Searching for Andromeda 75 Sacrifices to Attain One's Goals Part 5

Yael opened his eyes, and then looked back to where Ephraim was looking. Hosea had crawled towards Pelmon's body, his robe getting soaked with their mixed blood.

"Pelmon . . . wake up . . . we need to help Yael get the vessel," he exclaimed. "We need to get that vessel so Yael could help those children . . . we promised to be his strength, so you shouldn't laze around . . ."

Ephraim released a ragged breath as he sees Vashti slowly approaching Hosea.

Hosea's blank gaze darted to the disproportionate head of Vashti. He curved his lips into a smile. "You too, Vashti . . . help me here . . ."

"V-vashti, wh-what are you—ARGH!"

Ephraim couldn't take his eyes off of the spectacle. Blood skewed out from Hosea's face as Vashti began ripping his face to shreds. Vashti opened her mouth largely, and began to tear Hosea's face and eat his flesh. An eyeball, wrapped with a yellowish-white ooze, plummeted against the floor. The necromorph began to dig its hands and claws to Hosea's body.

"What little life force," says Vashti through her bloodied mouth. "This woman had so much, and that man also. But you . . ." Vashti's teeth dug into Hosea's eye. "Your mana . . . is too low."

Ephraim ragged breaths were uncontrollable as he backed away. He glanced towards Yael, whose eyes were closed. The veins on his neck were protruding.

CRACK.

Ephraim's gaze shifted towards Yael's ax; its handle had now cracked with the intensity of Yael's grip.

"You . . . Ephraim, wasn't it?" He says, without opening his eyes. He lowered his gaze as he spoke.

Ephraim wasn't able to respond from the horror he had seen.

"There is a reason why . . . why I'm here," he says. "I . . . I want to get the vessel to help my homeland . . . to fix Patriargë's broken system, to rebuild Patriargë . . . so that the children won't suffer anymore. But I—I! I don't have enough strength!"

Yael's voice was strained, and every word that came out of his mouth had emphasized the pain he was holding. Yael opened his eyes, which was gleaming with unshed tears.

Ephraim felt Yael's tight grip around his shoulders. "There are too many sacrifices now. And I know . . . I know I can't carry on with this guilt,"

Ephraim blinked. What is he trying to say?

"I will buy you some time," says Yael. "You have to make your escape, and claim the Vessel."

"Wh-what are you saying?" Ephraim exclaimed. "Don't be ridiculous! You went as far as this, and now you're just . . . telling me I should claim it?"

Yael nodded. "Yes."

"You said you wanted to help your homeland. Help those children—" Ephraim exclaimed.

"Yes!" Yael retorted. "But there is so much sacrifice that I made just to reach this goal. I . . . I let THEM die, the people who believed in me. The people who had helped me reach this far!"

Ephraim stares as Yael's lips trembled, with his expression growing weary.

"Then you just want to let their sacrifices be in vain?!" Ephraim remarked, "if you had reached this far, why are you backing away now?! If you have made so many sacrifices to attain your goal, then why are you throwing all of that away?!"

Yael remained silent as his face grew wearier and wearier.

"BECAUSE I AM NO LONGER WORTHY!" Yael howled, tears streaming down his face. "I am no longer worthy of the vessel. I am not worthy of my comrade's sacrifices. I LED THEM TO THEIR DEATHS BECAUSE OF MY INCOMPETENCE!"

Yael tightened his grip around Ephraim's shoulders.

"But you. You can still do it. You led no one to their deaths and attained the key to the vessel," says Yael. "You are the one who's worthy, Ephraim."

"No," Ephraim answered. "I'm not worthy or anything like that. I don't even have anything to do with this vessel. Whereas you, you battled your way here. And now you're just throwing all that effort away and giving the stranger like me that one thing you want?! I won't agree to your terms of using yourself as a bait just to let me escape. Did you really think I would just agree to your plans?!"

Yael closed his eyes.

"I know you wouldn't."

Ephraim's eyes widened as Yael threw his ax to the ground.

And before Ephraim could utter another word, Yael stormed away and came back to the necromorph.

"THERE YOU ARE," says Vashti, who had now merged with the necromorph itself. "THE ONE WITH THE OVERFLOWING MANA!"

Ephraim wasn't able to do anything more than watch as Yael began to lure the necromorph away. And it wasn't successful, considering the necromorph now grew in size as Vashti held her staff and had conjured an enormous fireball atop.

"YOU'RE MINE NOW!"

The fireball landed straight to Yael and had sent the grounds to a scorching doom. Ephraim clenched his jaw and then ran towards the opened door.

"He he he. Your mana . . . that delicious life force," says Vashti, her voice loud and merged with the necromorph. "I will have it now."

Ephraim glanced back to Yael, who was looking at his direction.

He met his eyes, and then his lips moved as he spoke something. Ephraim had read his lips as he balled his fist. He smiled at him, and then before Yael could even turn his head away, the necromorph's mouth opened and then bit his upper body.

Ephraim took Yael's last word to heart as he entered the opened doors, letting his body embrace the realm of light.

** Sneak-peak to the next chapter:

"Welcome, Human." Says the Guardian, who was standing before Ephraim with an intimidating aura. "I know you had found your resolve."

Ephraim thinned his lips.

"I have."

The guardian slithered its way towards Ephraim. Everything was filled with light, but it wasn't blinding Ephraim.

"Your heart had now flared with fire," the dragon exclaimed, its gaze constricting. "You are ready for the Vessel of Nar,"

**

Ephraim faced the deity Nar with a set of determined eyes.

"I am Ephraim Ignacio Hughes," says Ephraim. "And I am here to claim the Vessel of Fire!"

Chapter end