Heavy breathing, nausea, wet closes and acing cold. Kiyeri woke up.

Eyes, still drowsy, met with morning sun glow with an ache, but little by little - world came it to focus. Marble red leaves tossed by wind on grayish blue shore by the lake, dark, rolling sky and rain drops coming from it, hitting his face, sending chills through spine.

It’s been a year. A year of constantly feeling like something is stuck in your throat. No matter how much you try to take a deep breath, to relax, you just can’t. Every minute is suffocating and you just end up gaping, like a fish, tossed from the water.

Although Kiyeri knows it‘s useless, he tries ones again to fill his chest with deep breath, then hisses. „Will this ever end...?“

Crisp annoyed voice from behind his back, makes Kiyeri‘s muscles tense up.

„Kiye, this is what happens, when you try to save others forgetting yourself “.

„Mhmmm... “. Kiyeri closed his eyes and made innocent face. No need to turn around, he knows quite well with what expression Ashiya talks. „Aaahhh... why the second I return from hell, I need to babysit you “. Feeling hopeless, Kiyeri rises from soft cushion of maple leaves and sits facing Ashiya. Steeling himself, he crosses his legs and slowly lifts his head, to meet that annoyed brat eyes.

This conversation might be serious, if not for this comically high lifted eyebrow on Ashiya face and messy long black hair, that looked more like wet crow’s nest, then a bun. Kiyeri did put a lot of effort to look at him normally. “Don’t laugh, don’t laugh, DO NOT LAUGHT! “but ultimately couldn’t and started to snicker through talking.

„Ashi, look at yourself, what the hell? Please make an effort to at least look presentable “.

The youth, kneeling on one knee before Kiyeri, now drew both eyebrows together in one line. „What’s the problem? It’s not like anyone can see me here “.

„That not the point, your moron. A warrior should always look orderly and dignified “. Kiyeri patiently explained, while crunching his closes to drain the water and collecting his own hair in to neat ponytail. „You have to look after your image, be more disciplined, no matter you seen at the moment, or not. Also, I’m here – I can see you, so make haste “.

The youth clenched his fist for a moment before talking “We’re not… It doesn’t matter, I have no energy left for that”. He fixed his hair in rush and extended a hand, helping Kiyeri to stand up. “Let’s go. While Kiye was trapped in Beyond I scouted the forest. Half an hour from here I could hear dogs barking and sheep crying. It should be residence nearby, we can eat and sleep there”

“No.” Kiyeri answered immediately while grabbing that extended hand. Now standing on equal footing he swept a look across Ashiya and stopped his eyes looking straight him in to eyes. After giving himself a moment to focus, Kiyeri calmly but surely continued, “You know you can’t go there. We only have a week left until we reach destination. We will travel without rest”.

Now, like every time Kiyeri denes Ashiya request, he did not let his guard OR gaze down until hearing the answer. They both knew well how uncontrolling and dangerous Ashiya gets, when he can’t have whatever he wanted. After being exhausted this morning, Kiyeri didn’t mince his words. “You know perfectly why. Accept it”.

Ashiya clenched his teeth for a moment, the opened up to speak, only to bit them again. Fingertips already white from pushing into fist, face changing colors. At last he could not take it. “Why? Why always everyone else matter more, then we? Why we always run like coward??”

Being used to temper tantrums, Kiyeri stayed silent, but already could feel his blood boiling. He is the one who wants to know why he needs to explain basic things about life again and again to this brat. If someone want to have anything in this world, to go anywhere, to reach something, they have to work hard, head bowed low and stay silent. But this spoiled lord will never learn it, he just doesn’t understand, he can’t take whatever he wants.

Ashiya presses further, voice louder, “Why on earth we should wade through swamp, dirty and hungry, when there is food, shelter and horses just around the corner? This makes no sense! “

„And if they say NO?“, Kiyeri interrupted calmly, „What will you do, if those people say no?“

Ashiya looked at him strongly and rised his hands in the air, like answer would be the most natural thing in the world, „I will take it by force, of course “.

This arrogant pose of human, who thinks everything on this planet belongs to him, standing surrounded by trees with open hands, finally broke Kiyeri ‘s calmness. He felt this temples to pulse „You can‘t just do whatever. You gave you this right??“.

