Beneath the chilly night, a tranquil lake rested. Winter had long arrived, yet it's waters remained unfrozen.
It's clear surface revealed a pale crescent moon, looming high in the sky, reflected on it's waters.
High above, blots of white adorned the inky-black sky as snow fell gracefully, painting the world in a white embrace.
At the edge of the lake, a young man sat, his legs submerged from the knees down.
It was an cold, chilling night, yet here he was. Despite the freezing temperatures, he acted as if it didn't affect him in the slightest, but he wasn't alone.
Behind the young man stood a beautiful woman, her long obsidian hair cascading down her back. Her inky-black eyes stared intently towards the young man's back.
It was an awfully silent night, the only sound to be heard was the howling breeze. That is, until the man shattered the silence.
"...Are you... are you sure about this?" he asked, his voice shaky.
The woman didn't respond at first, continuing to stare tenderly at his back before answering:
"I am." she said, unlike the man's shaky voice, hers was firm.
He raised his head in response, gazing up at the bleak snowy sky, his blue hair fluttering slightly in the nightly breeze.
His eyes resembled diamonds, shining through the piercing moonlight, but his gaze now held a hint of sorrow.
"I see..."
Parting her rose red lips, "I'm sorry, thank you for granting my selfish wish, for sticking with me all this time."
After saying these words, she turned her head away, with a downcast gaze, her eyes flickered with guilt.
The young man didn't respond. He simply continued to stare up at the sky; the silence returned, and it wasn't to be broken again.
***
Snowflakes fell from the dark blue sky, as they slowly dropped down towards the ground, settling on top of a young man.
He was laying on a icy patch of grass, he appeared to be asleep.
Suddenly, his eyes shot open as he awoke from his slumber. His arm, whether consciously or unconsciously had already reached up towards his neck, grasping a soft cerulean scarf wrapped around his neck.
It crumpled under his grip, before loosening as he seemingly regained his bearings, planting his hands firmly on the frosted grass as he pushed himself up from the ground.
Now in a sitting position, he raised his head up towards the sky.
He just stared for a while, appearing to be lost in thought.
"Haah..."
Snapping out of his mild trance, he let out a long sigh.
"This is why I hate winter, snowy nights remind me of... unpleasant memories."
Dawn was fast approaching, the moon had long since dipped below it's peak.
Looking up at the sky, his mind wandered to the events of the day prior.
***
It was late in the afternoon, the sky was covered in gray clouds that rejected any hopes of seeing the blazing sun.
Sitting beside the lake, he simply stared off into the distance, clearly in a daze without a single thought on his mind when suddenly, the sound of footsteps rushing over sounded out behind him.
He didn't need to turn around to know who it was. It was a foolish little girl who had been pestering him for just under a week now.
The footsteps became clearer as a boisterous voice rang out, "Enuma!"
"Haah..."
Letting out an exasperated sigh, the footsteps were now right behind him, turning his head around to look at the person who had just arrived.
She had long, flowing blonde hair that tied cleanly behind her back, ending just at her waist. Her emerald eyes seemed to glow with passion as she stared intensely at him.
"Artel... this is the 5th day in a row, how many times must I tell you? My decision won't change, no."
With a puff of her cheek, she rebutted.
"Hmph! Wasn't it you who said that one should chase their dreams no matter what?"
Just behind her, a strange little bird was flapping it's tiny wings over. Landing roughly on top of Artel's head, it opened it's short beak.
"Don't go so fast!" said the bird, letting out a few rapid pants. "Why would you suddenly start running and leave me behind!"
Confronted with the little birds complaints, Artel chuckled, "Sorry Isis..."
In respone, the bird named Isis simply pouted it's cheeks, "Hmph, whatever."
Staring at the odd pairs bickering, Enuma just looked away, back to staring off into the lake.
"Artel, pestering me over and over isn't going to change my mind."
Enuma raised his head, looking towards the clouded sky.
"It's all my fault... I now realize my mistake, I should of never told you all those stories, now within that idiotic head of yours are dreams that will never come to fruition, but you just don't seem to understand that."
Artel walked to Enuma's side, bending down, placing her face right in front of his.
"Well why is it so impossible? Even now you won't tell me." she asked.
Meeting her gaze, "You don't seem to understand what exactly you hope to achieve. You don't even have an effigy, you wish to reach the 'Almighty' when the gap between you both are wider then that of heaven and earth."
Bringing her head back, she averted her eyes from him.
"One day my dreams will reach the heavens, bestowing me an effigy that will allow me to bring about my ambitions! Plus with you and Isis, none can stand in our way!" she said, a wide smile plastered across her face.
Throwing his head back to look at her, "Why would the heavens give you the power to go against the heavens? Isn't that too contradictory, do you even think before you speak?" shaking his head in disbelief.
In response to Enuma's sound words, Artel immediately refuted his words.
