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Savior
Chapter 7: Apotheosis

We're almost there! Don't give up!!

The mountain is so close now! I can see its glowing peak just above us now, through the howling blizzard. All we have to do is brave the storm a little longer, and climb up this hill, and then we'll finally be there!

But it's so cold...

My partner and I scream as a powerful gale strikes us, knocking us about and shredding our scarves down. Mine is already almost gone.

Are you okay? My friend shouts out to me. I can barely hear him through the wind. Why is this storm so powerful?

I think so! I half-lie. It's been too long a trek, and I can barely walk with the wind pushing me back. I don't know if I'll make it...

No, I can't think that way. I will make it! I have to!

Another gust pushes us the other way. I can see the last shreds of fabric floating away. My scarf is now gone, but I'm numb to the pain in my heart. In this cold, I'm numb to pretty much everything.

The mountain is still so far...

One final gust, and my friend's scarf is fully destroyed. I can barely see life flickering in his eyes. But he has to keep going. I don't care what happens to me, but I am not letting him fall here.

We continue to climb. My body is almost fully frozen, my cloak is covered with ice and snow, and I can feel myself fading in and out of consciousness. I've never felt this way before, and it terrifies me. Am I really... going to die?

More lightning and thunder. One final blast of wind... and then the blizzard ceases. It's still so cold, I'm still so cold, but the wind is no longer pushing so hard. For once, a lucky break.

Hey...

The voice is so quiet I think at first I'm just hearing things. But I'm not; my friend is speaking again.

What's up? I respond.

I think... I think I'm not gonna make it.

I'm so blindsided I nearly stop walking right there.

Look, just... hear me out for a sec, okay? He stops me before I can say anything. He continues, taking my silence as acceptance. Those pictures that white thing showed us... I don't think we're supposed to change them. I think... this is the last stop for me.

No! I shout, as loudly as my failing voice will allow me. How... how can you even say that?! After we've been through so much?! We've been together this whole way, and now you're just giving up?! Hell no! I'm getting to the top of that mountain, and you'll be right there with me!

He inhales softly a few times. Is he chuckling? Right there... that's why you're gonna make it. You're the... the strongest person I've ever met. Even when things look like they're at their worst, you always try to pull through, and then you always do. I... I'll never be strong like that.

I can't believe what I'm hearing. Those words... I can't even begin to accept them. What... what are you saying? What about what you said to me and the spirit in the tower?! About how you always had to keep standing, and keep going? You think I could've come up with that?! I agreed with the spirit! I was literally just about to give up on everything when you spoke up! What you said back there... you didn't just save the spirit! You saved me!

And now you're just giving up?! No!! You have to keep going!

He stops walking and turns to face me. His cloak is so covered in ice it's practically translucent. And his eyes... they've almost completely faded.

That was good advice, wasn't it...? I thought so, too. I was... kinda surprised I came up with all of that. He makes that soft, breathy chuckle again before continuing. But... there was one thing I was wrong about...

Sometimes... you just can't keep going. Sometimes, you hit your limit. And then... what do you do then?

I respond. You... find another way, right?

He ponders that for a bit. ...Another way? To where? Look... He turns to where the mountain is and I turn with him to see...

Nothing.

The glowing peak... it's gone. The clouds have completely swallowed it, hidden it from view.

No... I whisper. I can't be gone. No... no, it has to be there. It HAS to be! If it's gone, then, then... what was the point of all of this?!

This is... my limit. He whispers. His voice is filled with sorrow, and regret, and... what is that... satisfaction? You can't keep going if there's nowhere else to go... So keep going, for me now. I know... I know that you can keep standing... until... it's... over....

His eyes finally blink out, and his body falls forward, enveloped by the snow.

I can't breathe. This... this can't be happening. I want so badly to scream, to let out all of the sadness and confusion and anger and everything else within me. But my voice is frozen.

I can't lose him. I only made it this far so I could see him reach the top. What... what am I supposed to do now...?

Answer me... damn it....

ANSWER ME!!!

I don't even feel myself fall...

--------

My friend... you were wise. Wiser than even you knew.

But you were wrong. About yourself, and about me.

You were not weak. You were strong, strong enough to keep me going when I could see no hope in our future. It was only because of you that I made it this far.

And I am not strong. I needed you. I needed you far more than you could have ever needed me.

But I couldn't save you... I couldn't even save myself.

