บท 26: Two Less

"Remember, I'm still out there, in some other realm or place. Sooner or later, we'll find each other again!" Smool worded as his body disintegrated.

"Huh? No, no, no!" I ran towards him, wanting to get hold of him and not let go.

Fwoosh~

My hand went through his body, the motes fluctuating around as his flickering eyes gazed at me deeply as he fell.

"Hmph," He smirked and closed his eyes.

[Penalty has been exacted upon Player-2-612: Smool]

A notification entered my sight as the blue motes set upon my clothes, their light dimming away.

I could feel my chest tighten as I clutched it with my hands, trying to cry out questions.

"Just… why?" I couldn't help but ask that as Cleare came by my side and rubbed at my back, somehow making me more emotional.

[Mythical Race Attribute: (Rationality) Is in effect]

"..."

"Huff." I let out a breath as I regained some of my composure.

"We should leave now…"

***

The weight of loss hung heavily upon us as we stumbled out of the Enigmatic Labyrinth, leaving behind the echoes of Smool's sacrifice and Marcus's ashes.

The sun, now obscured by a canopy of dark clouds, offered no solace as it cast a pall of gloom upon the land. The once vibrant world around us seemed muted, drained of color, mirroring the emotions that consumed me and the party.

One had painfully died and the other was sent god knows where and if he'll make it alive.

The journey back to the town where it all began felt like a haunting march through a graveyard. Each step we took was a reminder of what we had lost, and guilt gnawed at my conscience like a relentless beast.

I was their leader, and yet I couldn't save them.

The responsibility weighed on me, a burden too great to bear.

Cleare walked silently beside me, her usually kind and soft smile now replaced by a somber expression. Her eyes, once sparkling with hope, now held a dull glimmer of sorrow.

Evie clung to Cleare's arm, her tears mingling with the rain that started to fall, an appropriate reflection of the tears our hearts were shedding.

Izzy, usually grumpy and grunting, was surprisingly quiet. Her hands fidgeted with her daggers, a nervous habit that betrayed her internal turmoil.

Even Alaric who behaved like a mad scientist was quiet and kicking at rocks as we walked.

Maya, the healer of our group, seemed almost lost in her thoughts, her hands trembling as she clutched her staff.

She blamed herself for not being able to save Marcus, despite her best efforts.

Bash, the ever-loyal and dependable thief, was trying his best to keep his composure, but his voice wavered whenever he spoke, and tried to keep the mood light.

Rivera, usually a pillar of calmness, seemed rather down too. He had grown close to Marcus. His typical cool exterior was now cracked, revealing some of the vulnerability beneath.

As we trudged through the muddy path made by the rain, my mind kept replaying the events that led us here.

I couldn't help but wonder if there was something I could have done differently. If only I hadn't gone to sleep back then and stayed up to help them, maybe then, we wouldn't be in this bleak reality.

The town we finally reached looked exactly how we had left it before.

Buildings stood dilapidated, their once vibrant colors faded and peeling.

The cheerful chatter of the townsfolk had been replaced by hushed whispers and sorrowful sobs.

It was as though the darkness had spread beyond the Enigmatic Labyrinth, infecting the very essence of the town itself.

Although, it wasn't that.

The whole world was in a state of chaos and fear of the Emberhorn.

What would be the next quest?

Will we be able to survive?

What if it's too difficult?

What if there is no one to save us?

As we stepped into the town square, people turned to look at us with eyes filled with questions.

Step, step, step.

We stared at the ground as we walked, at least I did. I didn't have the confidence to stare into someone's eyes.

I don't want to be judged.

I can't face them.

I can't bear to see the pity in their gazes, knowing that we have failed to bring back the one who had given his life for us.

We made our way to the city square, entering the building of the council and meeting up with the strict Isolde.

"I see… We lost Smool and Marcus, huh?" Her expression grimed after hearing my report.

"Make sure to write about the Enigmatic Dungeon and its rooms in detail and bring them tomorrow at any time."

"I will do so." I kept my words short as I turned to leave the office room.

"Lastly, I want to thank you for saving all of us." She bowed slightly.

"Not all… An important life was lost and another is in a place we can't even imagine of."

"Don't be too hard on yourself. This is an apocalypse we're going through. It is normal for such things to occur."

"Normal?" I turned to face her.

"What the fuck do you even mean normal!? I had the power! I could've saved both! If only… If only I wasn't so unprepared, indecisive, and a lost cause, they both would've been here!"

"..."

Isolde didn't say anything against my outburst.

"I understand your pain and grief. You're free to go."

"I was doing so without your orders," I muttered as I slammed the door behind me in frustration.

***

As night descended upon the town, I found myself unable to sleep.

The memories haunted me relentlessly.

I sat by the window, staring out at the moonless sky, feeling the weight of the stars pressing down upon me.

Guilt, sadness, nervousness, and worry gnawed at my soul like ravenous beasts, refusing to be appeased.

I had led my friends into a den of dangers, and the danger had taken its toll.

Smool's sacrifice and Marcus's death had left wounds that may never heal for all I know… Or they'll have a long impact on me, who knows?

In the stillness of the night, I muttered a song to help me take my mind off of things.

I will continue this journey to ensure that their sacrifices were not in vain. I will carry their burdens with me, and I will bear the weight of their memories in every step I took.

Tomorrow, we will move forward again, but tonight, we mourn for Marcus, and we mourn for the ones we lost, for the innocence stolen from us, and for the darkness that threatened to engulf us all.

As I closed my eyes, I knew that the shadows of the Enigmatic Labyrinth would linger in our hearts for a long time as a reminder of the price we paid for our quest cleared.