The shaking ceased, and the ruin returned to a stifling silence.
A crushing weight was completely enveloping Auron from all sides. He was completely encased in the fallen rubble, he couldn't move a single inch.
'SHIT! If I could just move a little of this rubble I can dig myself out,' he thought as he used all his energy at once to push. However, even with his full power, the rocks were compressed too tight. They did not shift even the slightest bit.
'SHIT! SHIT! SHIT!' Auron continued furiously cursing in his mind as he tried to ignore the excruciating pain assaulting every part of his body.
Auron's immortal body prevented him from being crushed, instantly regenerating to counteract the force destroying his body. However, this just created a constant cycle of pain. If he could move his mouth right now, he would definitely be screaming.
Futility slowly creeped in, drenching any hope he had of escaping. His body relaxed, accepting that he could not break free with his own strength.
'Why... Why do I never learn? I am the same as I always have been. Arrogant. I have always been blinded by my own arrogance, never bothering to see what's in front of me. I was arrogant in thinking that I was strong enough to protect what I love. Thinking that I could overcome anything to revive Mom. Yet I was weak, I failed her and Ren. I was arrogant in thinking I could just run away from my problems, to fuck off into the woods and forget about everything. And to top it off, I was arrogant even until the last second. Believing just because I am immortal, nothing can harm me.'
The pain and lack of motivation lulled Auron's senses until he could withstand no more, and blacked out.
-
A chilling wind blew through the air, browning leaves falling from every tree. A light snowfall blanketed the ground. In the little village Norland, the first day of autumn had arrived. Almost everyone in the village of Norland believed in the Goddess of Death, Morgana. On the first day of every autumn, followers of the Goddess have a festival celebrating life amid the season of decay.
"Auron! Ren! Come inside, it's almost time for the festival, you have to come inside and get ready!" Celia stood in the doorway as she watched two little gremlins construct an abomination that could vaguely identify as a snowman.
"Be right there mom!" Auron shouted as he stuck an oddly bent stick onto the size of the 'snowman'.
"Yeah Ms. C, we're doing the finishing touches!" Ren stuck a crooked stick on the face of the 'snowman', finishing the interesting creation.
There stood a weirdly shaped snowman, with an oblong base, and a short stubby head. Two crooked sticks were slotted into either side, acting as arms. Pebbles from a frowny face and eyes, with a long stick for a nose. Jutting out at the top of the head was two sticks seemingly supposed to be ears.
The two kids stared at their work for a couple of seconds in admiration, and then hurried back inside the house while giggling.
"Mom, Mom! What do you think of our snowman?"
"Yeah, yeah! We made it look like a goblin!" The two children stood beaming at Celia, awaiting her response.
"Well... Art is certain in the eyes of the beholder..." Celia said with a small smirk.
"What does that mean mom?"
"Yeah what does it mean?" Parroted Ren, both looking confused.
"It means your sculpture was interesting, now let's hurry and finish our prayers, the festival will be starting in 30 minutes." Celia changed the topic as she headed over to the makeshift prayer altar.
"Ooookayyy," The two children pouted as they followed close behind her.
Celia lit two ordinary wax candles on either side of a wilting dandelion flower. The burning candles represent the flames of life, illuminating those around it. The wilting flower represents decay, the ultimate eventuality of all life. She and the two children knelt down on two knees, clasped their hands, and started to pray in unison, as the gentle candlelight danced around the room.
"O great mother of the end, we thank thee for thy grace. We, at the dawn of decay, shall remain thankful for our precious lives. We shall remember to live, to respect life, so that we may leave this world one day, with a smile on our face. We, your children, shall cherish what is fleeting, and celebrate life! Praise the mother! Praise life!"
The three believers of the Goddess closed their eyes and kept their hands clasped as they entered a minute silence, in honor of the dead, and to respect the living.
After the minute of silence ended, Auron opened his eyes and, with his seven year old mind, started wondering what respecting life even meant.
"Hey mom, how do you respect life? What is that supposed to mean?" Auron stared at his mom with quizzical eyes.
"Yeah, yeah! I'm confused too!" Ren, who was just 6 years old, was also unable to quite understand the teachings of the Goddess.
Celia looked at both the curious children and remained still for a couple of seconds as she contemplated the best way to explain the teachings. She put on a big smile, one that radiated a gentle warmth.
"Auron, Ren, respecting life means to cherish the connections you have made, to remember their warmth even when you feel cold. To never lose yourself, and forget what you have. Even if your warmth leaves you one day, you have to live. You don't have to understand now, but I hope in the future you two can remember, as long as you live, you can find that warmth."
Pulling the two boys into a big hug, she asked with a beaming smile, "Got it?"
"Yeah!" The two boys both replied, with bright smiles of their own on their faces. They both enjoyed the warmth and comfort of Celia's embrace.
-
Auron flitted in and out of consciousness from the pain, the only thing keeping him sane his memories of the past. In the crushing silence, the cold stone, he could hold on with the warmth of his memories.
'I didn't quite understand what Mom said back then, but now I get it. I ignored those around me, I forgot about their warmth and lost myself in grief. Instead of blinding myself in anguish, I must live. I have to live, and seek that warmth again!'
Anchoring himself to his memories, and locking his goal, Auron resisted the despair of his situation. He insisted over and over again his resolve to seek out that warmth that he longs for, that which he had forgotten about.
'No matter how long it takes, no matter how much pain I have to endure, I will not lose myself! I will find that warmth!'
With his resolve set, Auron continued to recall every last memory of his mom, his friends, the people he cared about. As he continued the cycle of pain, his memories held out.
Days turned to weeks. Weeks turned to months. Months turned to years. Falls arrived, winters set, springs blossomed, and summers blazed. The seasons continued on, not stopping for Auron. Time continued to crawl forward.
Hero's were born, bringing hope to the people. Geniuses popped up, innovating fields and changing history. Wars were fought, altering borders. Generations were brought to life, and other generations died, wilted by time.
On the dawn of a new millennium, on the year 7000 of the Aldiron calendar, a small earthquake changed everything.