"Crack."
Abrupt shattering almost ruptured Aaron's eardrums, immediately making him recoil in pain as he gripped onto Eleanor's shoulder.
Her blank expression only showed a slight frown before returning to its dull state, watching him tumble to the ground and clutch his head in agony.
Aaron's eyes watered as he tried to control his body to resist the constant screeching that entered his mind.
His thoughts gradually stabilized; however, his hearing had taken damage, leaving painful ringing.
T-This happens too often…
With a deep breath, he propped himself up and gazed past the static Eleanor at the other man who leaned over the red-haired girl.
Adam's expression was similar to the blond priestess's but with the addition of deep despair that twisted his features, without even the slightest hint of hope in his molten orange eyes.
The man's body was soaked in blood, and two bone-like limbs emerged from his torso in the place of arms, as if he had borrowed them from a skeleton.
He furrowed his brow while backing away, unsure of the situation, while also pondering the possibilities.
One girl is dead, and the man's arms are severely injured… Eleanor seems to have entered a state of shock, likely from the event that affected these other two, but that doesn't explain what happened or where we are…
Looking around the large chamber, he studied the engravings on the walls without much success, only discerning that this place was likely used for rituals or religious gatherings.
Aaron finally decided to turn his attention to the most striking feature of the room, which was the giant crystalline object that floated on a pink pillar.
He thought for a moment before standing up with an urge to touch the glowing core that rested in the center.
This is similar to what's on the Ghostship…
Tilting his head to the side, he walked carefully towards it, avoiding the gruesome sight that lay beside him.
Aaron had thought about trying to help the red-haired man who was injured; however, he dismissed the thought when he noticed pitch black wings jutting from his back.
These wings… They resemble the angels.
Shaking off the thought, he continued forward to the crystal that seemed to be calling for him, approaching it without hesitation.
Magenta wisps burst from the orb, attacking Aaron directly, yet were deflected by the turquoise shield that had activated on its own, similar to before.
After a moment of patience, the light faded, allowing him to carry on walking to the center.
The stone under his feet felt frigid with shivers creeping up Aaron's spine, drinking the heat from his body as if it had a thirst of its own.
"S-so cold…"
His lips quivered as his teeth chattered against each other, yet he continued his advance upon the crystal.
With the temperature declining rapidly, he rubbed his hands together, trying to generate heat through friction alone.
Back in his homeland, the elders had taught the children that if they ever traveled south, closer to the South Pole, they should bear one thing in mind above all else.
"Warmth is the key."
Aaron chuckled under his breath as he remembered their lessons, remarking on the obvious statements they had made.
If it were that easy, then nobody would freeze…
He sighed, moving closer and closer to the crystal until he was only a meter away.
The cracked surface reflected his face within it, similar to how the Old Man's mirror had done so in the darkened world.
His eyes darted left to right, studying the intricately carved crystal with admiration.
Reaching out slightly, he felt a strong force pressing against his palm, resisting his attempt to touch the orb.
That's strange…
Aaron's hearing had begun to return, yet he felt like something was different about it than before.
"Why can I hear scurrying?"
He spun around, checking the surroundings in confusion before turning his head downwards to the ground.
Staring up at him directly was his only remaining sane friend, Mr. Crab, whose eyes sparkled in the glow of the pink sapphires that adorned the core.
The blue-eyed boy was startled to see the crustacean; however, after all of his sudden appearances in the past few weeks, he quickly adjusted and followed his gaze.
I'm trusting you, Mr. Crab, since you've never failed me before. Don't mess this up.
He watched as the shelled creature scurried its peg-legged feet across the stone closer to him.
It crouched low and then suddenly pounced directly at Aaron, who had widened his eyes in shock, not expecting the turn of events.
"W-What are you doing!?"
Mr. Crab's claws latched onto his clothes, getting a good grip on the boy before climbing up to his head and sitting down as well as a peg-legged crab could.
Aaron stood there in utter confusion as he felt the warmth of the crustacean settle in his hair without any further change.
He opened his mouth to say something before shutting it and sighing deeply.
Of course he's sleeping… At least someone else is here to keep me company
Instead of disturbing his friend, he decided to step away from the glowing crystal and attempt to help the mentally ill pair that stared blankly at the bloodied girl.
I'm not a psychologist or anything, but this is some form of shock…
Moving his hand towards Eleanor's face, he waved it, seeing if she would react at all.
To his surprise, she blinked and frowned before she resumed her lifeless stare.
She can react slightly, but the effect is only temporary. If I can't help her myself, then I should find someone who can…
Aaron jumped up from the crouching stance he had adopted when trying to communicate with Eleanor, deciding to try to exit the chamber and call the patrols about this.
"I'll be back soon, so stay here."
He whispered to the blonde-haired girl, watching her cold eyes reflect his face.
Gently stepping through the crumbling room, he avoided any large obstructions and eventually made his way to the large stone door.
Its thick exterior had been damaged slightly by the earthquake, with deep gashes embedded into the closed gateway.
"It opened inward, so if I pull on it…"
Reaching for the golden handles that were nearly falling off, he pulled with all his might, yet the doors didn't budge.
His brow furrowed as he attempted to open it again, with a worried look soon covering his face.
"Is it locked? Or is it sealed?"
He looked at the door in confusion before sighing deeply and sitting on the cold ground.
I didn't expect this to be this complicated…
Aaron groaned as he immersed himself in thought, searching for a solution.
…
Outside the mausoleum, chaos rocked the city with screams echoing throughout the roads.
"It's just like six years ago!"
Children sobbed as their mothers rushed towards them, watching the Great Sea Wall crumble in the sea beside the island.
One young girl simply watched as the wall collapsed, holding her teddy bear close as the shaking grew more intense before the ground itself split open, swallowing her whole.
All that remained was a small teddy bear caked with dust, hanging on the edge of a large ravine.
In other areas of the city, earthquakes resounded throughout the ocean, creating massive waves that washed ashore, dragging fishermen out to sea.
Ships crashed against the shore, sinking into the depths to be swallowed by the lurking sea terrors, while others were smashed against the rocks in a brutal scene.
Explosions ripped out of factories and warehouses, blowing out the foundations of dams and other public structures.
In the center of Sea Fallen, atop the roof of the damaged town hall, stood Arianna, whose gaze was fixed on the Cathedral of Dreams that withstood the shocks yet still crumbled slowly.
"It's only a matter of time…"
She turned her head down as she raised her hands, causing dark, black flames to burst forth and consume the area below her.
The structure ignited instantly, with it quickly spreading to the tight streets that provided escape routes for the civilians.
Soldiers rushed from the barracks armed with bayonets, pointed at anything that moved, yet not one dared to shoot.
Without warning, a large shockwave blasted through the city, leaving destruction in its wake.
Screams were silenced with a guttural croak as their lives were cut short by shrapnel that shot from the wall, decimating anyone caught in its path.
Dust fell from the sky, covering the city in a thick layer of smog that poisoned those who breathed it.
In the southern regions of the city, windows were shattered instantly, with earthquakes continuing to rock the city, toppling buildings, crushing those beneath.
The little Alice looked in horror from inside a small bakery, taking in the sight of utter destruction that bathed the world in darkness.
Nobody knew what had occurred, yet one undeniable fact was simultaneously true.
The city of Sea Fallen was on the verge of annihilation.