Eternal Discovery

Finale: A New Resolve

 The tournament...was over. The once great tournament which stood in Dark sabre for champions from the past...and champions to come in the future ...was gone. Nothing left was of the people, walls...even evidence of the once great structure which had only stood there recently...was destroyed....by a single man. This single man was challenged by a young hero but despite all his power the single man...proved too strong. The young challenger was beaten to an inch of his life. The single man believing he had won left the boy to fall into deaths embrace but little did he know...the boy...Tema lived on.

Tema...was in a world of black, sounds and blurs as he laid down in a familiar room. He would randomly opened his eyes slightly to see the world only to go back to the dark. Even in this dark place he could hear sounds radiating around him, but  neither could he clearly hear them or move to them.

A week quickly rolled by as he slowly gained awareness of the world around him, but the world was pretty much still light...and darkness. At one time he could feel the breeze of the open window and the calm orange light which bathed the room but within only a moment moved back to the dark. At another time the room was dark as the light of the sun slumbered with the world. He could sense the presence of someone else in the room but could not move or call this presence as he lay helpless and unable to move. At another time the room was only dimly lit by the evening sun with the sounds of voices coming from a distance away

"it's been over two weeks now and neither Tema or Sakura...have recovered Fiona" she sounded very depressed as she spoke

"don't worry...they'll be fine"

"Sakura...Tema...I can't stand it if I lost them both" the voice faltered followed by the soft sound of crying which followed. Tema willed his body to move...or cry out but it wouldn't obey as he once again drifted to the dark.

Tema was alone in his world with nothing of the memory which sent him there. The memory of the fight lay etched in his mind...playing and repeating like an unfinished melody, from the flurry of fists and kicks delivered...to the discovery that the knight was Sakura's father...and the attack which wiped the coliseum from the face of the world.

The days turned into weeks with Tema still restricted to his prison of pain. His hand would move but the surge of burns, pain and torment pulsed through his whole body. The pain was immense - no longer numbed by the sheer intensity - which paralysed Tema's body .  

Tema felt helpless. He was aware of the world but he could neither speak or gain obedience over his body. The physical pain was becoming endurable but the mental pain...grew worse.

 At he awoke one moment, he could feel a presence next to him. He then felt the sensation of something lukewarm and wet on his forehead

"Tema" it was Lucile "don't worry. We won't give up on you...as long as you are still breathing  you can come back to us". The next time, like before the presence of another person could be felt next to him

"big Brother please wake up" the voice of Ariana echoed in his head "my Daddy come home  for me but he said I could stay until you woke up. Wake up soon...please...I'm missing".  The third time, he felt a soft hand holding his own

 "Tema" it was Nikistasia "you have been asleep...for a long time. The injuries...are very severe...we...don't know how long it'll take. We are still waiting for you" . Tema was now enduring both physical...and mental pain and he lay restricted in his useless and immobile body

The weeks turned into a month. The world was dark, his body dark and cold except for the warm feel of a hand on his cheek "Tema, we're still waiting for you" it was Sophia "Sakura...like you hasn't gotten any better but...we're all still waiting for you two" although she sounded good Tema could tell her voice was faltering "that man... I should have seen it sooner and told you. We're still waiting for you...please just come back" the sensation of wet but warm drops landed on his face trickling down his cheek.