Arylos leaned over the rampart as he admired the trees of the planes surrounding Sentoraya. The trees that lined the horizon yet were barren of leaves reminded him of the once lush greenery that blossomed in the spring. The snowless winter was as cold and unforgiving as a distant mother. As he looked down, Arylos could trace cracks in the ice that formed from the streams that once rushed past, carrying leaves and fish in their steady currents. As the cold wind bit his neck, the Titan of Fire felt the chill sink down to his bones. ‘All good things come to an end,’ he told himself mentally, watching the long cold winter slowly choke out the green of spring yet without a trace of snow.

As Arylos admired the scenery, he could not shake this feeling inside him.

He felt as though he could hear the city around him, with people chattering and carts running along the stone roads, and yet he could hear nothing but a deafening silence that only carried his breathing. He felt calm and relaxed and yet he could feel a tension in his chest as if his heart was trying to beat once more, a tension that he felt slowly suffocated him. His mind felt at ease like an artist who had found the perfect clearing to paint with pretty colors, and yet he felt like walls were closing in around him.

It was a feeling he didn’t understand, an emotion he had never felt, a message he could not understand. He felt like he could place exactly what was wrong and yet it always evaded him, like it did not want to be found. He could feel the words on his tongue and yet he found himself speechless. It was a fear, an anxiety, a panic, and yet it was none of that. There was always something in the back of his mind, especially recently, but this was something new.

“Honey? Are you okay?” a soft voice called to him, shaking him from his trance.

“I’m fine, I think,” Arylos responded, unsure of what to think. As he turned around, Iris reached out and took his hands and looked at him with concern in her eyes.

“Don’t lie to me,” Iris warned softly while watching Arylos intently.

Arylos shook his head, trying to find the right words and yet failing. “I don’t know, I am but I am not.”

“You’ve been distant like this recently, what’s wrong?” Iris asked softly.

“I don’t really know,” Arylos answered while looking at the city around him, watching as people walked by, continuing their business and discussions without a care in the world. “But all I know is that something is wrong,” he continued while looking back towards Iris.

“Is it something you’re afraid of?” Iris asked while reaching up to brush Arylos’s hair out of his face.

“Fear isn’t quite right,” Arylos said while looking back towards the busy city and Iris could see the familiar fire of his eyes had faded. “Between you, Subaya, Rikio, Aniya, Eir, Bellona, everyone; something just feels…wrong.”

“Maybe it’s the Titan in you going through denial?” Iris suggested as she brushed Arylos’s cheek and yet warranted no response from Arylos; none of his usual reaction as he watched the city like a dog that had caught the scent of something it didn’t like.

“I don’t know,” Arylos said softly while lowering his head before looking back at Iris with sadness in his eyes. “What…what is it like to die?”

“Wait, what are you asking?” Iris asked, taken aback by Arylos’s question.

“When you die, what is it like?” Arylos asked, a sincere curiosity in his voice and a look in his eyes that Iris once saw many years ago; when he fought Baldr and went unconscious.

“I don’t really know; I’m still alive but I guess it would be pretty scary,” Iris answered nervously, wondering where Arylos was going.

“But what does it feel like? What would that fear feel like? What would be running through your head?” Arylos asked, as if the answer he was looking for was near.

“I-I don’t really know,” Iris said while feeling like Arylos’s suicidal tendencies were returning. “I guess I’m afraid to miss out on things. Like I’d start listing things I would like to do before I go, like go mountain climbing or even horseback riding. Maybe I could confess things just to get it off my chest so it doesn’t come with me to my grave.”

“You wouldn’t fight to survive?” Arylos asked as if confused.

“Well, I guess I would if I could,” Iris answered with a shrug, unsure of an answer herself. “Like if I could, I would. But if it’s beyond my control, then I guess all I can do is make sure I’m ready to go.”

Arylos thought about Iris’s words for a moment as his eyes darted around, as if he was trying to figure out what was running through his mind himself. “Am I dying? Or do I feel like I will?” he finally asked in confusion while trying to find the right words.

“Not on my watch, big boy,” Iris sternly warned while tapping Arylos’s chest. “You better not die before I’m done with you.”

Arylos’s face softened before turning to confusion as he tried to find an explanation. And then clarity hit him as the single answer came to him. “It’s not that I’m dying, it’s that I think you will.”