Ashiya started to laugh „Gave? I had it from birth! Who can take it away from me?! If I want it, I take it – simple. It‘s not normal to hurt yourself for others!”

“But hurting others for yourself is normal??“ Kiyeri finally broke out in shout, „The things you did in that village is normal?? Burning EVERYTHIG to the ground is normal to you?!“

Ashiya froze. The look of bewilderment in his eyes, like he really could not comprehend why he was yelled at. After moment of stunned silence he spoke „I did it for Kiye...“

„WHO ASKED YOU? “Kiyeri shouted. Now his blood really was boiling. With every sentence he took a step and showed Ashiya away. „ YOU called me, when I was running from dungeon. YOU followed me this whole year. YOU are the reason they find me every time. YOU are the reason we‘re hungry and dirty! And YOU dare to tell ME it‘s for my sake?! If not for YOU, I would sleep in BED, SATED! “

With that last push Ashiya stumbled backwards and fell to the ground. Not because Kiyeri pushed him too hard, but because he stunned silent. Not only because Kiyeri yelled at him like that for the first time, but also because he finally heard what Kiyeri thought all this time and never voiced it. In front of these words, all Ashiya's arguments had fallen and gave out, just like his legs now. He could not think a single word to answer that, he could only sit there and stare at the ground silent, not daring to lift his eyes.

After a minute of that cold silence, Kiyeri felt his anger dissipate. He relaxed his shoulders, looking pitifully to the youth on the ground. Why did he lash out like that? Even he didn’t know. Regret and fear crept to his heart. Ashiya could really just turn and go away after these words, Kiyeri opened his mouth to say at least something, afraid he might not make it and Ashiya will really leave.

“Ashi,” the voice that came out was too timid and gentle, so Kiyeri paused to collect himself “I’m moving on, and you can come with me. I just want you to understand, that we need to avoid problems”.

Ashiya was still and silent.

“Ashi?” Kiyeri felt his heart press to his throat.

"How am I supposed to get through to you...” Ashiya murmured, his face still hidden, but Kiyeri still heard the thing he did not want to hear.

“What was that?”

Ashiya took a deep breath lifting his face up and finally looking at Kiyeri’s eyes “Nothing. I understood, Kiye is right, we should move on”.

Received a correct answer Kiyeri wanted to give a hand and help him stand up, but those gentle eyes, staring directly at him, changed his mind. So he just turned on his heel and moved away, carefully stepping on wet, slippery leaves that spread all around this lonely path on the lake shore. Kiyeri listened carefully for sounds, making sure he was being followed and when he heard rustling of closes and quick steps, he finally relaxed quickening the pace.

Nerving sounds and angry voices of villagers could still be heard across lake's surface from a distant shore, and only silenced when the couple entered a denser forest. A few minutes passed and all they could hear were branches breaking beneath their feet. Wet clothes were weighing on Kiyeri's body and that grey sky felt even more heavy, making his steps falter and slower from time to time.

After some time, something came to him “All that chaos, where is my stuff?” he thought while shaking his pockets. A few golden and silver coins fell out. Kiyeri checked the belt and found his two beloved combat daggers and some throwing daggers. A lazy voice drifted from behind him.

“I collected everything”.

“Well, at least we are talking,” Kiyeri thought to himself smiling. Week of travel with no food or rest will be hard, even for Sigil bearers like them. Lost in thought — or maybe just out of habit — Kiyeri reached inside his shirt, brushed his chest with his fingertips, and found that engraved Sigil. Somewhere deep in his mind, there was a thought, maybe something had changed? Maybe it’s gone? But what he found was the same empty circle, as big as his hand burned deep into his skin. Instantly, he left stupid for checking it and blushed. Remembering he wasn’t alone, Kiyeri turned slightly — and met Ashiya’s gaze, staring intently at him.

Kiyeri sighed, “I told you, don’t worry about me. You need to focus on controlling your own Sigil”. Slowing his steps, Kiyeri let Ashiya catch up, “Let’s make our way to Leyla town, it’s large enough for mixing with the crowd. If we find some clothes, we can rest and eat there. Okay? It’s far enough, no one should recognize us”

Their destination was Temple of Metal Sigil, one of five Temples for worshiping Celestial Stones. Although more or less, everyone could manipulate life energy – mana in their body, only ones with great talent could extract elemental Sigil from those Stones. Legend says, that thousands of years ago, those stones fell from the sky like rain, scattering across the continent, and over time, people learned how to purify and use them to their advantage.