"But aren't you the very same person who told me that the heaven's respect any dream, no matter what it is. That as long as your will is unshakable enough to reach the heavens, it will grant you an effigy to achieve what would otherwise be impossible!" said Artel, her voice full of conviction.
***
An effigy is a round stone that's imbued with one of the six elements, the color corresponding to the element within. It can be bestowed to almost anyone, regardless of species and background. As long as your dream and ambition are hold enough weight to reach the heavens, you can obtain an effigy.
This is the basis of Artel's words, even those with questionable dreams that don't involve the purest of intentions have been bestowed an effigy. Showing that as long as you have an indomitable will to achieve it, heaven does not care about the dream, only about the will behind it.
The type of element given is based off of your true personality and also the type of dream you hold. Alongside the emotions and attributes attached to the six elements.
The seven elements include, fire, water, stone, wind, ice, and lightning.
Effigies are the literal manifestations of your aspirations taken form, containing the literal dream you possess. Meaning, if you are to lose your effigy, you also forget and lose the dream within.
For humans such as Artel who do not possess the ability to control elements naturally, an effigy is the only way for them to manipulate an element.
***
Letting out a deep sigh, pinching his temples, Enuma couldn't help but feel frustrated.
"Can't you even see the irony in your words? You want to defeat the 'Almighty' who resides within heaven with a power granted by them. Anyone hearing those words would simply laugh in your face."
Looking up above Artel, exchanging a glance with Isis, he continued further, "Not only do you not even have an effigy, you also want to drag me and Isis down a path that will only lead to death."
"B—"
Artel opened her mouth, about to speak, but Enuma quickly cut her off—
"I'm worried that you are driven on a short-lived impulse brought upon by the passing of your father."
"I wish to see this through to the end," Artel said without hesitation, before quickly adding, "It's not a random impulse either! You know how long I've had this idea, it's just that I'm only now willing to take action for it."
Enuma nodded in understanding, but refuted, "If that were true, I don't believe you wouldn't be without an effigy."
Hearing his words, Artel's expression quickly shifted into one of dejection.
"You know I care about you, Artel, that's why I don't want you to do anything rash." At that moment, he glanced ahead, across the lake, towards the small mountain on the other side, more specifically, at it's cleaved summit.
Staring at it, a trace of melancholy appeared in his eyes, "But... I also want you to chase your dreams..."
Enuma's voice was extremely gentle at that moment, causing not only Artel but even Isis to look at him in shock.
This whole time, and even the days before, Enuma constantly tried to snuff out the burning ambition inside Artel, yet now here he was, saying words that clashed with everything he said prior.
Artel stayed quiet for once, knowing his mind was currently going through some turbulent thoughts.
"I don't want to see you go down a road that will only end with you demise..."letting out a reluctant sigh, Enuma asked Artel a question, "Do you know the sole problem in the way of your dreams?"
Artel furrowed a brow, but before she could answer, Enuma cut her off for the second time now, "Let me answer that for you, it's strength."
He paused briefly, as he got up from the ground. Turning his head towards Artel, as he stared seriously into her eyes.
"The core foundation of you dream is the words that I told you long ago. Within heaven traps the deceased souls, barring them from passing to the true afterlife. But how did I come to know of that? I didn't discover it myself." Enuma turned his head away, now staring into the center of the lake.
"An old friend told me of it, alongside many others, but none of us ever took action to free the dead from heavens grasp. To bring salvation to their trapped souls. Why do you think that is?"
Sticking out his arm out, the once calm lake began to tremble, ripples forming as from the center emerged an imposing longsword.
It's bright blue blade emitted a radiant glow, the sheer pressure it was emitting was enough to send shivers down Artel's spine, her instincts flaring up in danger.
The sword's shining silver guard was shaped like a crescent moon, it's edges facing upwards.
Suddenly, it flew towards Enuma as he caught it's handle in his hand. Right as he did, an immense surge of energy erupted from his body.
"I will now tell you the answer, it is because we are weak." he said coldly.
Gripping the sword with both hands, he raised it high above his head.
Closing his eyes, he adjusted his feet, firmly planting his left foot back, bending his upper body in preparation.
Strands of flowing blue energy circled around him, the sky became turbulent with wild winds.
In Enuma's mind, an old memory resurfaced.
Staring at the black haired woman in front of him, the very same sword he now held gripped firmly in her hands, as he remembered her spoken words.
"With a single strike you can reach the heavens."
Opening his eyes, they now gleamed with a cold light.
Parting his lips, he spoke two simple words,
"Defying Heaven."
With the downwards swing of the blade, a blinding flash of azure light shot through the surroundings as the ground trembled vehemently.
The world stood still in complete silence, not even wind could be felt at this moment.
Artel opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. Whatever she meant to say stayed trapped in her throat.
With a single strike, Enuma split the sky in two.
"Now do you see what you wish to overcome? Please, for me, put those delusions to rest..."