Our Journey

The Path Ahead - Part 1

                                                                                       Prologue

Muffled sounds, voices. Murmurs, whispers. They reverberated throughout the air, but could not reach his ears.

His body was heavy, like lead. As though it were a weighted stone, sinking into the depths of a murky torrent. He ached. Burned. Molten magma seemed to flow throughout his veins, burning away at his insides, setting them ablaze. Tearing away at him, he reached his hand out, towards the voices, but his fingertips only met with a cool, hard surface. He was unable to breach that barrier, silver eyes reflecting within his dying vision, flickering like firelight that struggled to remain alight.

He tried to hold on, to make sense of all that was around him, yet against his will, his consciousness sank back into a deep abyss.

He was falling, drowning. Surely he would never be able to come back to the surface. Perhaps he would die this way, and yet, static seemed to echo within his ears. He didn’t understand it, couldn’t comprehend what those sounds were.

Until a scream ripped through his eardrums.

Shouts, cries, the pungent scent of fear, blood, and death as the deep, empty black spread out into a fiery inferno.

A burning city...The Capital?

No...This was a different city. A different memory.

All around him was the picture of devastation and death. Bodies littered the streets, buildings crumbled to pieces, but he looked on with unfeeling eyes.

A moist sensation lingered against his skin, his gaze dropping to see a deep black, crawling up his arms like a disease. A deep, vivid black, steeped with crimson. The colors intertwined before falling to the ground in soft, gentle droplets.

Not a single soul remained within this destruction, the city slowly swallowed by the flames blazing high into the night sky.

...Was this his fault? Did he do this?? He felt strangely calm...Perhaps even nothing at all.

...Ah.

He thought.

That’s right.

Yes. That’s right. This was only natural.

Because...Because he was……

...He was…

...A weapon.

                                                                                  End of Prologue

Emerald eyes opened, meeting with a deep, night sky. Stars were speckled against that never ending black, glimmering brightly.

A dream like languor lingered, but then, the pain. A searing pain, burning at his throat, the very air he inhaled feeling as though it were nothing but fire itself. His entire being seemed bound to be swallowed by that feverish heat at any given moment.

A presence neared him, but even so, he barely retained the energy to turn his head, two-toned eyes looking down at him...Even in his delirious state, Max recognized them.

“E...on-” He attempted to say his name, but his words broke apart halfway through, giving way to a painful coughing fit.

“Whoa, easy there. Don’t force yourself to speak.” Eon’s voice was stern, yet soft, gently helping Max sit upright as he brought a flask to his mouth.

Max was more than eager to drink, the cool liquid sliding down his parched throat, soothing his fever charged thoughts. Slowly, he was able to recall past events, but he could not remember anything past the sudden, searing sensation that had spread across his neck.

Eon was clearly worried about him, Max could see that light reflecting within those two-toned eyes.

“...So...rry.” He cleared his throat before trying to speak again. “Looks like I got you caught up in my problems again.”

“You don’t have anything to-”

“You’re not hurt, are you?” Max interrupted him before he could even finish his words. Max could guess what they would have been either way, and he didn’t want to hear them.

Eon was at a loss for words, looking down at Max in disbelief.

Max was asking him if he was the one who was alright? Obviously Max’s condition was far worse than Eon’s could have ever been...Truthfully, Eon had been able to nothing at all. Not a damn thing. The best he was able to manage was getting Max away from the port, but even then, they were still at risk. Plenty far out and helpless enough to encourage prowling Demons to want to make a meal out of them.

If that were to happen, Eon was hardly confident enough that he would be able to protect both of them.

“...I keep causing you all these problems.” Max’s words echoed softly throughout the area, picking up on how tense Eon was...He could probably guess as to the reason why too.

“Stop talking like that.” Eon hissed, growing increasingly agitated with Max’s bad habit of belittling himself. “Why do you always-”

“Because it’s true.” Max answered before Eon could finish his sentence, once again cutting him off. “Always...Every time I start thinking; maybe it’ll be okay. Maybe things will finally work out….Something happens. It’s like the world wants to remind me that it’s not over. To not let my guard down...And if I do, it drags me right back down, right back down to the place where it thinks I need to be.” Max felt calm, despite his words. Perhaps his fever was messing with him far more than he initially thought. “...As much as I hate him, maybe he’s right.” His gaze fixated upwards, back at the night sky, his eyes glazed over, like glass beads. “...If I was stronger...Would something have been different…? Would I have been able to protect everyone…?” He let out a dry laugh. “...Just what am I even doing…? When am I gonna get my s**t together? How long will I continue being this shallow?? All because I just can’t make up my damn mind…!” He loosely banged his balled up fist against the ground.