“What? Like I’ll die?” Iris asked with a soft laugh.

Arylos moved away from Iris as he dissected the newfound answer, finding everything lined up in his mind. “The Eikons, Anoron’s message, Inamura, everything. Anoron thinks that you will die and that will lead me to join his cause.”

“Honey, you can’t get caught up in that,” Iris said softly, wondering what she could say that could cheer him up. “I’m perfectly healthy and we live in a peaceful city. What could happen?”

“War,” Arylos growled under his breath. “The Eikons have been strangely silent. What if they intend to finish what they started?”

“That’s what’s been on your mind lately?” Iris asked while approaching the Titan.

“It makes sense; you’re the one thing I can’t bring myself to lose,” Arylos said while returning to lean against the rampart and looking at the cold flatlines, trying to keep himself from focusing on Iris.

Iris lowered her head as she wrapped her arms around Arylos, hugging him tight from behind. “So that’s why you haven’t been sleeping the last few nights,” she wondered aloud.

“What makes you say that?” Arylos asked, feeling called out like she had been watching him.

“Honey, I know the difference between when you sleep and when you meditate,” Iris answered, keeping her grip tight on the Titan. “This has been eating away at you for the last few months, hasn’t it?”

“I didn’t know that’s what it was,” Arylos answered in a soft voice, gently resting his hands on Iris’s own hands, feeling the stinging pain rush through him.

“Oh honey,” Iris sighed as she rubbed her cheek against Arylos’s back. “Haven’t I told you to not bottle things like this up?”

Arylos sighed as he felt his hands start shaking. “But–”

“But nothing,” Iris interrupted while squeezing him tight. “I know it hurts, but you have to let it out, even when you don’t understand it. Otherwise it will eat away at you until there’s nothing left.”

Arylos silenced himself, deciding not to say anything as he took in her warmth. Yet even with the comfort, something still stung at the back of his mind like a hot needle driving itself into his brain. His lips quivered as he tried to let go, yet his body refused. No matter how much Arylos tried to cry and let the pain out, his body refused, holding onto it like a stubborn toddler; not unlike how Iris held onto him with her warm arms. It was a pain and fear meant just for him.

Arylos pulled himself from Iris’s warmth yet it wasn’t the winter air that chilled him. He turned around and held Iris’s face in between his hands, stroking her cheek gently like she was a delicate pearl. “I’m sorry,” he whispered softly, bringing himself back from the pain that dug into him like nails. “I’m not what you deserve; you deserve better than a monster like me.”

“You’re not a monster,” Iris said while reaching for Arylos face, her touch finally warranting a familiar growl from the Titan. “And if you are, you’re my monster.”

“Even with all of the horrible things I’ve done?” Arylos asked softly.

“I’m not that fickle, honey,” Iris said with a soft chuckle, giving Arylos the warmth of her smile. “So tell me every terrible thing you ever did and let me love you anyway.”

Arylos processed her words as he watched her, his fiery light returning to his otherworldly eyes like a flame rekindled. He laughed softly as he pulled her close. “And I am nothing without you, because you have taken away everything that I was,” Arylos told Iris as he kissed her scalp.

“There he is,” Iris said as she hugged Arylos. “Feel any better now?”

“A little,” Arylos said with a soft chuckle.

Iris laughed and raised her eyebrows, giving the Titan a hint of what she really wanted. “So, if we’re done here, want to–”

Iris was cut off suddenly as Arylos turned away and stared at the sky with a deep growl in his chest, like a wolf that was ready to pounce. Before Iris could ask, she heard a faint howling in the air, like a whistling accompanied by the roar of a forge. It was deep, thundering, ear-piercing, and violent. It was like a monster’s roar she would have to imagine in books she read.

And yet this sound was getting closer.

“Run,” Arylos growled in a deep voice.

Iris looked back at Arylos with disbelief but could see raging flames in his eyes, not unlike the monster she saw when she first met him. “Wha–” she began but was cut off by a sudden gust of wind followed by a sharp screech. Before she could reach, flames erupted around her as the stone rampart gave way beneath her like crumpled rice cake. She reached out for Arylos as she tumbled down yet the Titan was beyond her reach.