And you were wrong about one final thing.

I couldn't keep standing.

I couldn't keep going. For you, or for me.

I failed you...

…

Our journey ends here.

--------

…

“… len...”

“...ndeed...”

“...will be our next action?...”

…

...Wait...

Are those... voices? Who's talking?

I try to look up, but my body won't move. I can't even twitch. It's like I'm...

Frozen.

Of course.

It all surges back in that instant. The mountain. The blizzard. Slowly freezing to death. Watching him fall, lifeless...

Not for the first time, I feel empty.

“Look up, child.” A voice rips through the void. It's high-pitched and sounds like a clanging bell. Not a voice I've ever heard before.

Look up? I can't look up. I can't even open my mouth to tell it that.

“I said, look up.” The voice repeats with an impatient edge.

“Calm down.” Another voice replies. This one is deeper, and sounds more feminine. “Anger will not make it act. Not in this state.”

“Indeed.” Another feminine voice, this one much softer, chimes in. “The fact that its soul even exists now is unprecedented. It is in no state to act.”

“Perhaps we should assist it.” A masculine, aged-sounding voice speaks up.

“Very well.” The first voice answers.

I listen to this exchange, not quite understanding what's going on, when suddenly I feel something tug upwards on my entire body. To my alarm, my frozen body is lifted slowly into the air, dangling like a puppet on a lonely string. My head is lifted by a firm but gentle tugging, and I can see at last the figures speaking about me.

White cloaks.

Six of them... six? I thought there was only...

It hits me like a falling stone.

There were six shrines... the temple, the bridge, the factory, the crevice, the underground tunnel, and the tower. And there are six white figures. One for each shrine. All this time I'd thought it was the same being each time. I hadn't even considered this...

“It seems to understand the truth now.” The being that spoke first observes. “What exactly happened to it?”

“It was climbing the mountain, correct?” The third voice answers. “With another.”

“The guardians struck and destroyed its cloth.” The fourth voice adds. “And it froze to death in a blizzard.”

“How tragic.” The first voice muses. This guy's really starting to make me angry.

“Perhaps we should aid it.” The second voice offers. Aid me? What does that mean?

Apparently I'm not the only one who's curious. “Why do you suggest that action?” The third asks.

“This traveler has endured too much.” The second answers, voice tinged with regret. “So long ago, our actions destroyed our land, and killed far too many. If he truly does possess the soul of one of the fallen, then the journey he has embarked on is of our own making. We owe him a means to reach the end.”

“I concur wholeheartedly.” The fourth replies. “Furthermore, if this young one returns to the mountain, the cycle's continuation may at last begin. We could learn from our past mistakes, and rebuild our kingdom. If he could spark that rebirth, then we have no excuse to abandon him.”

The other four all look at each other and contemplate this silently. As for me, I can feel something begin to grow within me. Is this... hope? Yes, it must be! If they really do choose to help me, then I can still reach the end. It won't all be in vain...

“...The cycle?” This time it's the first speaking. He sounds... angry. “Rebirth? The mountain?! What has the mountain ever done for us?!” Oh, no...

“When we were at war with ourselves, when we were killing our own kind, when we were cast into limbo for eternity to reflect on our deeds, did the mountain ever do ANYTHING for us?! The mountain has failed us time and time again! We have prayed for salvation, damnation, anything, for centuries!

“And we have received NOTHING!! There is no cycle, and no salvation! Our land is gone, gone forever! The mountain has done nothing for us, so we should do nothing for it!”

I can't believe my ears. Just a minute ago this was all going so well! And now..., am I really going to die?

“...Nothing?”

Everyone turns to the left to look at the sixth spirit, the one on the end. That spirit strides forward, and bends down to look me in the eyes.

“Hello again, brave one.”

It's like an electrical current's just been run into my ear.

“You... from the... tower...” My voice is so quiet even I can barely hear it, but the spirit seems to understand me just fine.

“Do not fear. I shall not permit them to harm you.” It whispers to me, then turns to face its brethren. “We have received nothing?”

“Nothing.” The first spits. “We have been abandoned. Any fool could see that. The mountain has granted us no rescue over these long centuries, and now it sees fit to send us a child? The idea alone is idiotic.”

“Then what do you suggest that we do?” The sixth's voice is dangerously calm now; it's barely holding back rage. Apparently I'm not the only one who noticed; the other spirits all look uneasy, and even the first seems nervous.