He felt a bitter frustration, one that left a foul, unpleasant taste lingering within his mouth.

In reality, he couldn’t deny a single word Xordin had said. Not a single word. Every last bit held truth...Every, single, detail. There was simply no denying that.

The reality was, he hesitated. He always hesitated, and because he hesitated, people got hurt.

“...I really think you don’t give yourself enough credit, and to be honest, it pisses me off. I hate that about you.” Eon spoke up after listening to Max a bit, but truthfully, it was all nonsense. “The only troublesome thing about you is the terrible way that head of yours works sometimes.” Eon scowled, his tail thumping softly against the ground to enunciate his slight irritation. “I don’t know what your connection with that asshat of a man is, but I’ll be damned if you think he’s right about you. If there’s anything I’ve learned about you by now, Max, it’s that you’ve never given up. Not once. You make it sound like you want to, but I don’t think that’s the truth at all, is it? If that were the case, why fight back? Why didn’t you just let me beat you down the day I met you, without even lifting a finger??”

Max went utterly silent at Eon’s words.

He never gave up, because he didn’t actually want to? Max had to wonder why the hell not, honestly.

Giving up would make everything so much easier, so less painful...But Eon was right. Max didn’t want to give up. His pride would never let him, his will to live would never let him.

It was almost comical, really. He truly was such a contradictory person.

“...If I have to be honest with you, the only reason I fought back was because you pissed me off.”

“...Really?” Eon blinked, a bit taken aback. “...W-Why? What did I say??”

Max couldn’t stop himself from looking back up at Eon, giving him a long, hard look.

After saying all that, Eon didn’t even remember their first meeting very well, did he?

“...You’re really something else sometimes.” Max finally replied with a heavy sigh, losing the will to even bring up the topic to him.

Eon rose an eyebrow, clearly curious as to what Max was referring to, but he decided to not press the matter.

“So then I guess you’re finally starting to fall for me and my charm, huh?” He asked with a cheeky grin. “...Forgetful and delusional. An exceptional combination.” Max shot back, in-amused as he looked back up at the night sky.

Silence passed between the two, only the soft rustling of the trees sounding off in the distance.

“...Maybe...I just thought things would be okay, if you were the one who said it.” Max’s quiet voice carried off into the sky. “If it was you, maybe I’d be okay...That’s all.”

Max was silent at Max’s words, watching him out of the corner of his eyes.

“...Hey, Eon?” Max called out to him meekly.

“Hmmm?”

“...What do I have to do to be more like you? To be confident like you??” The questions were almost timid, lost, but genuine. “...What do I do to stop being afraid…?” Max’s voice trembled. “...I’m scared...What if something happens to you?? Because of me...Just because you’re around someone like me….Just because you know me.”

Eon thought over Max’s words before scooting closer, taking ahold of his hand, and intertwining their fingers.

...His hands were so cold. He must have been freezing, Max realized.

“You’re not me, Max.” Eon’s answer was terribly gentle. “You’re just you, and you’re fine just the way you are.”

Clear, two-toned eyes met Max’s, a light reflecting within them that reminded him of the stars glittering above.

He wondered why...But Max couldn’t seem to bite back his tears. He didn’t really know why, but he pressed his face against Eon’s hand, desperately willing his pitiful self away.

He truly wished he could stop showing these sides of himself to Eon. He wondered why it was so difficult?? To anyone else, he never encountered this problem...But when it came to Eon...Every wall he put up, every façade he hid behind...They all crumbled to bits before him, his fears, insecurities, his pain laid bare. His very heart. Somehow, Max could hide nothing from this man, and that frustrated him to no end.

He wanted to show Eon his strong sides too.

“...Hey, Max?” Eon’s voice echoed within his ears as Eon himself was the one to call his name out of the blue this time.

“...What?”

“...I’m not planning on going anywhere, y’know.” He said, laying down on the ground, just beside Max. “Even if something were to happen, I’d make sure I’d find my way back to you. I’d be damned if I were to leave you alone, considering all the crazy stuff that seems to happen to you whenever I turn my back...I’m not exceptionally strong, but...I hope that you can rely on me, even if it’s only a little. You’re stuck with me for the long run, after all.”

Max watched Eon quietly, his words sinking in slowly as he was left with silence and the cold, night air...But Max didn’t feel cold. Perhaps because of his fever...Or perhaps because of the warmth permeating from his chest, his heart stirring.

Maybe that was just an illusion, however...Regardless, Max wanted to embrace the feeling.

“...Who’d want to be stuck with a delusional, memory lapsing guy like you?”

