The Disciples: Book 1: The Birth of Valor

Chapter 30: Masage Ruins

A grinding noise filled the chamber, and soon after, light flooded into the room, illuminating everything.
They slowly walked forward, all still wobbly and weak but alive because of Elise.
Mason started laughing, "Deus did it..." He leaned against the large doorway's sill.
The lancer still lay unconscious being carried by the paladin.
Ash fidgeted violently, obviously under a lot of stress and in shock.
The marksman stepped down from a platform and stopped a few steps down a large set of stairs. He looked out over the ruined city of Masage.
"We're finally here." He muttered to no one in particular.
The city was huge, twice the size of Valence, but completely ruined. Buildings were destroyed and some had fallen, crushing other buildings beneath them.
Amaranth came up beside him.
Just behind the city, black beach was visible through the ruins. Then past it, a pure red ocean, stretching across the horizon and the gods knows how far.
Rize looked at the ruins, "Masage... Exactly where we were told to come."
"It looks like our journey will come to an end soon." Agito said quietly.
Ash jerked as if a sliver of cold had went down her spine, "Bu-but it won't be the end of us. It can't be."
Mason nodded, "We'll survive. I know we will."

They made their way down to the ruins, heading down the stairs then into the large city.
They walked slowly through the ruins, ready for anything to ambush them.
"It seems like the city is totally abandoned, even void of demon life." Elise spoke from the formation they walked in.
"That's probably our best bet right now." Rize said after her.
Deus coughed and lifted himself off of Agito, doubling over, holding himself with his hands on top of his knees.
"Are you alright Deus?" Mason and the paladin asked in unison.
He shook his head violently and started throwing up, clenching his stomach and having to lean against the wall of a destroyed building to support himself.
Ash, who was still shaking and shuddering, put her hand on his back, lightly digging her fingers in his shoulder.
The lancer threw up blood as well, and it eventually ceased and he walked back to them.
He looked somewhat like a ghost, pale and weak.
Ash slid her hand into his, gripping tightly.
Mason nodded and they began walking again, taking it slow and quiet.
They made their way into a small building, not nearly as destroyed as the others.
They made a small fire and sat around it, talking quietly.
"Are you okay Deus?" Mason asked, "You don't seem too good."
The lancer nodded, "Yeah... I'm fine. Just kinda... Came back from the dead back there." He managed to crack a smile and laugh.
Mason smiled and lightly punched him on the shoulder, "Still not gonna die, I swear man." He said laughing.
Deus smiled and put his arm around Ash, "I don't know exactly what that was back there.." She muttered, "It just came to mind and I found it in the book..."
Amaranth shrugged, "Hey, it kept us all alive so."
Rize nodded and chuckled a little.
Elise and the archer sat by each other, hand in hand. The spiritist moved slightly and scooted closer to the archer, actually feeling a pull towards her.
They were all silent, the sound of water dripping and the fire crackling were the only audible sounds.
It was just now sinking in that they all almost died. Deus had almost been physically broken, but somehow Ash's spell kept him here.
Amaranth tightly hugged Mason, leaning her head on his shoulder. She whispered softly to him, only the marksman hearing, "We... All could have seriously died... Mason... If .... If anything happens to me... I love you."
He shook his head and whispered back to her, gritting his teeth, "Shut up. Don't talk like that, we'll survive. I love you too and I swear it'll only be the first of millions of times I'll tell you."
She nodded slowly and placed a kiss on his cheek, laying her head back on his shoulder, tears welling in her eyes, but soon leaving without a trace.
Deus started speaking aloud.
"You know... That entire battle back there... It made me think. There had been times I wanted to go home, I wanted to run and hide away from all of this... But I realize, this is my home... With all of you... You're my true friends. And I'm glad for it. There isn't anyone else I'd die to save and live to smile with." He said, tears starting to go down his cheeks.
"I was on the brink of death back there... But, along with Ash's spell, that kept me going. That's what kept me from giving up. I wanted to see the light of day with all 7 of you and be able to smile when I saw it." He said, smiling and shaking his head.
He smiled at all of them, receiving smiles and nods from everyone.
He spoke quietly, "Thank you... All of you, for making my life worth while."