"Sorry about the landing," Aziel called out, his voice carrying an unmistakable note of amusement. "Still working on the whole braking thing." He giggled, scratching the back of his head awkwardly. The fading sunlight caught in his hair, giving the edges an almost luminescent quality that matched the lingering traces of electricity still sparking occasionally across his skin.
Arthur was on his hands and knees, chest heaving as he desperately tried to catch his breath. The ground beneath his palms felt cold and lifeless, much like the field of gray roses surrounding them. Each inhale brought the scent of dust and decay into his lungs, a stark reminder of the desolation that stretched in every direction. After several ragged breaths, his fingers curled into the dry soil, crushing withered petals beneath his grip as he turned to Aziel with a face contorted in anger, tears welling in the corners of his eyes.
