~ [Music Recommendation: "Dreamy Shards" by Yasunori Mitsuda (Chrono Cross OST) - available in Spotify or Youtube] ~ Please listen to it in loop while you read this part to experience the utmost beauty of this scene ~

CRAAAACCCKKK!!!

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The loud sound of a mirror cracking caught the attention of the guardians. When they turned their heads, they saw the water cocoon breaking like a crystal ball, and inside it, came heaps of water gushing out until they were no more. Along with the water was Elliot's completely drenched body. Still unconscious, he fell on the sand beneath him. Everyone gathered around him with a look of worry painted all over their faces.

"Elliot!" Rania shouted as she hastily kneeled down at his side. "Elliot, wake up!" she nudged his body with her hands but there was no sign of him waking up. And worse, his spiritual energy still kept on depleting. The glowing magic circles that spun around his body were still there, shining brightly.

Forty seconds. This was the time left before Elliot completely left the living world.

"Luna," Rania turned to her, "Tell me quickly! How do I transfer my life energy to another?"

Luna was appalled. "What are you saying? No!" she vigorously shook her head. "You're a human! You have a shorter life span! You can't just give your life energy to Elliot! It will be gone in just a matter of -"

"Please!" Rania begged her. She also turned to the other guardians, seeking for help. "Please! Anyone, tell me!"

Thirty seconds.

"Rania, Elliot's life energy is more concentrated than yours," Terra said, shaking her head in disapproval. "Even if you give him all of your life energy -"

"- But it will buy him time," Rania interrupted her. Large droplets of tears fell from her eyes. "I believe he can surpass this … he just needs more time. So please, tell me how. I beg all of you".

"At the cost of your own life? No!" Luna argued. "Please don't do this Rania. It's very dangerous! Elliot will be outraged when he wakes up and finds you … drained of life!"

Twenty seconds.

Fauna, Caligo, Ventus, Saburra, and Terra … didn't know how to respond anymore. Even they, as guardians panicked. They were given an impossible choice in front of them - Rania or Elliot? Both were equally important and precious for everyone. If they let Rania give her life energy to Elliot, she would die. But if she didn't, then Elliot would. Deep in their hearts, they hoped for a miracle - for him to wake up in the last few remaining seconds and pass the trials. But there were no signs of him waking up. And as guardians who could see the heart of a person, they didn't see his heart overcoming the trial.

Lastly, Rania turned to Ducis …

Her lips didn't utter any word to him …

They simply stared into each other's eyes ...

But Ducis understood …

"Is this … the time for the Vessel to be broken?" Ducis asked himself. He bowed his head and lowered his eyes, covering his face with his long hair. With hands clenched into fist, and shoulders trembling, he wanted to cry. "My Lord … may Your will be done".

Ten seconds.

Shutting his eyes closed, Ducis answered her, "Locking of lips … is the easiest way. With the way you activate magic, you just need to say the word, and wish for it, deep in your heart".

Rania smiled warmly towards him, as tears continued to fall from her eyes. She gently bowed her head and said, "Thank you".

"NOOO!!! Rania don't!" Luna exclaimed so hard her voice cracked. She lounged over to Rania to stop her but Ducis created a barrier, covering Rania and Elliot inside it. Luna knocked hard on the barrier and cast magic on it but it didn't break. Losing hope, she went to Ducis and hit him in the chest with her hands. "Why?! Why did you tell her?! Nooooo!!! Waaaaa! Hu-hu-hu-hu!" Luna couldn't contain her emotions. She dropped on her knees and wailed miserably. The other guardians tried to comfort her, but she refused to be comforted.

Five seconds.

Inside the barrier, Rania did as Ducis told, without hesitation in her heart. She lifted Elliot on her arms and locked her lips unto his.

"My life … I offer to you," Rania spoke in her mind. "May it give you the time you need to surpass this trial. We believe in you … don't give up. We're here beside you".

And at the last second, Rania successfully began transferring her life energy to Elliot. Her body glowed bright white. Like white and gold sparkles, her life energy left her body and went to Elliot's through her lips. Along with her hope for freedom and salvation, along with her love, and dreams.

While all these commotions happened, Elliot remained on his knees, with a lifeless expression on his face. His eyes told that he had already given up on himself.

But Rania never gave up on him ...

Slowly, Elliot's mind drifted into unconsciousness ...

When he opened his eyes again, he was no longer in the mirror house. Instead, his body laid down, floating adrift into nothingness.

"Where am I?" Elliot asked himself. "It's dark … and cold". He raised his hands near his face. "I feel like my blood is draining … is this what dying feels like?" Then, he put his hands on his chest. "Weird … I don't feel pain anymore … in my heart. Perhaps, I am dead. That's good then. I can at least atone for my sins that way. I don't deserve to live anyway".

"Elliot," a barely audible whisper brushed past his ears.

But Elliot didn't hear it. Instead, he kept his hands on his chest and closed his eyes.

"Just let me sleep like this," Elliot told himself. "The dark and the cold is where I've always been, and always will be. This is my rightful place so I will accept it".

Suddenly, Elliot felt his hands warming up.

"Huh? Why does it suddenly feel warm?" he looked down to his chest and saw white and gold sparkles slowly emerging from it. "What are these?" He got up from his position and stood upright while he stared at his hands and chest. "What is this fuzzy feeling? And why does it feel … so familiar?"

"Elliot!" the voice grew louder for Elliot to hear.

Elliot spun his head around him but he didn't see anyone.

"Elliot, it's me! I'm here! Look up!"

And so, Elliot lifted his head. He narrowed his eyes, trying to see further until he saw a faint light from far away.

"Hm? That voice …"

"Why are you in the dark?" the sweet voice asked him.

Talking to the light, Elliot answered, "Because … I'm a monster. And monsters belong to the darkness".

"Hmmm? Where is the monster?" the voice asked again. Her words were very soothing and calming to the ears to the point that Elliot … felt that he wanted to hear more of her voice.

"I am … I'm the monster".

"Hmmm?" the voice hummed in a skeptical way. "But I don't see a monster".

"It's dark in here, that's why".

"Well, yes it's dark in there … but I can still see you!" she cheerfully said. "Because your heart is glowing. Look! And you don't look like a monster".

Angered, Elliot shouted back at her, "I may not look like it BUT - I …," rivers of tears fell from his eyes. "I … I caused many people to die … even my parents! And now, the whole universe is suffering because of me! So yes, I AM a monster! A monster who shouldn't have been born".

A moment of silence passed by. Then, the voice spoke again.

"When?" she asked, "When did you cause the suffering of the world?"

Sobbing, Elliot answered, "When I was a child … I … Because of me -"

"- And when were you a child?" the voice interrupted him.

"Huh?" Elliot was puzzled. "That's … nineteen years ago".

"Then why?" the voice asked once more. "Why do you dwell in the past … when the past doesn't exist anymore?"

At these words, Elliot's eyes widened, and more tears came pouring down from his eyelids.

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