Rise of Calamity: Chapter 15

Chapter 15

They stayed that way for a time. Librin trying to maintain his composure, Airia slowly breaking it. She softly hummed him a song they had both heard when they were younger. They were conditioned to become drowsy whenever it was played. It was a common method of calming their minds when a storm had passed. After some time, Airia spoke slowly, “Are you feeling better? We need to go tell the others. We can worry about everything else after that.” Librin nodded, and Airia stood up and helped him stand. She hugged him one last time, “I’m so sorry, Librin.” Librin’s face reverted to its cold, emotionless state, though with a broken look in his eyes. “It’s not your fault,” he said. She let go of him, tears welling in her eyes, and began walking back towards where she came. Librin followed slowly behind her. She knew he was angry; she could tell. Librin knew he was too; he could tell. He was angry at reality. Why had this happened to him? Why couldn’t he control his impulses? He had sworn to protect the universe, yet in a moment of emotion, destroyed it all. And he knew it was illogical to blame them, yet all the same, he felt the rage defame them. They walked in silence for some time, until voices broke the silence. They were panicked, unsure, and afraid voices, yet no crying was heard. Airia and Librin reached the end of the long hallway, and she took a deep breath and pushed the large door open. She called out to the room, “I found Librin!” Librin entered behind her, and everyone’s gaze met his. A few muffled laughs echoed the room before Airia shot them a glare, and it was quickly silenced. She walked with presence, scanning the room and setting her sights on one person, Nyx. She approached her quickly, using the air to pick her up and slam her to the wall. Nyx pushed back against her with a wave of gravity and rushed towards her. The room sprang to life, with half the room holding Airia back and the other half holding Nyx. Librin sat with his eyes pinned to Nyx’s. Airia screamed out, “She attacked Librin!” The entire room froze, the people holding Airia let go, the people holding Nyx did not. Normally, it wouldn’t have been a shock, but they all knew what that meant. They had all pressured Librin into being on the Break Life after all. Nyx hissed out, “You’re lying! I did no such thing!” She shook off the people holding her, only to be shot back into the wall. Librin stood, his eyes flickering the same hollow gold. Another Elemental spoke, a Water Elemental Librin knew as Canser, “This is a serious accusation. Do you have anything that could prove this?” Airia looked at him, beginning to cry, “I found him when he woke up! Do you know why he’s like that?! He was crying when I found him! Did you hear that?! Crying!” The room paused to look at Librin; none of them had ever seen him cry. Airia continued, “I had to calm him down with the lullaby, and it still took a considerable amount of time! Not to mention, we are the ones who forced him to take that Break Life! You all know what is theorized to happen when a traumatic event of this magnitude happens to someone on a Break Life! Look at him, he looks like a kid! That is the reason why we made the rules!” The room fell into a guilty silence; they knew exactly what she was talking about. Airia walked towards Librin and wrapped him in a hug. “I’m so sorry… Please forgive me,” she said through tears. Librin sat emotionless, his eyes never leaving Nyx. Airia let go and looked at him, “Can you tell them? Or do you want me to?” Librin looked over at her, “I don’t know.” He slowly stood up and began to tell the story. “I was in school. Only fourteen years old. We had just landed in Athens, Greece. It was a school trip. She trapped my class at the Parthenon.” His voice began rising, tears welling in his eyes, “She started executing my ENTIRE CLASS!” The room began quaking slightly, “SHE KILLED ALL OF THEM, EVERY SINGLE ONE! I HAD TO SIT AND WATCH AS SHE MURDERED MY LOVE!” He slammed Nyx into the wall, the wall cracking behind her. His eyes began glowing, and his voice broke up, “I-I loved someone. For the first time. And she took it all away. I don’t even know why.” He slumped to the floor, his vision blurring, and then the room fractured.

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