Omniphage of Apathy

A roar consumed the air, followed by an eruption of fiery chaos. The platforms of the gardens disintegrated into countless shards, the energy bridges snapping and vanishing in a cascade of collapsing light.

Vibrant plants and crystalline trees evaporated into ash as the explosion's fiery force swept through every corner.

Vastarael's eyes widened in horror as screams filled the air. He turned to see visitors incinerated where they stood, their forms reduced to nothing but fleeting shadows. Flames surged upward, engulfing the platforms above and the ground beneath him gave way, plunging him into freefall.

Before he could even register what was happening, Adelasta had grabbed him. The world became a blur, the violent sounds of the explosion fading into a rush of wind. Adelasta moved with blinding speed through the falling debris. Vastarael barely had time to comprehend as the shattered remnants of the floating gardens plummeted around them, fiery debris falling like meteors from the sky.

He felt his stomach churn as Adelasta dodged falling pieces of what had once been the Sky Gardens. Her movements were so rapid that they defied logic, yet her precision was unnervingly accurate. It was as though she could sense where every fragment would land before it did.

Vastarael's heart hammered in his chest, not from fear but from sheer disbelief. He couldn't see her face, only the fiery wreckage reflected in her crimson hair as she maneuvered them downward.

The last piece of the gardens—a broken chunk of the central platform—crumbled beneath their feet just as Adelasta leapt, sending them careening toward the city below. They hit the ground with brutal force, rolling uncontrollably across the cobblestone streets.

Vastarael felt the jarring impact of every rotation as they crashed into a coffee shop, shattering its glass walls. The sharp sound of breaking glass mixed with the panicked cries of patrons fleeing the scene.

When they finally stopped, Vastarael groaned, his body aching. He blinked several times, his vision swimming as he forced himself to sit up. Around them, the coffee shop was in chaos—tables overturned, steaming beverages spilling onto the floor and the remaining customers scattering in terror.

'There's coffee in this world?'

"Adelasta…" he croaked, shaking his head to clear the dizziness. He turned to see her sprawled beside him, her left arm bent at an unnatural angle. Her usually composed face was pale and her breath came in shallow gasps.

Without hesitation, Vastarael summoned a First Star Healing Circle, its blue glow illuminating the broken remnants of the shop. He placed his hands over her arm, focusing his essence into the runes that flared to life.

The sharp angle of her twisted limb slowly began to correct itself, the bruises and cuts along her skin fading.

But as he worked, something felt… off.

The essence wasn't responding the way it should. Usually, healing flowed naturally, an exchange of energy from him to the wounded. This time, it hesitated, as though it were being repelled by something. Vastarael furrowed his brows, beads of sweat forming on his forehead as he pushed harder.

"What… what is this?" He muttered, his voice trembling.

Adelasta stirred, her eyes flickering open. Despite her condition, her expression remained stoic, though there was a flicker of pain in her orange eyes.

"Stop," she whispered, her voice weak.

Vastarael ignored her. "Something's wrong. This isn't normal. Why won't it—"

"Stop!" She hissed, more forcefully this time. Her good hand gripped his wrist and her strength surprised him. "It's not you."

Confusion clouded his mind. "What do you mean? You're injured! I—I need to—"

"No," she interrupted, her tone colder than usual. Her grip tightened as she sat up slowly, wincing. "This isn't an injury you can heal. There's... something inside me. Something that doesn't belong."

Her words sent a chill through him. Vastarael stared at her, his hands trembling as the glowing circle faded. Something foreign? What could it be? A curse? A poison?

He sighed as he stopped healing her. Thanks to his regeneration, his injuries were healing.

"Adelasta… what happened up there?" He asked, his voice low and urgent.

For once, she didn't respond immediately. Instead, she looked away, her gaze distant, as though she were piecing together the events herself.

"I don't know," she finally admitted, her tone flat but carrying an edge of unease. "But whatever caused that explosion... it wasn't random. And I think it was meant for us."

Vastarael's breath hitched. Meant for them? The Sky Gardens had been obliterated and countless lives lost. Why? Who would go to such lengths, and what did they want?

"Adelasta—"

Vastarael's words caught in his throat as a sudden, piercing sound filled the air. A faint whistle, like wind being funneled through a narrow gap, grew louder. His eyes darted toward the shattered windows and for a split second, he saw a flicker of light—a telltale shimmer of a fire blast.

"Something is—" he began, but she moved before he could finish.

With a speed that defied reason, she grabbed him by the arm and yanked him away from the center of the cafe. The world tilted violently as she hurled both of them behind an overturned table just as the entire shop erupted in a deafening explosion.

The force of the blast sent tables, chairs and shards of glass flying in all directions. Flames consumed the cafe in an instant, swallowing everything in a searing inferno. The impact hit them like a tidal wave, sending them sprawling across the ground outside as a cloud of dust and debris engulfed the street.

Adelasta shielded Vastarael with her body as they hit the pavement hard. He felt her tense under him, her sharp intake of breath a clear sign of pain. When he scrambled to sit up, his ears still ringing from the blast, he noticed her clutching her left arm, which was trembling from the strain.

"Adelasta!" He shouted, panic overtaking his voice. But she silenced him with a sharp glare.

"Another—" she hissed through clenched teeth, but before she could finish, a second explosion roared from the adjacent building.