The first spirit tries to compose itself. “I will not be expected to entertain such a farce. This being is not of the mountain. The mountain could not be bothered to show us the way, much less with a child. I see no reason to assist it.”

The sixth moves so quickly I don't even see it. A loud CRACK echoes through the ether, and the other four spirits yell in shock. All of a sudden the first is lying on the ground, moaning in pain, and the sixth...

It's mad. Madder than I've ever seen it. Even my friend didn't make it this angry.

“NO REASON!” The sixth explodes, and the others shrink back in terror. “You see no reason to help a traveler who froze to death in the icy winds?! You are LESS than a fool! He may be a child, but he holds greater potential than any of us! Certainly, he holds more than you! This boy and his friend were created to live and sow the seeds of this land's bright future, and with our power, they can! Who are you to defy him that?”

The other four figures watch him in awe, quietly speaking amongst each other. He must be getting through to them! The first slowly rises up again. “Do not be so quick to insult me.” He retorts, but I can tell he's trying to sound braver than he actually is right now. “You claim that this child truly is born of the mountain? I see no evidence to support that claim.”

“I am afraid he is correct.” The fifth spirit speaks up for the first time. Its voice is quiet, almost unhearable, and child-like in its softness. “Moreover, you have seen the fate of this traveler's journey. We all have. It was to perish in the snow, alongside its companion. Now that it has met its fate, for what reason should we assist it further?”

“Because it bears our burden.” The sixth answers immediately. The other spirits look upon him with confusion. “Observe.” The spirit leans down to look me in the eye once again, and its eyes begin to glow with a soft green light.

“I am sorry.” It whispers.

--------

The earth ignites around me. I lie face-down on the ground, unable to move or even lift my head. All I can do is listen.

The flames light up the midnight and draw out the screams of the injured and dying. Buildings fall to rubble around me, crushing and killing countless lives. A loud mechanical roar rips through the chaos, accompanied by several more just like it. The machines are fighting. People sob all around me, adults and children alike. My body feels like it's on fire. Maybe it is.

I have to get out of here.

With all of my strength, I'm able to lift my head. A loud metallic tearing sound echoes painfully through the city. The front half of a machine tumbles to the ground and explodes. A massive fireball expands outward, searing a crowd of innocent victims.

And one of them is me.

Why did this have to happen?...

--------

And then it's over. I snap back to the white void, breathing heavily. In front of me, the six spirits are all on the ground, a couple of them moaning in pain, a few of them sobbing hopelessly, and one lying deathly still.

Slowly and painfully, the sixth rises once more. “Do you understand now? This child bears a burden no other person should have to bear. He remembers every life lost to the war, every hateful curse upon the land, and all of the pain and sorrow brought about by our foolishness. And yet he still continued, pressing onward until he could go no further. If not for the storm... I believe he truly would have continued until he reached the mountain. Knowing all of this, will you still deny him? Will you still refuse to see what lies in front of you? This child may have perished as was written, but now we must decide his final fate.

“And if he truly is one of the mountain, we must guide him, so that he may return and continue the cycle anew.”

No one speaks for a while after that. The other five spirits are all still dealing with what they've experienced, the sixth is watching them closely, and me, well, I'm still frozen. Still, it gives me some time to think about all that's happened. God, I feel so tired... Ever since I woke up it's been a whirlwind of hope and despair and sadness and anger. Is emotional whiplash a real thing?

Whatever. For the first time in a good long while, I feel a little hopeful. I still don't know what the spirits are going to decide with me, but if this one's on my side, then I'm pretty sure my chances are good. I'm still steeling myself for the worst, but I think it'll all be okay.

Well, not all okay. If they do bring me back to life, then what'll happen to my friend? If he died before me, then has he already been by here? Was the spirit able to convince the others to let him by, as well? It seems pretty farfetched, but if that's not the case then that means he's... gone.

