The untold future

Prologue part 1

The sky was dark, filled with smoke as the flames grew stronger with each passing day. We lost so many, it was only the raising question of who we'd lose next in the war.

The hero of the wind fell with age along with most of the guardians, some of them however were consumed by the flames and the war it fueled.

I had to stay out of danger, my brother should've done the same. Watching as everything disappears and becomes...

A memory.

The bar was empty today, figures, the amount of people decreases by the daily, even more so as the war started once again. My old teammate, Zero, sat beside me in the empty building.

Warm, dusty, and quiet. Just us two, not even a bartender, so we just helped ourselves.

We both had a very similar curse, we were both stuck watching everything change around us while our bodies never changed. Immortality is the worst gift to any being.

Zero had looked over through the shattered glass, his looks were always filled with this type of sorrow and grief. He's never been the same since he lost Gadget.

"How much longer do you think this is going to go on for? There's going to be some point in time where the air isn't breathable."

Thinking for a moment, I took a shot of my drink and replied. I didn't fully know the answer to that question he laid on me.

"I'm honestly not quite entirely clear, though I do hope things will one day settle down for good. Back to the days of glory without the war, without the flame-chasers or black-hunts."

The last hunt the other's did cost many amongst others, including one such as myself. That night my brother got sealed away, was the day I lost my son.

Sitting up from my seat after swigging the rest of my Jack-Daniels, I patted my furry friend on the shoulder. A friendly gesture, to reassure any potential thoughts.

"I'm going out to catch what little air is left in the smoke, clear my mind and ease my head. It's quite quiet at this very moment so it should be alright."

The Jackal made a small huff, giving me a mumbled quiet reply.

"Fine, but I want you to come back if another hunt starts, I'm not losing you."

Nodding as I smiled, I agreed with him, soon walking out the door.

Outdoors was much warmer than the building, it made sense I suppose, after all...there was more fire out there than a campfire.

Walking through the foggy and dusty streets, ones which were once full of people now empty and barren. I've had many good memories here, as well as many bad.

All part of life I suppose...

This city always seemed to be falling apart more with each passing day, but whether it was the city that'll fall apart completely before its society is unclear.

Going through the streets a soon heard a loud call, almost a scream. I turned around to see my friend Zero screaming something at me from the distance, confused as to why I went to walk closer.

A sudden sharp pain then soon filled my leg, as a liquid poured down it. . . a familiar liquid. Blood.

Collapsing to a kneel, I noticed the rusted dagger in my Achilles heel. Lovely. The Jackal ran towards me, putting an arm of mine over his shoulder.

I soon then noticed in the distance, a group of people who had been hidden in the smoke and shadows. It's another Black-hunt, and I was spotted.

"You idiot, I've been trying to scream at you and warn you for hours. Dumbass."

The Jackal grunted, starting to run as fast as he could, soon picking me up in a bridal position just to go faster.

Here was no longer safe, the only safety was to relocate somewhere the flames haven't touched. If such a place even existed.

A sudden creak was then heard from the sky, followed by a small crackle.

Iblis? No...the area would be warmer. It must be him watching, the man of deception.

My partner was getting clearly exhausted from running, relying on the ruby to go faster took quite an amount of energy. With the ruby growing weaker each passing day, even the simpler things took much effort.

"I'm going to come to a stop around Mobotroplis ruins, understand?"

He struggled to say, making a tired grumble in his voice. The exhaustion was audible. I was getting concerned for my old teammate.

"That's fine, just please Zero, try not to strain yourself for my safety. You deserve so much and have so much going for you, it wouldn't be fair to lose you. I don't have much going for me anymore, being one of the last-"

Being cut off, in a slightly stern tone, the canine barked in his reply.

"Stop it. Stop talking stupid. There's a lot going for you, but you'll never manage to do them if you keep thinking stupid like this. So stop, you lovable alien bastard. Stop talking and let me save your ass."

Not knowing how to respond, I went quiet. Soon coming to a halt at Mobotroplis ruins after serval hours, or so it seemed.

The city of beauty, well...I suppose now it's the city of ash.

If Zero's ruby wasn't so weakened, we would've been here sooner, we may not have needed to move. Unfortunately, the ruby lost its illusion glory days long ago. To even do something even remotely close, has been quite draining for him...

Is it because of age? Is it because of the cracks in the ruby? Neither of us knows for certain.

Gently setting me down, we both rested for a while. We lost them for a while. Good.

Leaning on each other, mainly for safety, I closed my eyes momentarily. It's safer to stay close to one another, Danger is easier spotted that way.

I soon woke up, mildly confused, the jackal still beside me. Awake. Though he looked tired himself. I didn't remember falling asleep, I must've done so by accident.

He looked over with this dorky but mocking grin, poking the side of my head.

"Had a good few hours, Lizard?"

Rolling my eyes and slightly flushed from embarrassment, I gently flicked the side of his ear.

"Oh hush yourself, I don't get much sleep, but yes, I slept fine. How are you feeling?"

Tilting my head in concern, I watched as his smirk slowly went away as he glanced at his ruby.

"I'm fine, it's recharging itself as we speak. How's your heel?"

I glanced at my Achilles heel, the dagger was gone. Zero must've pulled it out in my sleep. It wasn't anything too serious thankfully, though I wasn't walking on that leg for a while it seemed.

"It'll be fine, it just needs its time to heal. Thank you, for back there. You really are a great friend, even if you are a bundle of grump."

Zero smirked jokingly nudging me over with his tail, then pulled me back up as a joke.

"You've never been that bad of an ally yourself for being that bastard's brother."

Soon we both began to chuckle, before soon going back to keeping a look out for any potential threats.

The creaking noise was heard once more.