Tyranny: Onwards

Chapter 89- Realizations...

With another heavy shudder from Key to Kol, it is swiped away and my hand burned, forcing me to drop it into the snow where it sizzles. I scrunch my eyes in the blinding red pain from the burns on my hands and chest, a fragile red line remains where the strange vein-like connection between the Key and sword had been; though not a burn, more like something only I can see because I know it was there.

The legacy along my skin is the evidence I was not dreaming or hallucinating. It sits there. As though a dormant chrysalis waiting for warmth to burst into beauty. It sits there. Like memories in my mind; leaving behind so much in my mind, but still gone and fading, not matter how dull, faded or crumpled they get, never will their legacy vanish. Of course I have forgotten moments and memories, but, that cannot alter the fact each one changed me in one way or another. I'll have to live with those no matter what; but I've learned something, time goes on, and I don't want to waste the present living in the past, I don't want to to make my past forever dark. Because I create my past and my story.

I get to choose the colours I use, the colours I'll see when I look back when the future arrives. I will not allow my past to define my life, I will live, because others are counting on me, on my determination, my courage in life, and the confidence with which I appear to thrive.

Shaking my head, I reveal Aegis above me, it would seem I have fallen in the snow from my pain.

"Are you feeling alright now?" He asks and assists me gently in sitting up. Scratching my head, gazing around, trying to collect myself, Genesis tackles me from worry.

Laughs escape me and I shove her off after a while, feeling more confident.

Rin is being carried over to me by Hester, indicating I've been out for a mere few seconds if that. Blaze is still in the snow stained with pain and life-changing blood. Phoenix over him, hands out, and light emits from them as he outputs the Earth's healing energy.

I can't help but ponder why the Earth requires someone else to heal you and doesn't do that itself, but conclude it must be that the Earth wants to make sure there is always unity somewhere, reliance and trust. This thought is fleeting and deep, it would take time I do not have to better explore it.

"Yeah, I'm fine, we need to get going!" I haul myself up and ignore all of my injuries, Aegis knows the physical suffering I am struggling with, but does not speak up to stop me; likely because he also knows how desperate our situation is.

He just nods and helps me swiftly to Phoenix and Blaze. Rin and Hester having already arrived. The sight is gruesome and I decide it entitles me to anger and complete furiosity. Blaze's left arm is gone, severed right at the shoulder.

Bone juts out jagged and cruel, blood oozes out and saturates the winter white symbol of beginnings with the tale of death. It becomes obvious that Phoenix has made a difference and healed up the rest of his wounds, internal and external bleeding besides the arm anyways. I do imagine he has slowed the leak from his missing limb too though, as much as he can for now anyways.

"Let's go Phoenix." Aegis pats him on the back. My eyes catch the hints of enormous agony and an anger even I cannot match on his face, yet he hides it well, knowing he must keep his calm and get everyone else to safety for now.

"How? And to where?" He asks, no stopping the flow from him to Blaze.

"Your Phoenix can carry Blaze, right?" Aegis confirms, Phoenix nods.

The bird approaches gently, aware of the mood and fragile minds it would seem, the talons seem suddenly soft as they grip Blaze at his necks base.

"Where?" Aegis inquires the wise Phoenix.

In turn it sings a tune solemn but encouraging, we leap up and are all determined to follow its lead.

Anger becomes my mind, my heart, and my soul, and I run, in freedom, in confidence, in determination beneath Blaze, giving all my pain the chance to catch the winds and surf their currents, my legs manage to go fast enough that I can skim the snow with well-trained feet beneath me. Genesis sticks with me, and despite all the darkness in this day, she carries hope in her heart and the same perseverance to keep going, and the bravery to conquer anything.

Everyone is beside me and into the forest we go again after about a half hour we have gone past many large hills and are now out far away from a single mound in an open stony plain, where more smaller mountains sit as shadows in the North. Trees stand happily around the clearings edge, wide it is. The bird carefully with much grace lays Blaze in a snowy bed of peace, Phoenix immediately tending to him again.

"Claire, Rin, come here." Aegis summons us and I approach as he asks the Phoenix to continue searching for Dagwood.

I think everyone is wondering whether or not it's better for him to be missing right now with Blaze like this. The Phoenix swoops away with a flash and assuring screech.

"Hey, Phoenix," Rin sits cross-legged beside him ignoring Aegis's summons.

"Yeah?" He turns to gaze at her curiously, probably wondering how there is still such joy and hope in her eyes as I am.

"What's your Phoenix's name?" She inquires lightly with a tiny grin. A grin that shows she recognizes the horror and danger of our situation and all the terrible outcomes that could come to be, yet chooses to remain hopeful and positive; even though it could end up severely damaging her with great disappointment and shock.