They rested in the cave, waiting for the first rays of the sun. Sirius walked ahead of everyone, the only one still able to muster enough strength to fight any Shades that might appear. His wounds, which would have killed anyone else, seemed to burn from within, now only superficial. His muscles were sore and torn, but he could still move. Well, that was all that was needed, really. He wasn't really the vanguard of the group. His Echo, an emotionless reflection of Philo, was with him. It was the true Frontliner
The Echo came without weapons, so it was handed back the dagger that its former self had once given to Xander. Reunited with his blade, even after death, the Echo seemed like a grim reaper—unstoppable and tireless. Retaining the abilities of its former self, it could still wield the chronomancer weave, giving it a glimpse into the immediate future. It made its decisions based on that advantage, operating without the constraints of human emotions. An efficient, merciless killing machine. And most importantly, it was a Tier 2 entity. No Abyssal Shade they encountered could stand against it.
The others, exhausted yet relieved, found some comfort in seeing the might of the Echo in action. They didn't have to fight. The Echo handled everything, moving as though it were everywhere at once. Still, it was haunting. The emotionless face of their former friend and protector, now turned into something dead and distant, was difficult to bear. But in a strange way, it was also reassuring. The Echo was far more powerful and efficient than they ever could be. They even briefly joked about whether it might be a better idea to let the Echo take on the Vengeance-filled Shade. After all, both the Echo and the Shade were Tier 2, right?
But that thought passed quickly. The Echo might be fast, but its strength wasn't enough to rival the sheer power of the Shade. The Echo might be a relentless force, but a single hit from the Shade could end everything. They couldn't risk it.
Speaking of the Abomination, its roars had faded away, and there had been no sign of it since they woke up in the cave. Though the silence felt strange and unsettling, they were grateful. The fear of that monstrous creature no longer loomed over them, and they no longer had to be constantly reminded of how close it was to their heels. With their spirits lightened, they continued their trek, determined to find a way out of this wretched world.
They walked for hours. The terrain gradually became less oppressive, and they began to notice a faint change in the atmosphere. The harsh red glow of the three suns of the Abyssal Plane seemed less intense now. The air felt slightly cooler, and their weary hearts lifted just a little. Sirius signaled the Echo to lead the way as they marched forward.
For a while, they encountered no Shades. This was a good sign. Soon enough, they came upon a clearing that stretched far beyond the horizon. The sight that met them was breathtaking—soft, glowing blue grass covered the land, its gentle light mesmerizing in contrast to the oppressive dark woods they had left behind.
They had escaped the dead forest. And they had survived. Well, Philo was gone, but at least his Echo remained to represent him.
The kids looked back at the menacing, oppressive forest, and for a moment, tears welled up in their eyes. They continued forward, eager to distance themselves from the nightmare they had endured.
Sirius knelt on the ground, his body finally giving in to the exhaustion that had been creeping up on him. His spirit was spent, and fatigue had overtaken him. The others, seeing him collapse, also dropped to the ground, all of them finally succumbing to their exhaustion. The only one left standing was the motionless Echo of Philo.
The kids lay there, tears streaking down their faces, but smiles tugging at their lips. Tears of joy. They had made it out.
They lay beneath the warm light of the three red suns, the soft blue grass cradling them gently. It was a great contrast to the decaying darkness of the forest behind them. The ground beneath them felt like an oasis compared to the rotting trees and oppressive air of the dead forest.
For a while, they all simply rested. A wave of different emotions passed over them—relief, grief, and exhaustion. It was when Sirius had finally gathered enough strength to sit up again that he turned his gaze back toward the distance.
"Alright, we should keep moving. We can't stay here long," he said, his voice steady though his weariness was evident.
"I'm sure we all want to, but I'm exhausted," Xander argued tiredly.
"Yeah, the Shadow is right. I think we should sleep a bit," Aurelia added.
Emilia, however, remained silent. Sirius looked at her and noticed the sadness in her expression. He walked over to her, concern furrowing his brow.
"What's wrong?" he asked gently.
Emilia noticed that everyone—Xander, Aurelia, even the Echo—was staring at her. She became anxious under their gaze, feeling vulnerable. She shook her head quickly.
"It's nothing really," she murmured, trying to brush it off.
But Sirius wasn't buying it. He stepped closer, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"If something's bothering you, you can tell us. We're a team, right?" His voice was quiet but firm.
"Yeah, that's right," Xander added, walking over and offering a warm smile. Aurelia didn't speak, but she gave a small nod, her eyes soft with encouragement.
Emilia hesitated. Seeing their kind gestures, she felt a sense of warmth, and after a moment, she finally spoke up.
"I feel like I'm being a burden to all of you," she confessed, her voice heavy with emotion. "I can't become a Soul Weaver. I don't have the talent to access Soul Essence. I never will."
Sirius and Xander exchanged glances, both of them surprised by her words. She continued, tears filling her eyes.
"I can't become a Soul Weaver. I don't have the talent to access Soul Essence. I never will," she continued, tears welling up in her eyes. "I haven't really been much use... I've been holding you back."
Xander immediately stepped forward, shaking his head. "That's not true! You've helped us so much! You've supported us through all of this—"
"But you guys are the ones doing all the heavy lifting!" Emilia snapped, cutting him off. "I've only taken down Shades that were already injured. I haven't really done anything! Every time we had to run, it was because I was too slow. You've all risked your lives for me. And what do I do? I just—"
She broke off, her emotions spilling over as the group stood silent, unsure of how to respond. They weren't sure how to ease her pain, but they knew they couldn't leave her feeling like this.
"I'm just... not powerful enough. Every time something happens, it's like I'm the one holding everyone back," she continued, tears streaming down her face.
Xander immediately wanted to deny it, but Sirius raised a hand to stop him. Emilia was crying now, her emotions spilling out uncontrollably.
The group stood in silence, the weight of her words sinking in. What could they say to ease her guilt, to make her feel less like a burden? Their situation was already strange—four kids surviving in the Abyssal Plane for over a week. Three of them were Soul Weavers, but they were still the weakest of their kind.
Emilia spoke again, voice barely a whisper. "But I don't want to be useless. I don't want to die either. What do I do?"
Her words were heartbreaking, the tension thick in the air. They all stared at her, unsure of how to answer. Afterall, her insecurities had been laid bare. But they knew, somehow, they couldn't let her fall apart like this. Not yet.