Before she could react, she landed on a stone landing that knocked the wind out of her as falling stones pummeled her. She groaned as she held her head, shielding herself from the debris that rained around her. She looked up and saw that the rampart had a large hole gouged out in it, leaving the stone smoking. Iris desperately looked around for Arylos as the ringing in her ears persisted and the rain of rocks falling sounded like she covered her ears in a rainstorm, each stone sounding like rain striking canvas.

Iris felt her head spin as she rose up to her feet, stumbling initially as she leaned against the undamaged parts of the rampart wall. Before she could get her bearings, another gust of wind blew past her as the screeching filled her ears again, sounding out clear despite her deafened ears. As instinct kicked in, her body was struck by another blast as another section of the rampart further down went up in flames as the black knocked her backwards against the wall.

Iris groaned once more as she desperately tried to get back up to her feet as the screeching and blasts filled the air, filling the winter air with snow and ash as the explosions spread to buildings and roads. She watched as buildings began to collapse, blown apart like straw in a hurricane. As Iris felt her legs kick in, she felt a stern and cold grip on her arm. Iris turned around, instinctively reaching for her sword and not realizing that she left her sword at home. She found herself pulled by the grip into an alcove in the wall with familiar red eyes greeting her from the shadows.

“Run,” she could hear Arylos’s voice in her mind, sounding perfectly clear against the deafening backdrop. “Go and find survivors and get out here,” Arylos’s echoing voice in her mind ordered.

“But what about you?” Iris asked, unable to hear her own voice clearly.

Arylos stepped closer to Iris and she could see his face more clearly; his expression was dark and animalistic, like a monster cut loose. He was begging for a reason to kill, and she could see it in his eyes. As she looked down, she saw embers and flames run along his skin, but she knew these flames well.

They were his own flames; the Titan of Fire was furious.

“Don’t die on me, you hear?” Iris said, getting Arylos’s assurance that he was going to fight.

The Titan’s mask of evil cracked as he let out a smirk for Iris that exposed his fangs. “Wouldn’t dream of it, baby doll,” he said with a seductive hunger that Iris found made her legs a little weak. “Get as many people to safety as possible; the tunnels into the mountain will be your best bet.”

Iris raised an eyebrow as she questioned Arylos’s instruction. “Hold on, there are–”

“Not enough time; Bellona or Moviron will have to explain,” Arylos said as he let go of Iris and stepped out of the alcove. Beneath his jacket, Iris could make out the glowing shapes of his tattoos. “There are five tunnel entrances; get to the one due north of here between the wall and the mountain.”

Iris waved her arms, trying to make sense of his instructions once more. “Hey, that’s a lot of–”

“Get out of here!” Arylos roared as he ran out of the alcove. Iris came forward and watched him run down the stairs and towards the ruined rampart, climbing onto the rocks to get a better vantage point. Iris took her opportunity and ran, following the wall north as a part of her wished him well.

Arylos, meanwhile, climbed on top of a fallen pillar and stood strong as he watched Iris make her way north. A part of Arylos wished Iris well as he closed his heart to her, trying to find faith that she will be fine. He reached out his arm as the air hummed, reaching out with his mind as he closed his eyes. He tried to locate their house, the sword that hung on the wall of their bedroom. With as much power as he could muster, he summoned the sword to him, pulling at it with his telekinetic grip.

Yet, before he could even get it out of the house, he felt the ground shake beneath his human feet. As he opened his eyes, he saw more of the explosions surrounding him as a dark shape flew through the skies. Arylos gritted his teeth as the dark shape came closer, roaring like a burning forge before dropping down in front of him, breaking the ground with the impact and spraying dust everywhere.

Arylos watched in horror as a massive shape arose from the dust accompanied by the sounds of machinery clanking and whirring. Arylos could feel the air gust around him as the mysterious shape stood up and unfurled its wings. The machine growled with a deep hum as it rose up to its feet and engines on its back spun down, maintaining a loud hiss as air rushed through their hot turbines.

Finally, the machine lifted its head and cleared the air with its mighty wings, revealing a large dragon with a machine body, adorned with metal spikes and purple lights along its body all the way down to its bladed tail. The creature opened its eyes and bright glowing lights bathed Arylos in a haunting purple glow that he knew all too well. The creature growled as Arylos lowered his hand, forgetting his sword and focusing on the threat before him as a variety of inhuman sounds came from the creature’s maw.

“Titan,” the creature growled in a voice that shook the ground, a voice that haunted the edges of Arylos’s dreams and the depths of his nightmares.