"Come on, Azrael!"
"You're almost there!"
"Just a little bit more, and you'll beat your previous record!"
"Yeah, come on! Don't fall this time!"
At the foot of a towering cliff stood a group of boys, their tattered clothes telling tales of adventure and hardship.
Ranging in age from about twelve to nineteen, they all shared the same expression that danced between excitement, nervousness, anxiety, and a flicker of hope in their innocent eyes.
Their gaze was fixed upward at the cliff, a formidable wall of jagged rocks that seemed to scrape the sky.
Clinging to the cliff was Azrael, a boy of about eighteen years old. Unlike his friends below, he had a striking head of crimson red hair that stood out against the dull backdrop of stone. His face was smudged with dirt, a testament to his relentless spirit.
This climb was special; it marked his first attempt at conquering this daunting height.
"This time I'm going to conquer this cliff," Azrael thought resolutely as determination etched itself across his youthful features.
He climbed with agility akin to a gecko, maintaining perfect balance despite the perilous heights. The walls of the cliff felt cold to touch and quite slippery as well.
The wind whistled past his ears, tossing his crimson hair. His breath came shallow and ragged, sweat streaking down his dirt-smeared face.
The faint cheers of the boys below the cliff drifted into his ears.
Suddenly, one boy shouted excitedly, "Look! Azrael has reached the Demon Passage!"
Another chimed in nervously, "Do you think he'll make it this time?"
"It's tough," another replied solemnly.
"This is the most critical part, the worst enemy he hasn't conquered yet."
The admiration in their voices was palpable as one declared proudly, "Azrael is something else! He's climbed everything in Wind Moon Valley: trees, hills, mountains... if it can be climbed, he's done it!"
"But this is different," another boy reminded them.
"He's been trying for over a year and always falls short."
A tall young man named Lykon observed quietly from the sidelines, his position as the eldest among them at nineteen granting him a unique perspective.
As he watched the scene unfold before him, Lykon couldn't help but marvel at the dedication displayed by Azrael.
"His commitment is truly remarkable," he thought to himself. "I struggle to maintain focus for more than ten minutes, let alone for an entire year."
Curiosity piqued among the group when one of them turned to Lykon and inquired, "Hey Lykon, do you happen to know why Azrael is so fixated on climbing?"
Lykon simply shrugged with a chuckle. "I'm afraid I don't have the answer to that question; Azrael has yet to share his motivations with me. He never spoke of his reason, only of the need to reach the top."
Suddenly, a voice rang out, drawing everyone's attention.
"Guys! Look! Azrael is on the verge of conquering the Demon Passage!"
Azrael hung precariously at the edge of the cliff, his heart pounding as he surveyed the treacherous drop below. The rugged terrain offered little in terms of support, with only a small outcrop providing a glimmer of hope.
To his left, a solitary tree clung to the cliff face, its branches tantalizingly close. However, a deep chasm stood between Azrael and the tree, a formidable obstacle in his path.
"Can I really make this leap?" he pondered, uncertainty gnawing at his gut.
Yet, a surge of determination surged through him, propelling him forward with unwavering resolve. With a deep breath, Azrael summoned all his strength and propelled himself towards the tree branch.
Adrenaline coursed through his veins as he reached out, his heart racing with anticipation.
A collective gasp rose from the boys below as Azrael's hand closed around the branch, his body colliding with the cliff face. Despite the pain, a sense of triumph illuminated his features.
With a triumphant laugh, Azrael exclaimed, "I did it! I finally did it!" as he dangled from the branch.
The children below cheered excitedly, their voices echoing with joy.
"Lykon, look! He made it this time!" one of the children shouted.
"Yeah! He really did it this time!" Lykon clenched his fists in exhilaration as he looked up at Azrael.
However, their celebration was abruptly interrupted by a loud:
CRACK!
Azrael's joyful expression turned to panic as he saw the tree branch beneath him splitting apart.
"Oh no... not again!" he exclaimed, realizing the danger he was in.
In an instant, the branch snapped in two, sending Azrael plummeting downward. He screamed as he collided with jagged rocks on his way down, causing the children below to cry out in fear.
"He almost made it this time," Lykon muttered sadly.
With a thunderous crash, Azrael hit the water below, a small lake formed by a waterfall. Though the fall was painful, landing in water meant he wouldn't be seriously injured, just bruised and humiliated.
"I almost made it this time. If it wasn't that the tree branch was weak, I would have made it. Damn it!" As he sank beneath the surface, Azrael's thoughts raced.
With frustration burning inside him, he kicked hard and swam upward until he broke free from the water. His breath was as ragged as he gasped for air, his body trembling slightly with adrenaline and cold.
Taking a deep breath, Azrael turned and swam towards the shore, his expression a mix of determination and frustration. "One day, my enemy, I will conquer you," he vowed silently.
Upon reaching land, a hand extended towards him. Looking up, Azrael saw Lykon grinning down at him. "You almost made it this time, Azrael," he said encouragingly.
"Yeah... almost," Azrael's tone carried both disappointment and a spark of hope.
He grasped Lykon's hand as his friend helped pull him from the lake's embrace. The other children quickly gathered around Azrael, their chatter bubbling over like excited waves.
"Too bad, Azrael! You were so close!" one exclaimed.
"This cliff is the only thing that has defeated our brave Azrael so many times!" another teased.
The laughter rang out like music in the air as they all turned to look at him.
"What are you guys laughing about?" Azrael snorted playfully. "I promise you, one day I will defeat it! If I don't, then I won't deserve to be called Azrael!"
Their laughter continued as they began to walk away from the cliff's edge.
A few moments later, silence enveloped the area; the tall cliff stood alone and imposing against the backdrop of nature, a silent witness to their playful challenges and dreams yet to be fulfilled.
High above, a lone fragment of the broken branch swayed in the breeze... waiting.