Rekindling The Earth
The younger was truly unable to tell just how much time had passed. That weird automatic disassociation with time… He was aware spirits held it and yet to experience it firsthand-- well that was another story. To experience any of this was something he had never even dreamed of, he knew it was inevitable, but he never thought HE would be the one experiencing it. There was a lot for his mind to work around, to accept and adapt to. For spirits that knew nothing it probably came naturally, but with your memories still intact? Well… it caused conflictions. Yet he wouldn’t have it any other way.
To still be able to stand here? To not lose all that he was? It was some… terrifying blessing that was bestowed upon him. Milla had not been the cause of either. Why did he remember? He didn't know. Surely his willpower was not strong enough to surpass the cleansing process, that was just unrealistic. If such were the case then people like Milla would not have needed the aid of the Four and Jude himself to trigger a recovery. So… did that mean Origin took pity on him? It was Origin’s job so only he could have done this… Though should he really be asking those questions? He was curious, he wanted to know and yet… Perhaps it was for the best to leave it unsaid.
After reconciling with the Lord of Spirits, recovering from the shock, adapting and figuring out what to do with this new life he held. Jude moved to learning what he could and gathered his strength so he would be able to separate himself from the spirit world. Unfortunately all spirits were tied to that place and it was unavoidable, but he wanted to be able to venture outside of it. Even if he could only manage it for a time, he practised. All the other Greater Spirits could do it, so why could he? And in mastering that much? He took it a step further.
Jude had certainly not forgotten about all his tied to worlds outside of his own. Only that for basically all those worlds… those friends would no longer be alive... save one.
A world rife with the dangerous of daemons and malevolence, he could never forget such a place. Whilst terrifying it was also fascinating. It was also the place where a treasured friend, one that could easily outlive a mere century and would still be standing. Once he was able, his first thoughts were to rush straight to him and tell them he was alright-- but he was originally unable to. He didn’t have enough power, he was too weak. Leaving Rieze Maxia and Elympios entire and isolating himself in a different world like that was suicide. Though he had admittedly… tried… more than once, but it was futile.
Now that things were different, now that he was prepared and had all the necessary things set in place, he made his way to Desolation with that same dagger that he regained from Musee once he had become a spirit and remembered it all. And in standing in a world that was… not quite the same, that had mana, yet not the same mana… and this malevolence… It was almost like he could sense it, or maybe he could sense it. Spirits were more in tune with these sorts of things, it would make sense why Milla always knew. It was honestly a lot to take in and withstand in one encounter and yet it was not enough to stop him.
[...where should I go..?]
Where would Eizen be? And then it clicked. That mountain Eizen spoke of… The spiritcrest one? He was from there, so if he had any hopes of finding him outside of the seas it would be there. It was… a little hopeful to be honest. Would the earth malak really remain in once place for too long? He doubted it, but it was his best shot. To search all the seas for an earth malak was crazy, and… Eizen’s original crew were no longer alive. Would he even want to remain on such a boat now?
So with his choice made, he sought out that very mountain. Climbing to the very top of it without any more delays, as if he was going to do this it would be now. But… Jude had no considered what to say if he saw Eizen again, or how the other would even react. Honestly? He was speechless… Revealing himself would hurt his friend and keeping himself hidden would still hurt his friend. The only difference is that Eizen may feel better, knowing Jude was still in this world-- that he wasn’t alone.
Once he had succeeding in reaching the peak, or the further point that walking would allow and as luck would have it --ironic considering who he was searching for-- the very malak was standing right there as if a day had not gone by, lost to the entire world.
How Eizen must feel right now? Jude just wanted to reach out and try and fix the damage that had likely been done to the malakhim’s heart, and yet his healing powers, even his newer ones… were unable to heal the emotional damage done to the heart.
All the younger could do, was watch quietly.
He didn’t know how to voice, how to properly interact in this moment. Nothing would likely go down all that well. There were no words to voice how he felt, what he wanted to say. So he brought all of himself here, to the other, to try and rekindle what they had. To tell Eizen that he was still here, even now, he was still here. His story and had not ended.
Jude may have his duty to his own world, but he could still be here. Eizen was his friend-- he would do anything for him even now. Keeping him company? Spending time with him? They had all the time in the world and more now… Of course Jude would gladly sign himself up for that. But he had no idea how Eizen would take this. Would Eizen even accept him anymore? He wasn’t human anymore… Jude was still the same person, with the same soul, memories, and personality he held when they were close friends, but again… Would he be accepted?
