»»-----ʙᴇɴᴇᴀᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʟᴏᴜᴅꜱ------►

Part 4 - ᴛʀᴇᴘɪᴅᴀᴛɪᴏɴ -

Illubic stumbled back in shock. He shook his head so hard Avojol wondered if his hair would fly off. Illubic faced him, his eyes the size of plates, fully showcasing his utter disbelief and shock.

Are you crazy?

" You can't go there! Do you know how dangerous it'll be for you? "

He emphasized the last word, jabbing a finger towards Avojol's heart. Corruption isn't a pretty thing, Illubic thought bitterly, swallowing hard as Avojol answered him and confirmed his wildest fears. The wind whipped his hair in a frenzy, but Avojol still managed to hold his unblinking gaze, letting the full force of his determination shatter Illubic's resolve like glass.

" I do, Illubic. But I have to do this. "

Illubic knew there was no chance of changing his mind. His stomach dropped to his knees as he replayed the horrors - Dark plants that could engulf a soul, leaving nothing but dry ash. Dragons that consumed everything that glittered.

He shuddered.

He'll need help.

" Fine, "

Illubic spat, letting the cool air fill his lungs. He seemed to watch himself from afar as he agreed to his friend's dangerous plan. No amount of pleading would shake Avojol's determination. No matter how many times Illubic could object, his words would hold no meaning.

Whatever this 'plan' was, it was absolutely ridiculous.

Either way, it was his turn to lead.

Illubic huffed, taking in another breath to steady his nerves before - somewhat forcefully - grabbing Avojol by the wrist and dragging him towards the sea of clouds before them. This earned Illubic a startled yelp as they dove back into the masses.

This time, the spiral descended.

Light didn't coat the entrance. The scene faded from bright and exuberant to a sickly green. The rush of the air was nothing compared to the exhilarating breeze in Valley. They tumbled through the clouds together, the razor wind drowning out Avojol's whimpers and screams of surprise and terror. Illubic shut his eyes so tightly it hurt, his head pounding so loudly it might as well have burst out of his skull as he felt his body hit the ground with a loud thump. He was knocked breathless as he heard Avojol land beside him.

Welcome home.

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" Avojol, wake up, we made it, "

Avojol had expected to rip his eyes open to searing light.

Instead, he was met with smoky shadows. He clenched his head as it started to throb, the blunt pain feeling like it was hammering his brain flat. He groaned, struggling to sit up in Illubic's arms.

The pair took in their surroundings.

The dull green sand they stood on was rough and coarse. The grains felt like shrapnel beneath their feet - piercing but bearable pain. The air around them was suffocating and unpleasant. Each breath filled their lungs with the damp, polluted air around them, hovering over them like a dark cloud.

" Wow... "

Avojol breathed, (notably, with some effort) in fascination? Dread, of what was to follow? Illubic didn't know. His voice shook with a mixture of both as the two felt the damp breeze stir their minds.

The dark scenery was nothing compared to their moods, though, as Illubic continued forward, past countless fragments of broken buildings. They penetrated the sand as if they were hurled from the heavens. As they pressed on, weaving through the abandoned sites, Illubic thought that he had imagined the echoes of their unspoken histories, flooding his ears in quiet whispers.

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[ 573 words - apologies for the short chapter/story. Developing the plot is getting rather difficult, but I do hope you're enjoying this rough draft of a story so far :)]

[I will rewrite this story someday in the future once I finish the general plot and improve the language control.]

cover design - Sky Cotl
chapter photo - Sky Cotl

- all screenshots, original characters and headcanons from/of the game are mine.
- all credits go to Sky: Children Of The Light/TGC.
- Credits to Pasta_Errand for help with the photo (Wasteland)

♡ thanks for reading - next part soon♡