“…! Hey!” Eon turned, frowning. “And here I am being serious-”

“Thank you.”

Eon fell silent upon turning to see Max, a little smile on his face...This was probably only the second time Eon had seen such a smile on him. A genuine smile.

He could feel the heat from Max’s hand, still holding onto it, and Eon’s expression softened.

He hated the cold, but he didn’t feel the chill in the slightest.

More than ever, Eon knew this feeling was caused by Max, and Max alone. He was certain had it been anyone else, it just wouldn’t have been the same.

As that realization struck him, slowly, little tufts of white began falling down from the darkened sky.

Snow. It fluttered down softly to the ground, steadily and gently blanketing the world in a fragile white. The feeling was somehow ethereal in nature, and Eon couldn’t help but glance over at Max, just beside him.

“...Cold?”

“...No.” Max shook his head, he heat from Eon’s hand feeling as though it were enough alone. “...Are you?”

“Nah.” Eon turned onto his side, facing Max and loosely wrapping an arm around him. “Sleep. You need it.’

Max didn’t argue with him, he couldn’t even as he wanted to. As they spoke, he was already dozing off, fatigued, yet comforted by the sensation of another just beside him. Before long, he was drifting off, the warmth from Eon’s body lingering within his mind.

For once, he did not dream, awakening to the gentle sensation akin to floating. Body heat, warmth. The ground moved beneath him, a broad back reflecting within his hazy, unfocused vision.

At first, he thought that heat came from the body just in front of him, but Max soon realized this warmth was of a different nature entire. Spreading throughout him steadily, trickling across every corner of his body, he felt hot. As though his insides were burning. His throat, his mind, his everything. He reached out, his fingers limply curling around clothing as he tugged on the shirt in front of him.

Eon stopped at the feeling, glancing over his shoulder to see Max was awake, having been carrying him piggy-back...He didn’t look well at all, that much was obvious.

“...Wa...ter…” Max’s voice escaped him, hoarse, barely audible.

“Hang on. I’ll get you some soon. I promise.” Eon reassured him, his concern rising. The last bit of their water was given to Max the previous night. By now, everything had likely frozen over, and he wasn’t entirely sure if there was a village nearby.

“...Water…” Max repeated, as though he hadn’t even heard Eon’s response, hot breaths leaking from his throat, feeling as though they were searing his flesh.

Something was wrong with him. Something aside from the burning fever rising within him. He was so thirsty, but there was something else. A deeper, more intense need burning within him. His thoughts went turbid, like he had fallen into a muddy torrent of water.

“...Down...P-Put me down.” Max demanded, feeling instinctively uneasy past his delirium.

“Calm down-” Eon tried to still Max, glancing over his shoulder, when his eyes widened.

Those blue markings wound along Max’s body, tinged faintly with an ominous black, the white’s of his eyes going dark. This was very similar to the last time Eon had seen Max this way...And yet, rationally stilled remained in those glowing, green eyes.

This couldn’t have been a good sign, but Eon obliged Max’s wishes, gently setting him down.

Max saw the state of himself. A strange, partially shifted form, a visceral thirst and hunger igniting deep within his gut. He felt as though he were suffocating, pale fingers clutching at the collar of his shirt.

Is it painful?

A voice reverberated within his mind, unfamiliar, neither male, nor female.

Is it agonizing?

The voice whispered to him, incited him, tormented him, as though in tune with the pulsating heat rampaging throughout his mind and body.

Go on. Feed. Kill. You’ll feel so much better.

Max grit his teeth, the dark voices subsiding as he squeezed his eyes shut, desperately willing them away.

“...Max?” The voice calling out to him made Max’s ears perk, lifting his gaze to meet Eon’s. He must have been trying to speak to Max, but whatever his words were seemed to bounce right off his ears.

A vivid scar stood out along the bronzed skin of Eon’s neck. Like a silent reminder.

“...I’m fine.” He finally said, pushing himself back up to his feet, unsteady. He recollected himself, taking the reigns over himself, the odd, half shifted state of his gradually returning to normal. He refused to allow himself to spiral out of control again.

Eon watched as Max seemingly struggled with himself, enduring whatever pain he might have been in...Eon could only imagine what he might have been going through, and despite Max’s wishes, Eon plucked him back up, hoisting him onto his own back.

Max didn’t protest, he couldn’t. His mind disarranged by fever, he had neither the energy or motivation to as Eon trekked forward, twigs and leaves crunching undertow.

These sounds and the gentle, swaying motion gave Max a strange sense of comfort. Like a calming walk in the woods, it gave him a nostalgic feeling, his heated mind cooling as he was lulled off into a shallow, but comfortable sleep.