The thought terrifies me more than anything else I've encountered. Even the machines and their fearsome glowing eyes are nothing compared to this. Ever since we met at that bridge so long ago... how long has it been? It feels like it's been weeks, maybe months, but now that I think about it, the sun's rarely not been up, so it couldn't be that long... has it really only been a few days? I haven't really been focusing on time, but a few days seems way too short. Then again, if he's gone... then it really doesn't matter how long it's been. I wasn't kidding when I said he was like a little brother to me, or when I said I was scared he'd get hurt; I don't think I've ever said anything more honest. What could have happened to him? The sixth said that the souls of the dead have been in purgatory ever since the war... could he have gone back there? Or worse, the first spirit said he didn't want to help me... if they've met my friend, could he still be in the void with us? Did they just leave him here forever? Or could they have... destroyed him? If he's really gone, then is there even a point to this? I've only been going because I wanted to keep him safe. I don't know if I can finish this without him... I don't even know if I want to...

“Yes.” The voice punches through my thoughts and I'm pulled rather reluctantly back to reality. The spirits all seem to have recovered, and they've reformed their neat line (except the sixth, who still stands between them and me. I can't help but feel grateful at that). I think that was the first's voice... wasn't it? Then that means-

“You were right.” The voice repeats. As I thought, it's definitely the first, but his voice is different now; it lacks the self-righteous confidence it used to bear. Now it sounds remorseful and broken. “I was foolish. I refused to see what should have been indisputable. This child... this child bears a cross no one but us should bear. If that is the case, then our only option truly is to help it return. If it truly is one of the mountain, then perhaps it CAN begin the cycle anew.”

Seriously?! This is unbelievable!

“Good, good.” The sixth replies, quite content with the outcome. “Any other opinions?”

“My opinion has not changed.” The second speaks once more.

“Nor has mine.” The fourth chimes in.

“I believe that we should assist it – assist him.” The third corrects itself.

“...Shall we, then?” The fifth whispers.

“Of course!” The sixth replies enthusiastically. It turns to me one last time and looks me in the eyes. “Are you ready to go forth?”

Yes! Yes, of course I'm ready! I have to finish this!

“One final piece of information.” The sixth adds, its voice brimming with excitement and joy. “Your friend is alive.”

What?

What?!

He's alive?! But how?

“He is alive.” The spirit repeats. “He waits for you. Find him, and walk along to the end with him at your side.” With that, it straightens back up and glides back into line with the other five.

“Now then... traveler!” The first shouts. “You have walked along the wheel of fate, and it has delivered you to your end!”

“But your story has not yet completed!” The second continues. “You have one final chapter to live!”

“So rise up!” Now the third. “Cast off your fears and losses and sprint onwards!”

“Alone you do not possess the power to triumph!” And now the fourth. “But do not despair! We shall grant you the power to do so!”

“...And we will continue to aid all others who will walk along your path...” That's the fifth.

“So go forth! Gather the strength that you have gained on this journey, and let it guide your path to your final destination!” The sixth finishes, voice filled with pride. “Know that you are not alone, for your ally awaits you! Go to him, and walk alongside him to the end that you and you alone will create!”

At that, all six spirits begin to sing, their voices all combining to create a beautiful symphony. My body begins to glow... and in one motion, my scarf regrows fully! I feel a huge rush of energy surge through me.

What was I even afraid of? Not being strong enough? Letting myself down? My friend said that I had to keep going, that I was strong... What would he think if he saw me now? He'd probably be so ashamed of me.

Well, that changes now. I'm not going to doubt myself ever again. There's always a light at the end of the tunnel, and I'm gonna shoot right for it, starting now!

With all of my strength, I push off the ground and soar straight up into the storm. Thunder booms and lightning crackles around me, but I pay it no mind. Machines swoop in and out of my view, roaring furiously, but they're nowhere near as fast as me. Looking ahead, I can see out the other side of the storm. A beautiful white light shines ahead of me... is that where my friend is waiting? Yes, it has to be. I'm so close now...

With a final, determined shout I pierce through the clouds and into the light...

--------

...And it is beautiful.

Everywhere I look takes my breath away. The way the mountains pierce up through the clouds and scrape the lapis-colored sky. The way the sun peeks out shyly over the mountaintops, casting white light over all that it sees. The way the clouds spread out below me like a fluffy white ocean, as two massive cloth whales arc out from it. This is it. This is the mountain's peak, the place we've traveled so far to reach. I'm here.

And I'm not alone.

Hey! My heart stops when I hear that voice. Frantically, I whirl around looking for the source of the voice. Just off in the distance... is it.. yes!

It's him! It's him!! He's here! He's really here!

Don't just float there! Come on! First one to the top wins!! He shouts with his constant bravado. I've missed that so much. We weren't even apart for long, right? We couldn't have been with the spirits for that long, and yet... it's like I haven't seen him in years. Seeing him now, I've never felt happier. I don't think I ever will feel happier.

