Chapter 45: Purpose
Arthur sat up fast and quickly stood up, backing away defensively from the clearly agitated Aziel. His bare feet scraped against the cold stone floor as he created distance between them, his body tense and ready to move despite his weakened state. The morning light cast long shadows across the temple interior, highlighting the growing tension between them.
"What the hell is your problem anyway? Why do you even care? You don’t know me... we’re not friends. We never talked at the academy, so why?" Arthur’s voice cracked with emotion, genuine confusion mixing with his defensiveness. His hands trembled slightly at his sides, not from fear but from the effort of standing after days of physical and emotional exhaustion.
Aziel took another stomping step forward, electricity crackling around his clenched fists as his emotions fueled his power. "It won’t sit right with me to leave you to die here, and I never do things that don’t sit right with me." His reasoning was simple, delivered with the unshakable conviction of someone who lived by a personal code that needed no external validation.
Arthur’s face filled with surprise at Aziel’s immature reasoning, his mouth opening slightly as he processed the childish simplicity of it. "Well, that’s not my problem." He crossed his arms over his chest, a physical barrier to match his emotional one.
Aziel sighed and palmed his face, dragging his hand down over his features in exasperation. When he spoke again, his tone had risen, frustration evident in every syllable. "That’s it... Look, I’m sorry about whatever the hell happened to you in this realm to make you so desperate to die a useless death, but for the love of god, man up already and stop your fucking whining."
Aziel was practically yelling now, his voice bouncing off the ancient stone walls and amplifying his anger. Arthur’s face transformed from surprise to fury as he stepped forward, closing the gap between them with newfound energy fueled by indignation. "What did you just say?" Each word was laced with quiet rage, a dam about to break.
Aziel was now no more than a foot from Arthur’s face, close enough that Arthur could feel the other boy’s breath on his skin. "You heard me." The challenge was simple but weighted with confrontation.
Arthur’s head felt like it was going to explode with anger, blood rushing to his face as his voice rose to a shout. "WHAT THE HELL DO YOU KNOW!?" The question echoed through the temple, disturbing the silence that had reigned there for who knew how long before their arrival.
Aziel laughed maniacally, the sound harsh and jarring in the confined space. "I know that it’s about damn time you grow up... whoever died in your pathetic life did not do it just for you to give up the chance at life they gave you." His eyes burned with intensity as he continued, each word striking like a physical blow. "So stop crying and trying to repay them with your death... Repay their sacrifice with strength..."