instantly stopped. Xiao's retaliation wins him a moment of peace before his reflection breaks the silence again.
"Is it worth your life? The girl. Just because you kept her for a few weeks doesn't mean she is worth dying for. She is not even your family. Just someone that appears out of nowhere." Xiao's reflection curled a smirk as he shook his head, feeling dumbstruck by Xiao's action.
"What do you know about her? I promise I will keep her safe with my life, and I don't plan to go back with my vow." Xiao firmly acknowledges again his promise with Ivaru.
"And besides, I cannot die. Yes, sure, the pain is...I would say not comfortable, but if my death can save a life, I am more than willing to kill myself again." Xiao's tone sounds like he was self-mocking, saying only his undying ability is his worth.
"Ha! You REALLY are out of your goddamn mind." Xiao's reflection shows a mocking smile.
"You do remember what Lars told you, right? About not relying on your undying ability. You plan to dismiss his advice?" Xiao's reflection followed up with a question.
"And I am to believe what he says? When he was the cause of most of my misfortune?! How dare he bring me to this world and just die alone, leaving me with the blame and troubles after troubles!" Xiao gets worked up the more he recalls his experience with Lars. His brows furrowed, and teeth clenched.
Xiao couldn't keep his composure like his usual self in his subconscious world. Things that Xiao usually won't even bother to register to his emotional level could easily trigger him in this space.
Xiao's reflection enjoyed the display of Xiao's anger as he was laughing mockingly.
"My oh my. So I guess you plan to use your undying ability up to the fullness. Just how many times do you plan to kill or get yourself kill? Hmm? HAHAHAHA!"
Suddenly, Xiao felt something cold hitting his head. He noticed rain dropping from the cloudless sky when he lifted his head.
"Hmph...Just do whatever you want then. It's your life, after all. Just don't blame me when everything went south." Xiao's reflection shrugged his shoulder and shook his head.
"Alright, she is calling already. Time's up. Now, get going and don't ever come back."
Xiao's reflection shows one last sarcastic smile before everything slowly turns blurry.
Xiao knew he would wake up soon. He didn't bother to reply to his reflection. He only thought of his reply in his mind.
("You don't have to tell me twice.")
And slowly, Xiao returns to consciousness.
The sounds of birds chipping not far away, jointly with the grasses from slight wind blows, form a warm and comfortable melody.
("This sensation...I am lying down on something. Something warm.")
Xiao felt something beneath his head. And the first thing that made him to open his eye was the sensation of water that hits his face.
Xiao opened his eyes, and the first thing he saw was the face of a young girl whose big golden eyes filled with tears. So many tears that they slowly dripped down Xiao's face, gently hitting him as if they were trying to wake him up all the time.
"You....you are alive! You are alive!"
Realizing Xiao was still alive, the young girl shouted in shock, but her shocking expression gradually turned to happiness. And unable to contain her emotion, she hugs Xiao's head and cries out loud, not a cry for sadness, but a cry for the feeling of relief.
Xiao also felt relieved. The action he took and the sacrifice he made were worth it. He finally managed to save someone close to him.
The feeling was so great for Xiao that he shut his eye to savour his victory. Upon relief, Xiao instantly felt the fatigue he had been carrying. Still, thanks to the small yet warm lap pillow he was lying down on, Xiao managed to get some rest.
All this time, he was the only one who survived. He was the one that got left behind to deal with the aftermath. And now, he finally did it. Using all his might, he saved someone.
As the young girl cries out her soul, Xiao gently caresses the young girl's golden hair while he smiles happily.
And with everything finally over, Xiao decided to greet her with a little tease.
"Morning, Iva. Now, if you would just soften your grip... I need some air."