The Shadow of Eudaimonia

Chapter 25: Fated Reality

"How long can you last?" Lazzi asked. His lake-colored eyes were piercingly cold as he stared deeply at Calvin.

Cal's Adam's apple bobbed. "I-I don't know, I haven't timed it exactly. Maybe 10 minutes or 15? After that I just feel tired and sleepy."

"That's too quick. We should do something about that." Lazzi walked back and forth in front of Calvin. While thinking, he was inadvertently brushing his fingers on his stubbly chin. Meanwhile Calvin was sitting on a driftwood, playing with the coarse sand on the beach.

"How about you? How long can you activate your Obelisk? he asked without looking up.

Lazzi paused from walking and smiled. "If I activate my Obelisk, time wouldn't flow. So, zero second."

"No really? So, you don't have a limit?"

"I do. When I stop time, heat also stops from moving. If I keep it active for a long time, I will freeze to death."

"I see, that's kinda scary. But in any case, you can just deactivate your Obelisk, anytime right?"

"Yeah." Lazzi sat beside Calvin. He only now noticed the tiny mountain Calvin mounded with sand. He couldn't stop himself from smiling how adorable Calvin looked, intently patting the sand while pouting. "Wait a minute." Laz bumped Cal's shoulder with his own. "You know what, that little mountain of yours gave me an idea."

"What mountain?

"That, what you're doing."

"Fuck you, this is a sand castle!"

Lazzi laughed. "Whatever. Let's play a game." Lazzi pointed at a nearby hill. "Whoever reaches the peak of that hill shall win."

Calvin frowned. "That's unfair. You have super speed."

"I won't use my Obelisk."

"Alright? But what's the catch."

"You can use your Obelisk. In fact, you must use your Obelisk all the time. Because I will hunt you down and break your arm if I catch you."

"Are you serious?" Cal asked but Lazzi did not break a smile or anything. "Fuck you're messed up."

"Don't worry, your arm will heal up anyway. I'll make a clean break."

"Maybe we should—"

"I'm going to give you a 30 seconds head start."

"Lazzi you're not—"

"30...29...28..."

"Shit." Cal stood up and started running away while Lazzi counted down. Calvin ran as fast as he could, his bare foot stomping on the hot sand of the beach. He looked back and saw Lazzi stretching out, ready to sprint any moment now. "That fucker! He's really serious!" Calvin whispered under his breath.

"I'm coming to get you, Cal." Lazzi screamed at the top of his lungs before he sprang into a full Olympian sprint. Cal looked behind again and Lazzi was already not far behind. If Lazzi was his actual enemy, he'd be scared out of his wits on how this tall buff man was racing after him at top speed. Cal had no choice but to use his Obelisk. His eyes glowed a light blue. He needed every luck he could get. And just like that, Lazzi's foot stepped on an obscured hole. He lost his balance and fell to the ground. Calvin giggled as he saw it and continued to race towards the top of the hill.

Calvin was halfway through the top when he felt his lungs couldn't bear it anymore. The steepness of the hill made it more difficult for him to continue. Not only his legs and heart were exhausted. His head hurts from activating his Obelisk for a long time. Cal looked around and listened to his surroundings. He couldn't hear any footsteps rushing towards him. No suspicious shadows lurking behind the trees. I guess it's okay to rest, he thought, as he deactivated his Obelisk. Panting, he steadied himself from a nearby tree. As he caught his breath, he suddenly felt that someone was stalking him. He once again surveyed the area. Nothing. Then he realized his mistake. He looked up and saw Lazzi on top of a branch of a tree a few meters away. Lazzi waved and gave him a smile when they had locked eyes.

"What the fuck? Are you a ninja?" he screamed before he turned around and started running again. But, from above, Lazzi saw something that made his grin fade. A slithering creature awaits Calvin.

