Tobi looked at the scene, then down at his stumped arm. It was rather embarrassing, to say the least; it seemed he hadn't needed to eat his own arm after all. Amazingly, despite having consumed the toxic ichor that would kill any living thing apart from the gods, the girl appeared to have survived. Perhaps the ichor's toxicity had been neutralized by Amais's blood, maybe because of the ambrosia or perhaps the vampire had once been a god, though Tobi doubted it.
"Hunter, your arm," the elf said somberly in Elvish.
He chuckled.
"It's nice to see you too, Alariel. As for my arm, it was an annoying decision, but not one I regret," he replied sincerely, speaking fluently in Elvish, something she immediately noticed.
"You spoke so poorly before, Hunter," she said, surprised by his sudden mastery. "You have done well to learn."
"Thank you. I've had a few moments to reflect... though it seems Amais may need a few more," he said, glancing at the dazed boy.
"Should I apologize to him?" Alariel whispered.
Tobi shook his head. "Let the boy sleep. I can hear the wedding bells in his head; he's head over heels for her," he whispered back, looking at Amais somberly. perhaps he would find better comfort in her company rather than his own; at least he could hope.
Meanwhile, the elf had flushed slightly by his words of wedding bells before giving a small nod.
"Though, if you don't mind," Tobi continued, having noted the two other elves she had been with before had not been with her now, "could you provide some context for what happened... and help me hunt?"
Alariel nodded without hesitation.
He stared. There was only darkness, and he was unbearably cold. Everything around him was a mirror. As he looked into the reflections, he recoiled in terror. He was naked. Confused. Shivering. And then something yanked him forward into the mirror.
He clutched his throat as something tore through it. His skin burned like acid. His organs collapsed, his bones shattered, and his soul itself screamed as it crumbled. Agony ground him down. It was relentlessly inescapable. Even as his body began to change, adapting and reshaping into something godlike and resilient, the burden only grew heavier and more taxing. The pain didn't fade. It evolved, sharpened, becoming something deeper Something unendurable.
Even if his body adapted, he could not. He was alone. Always alone. He would never see sanctuary. And so he cried pathetic, broken cries that belonged to that of a baby.
The shadow crept closer.
Its grin twisted and wicked, its smile ever present, eyes like static on a tv, feeding on his pain, savouring every second as it tore him apart body, mind, and soul. He couldn't stop it. And yet above that creature, something even worse loomed.
A shadow far larger. Ancient. Monstrous.
He couldn't look away.
He hoped it hadn't come but then it did, as time froze.
Air left his lungs. His throat clenched. He couldn't breathe. This was no angler. This wasn't the static-eyed beast. This was something else. Something beyond comprehension.
It towered with two horns, one grotesquely larger than the other, and a cloak that fluttered unevenly, just like its warped presence. Its power bled into the air, distorting reality itself. And he was just a man. A pitiful, trembling man.
This was a god.
He could not die, but now, more than ever, it felt like he could.
He wasn't ready for this.
He hadn't been raised to be a man. He didn't want to be one. He felt pathetic. A failure. A mistake. A disappointment to everyone, especially himself.
And yet, just as the pain became too much, just as he reached the edge of complete collapse, the darkness shattered.
Even the god with its glowing white, radiant eyes narrowed a light in annoyance and vanished like smoke.
Warmth.
It spread through him like sunlight breaking through an eternal night. It was golden and divine.
The environment changed, becoming heavenly and serene as he was embraced.
He was shielded from the dark in arms so soft it made him forget.
The pain evaporated as an angel pressed him gently to its chest. The tears that clung to his face were whisked away by a soft, glowing hand. Fingers ran through his hair with care. Lips touched his forehead, and he leaned in instinctively, nestling closer.
It was strange.
He had felt affection before. He had laughed before. He had felt pleasure before. He had felt joy but this warmth was something new.
It was love. Pure, unconditional love. The kind he never knew he needed. The kind he knew he could not live without.
Amais awoke in the arms of a woman.
Beside them, a fire crackled gently, casting a soft glow that warmed the air. He was wrapped tightly in her embrace, comforted by the softness of it all. Her hand moved slowly through his white locks, and instinctively, he nuzzled closer, though his heart raced with confusion. The sight of the girl who held him made his cheeks flush. It was Elentera; he felt exposed, vulnerable, and weak.
She was lithe and pale, her red eyes gleaming like rubies in the firelight. Gone was her usual carefree grin, the mischief that often danced in her gaze. Instead, she looked down at him with a quiet warmth, a gentle smile tugging at her lips.
He wanted to return it.
He tried.
But he failed.
His body betrayed him. His eyes burned. His throat tightened. He opened his mouth to make a joke, to deflect, to pretend, but no words came. His grey eyes met hers, and everything he'd kept buried surfaced all at once. The ache, the shame, the helplessness.
She drew him closer.
"It's okay," she whispered.
And he cried terribly in agony. Everything, all of it, had hurt. He hurt.
He hid his face against her shoulder and wept, the sobs coming in broken waves. It wasn't supposed to happen; he had felt fine. No, he acted fine. But now he couldn't pretend. He hadn't been fine for a long time. Not really.
She held him through it all, whispering sweet nothings he couldn't even understand, cradling him like something fragile. His body trembled against hers like an autumn leaf caught in the wind. It was a loving moment and a humiliating one. He hated being like this, especially in front of her. His heart pounded in his chest. Something about her felt different now. She had been the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen.
But now... she was the only girl he could see.
He leaned into her, holding onto the comfort she gave, the warmth that seeped into places he hadn't known were cold. He couldn't speak, couldn't deflect. He wanted to crack a joke or make some quip, but any attempt to act strong would only sound pathetic. Because right now, he wasn't strong. Right now, he was nothing but broken.
And still, she held him.
A girl he'd only met twice before, and now the girl he'd never forget.
He was loved. He felt it. And for once, he allowed himself to enjoy basking in this warmth long hidden from him.
"Hey, Amais... look at me," she whispered playfully.
His breath caught.
He hesitated.
But eventually, he looked up.
She smiled.
In one smooth motion, she leaned in, and her lips met his.
It was quick and fleeting. But it stole the air from his lungs. It wasn't how he imagined a first kiss. It was better. It was warm, and full, and precious in a way he couldn't explain. Before he could process it, she kissed his forehead and pulled him close to her once again.
His heart fluttered.
"W-Why?" he asked, his voice hoarse and frayed from crying.
She tapped her chin thoughtfully. "You're very adorable," she said with a soft grin. "And very precious."
Then she kissed his forehead again.
And in that moment, Amais felt like gold.