A never-ending darkness stretches across the landscape. In the center of it all was a whistling noise. Both eerie and soothing at the same time. It filled this void that, without it, was empty. Then a giggle was heard that echoed throughout the endless void. The whistle stopped abruptly
and a glare of light peered through the darkness. Voices suddenly filled the ever-growing light.
???: "Hey Elias... I'm glad you came to visit me... But it's far too early. Come see me when it's time, okay?"
The light nearly snuffed out all the darkness left save a sliver.
???: "I'll be waiting."
More giggling pursued as the light grew too bright and swallowed the last of the darkness. An intensifying ringing sounded throughout this landscape before Elias suddenly burst awake. Gasping for air, he looked around to see himself sitting within the middle of a crater. Short grass covered the land and the air was stale. He looked down at himself to see dust and dirt cover him from head to toe. Looking behind him was a headstone with his name on it. The dirt around him was disturbed as if something had dug at it.
Elias: "Did I... Did I dig out of my own grave...?"
He grabbed his forehead as a sharp pain went through his skull. He yelled out as small flashes of what had happened to him went through his mind. The demon generals, everyone fighting, Him killing Ifrit, ...Leviathan. Suddenly a strange noise went off behind him and a small light shone over him. Elias got up and looked back to see Gabriel standing there.
Elias: "Gabriel! What happened? Are you alright?"
Gabriel smirked slightly as he fell to a knee.
Gabriel: "I'm alright, I'm alright. I'm just a little weak right now is all."
Elias stepped toward him and gave him a hand. Gabriel looked up at him and smiled. He took his hand and stood slowly. They walked over to a couple small rocks and sat across from one another. Elias wiped some of the dirt off his shoulders and legs while Gabriel steadied himself.
Elias: "So... What happened? After Leviathan I mean. It's all just... Black... In my memory. Did my friends survive? How long has it been? Where are they? And did I die?"
Gabriel took a deep breath as his smile faded.
Gabriel: "Well, truth be told, you fulfilled your purpose to Leviathan and he kept his word. He let everyone else go but, He said he'd be back and judging by the conditions he kept that promise too."
Elias took a moment and looked around again. He noticed how gloomy it looked. There was fog everywhere and the air felt off. He gritted his teeth and gripped his fists. Before he could say anything though, Gabriel continued,
Gabriel: "Despite this, The Abyssal army has yet to take over. Perhaps your friends found others and started a sort of resistance? That's to be seen. As for those last two questions, yes and no. You didn't really die but your consciousness was suspended. For nearly eight months I've kept you in that suspended state, which is why I look so weak right now."
Elias' anger and rage turned into shock and small hints of sadness. He looked down at his tattered clothing and dirt covered arms and legs. Eight months passing means it's been nearly a year since everything started. A year since he met Gabriel and obtained his powers, A year since he met Lorcan and Kairos and Lyra and Aria, A year... Since his parents had died. He's been so focused on getting stronger and stronger to stop Ifrit and the demons that he hadn't even had time to process anything. He hadn't even processed his parent's death! Now that he's sat down and thought about it all, the weight of it started crashing down onto him. Welts of tears formed and fell down his face, slowly carrying the dust and dirt off with it. Tear after tear fell onto his knees as he began to cry out loud for all the world to hear. He had one hand propping him up on his knee and the other aggressively wiping at the tears, smearing all the dirt. Gabriel stood fast as the waterworks flowed. He panicked and panicked until he wrapped his arms around Elias. The tears-soaked Gabriel's shoulder as he patted Elias' back.
Gabriel: "Going through all of this with you Elias... It's hard to remember you're just a boy. I'm sorry to put you through this, I'm sorry you're stuck on this path with me Elias. One thing is for certain, no matter what happens I'll always stand with you… no matter what..."