Time passes, and the inferno before me still burns fiercely. Yet, something has changed. During Naboru's battle, everything had been meticulously orchestrated. My hero had ensured the flames wouldn't escape the manor, confining the fire and smoke to this isolated courtyard. He made sure no one would be alerted, no one would come to interrupt this final confrontation. It was his plan, his last act of strategy, like an ultimate sacrifice. He knew it wouldn't last forever, that his efforts to contain the destruction were fleeting. And yet, he chose to stick to the plan, knowing, perhaps, that I would never leave. Not without him.
I close my eyes for a moment, and behind my eyelids, I can still see Naboru's face when he was alive—calm and resolute, even in the midst of chaos. He probably knew I wouldn't follow his plea to flee, that I would stay by his side, despite the danger. And still, he changed nothing. Because he hoped. He hoped that, even if I survived the battle, the flames wouldn't suffocate me, that I wouldn't die beneath a sky of ash.
Naboru… He was far too kind, far too selfless. Even as death approached, he was still thinking of protecting me.I continued to softly stroke the cheeks of my fallen savior. He was nestled so gently in my lap, my hand warming his body still hot from the flames, blackened by ash, cold in death, tinged with the blue hue of his lifeless form. The tears flowing down my face mingled with the soot, forming a repulsive mixture that covered Naboru. The blend of salty water and grimy black dust disfigured the once beautiful face of the man who had given his life for me. My tears mixed with the dirt, creating a filthy and painful smear that tarnished the beauty I cherished more than anything. I cradled Naboru gently, offering him one final comfort in a world that had turned hostile and ruined.His head rested against my thighs, and I could feel the residual heat from the flames slowly fade, giving way to the coldness of death—so tragic.
"Naboru... Naboru, why..."
I took a deep breath between sobs and spoke to his corpse in a voice broken by pain.
"Why did you sacrifice yourself… You... you're so stupid! You gave your life for a mere servant! A useless servant with a filthy, filthy, filthy, filthy, filthy power like the one who wields it!"
In a fit of desperate rage, I slapped him, as if I believed that a physical pain, a violent gesture, could bring him back to life. But no answer came, save for the slight shift of his face under the impact of the blow. He was so calm, so silent, the exact opposite of me. I waited for a moment, staring at him, trying to hold back my tears, but it was futile. My eyes filled with an immeasurable sorrow, making every attempt to regain control useless.I wiped away my tears, and with infinite care, I cleaned the ash from his lips, revealing that beautiful mouth, still marked by his final moments of life. The heat from the ashes had left a mark on his lips, but they were still surprisingly alive to the touch. I leaned in gently and kissed him. His lips still felt so alive, moist, likely from my tears, and warm, perhaps due to the lingering heat of the ashes. The only difference was that I felt a wave of love, regret, and endless despair, while Naboru felt nothing.Not knowing what else to do, I kissed him again, then again, until I had kissed him a thousand times.
A thousand kisses for a man already gone…
Each kiss was a desperate attempt to convey a love I now knew was lost forever, a love that had never truly existed. And yet, for me, it was a way to maintain a connection, even in this heartbreaking death, a connection to keep myself alive. I wanted to believe, in my grief and sorrow, that these kisses could fill the void his death had left behind, that every fragile touch could make a difference, like a gesture of comfort for a being now frozen in time. But soon, I realized how horrible it was. The kisses only underscored the horror of the situation. My Naboru had no awareness of what I was doing. If he knew, he would surely be shocked by my actions, by this desperate and repulsive display of love that could no longer reach him on his lifeless body.I felt disgusting, pitiful, as if every kiss was a cruel confirmation of the futility of my childish grief. Lysandros might have been right. He probably understood that my emotions, my actions, were just manifestations of the monster I am. I gently lifted Naboru's body, cradling him with tenderness. The contrast between the warmth of his body and the coldness of his absence tore me apart. In one final sob, I whispered, my voice trembling and broken:
"Why are you still so warm? Why is it so warm? Why do I have to feel the warmth of your body? Why must I feel the warmth of this body? Can I not escape it? Can I not escape you?"
I held him tighter, as if by sheer willpower alone, I could bring him back to life. My fingers trailed over his skin, desperately searching for a sign, a movement, something to prove that this was just a nightmare. But there was nothing. Only silence, only death creeping into every corner of this cursed moment.Suddenly, footsteps approached, a steady rhythm of heavy boots striking the scorched ground. Figures emerged from the darkness, illuminated by the last flickers of dying flames. A group of firefighters, their dark uniforms contrasting with the silver gleam of what they held in their hands: the Aquamoonis Naiad
The moon-reactive crystals began to vibrate softly. Droplets of pure water trickled out, gathering to form powerful streams that extinguished the lingering flames. The fire was gone, but a new threat loomed—the fear of losing what little remained of Naboru.One firefighter, an imposing man, approached me. His face was tired, worn by the urgency of the situation, but his eyes were filled with compassion. He saw what I was holding in my arms, and his expression shifted. He knelt beside me, trying to make eye contact.