The shockwave slammed into them with brutal force. Adelasta twisted mid-air, pulling Vastarael with her but this time, her movements were slower. The blast threw them across the street and into a crumbling stone wall.

Vastarael groaned, the impact rattling every bone in his body. He turned to Adelasta, his vision blurred and saw her struggling to rise. Her hand was shaking violently, and her right foot, now twisted as she tried to stand.

"Adelasta, stop!" Vastarael crawled toward her, his voice hoarse. "You're hurt! Your foot—"

"I'm fine," she snapped, her tone icy despite the clear strain in her voice. But when she tried to put weight on her injured foot, she winced, her body swaying precariously.

"You're not fine!" He countered, grabbing her by the shoulders to steady her. His hands glowed faintly as he tried to summon another healing circle, but she pushed him away roughly, her crimson hair disheveled and her orange eyes blazing with defiance.

"We don't have time for this, My Betrothed," she said coldly, her voice sharp despite her labored breathing. "Whoever did this is still nearby. If you don't move, they'll finish what they started."

Vastarael hesitated, torn between trying to heal her injuries and escaping. The acrid stench of smoke filled his lungs and the sounds of panicked screams echoed around them. Fire and debris painted the once-pristine streets of Rise in chaos.

"Adelasta, you're in no condition to fight," he said, his voice quieter but firm. "Let me help you... please."

Her lips thinned into a hard line and for a moment, he thought she would reject him again. But instead, she leaned heavily against him, her injured foot barely touching the ground.

"You can help," she said quietly, her voice tinged with reluctant acceptance. "By running away."

Adelasta's words cut through the chaos but Vastarael couldn't ignore the pallor creeping into her face. Her orange eyes, usually cold, now flickered with pain and fatigue. Beads of sweat rolled down her forehead, her breathing growing shallower with each step. The faint glow of her skin dimmed unnaturally, like a candle guttering out.

"Adelasta..." Vastarael's voice wavered. "Something's wrong. You're not just hurt, you're..."

His gaze darted to her arm, where faint black veins were beginning to creep up from the point of her broken wrist.

Poison.

His stomach churned. Whatever Tether had caused the explosion wasn't just meant to destroy. It was designed to incapacitate survivors.

He was surprisingly fine, which shocked him a bit. But he didn't have time to think about that.

Her legs gave out suddenly and he caught her before she could fall.

"We don't have time for this," she muttered weakly, trying to push herself up with her uninjured hand. Her usual strength was gone, replaced by trembling muscles that refused to obey.

"Stop moving," he snapped, his tone harsher than he intended. "You're getting worse."

She glared at him weakly, but before she could argue, he took her injured hand.

"What are you—"

A sharp crack echoed through the street as Vastarael twisted her arm back into alignment. Adelasta screamed, her head snapping back in pain. He winced but didn't stop, his blue essence flaring to life in his hands. With practiced precision, he coated her arm in sapphire crystal, the shimmering material forming a sturdy cast around the injury.

"Bear with it," he said, his voice steady but pained. "This will hold until I can heal you properly."

Adelasta was too shocked to respond as she stared at her now-immobilized arm. Before she could recover, Vastarael bent down and scooped her up into his arms, lifting her effortlessly.

"W-What are you doing?" She stammered, her icy tone faltering for the first time. Her uninjured hand clutched his chest instinctively.

"Getting you out of here, what else?"

"You don't—this is unnecessary!" She protested weakly, though her voice lacked its usual bite. "Put me down!"

"No. You're poisoned, injured and barely standing. So hold on, My Betrothed."

Her lips parted as though she wanted to argue, but no words came. Instead, she looked away, her cheeks faintly flushed—whether from the poison, pain, or something else entirely, Vastarael couldn't tell.

He summoned essence across his entire body and ran at unbelievable speeds.

Holding her close, Vastarael surged forward, his legs pounding against the cracked pavement as he weaved through the debris-filled streets. The acrid scent of smoke burned his nostrils and the distant echoes of chaos surrounded them. Yet, in his arms, Adelasta remained silent, her head resting lightly against his shoulder.

For the first time, her usual icy demeanor seemed to thaw, if only slightly.

"I need to get back to the palace—"

[Vastarael! Are you okay?!]

It was Opera's voice through a holographic voice call.

"Yes!" He exclaimed. "Adelasta is poisoned and I think it has something to do with the soul!"

[You cannot go to the palace now. A battle is happening there. It seems that the Xypelians decided to attack us all of a sudden.]

"Xypelians?"

A holographic map appeared right in front of him as he ran, explosions causing him to away side to side, avoiding them.

[I'm with Caresse and the others and it's not safe here. Follow the route and head there. Thankfully, the city will fix itself by morning. You'll have to survive until morning.]

"..."

[Vastarael? Can you hear me?]

"You know Opera, you worry too much. I have Adelasta with me here and I'm powerful enough to defend myself. Just worry about yourself."

[...]

"Take care, mother."

[Ha. Just like your father, huh? Stay safe you two.]

The voice call cut off.

Vastarael looked at the map and sighed deeply. The entire city of Rise was under attack and they were after them for some reason.

'Wait a second. Why is there no one on sight?'

When he looked around, his eye widened in realization.

They were the only ones in the Business Hub of Rise.

And around them, creatures were infiltrating the place.

Hunting for them.