Relief flooded me as he woke back up. All of my efforts paid off... I couldn't help but smile.
I said you're not dying here.
His eyes opened, and he started coughing again. I took careful note of how he was doing but was thankful to see that the cough was a sign of returning life and not sickness. After a few seconds of his fit, he looked at me. With both fear and awe in his eyes.
"You- saved me. You brought me back... from death. "
He closed his eyes. "What are you?"
What am I? I reached up to my left eye.
"I'm a kid, doing his best to save everyone."
Smiling, he said, "Next time, don't let them chew on me, ok."
I smiled myself, looking out into the hallway. Something tugged my arm down from my eye. I looked down to see him staring at me, earnestly.
"But thanks. Really. You saved my life."
My power... yes. I can use it for good. The doubts... they were misplaced. I know who I am. I know the kind of kid my parents raised, the kind of friend I was to Kile, the comrade I am to the princess and Roan. I've proven my innocence to everyone else time and again. So what do I have to prove to myself? This system... won't conquer me.
I will conquer it.
And Vakash.
And the demon king.
And anyone else who would wish harm on me or my loved ones.
I'll annihilate each and every one of you to save the ones I love.
If being a savior means having a destructive side, so be it.
...
After a few minutes of rest, we were ready to begin our journey again. But first, I had to tell him the truth. His friend... how can I tell him though? It's too horrible... but if he recognizes her, that would be even worse. There's nothing that can be done except for telling him.
"Farvakhin, I think your friend... I think I saw her. She was one of those... things... she... she tore herself apart in front of me."
As he looked back at me, I saw 2 emotions fighting amongst themselves in his eyes. Acceptance and denial. A part of him didn't want to believe this, but a bigger part had always known. Since my initial reaction.
He lowered his head, whispering "I see."
Walking ahead of me I saw his face begin to shine as tears decorated it. "Let's go then."
I had to almost run to catch up to him, he was walking so quickly. He paid no more mind to the bodies on the ground and so his pace was accentuated by crunches. "Hey, slow down! There's more corpses out there, let's not become them!"
"You wanted to go to the classroom, no? Why delay our arrival."
He didn't slow down at all. In fact, he might have even sped up.
Defiant, I screamed "I want to get there alive! Which I can't do if-"
He suddenly stopped and then threw the device at me. I caught it with ease but kept all of my focus on him, in case he decided to run even faster. Maybe I shouldn't have said anything...
But he didn't run. He stood there. He just stood, as if rooted into the ground. His face made a spasm of emotions, as it does when one is holding back tears. Finally, he turned to me, eyes dry.
"I was isolated for months. These things were my only company. Every day. Every day- I'd watch them tear things apart. Every day I heard the tear of flesh. Every day I'd smell a new rotting corpse. It was enough to turn anyone mad. I would've."
He paused for a moment.
"Then they woke up. Tyran. Hyvahk. Terra. For the first time in months, I wasn't alone. A few weeks in, Tyran and Hyvahk died. We were doing a supply run and got caught by a group of corpses. Ty and Hyva's... their screams gave us an opening to escape. A few weeks later, Terra couldn't take it anymore. She took most of the supplies and headed out, promising to find help. I believed in her with all of my heart."
His eyes burned into my soul, eyes devoid of life.
"My jovial mood was because I thought she survived, that she found you and sent you down here. Don't worry, I'll take you to the classroom and help all I can. But, don't expect me to have any will to live."
He turned back around before he even finished his story. I didn't know how to respond. That much tragedy... it can't be real life. It just couldn't. This isn't something that happens... but still.
How could he quit now? Just give up on life?!
"You don't want to live? Fine. I want you to live! I'll want you to keep breathing, to keep fighting! Enough for both of us! I already told you, you're not dying here!"
He faced me again. I looked into his shocked eyes, glaring at him. "I'm your savior, dammit! No one else is going to die as long as I have this system!"
For a moment he looked at me confused, but then he turned around and continued staring ahead. His voice was a whisper. "You can say that. You have much to live for. Myself, my world is gone. The few people I've met since then are dead. What is left for me?"
He began walking again. "If you can answer that, I'll decide to live."
For a moment I stood there, speechless. What did he have to live for? It was as he said. His entire world is gone. The little bit he gained back was taken away. Again, what is left for him?
If the princess and Roan died, would I be able to continue?
It's not fair or anything, but the system chose you, and that makes you our savior. Maybe we go tomorrow and succeed, and everyone lives happily ever after. But even- even if it takes us years of suffering and pain and growth to kill him, I want you to know. I'll trust you every step of the way.
That's what she said to me. If her death ended my journey, then what would be the point? I would just be spitting in her face. It's not just life that gives meaning. Just because you die, it doesn't make your life or your dreams useless. It's just that you have to trust the living to carry on.
Mom.
I grabbed his shoulder, forcing him to stop.
"She died trying to find a way out."
He turned around with a fury, preparing to strike me down. When he saw me crying, he faltered, ultimately leaning against the wall.
He whispered "So."
I knew I had a chance to reach him, to save his life. Because he still had a lot to live for. I stated "Well, I figure she had a story, a life worth sharing. The same with Tyran and Hyvahk. And as long as you're alive, you can share that story. Their memories, their legacy. Even if it isn't anything profound, it could be something as simple as an inside joke amongst yourselves. But there's meaning there."
I handed him the device.
"Don't let that meaning disappear. You are them now."
He stood there for a few minutes, lost in thoughts. Though he looked at the device, I knew he wasn't registering its existence. I couldn't imagine his turmoil but I meant what I said. It would be a waste of life if he died here.
He walked past me. "Let's go to the classroom. Then you can show me what I've missed in my sleep. Terra... she always talked about this thing she called the sky. I'd like to see it, I'm sure it's beautiful. "
I followed him, relieved that he regained some will to live. "It is, especially in the night. I used to stay up with my- my mom, watching the stars."
He continued walking forward. "I'll hold you to that."
As we walked down the hallways, we suspiciously never ran into any more corpses. I don't know if they were scared of my power or his device, but whatever it was I was thankful for it.
We didn't stop until we saw her 'corpse'.
Somehow, he recognized her immediately. I couldn't even make out a single facial detail.
He kneeled next to her, ignoring the blood stains forming on his pants. Wiping his eyes, he said "Terra, forgive me. We- we never made it to the surface, to the stars. Not together. But for you, I will."
As he said his goodbyes, I kept watch, making sure there wouldn't be any corpses intruding.
"What's this?"
I looked over to see him lifting one of her 'arms'. I never noticed, but she was holding a book. It was perfectly in tact. Judging by its cover, I figured it was a kid's story. Taking a closer look, I made out it's title.
Little Jack's Journey Through the Cosmos.