Nowadays, only eight Celestial Stones are left on the Continent, all of them are covered by Temples. Five in this – Moon Kingdom and three in neighboring Sun Land. And two of those rare Sigil bearers are traveling here, to Temple of Metal Sigil. To be exact, not two, but one and a half. Ashiya carries Fire Sigil on his chest, but Kiyeri has only an empty circle, no Sigil in the center, proving, that something went wrong.

“Kiye, what…” – the voice of Ashiya was hesitant, “What did Kiye see Beyond this time?”

Kiyeri looked at soon after the question firmly pressed Ashiya’s lips. It was hart to lie for someone so sincere, so Kiyeri had to turn away, facing the road, and tried to keep a light smile.

“Nothing bad this time. When I fell from that cliff, I did not die instantly”.

“You didn’t fall; you were pushed down”. Ahiya interrupted.

Kiyeri laughed “If you want to be specific – I jumped. You know they were just doing their job as soldiers, I am a runaway, you can’t blame them”.

“You are not a criminal”.

Kiyeri sighed “I know that, you know that. So what? We are no one, so no one cares what we think”.

After a beat, Ashiya asked again “Kiye still haven’t told what happened in Beyond. Did you encounter any Voidbornes?”

Kiyeri crossed his arms behind his back “Like I said, when I jumped off the cliff, I got stuck between some branches, that slowed my fall and did not die instantly, so already less time in Beyond. When I finally crossed the line, there was just empty space, full of gray sand. No one was there. So I just sat in that dark desert until you woke me up. That’s it.” He put his hand on Ashiya's shoulder and smiled, “You did a great job this time, you brought me back quickly, made it just in time”.

Ahiya turned away slightly, “No need to thank me, I just did exactly like you said. Waited for you to fall, found you and swam to next lake shore, and gave my mana to you. I’m glad you didn’t see them, this time.”

Although Ashiya only had one chance to see Voidborns with his own eyes, while receiving his Sigil by diving to Beyond, it was more than enough. Ugly deformed black creatures, tearing apart human souls with their claws was horrible to witness and no one would forget that in their life.

On the other hand, Kiyeri messed up in Sigil transfer ceremony, so every time he dies and goes to Beyond, where all dead people go, he can come back. The only problem – he has to go through literal hell and meet Voidborne – punishers of another world. After a couple of these “visits,” Kiyeri discovered, that he could come back quicker if mana were poured into his vessel, calling his soul back. Because the soul can’t exist in a body striped from mana, and mana scatters when people die.

“Mmm, thank you.” Kiyeri patted Ashiya’s shoulder two more times and turned away to move forward. Brutal images surged in his head on the Beyond visit just now. Ashiya did not make it on time. There’s no such thing as making it in time or calm desert sand. Voiborns are always there, waiting for next unlucky soul to come, they grab and shred it with their four crooked beastly hands to pieces, bite out their innards, and leave it to scatter, just to be formed into shape again before those fourteen fly-like eyes and repeat the process. Kiyeri counted those eyes many times in his torture.

But Ashiya doesn’t need to know that, everything is complicated enough as it is. It's hard enough to teach this youth, that there are times, when self-sacrifice should be made, and there are times when you have to do things you don’t want to, it’s just how the world works. The two of them traveled together almost a year now, many things have happened. There were calm days, enough food and rest, and there were bad weeks, when all they did was run from one point to another, just to reach the next Temple. Four Temples visited already, but no answers were discovered, Metal one is the last hope. As if that weren’t enough, for the last couple of months, Kiyeri goes into Beyond while sleeping!

While they made their way through forest beasts' paths, sides of the fields, and small roads, the sun was setting lower and lower until completely disappeared behind the horizon. Sky was blessed with countless stars and a big round moon lighted up their journey. They talked strategies, had some unserious fights, joked about meaningless things, and walked until the morning sun came up again. Kiyeri felt like that nightmare never happened and his mood was good enough to go along with Ashiya's silly talks. He concluded that it was safe to go where people were when Ashiyas mood was this good, so he started to look for a shortcut to town. Warriors like them can go without food for a long time, only feeding on mana, but it‘s smart to eat at least something if they have a chance and conserve some strength if trouble comes their way.