"Miss... I'm sorry for your loss,"
he murmured gently.
"Let me take care of him. We need to—"
I cut him off before he could finish, my voice rough but firm.
"No."
He recoiled slightly, surprised by the hardness in my tone. My arms tightened around Naboru, shielding him from the reality I still refused to face.
"Miss, I understand this is difficult, but…"
He reached out a hand towards me, gently, as if trying to comfort me.
I looked up at him, my face etched with fatigue and pain.
"No, you don't understand. You don't know what this means. Naboru… He…"
My voice cracked, but I took a deep breath to steady myself.
"He can't leave. Not yet."
The man remained silent for a moment, weighing his words.
"I see your pain, and I know you want to keep him close… But you can't stay here. It's dangerous, and he deserves… he deserves to rest in peace."
My heart clenched at those words. Rest in peace? How could he rest in peace when everything he did, everything he sacrificed, was for me? How could I just let him go, as if his life had been nothing more than a fleeting moment, erased by the flames?
I lifted my head, defiance in my eyes.
"You can't take him from me. You might think it's for the best, but I know what Naboru wanted. He
The firefighter hesitated, clearly moved by my resolve. The others continued their work around us, but everything seemed to stop in this small space between him, Naboru, and me. The silence hung heavy, even as the sound of water continued in the background.
"Miss…"
he began softly, but I interrupted him again, my voice calmer this time.
"He's not just a body. He's all I have left. If you take him, then there will be nothing. Please… let me say goodbye in my own way. Don't make me lose him twice."
His eyes softened even more, and I saw a flicker of hesitation. Maybe he understood, maybe he could see beyond the protocol, beyond what he had been taught. He slowly placed a hand on his helmet, removed it, and bowed his head.
"I'll give you a moment with him,"
he said at last.
"But we'll need… We'll need to take care of him soon. Please, take this time."
I lowered my gaze to Naboru's still face. My fingers gently brushed his cheek, still marked by the heat of the flames and the cold of death. My heart ached as I stared at his lifeless body.
"Naboru…"
I murmured, my voice barely audible under the weight of emotion.
"You left without realizing your dream, didn't you? I don't understand why you were here, why you sacrificed yourself like this. But I know there was a reason. There was something, somewhere, that drove you to do this. Something important."
I gritted my teeth, refusing to give in to the pain that pierced me from within. I took a deep breath, gathering the courage I had left.
"For you, Naboru… I will uncover the reason. No matter what it takes, I will make your dream come true. Whether you're by my side or not... Whether it's me who fulfills it or if I find someone else to accomplish it, I promise you. Your sacrifice will not be in vain."
I take his hand in mine, gently squeezing it, as if trying to pass this promise through our final contact.
"I will stay with you as long as I can, but if I have to let you go... if I must move forward without you, I will. For you, for your dream. I will see it through, Naboru. I swear it."
The wind blows softly through the ashes, as if the world itself is responding to my promise. I close my eyes for a moment, engraving this moment in my heart. The firefighter's footsteps echo behind me again, slower this time, more hesitant. I feel his presence even before he speaks, and the weight of reality crashes down on me. But when his calm, measured voice breaks the silence, I can no longer hold back what I feel.
"It's time, miss. I'm sorry, but you have to let us take him."
My heart clenches again, and a cry, born of pain and despair, escapes my lips before I can stop it.
"NO!"
My bands of nothingness, those extensions of my being, react instantly to my cry, bursting around me with uncontrollable force. They whirl, tearing through the air, threatening, ready to repel anyone who comes close. I slowly rise, Naboru still in my arms, my gaze fixed on the firefighter standing before me. My body trembles, but not from fear. It's a deep rage, a refusal to give in, a refusal to lose even more.
"Come any closer, and I swear I won't be responsible for what happens!"
I shout, my voice torn between anger and pain. The bands of nothingness coil around me, poised to strike at the slightest suspicious move.
The firefighter looks at me without emotion, his face calm in the face of my threat. There's neither fear nor panic in his eyes. On the contrary, he seems resigned, as if he's witnessed this scene play out dozens of times before. He stands tall, impassive, gazing at me with a strange softness, free of judgment.
"It's your choice,"
he finally says, his calm voice contrasting with the storm raging inside me.
"But know that this choice will lead you to a tragic end."
His words strike something deep within me, a distant echo of what I've always known. I stare at him, the bands still ready to attack, but his words linger in my mind. A tragic end... Was that inevitable from the start? Had this entire path I've walked only ever led to this? To this pain, this loneliness, this despair?Silence falls again, tense, each second stretched by uncertainty. My gaze remains fixed on him, searching for answers I know I can't find. But even so, I can't yield. Not now.
"Maybe…"
I whisper, almost to myself.
"Maybe you're right. But I can't abandon him. Not yet."
The firefighter nods softly, as if he understands. Then, without another word, he steps back slowly, letting the space between us close in on the silence.
«A tragic end... Perhaps. But as long as I can move forward, as long as I can fight for him, I will continue. »