"Cal, look out!" he tried to warn him but the creature already jumped! Fangs deployed. Jaw wide open. Lazzi swiftly pressed his fist together before it hit Calvin, barely managing to stop time. Its fangs were just inches from Calvin's ankle. Everything was frozen, even sound, so the only thing Lazzi could hear was his heartbeat ticking like a timer. He hurriedly climbed down the tree but when he stepped on one of the branches, it snapped. He plummeted below, his head hitting the ground with a thud. Quickly, he covered his mouth. He almost exhaled air which will make time flow again. His fingers were now freezingly cold and he felt that he's losing consciousness. But he forced himself up. His head throbbed in pain and his vision was blurry. He tried his best to reorient himself where Calvin was. He needs to save hin, he thought, no matter what. He groggily walked towards Calvin, still frozen in time. His cheeks and ears were burning in sheer coldness. To Lazzi, everything was spinning and his vision was getting darker by the second. His lungs were clenching the last bit of air it had. But he continued to push through until finally, he reached Calvin. He held the creature's head and threw it's slender rope-like body away as far as he could. When he was done, he reached for Calvin's hand and exhaled a mist of air, making the time flow once again.

Immediately, Calvin felt the ice-cold hands of Lazzi. He locked his hand to his. "Hey-Lazzi?" The moment he saw the reddened patches on Lazzi's face, his heart nearly stopped. "What happened? I thought—"

"A creature...tried to harm you." Lazzi pointed to the direction where he threw the creature. His fingers trembled. Calvin saw the snake and the hair at the back of his head raised.

"Come on, let's get you warmed up." Cal activated his Obelisk, not wanting anymore inconvenience to hurt them. He then carried the now unconscious Lazzi on his back as he pushed his way down the hill.

The sun was already setting when the two reached their camp. Cal, carefully laid Lazzi near the firepit. He removed his shirt and made it a sort of blanket for Lazzi who was shuddering before he tried to make a fire. His eyes were still glowing a bright blue light. All the way through, Calvin didn't falter from using his Obelisk. "Just wait a little longer Laz, I'm going to start a fire," he assured but his voice was shaky and insecure. He still doesn't know how to make fire but he will try. He fumbled his hands on the ground to search for rocks, but not just any rock. It should have quartz in it, he remembered Lazzi teaching him what it looked like. He focused on just thinking how much he wanted to find those kinds of rocks. Luckily, after a few seconds, he found two as if it was waiting for him. He hurriedly rubbed it together with all his strength and a spark flew out of it, igniting the tinder on the firepit. Calvin jumped and pulled his hair back from relief. "Lazzi, look I made a fire."

Lazzi mumbled something but he didn't hear it. So, Calvin went to his side and inched his ears closer to his mouth. "Cuddle with me," he repeated, as softly as the first time. "Share your body heat."

"Oh," Calvin hesitated for a second, but he pushed it away just as quickly. Anything to save Lazzi, he reasoned. So, he lay beside Lazzi and wrapped his warm body to his. Is this okay, he thought to himself repeatedly until Lazzi, unexpectedly, turned and nestled his head beneath Calvin's jaw. He stiffened, his eyes wide and unmoving. He tried not to breathe as much, worried that Lazzi might be annoyed from the rising and falling of his bare stomach. At this point, Cal's hands were resting on Lazzi's strong arm. His thumb, inadvertently, had the slightest movement but enough to feel his hardened muscle. That second he swore Lazzi would kill him. But he didn't.

After a few minutes, Lazzi was still cold so Cal got worried and hugged him tighter. "Hey, Lazzi, Is this okay? Am I giving you enough heat?"

Lazzi turned to look at Calvin. "You do." And at that moment, Calvin realized he had seen this before. The same place. The same melody the crickets had chirped. He had lived this moment back when he first Bridged with Lazzi at that dusty old abandoned building. It even felt familiar how the light and shadows sharpened the features of Lazzi's cheeks and jaw. He will kiss him, anytime now. Calvin gazed at Lazzi's unfathomable eyes. The ones he was once so afraid to venture. He dove deep once again within its trenches and searched for Lazzi's intent to pull him closer and let their lips meet and be merry. He almost lost himself from looking until he realized he wasn't gonna kiss him. Fool. He's such an idiot. For a second, he really thought that he would. He bit the insides of his cheeks; felt tricked by his own Obelisk for making him believe that there's a slightest chance that Lazzi wanted him just as much as he wanted him. He will never gonna kiss me, he thought. Why would he? It was just his fantasy, after all.

But then Lazzi made it a reality.