I love him. We've been through so much together, and I don't even know his name and he doesn't know mine, but I don't care about any of that. He's my brother, and I swear I will never, ever let anything separate us again, in this life or any other.

He starts to fly away, and with a wild cry of joy, I'm right behind him.

--------

We reach the end at the exact same time. The two of us strike the pure white sand and tumble head over heels before skidding to a stop side by side. We don't get up right away; we just lie there, laughing loud and long and thanking the stars for the fact that we're still together. I get up first, and as always he's right behind me. The two of us stare into the mountain's light, neither of us daring to say anything. It's scary, sure, but the light... it's so welcoming. This is not a light meant to harm, it's a beacon. It was always a beacon. A sign of hope and determination even in the darkest times. A way to show the route home.

It's time for us to go home.

I feel like... we should say some words. My friend looks at me expectantly.

I turn to face him, then I just look at him for a while before speaking. The words come straight from my heart. I remember when I first met you. You were like a skittish little kid. When I came over to greet you, you freaked out. I laugh a little before continuing. But still, you were somebody, and I was so glad to see you. I thought I was all alone, that I'd have to do get all the way here on my own. But then I saw you, and I wasn't scared anymore. I was so happy, because I had a friend that I could call my own.

I won't say it's always been easy being with you, or even fun. I know you freaked me out pretty badly once or twice, but I think that's part of why I came to like you so much. You were like a little brother, someone to guide and protect and laugh with, and I enjoyed that.

You helped me so much, you know. Back at the tower, when we were asked if this land could find peace, I said no, and... I could feel myself shatter inside. It was like I'd just given up on everything. But you never gave up, and you never let me give up either. You weren't just some kid brother I had to watch over all the time, not anymore. You were strong, strong enough to keep standing in despair and pull me back up. Until then, you were just my traveling buddy, someone to keep me sane during this whole thing. But then, when you showed me how to keep going, you became more than that. You weren't just a partner or even a brother anymore.

Behind my mask, I can feel my eyes water. But I can't cry, not yet. I have to get through this first.

You were a savior. You were my savior.

Then it all breaks open. Tears begin to flow in torrents from my eye holes and down my mask. I fall to my knees as loud sobs wrack my entire body. I... I don't even know what I'm feeling anymore.

But then he's there. My friend, no, my brother, falls to his knees and wraps his long scarf around me. In shock, I realize that he's crying, too. Tears run in thin lines down his mask and drip down onto the sand beneath us. I wrap my scarf around him, and we just stay there, holding each other and crying. I don't know how long we're there for. I don't care. He's here, and that's the only thing that matters to me. For the first time in as long as I can remember, I'm at ease.

Finally, I stand back up, trying to keep our scarves from unwrapping. I'm almost done. I don't know what your name is or was, or who you used to be, but I couldn't care less about any of that. All I care about is that during this messed-up journey through a dead land, you were there. Through the best parts and through the worst, you never left my side, not even once. I have no words to tell you how much that means to me, and how much you mean to me.

I love you, brother. I love you.

He just stares at me once I'm done, trying to take all of that in. Fresh tears begin to flow from his eyes, but he stays upright this time. You... you don't know how that makes me feel. The fact that you stayed with me even when I was a total idiot... you could've just abandoned me and kept going, but you stayed. You let me follow you and get to know you, and you tried to get to know me, too.

I wouldn't change a thing.

I smirk. Not even freezing to death?

Not even that.

The two of us continue our embrace for a little longer. We've said all we need to say. Now it's time to go.

One thing left to do. I turn to him. You ready?

He turns back to me. Let's live it up when we get there, okay?

We'll party every night. I laugh.

Sounds like fun.

It really does.

And then we walk, side by side.

With every step, I think back. I remember waking up in the desert and sliding along the dunes... gliding across the bridge of ribbons... flying through the air with the kite creatures... soaring through the ruins, the sand set alight by the setting sun... getting to swim around the tower with the cloth whale... and soaring around the mountain tops with the end in sight.

But most of all, I think of him. When we met, he was a complete stranger. Now, I'd die before having to live without him. He became my ally, my companion, and my friend.

But most of all, he became my brother.

And as we at last step into the light, I know with absolute certainty that we will see each other again.

Our bond will never die.