Cimmerian. Word after word, the world around the knight grew dimmer; uglier. The encapsulating beauty of the island-throne of Eos had been stomped out by the phoenix itself, and the knight could only describe what was happening to it as cimmerian in nature.
Sputtering flames with a lingering smell of detachment from reality. It was a simmering, bountiful ugliness, as the world toppled into chaos over the muted emotions Eos thrust upon the world, multiplied. It made tears well in his eyes. It suffocated the shock, and strangled confusion. It felt like the end of the world, for nearly ten, arduous, never-ending seconds. The emotions of a god were not something to be taken lightly. That was the only thought that remained in the knight's mind after the melancholia eased away into normalcy, though a lingering humidity in the air kept the vicinity from true normalcy. And the minor difference was still a world's worth of difference.
He hadn't had the gal to even glance at Lord Eos in his moment of weakness, but, now, it was different, so–despite his better judgment–he glanced toward the towering phoenix a few paces away from him. The flame was dimmer than what it had been. Yet still a beacon in the forest. But it was the eyes that told the real story. Once a rich amber, turned dull with the lingering emotion of memories long passed. He could understand that. It scared him that he could understand that. It deeply frightened him. A bated breath. Gods aren't supposed to feel human emotion–mortal emotion. It's not right. Gods were benevolent beings of pure power–emotionless leaders across continents, and across the world as a whole. If they felt the same thing as he, or Kanaft, then there wouldn't be a world to rule, there wouldn't be anything. Is this… is this how Lord Abbdon-Anu passed? Did his emotion bend the world enough to where his existence was a detriment to the greater plane of existence? Is that why he died? Eos said it himself: Gods don't die.
"Do not be afraid, Young Immortal. The world itself has already healed from the wound inflicted upon it. I am simply late. All of us vassals are immortal. Creatures, which Death himself are incapable of taking away, and, yet, two of us have fallen prey to the one calling himself Guidance." The nearly uncomfortable voice of Lord Eos broached to the knight. Agitation; anguish. That is all that the knight could interpret in the now alien emotion rumbling and raging in the thousands of eyes.
"I know all of their names, yet Death evades me to this very day. Death met him, and took him, knowing it was forbidden to steal a god from the world. All these back handed deals, one even I agreed to. Why can't I understand…" The grandiose voice diminished, and cracked.
Deep in his thoughts, Lord Eos shifted away from the glimmer of sun remaining in the horizon, and moved his attention to the twinkles of the night, high in the sky. Thin stripes of gray clouds covered a few minor stars above. There was a calm in the air now. Distinct. His eyes darted around his visor, trying to track the subtle trace of disdain, even though he already knew where it originated from. How could he not?
"Leave me, Young Immortal. If the Pyromancer wishes to go with who he is bonded to, then he shall go." It was a slap in the face. But he could do nothing but nod his head, silently; obediently.
Kanaft was far off already. Sometime during the eerie silence he had flown closer to the edge of the island. He was frightened, just as the knight was. With a hesitant step back, the knight glanced upward, one last time to Lord Eos.
"Though I wish we could speak more, I cannot.I need time. Shreifaya will escort you to the border between my territory and Zoetic Eden's Garden. Goodbye." The elegance was gone.
Without a word, he spun on his foot, and disappeared in a blur. Zoetic Eden. That was a name to remember, and if his assumption was right…
Lady Eden.
He arrived in front of Kanaft, and in a few seconds, they were off. Not a word was spoken between them. An imminent wave of grief wafted like a physical blow as they soared across the night sky. White scales made up the sight below them. Stars made up the mural above them. There was a simplicity about it all that contrasted their situation in a weirdly perfect way.
The soft feathers beneath his fingers. He glanced back at Lord Eos from over his shoulder. A tornado of fire had consumed the floating island like the jaws of hell itself had come to claim it. A shriek followed; a shriek that could only be caused by the loss of one you hold dear. The sun had finally escaped the horizon, and the knight almost wished he had not freed the phoenix. Maybe Eos would've been better off asleep until time was no more. The world was weeping again; being reminded of one of its hearts being ripped and being forced to experience the emotion that the titan could not express himself. It felt abusive. It looked like it was going to rain now. Not too long ago it had been a nearly clear sky. He couldn't look at the pyre anymore. It stung.
Beyond the floor of white scales beneath the pair was an even farther sea of writhing green fire. It was Moyra in its purest form. A forest lit by the heart, but the heart was hurting.
Pity. Was that all that he could feel right now? Was that truly it?
The knight closed his eyes, and let it go, like a held breath. Because that's what emotion is. A held breath.